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I traveled slowly to my room. When I entered my room I walked to my window, it faced out to the docks. I knew instantly why I had this room father had known all along that I was going out at night. I stood at the window for a long time just watching the docks and all of the people comeing and going from them. A soft knocking brought me out of my state. Blinking I noticed the sun had started to setI called for the door to be opned. one of the servants came in with a cart of food. The servant girl looked to young to be in this job, and she wouldn't meet my eyes telling me she was new. There was enough food for me then I noticed the young girl looking at the food with hunger in her eyes. She then began to place the food on a small table by the window. When she was done I saw her step back from the table and look at the ground waiting for me to finish.
"Go back to the kitchen and ask for another set of the meal. Then come back." I told the girl.
Sheepishly she did the task. She placed the second set of food on the other side of the table. She looked at it with hunger as well.
"Take a seat. I can't stand to dine alone." I said smiling kindly to the young girl.
She only shook her head no.
"Oh I won't tell anyone besides I do this with everyone. I hate the old hag just as much as everyone else. She'll never know because no one will tell her." I said and again motioned for her to sit.
She sat in the chair but didn't touch the food.
"Eat I can tell you are hungry." I said pouring tea into a cup. "Do you like sugar and cream?" She nodded and I added the sugar and cream to her tea.
"Try this. I made the tea so I can't guarantee its taste, Its different every time." I said handing her the cup.
She reached out shaking hands and took the cup. I could tell I was making her nervous with every move I made. When she took a sip from the cup I could see her eyes light up. Clearly she had never had tea before. I sat down across the way at the table.
"Do you have a name?" I asked mixing my own tea.
She shook her head no again.
"Oh dear this won't do will it. How about I give you a name?" I asked taking a small sip.
She looked at me and her eyes spoke volumes I smiled and then placed a finger to the side of my head.
"how about Elise?" I asked.
She made a face of horror which caused me to laugh.
"Okay so no on that one. How about Maddie?" I had always been fond of that name.
She smiled and nodded her head to this name.
"Alright then Maddie it is. Regardless to what any one says my name is Charlie not Jennifer. Though it would be a good idea to call me Jennifer in front of that old hag of a mother. Though both are a part of my name. Charlie being my first and Jennifer my second. Well I seem to be rambleing now. How old are you Maddie?"
"Nine" She said quietly.
My blood froze in my veins. This girl was nine! NINE! She didn't belong here in this house doing things she is now. She needed to be out side having fun with her friends and getting dirty and having fun!
"Maddie do you have any family?"
She shook her head no.
"The never of that old hag!" I growled. Fear came back to Maddie's face. "Please do not fear me. When it comes to that hag my blood boils over."
She relaxed back into her seat and took a bite of the food on the plate.
"Is is good? I requested this dish. Its old. Called Ratatouille. An old french dish, its one of my favorites."

She looked like she had never eaten anything in her life and began to eat fast. We both finished our meals in silence. Maddie then took the dishes back down the kitchens. I got up and walked back over to my window the docks where lite and the dock boys where running about making sure the air ships where secure in their ports. I could feel my heart breaking just knowing that Maddie was in this house being poorly treated by some of the higher up servants who saw her as another bother. A small knock came from my door. I called for it to open and to my surprise Maddie was the one at the door. She came in and closed the door behind her. She raced up to me and hugged me. I leaned down to hug the small girl back.
"Tanks for da name missus. No one has eva been so nice ta gives me a name." Maddie said.
"You are more than welcome Maddie." I said my heart was breaking with every little step. In a last minute attempt to save the poor child I asked her something I thought of as important. "Say how would you like to go out with me tonight?"
"I would like that much missus!" Maddie said.
"Okay then would you go and tell Mary that you'll be with me for a while. And be sure to tell her you'll be in bed at a decent time too. Or she will never let me live it down." I said half jokingly.
"Okay missus I'll be right back." Maddie raced out of the room.
My heart leapt for joy. I headed over to my bed and pulled a small trunk out from under it. I kept anything that had to do with my runs in this trunk. I pulled out my normal outfit and a smaller one that I could no longer fit for Maddie.
"Missus! Mary said it was okay!" Maddie came in cheering.
"That makes me happy. Did she give you a time?" I asked.
"No I didn't give the child a time to be in bed. I will not have you taking this child out to the docks. She will be in her bed so she can be awake tomorrow morning."
"Maddie will you wait here a minute." I said rather than asked of her.
I walked over to Mary and got really close to her so Maddie wouldn't hear anything.
"You know just as well as I do that this child doesn't deserve to be here doing these things. I've gotten wind of a rumor going around that the boss is taken me up the ranks. That means I'll be doing stuff during the day. My days in this hell are coming to an end. I will be taking her with me. There are a group of girls who look after the boys so they will gladly take her in and give her the guidance she needs right now." I argued.
"I will not let you endanger that child. Listen to me Charlie. She is not you so don't you dare take her down the same path. I will not let you do this." Mary said nearly hissing "She is only a young girl! And an innocent one at that. She will be much saver here with me watching over her."
"Why are you so insistent!" I asked
"She is my sister's kid. And I'll be damned if I don't watch over her from this here house."
"She said she had no family. How the hell do you expect me to believe you? Maddie didn't even have a name!"
"Years ago my sister died leaving the poor child on the streets and her father had long disappeared. I never found the child till this past month. I can't even imagine what she had to go through to get here. I will be there for this child and I will guide her so help me God. Its the last thing I can do for my sister!" Mary said.
"Mary Missus. If it okay with yas I'd rather be down at them docks my self. I ain't to fond of it up here anyway. I'd be much more at home down there because thats where I be a month ago." Maddie said.

This sudden outburst caught me and Mary of guard. the girl in front of us showed no fear of going out and being alone her voice was strong an determined as well. Mary looked at the child as if she didn't know her. After a moment I got down on a knee and came eye to eye with Maddie.
"Are you a child of the docks?" I asked.
"A child of no one, a child of the docks is I." Maddie said showing me her brand.
"How many more Mary? How many more of your companions are Children of the Docks?" I asked. Today was just full of surprises.
"I have no idea." Mary said.

A few moments of silence passed and then Mary sighed, and left the room.
"Get ready Maddie we are going out tonight." I said with new excitement.
"Yes Missus." Maddie said.
"Call me Charlie." I said smiling.
"Okay Charlie." Maddie said while changing into her new outfit,