Nesselorette The Lost Girl

By Clem Maddox

It was a bone chilling cold November morning in New York as Jason Marks with Child Protection Service sat in his car. He was a few blocks up the street from the Bedford Arms Apartments and his frustration had him overall the time he had wasted looking for this little girl. He was on his third cup of coffee when he spotted a little girl coming out of the Bedford Arms Apartments’ main door. She stood and looked around; she held something under her arm that he could not see. Jason leaped from his car, and darted behind several cars so he was standing on the opposite side of the street.

Nesselorette skipped down the stairs carrying the old, tattered book under her arm. Jason thought it might fall apart as she ran toward the grocery store. A police car drove down Lennox Avenue, just as Nesselorette entered the store. Jason flagged the policemen down, and explained the nature of his business regarding a lost CPS child. When Nesselorette appeared from grocery store still carrying the book, but also a full grocery bag, Jason grabbed her. Nesselorette did not scream, nor did she cry. She frowned with her eyebrows furrowed, perplexed that he would do this. As the police watched, Jason shoved Nesselorette in his car and locked the door. He slid behind the wheel and pulled out the nine-year-old case file regarding the baby Margaret Doucette had listed on the adoption application as “Nesselorette Doucette.” Jason scribbled in the file and drove off. The perilous journey that she encountered displays a resilience no other child could possess.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Clem Maddox
• Release date: Nov 13, 2016
• ISBN: 9780986409981

Clem Maddox

Clemon Maddox writes Novellas and Novels for teens and young adults and Drama/Mysteries/Dark Fantasy with an element of crime for adults. Clemon Maddox Jr. was born in Daytona Beach Florida, and grew up in a military family. His love for writing was spawn from his fathers' love of the poem, Annabel Lee by Edgar Allan Poe, as a result of that exposure he has written over 500 poems, 36 jazz lyrics, and has written 10 novels pending publication. Nesselorette the Book is his first published work.

Book preview

CHAPTER ONE

Nesselorette lay on the bed looking at the old, tattered book. She closed it and stood up.  After gazing around her small apartment, she walked over to the window and peered out.  Rain streaked across the panes and New York’s skyline looked gray and dreary.  Not much to do, she thought, even though it was her day off.  She idly wondered if she could ever decipher and understand that book. 

The rain picked up and added to her gloom.  Today was her twentieth birthday. No one knew or cared that it was her birthday. The last time she celebrated her birthday was when she had turned four years old. 

She refused to cry. She felt ambivalent about fulfilling her mother’s wishes of deciphering the book. Her mother had hoped the book contained information on her true biological identity.  She wanted to understand the book but she didn’t recognize the language.  Her mother left strict instructions before she died to not lose the book. Her mother’s two closest friends, Karen Ming and Kate Littlefield, told her about the book.  Every time she thought about her mother, Margaret Doucette, holding her before she died made her weep. In that hospital room, Karen and Kate vowed to raise her and keep the book in her possession.

The rain pelted the window now, and streaked lazily across it. She reflected on her difficult childhood. Her years in foster care made her strong. Although Aunt Karen and Kate played an important part in her life, Bertha Williams, a tenant in the apartments, became her surrogate mother.  Bertha’s death added to her pain and tears ran down her face.  She wiped her eyes and thought about her life.  It was like a movie unfolding standing looking at the rain increase.  The window began to emulate a xylophone with the rapid pace of the rain pelting as she thought more about her life.

Karen Ming and Kate Littlefield helped raise her, but after Kate married and moved to California, she abandoned the child at a very early age. Kate’s husband was jealous and argued that Kate had no family relationship with her. He insisted that Kate break all ties with her.

Prior to Kate relocating to California, Kate helped Mrs. Williams, Karen, and Mr. Meeks, with her fourth birthday party.  Kate didn’t discuss her plans to move to California with her until the party was over.  She did not want to ruin the party. Nesselorette was excited about the party, and while there was no other children present, Kate knew she had made the right decision to wait.

They wanted to have her birthday party in Central Park, and invite other children, but didn’t because Jason with Child Protection Services cruised the neighborhood, looking for her quite often.  They held her party in the apartment building’s main lobby.  The lobby looked like an amusement park with the different decorations and different themes.

Kate waited until the party was over to ask Nesselorette to sit with her.  Mrs. Williams, Karen, and Meeks, were removing the party decorations so Kate had a moment to talk with her.  Nesselorette was still excited from gifts that she didn’t notice the others had left so Kate could speak with her alone. 

You are getting to be a big girl now. We all have noticed that you have grown to be much taller than most girls your age, began Kate.  Kate explained that she was now married, and could no longer spend time with her, as she had done for the past three years. 

Nesselorette interrupted Kate and asked, What do you want to tell me, Aunt Kate? 

Kate knew she was an intelligent child but the response she gave caught her off guard.  She gazed at her and tried to think up an answer.  Instead, she noticed how much more beautiful the child had become.  She pulled herself from the trance, and said, I am moving to California. 

Where in California?

California is a state, said Kate. 

I know it is a state, Aunt Kate.  There are fifty states in America.  I am merely asking you, where in California you are moving to. Kate was so dumbfounded over her statement that before she could answer, Nesselorette stood and said, I hope you like California, Aunt Kate.  She walked to the main stairwell door, opened it, and began her usual skipping up the stairs.  That was the last time Kate saw her.

Two years after Kate had moved to California, Karen took a more active role enrolling her in school, and assisted with school projects.  Bertha Williams continued to provide her with parental guidance, but her health problems affected her mobility.

When she turned six years old, Karen brought her to Margaret Doucette’s grave as they did every year on the anniversary of her mother’s death.  Karen held her hand, and fought desperately to control her emotions over leaving.  Karen explained that it would be a long time before she would see her again.

Karen explained that she was leaving for China, to advance her own education.  Nesselorette ignored her and placed yellow daisies on her mother’s grave.  She always made sure that the number of daisies matched the number of years since Margaret had died. 

Nesselorette, do you understand what I am telling you?  

She continued to ignore her and lay daisies on her mother’s grave.  Karen knew that Nesselorette had heard her, and became angry.  Nesselorette Doucette.  Look at me, and do not pretend that you did not hear me, snapped Karen. 

She stood up, turned, and faced Karen and said, I heard every word that you spoke, Aunt Karen.  What do you want me to say?  Aunt Kate left me, and now you are leaving me?  Then she tilted her head, What do you want me to say about that?

You know that Mother Williams is very sick.  You want me to be happy that you are leaving like Aunt Kate did?  Nesselorette got back down on her knees and arranged the yellow daisies in a heart shape on Margaret’s grave.

Karen did not know what to say. She stood looking at the back of her head.  Tears slowly fell from her eyes.  She could hear Margaret’s words whispering in her ear: "Life is going to be really hard for Nesselorette, but one day she will see a better life."

Karen said nothing.  As the sun grew lower, it casted an orange tint across the sky. Karen felt the sting of pain in her heart because she knew she would not see Nesselorette after today.

CHAPTER TWO

Mrs. Bertha Williams’ health deteriorated to where she could not walk in November when Nesselorette was nine. Bertha called for her from her bed, and said in a very raspy voice, I need you to go to Mr. Ming’s store and get my medicine, some bread, eggs, and milk.  Please do not play around, and hurry back.  She smiled at her. You know the rules; do not talk to anyone nor go off with strangers.  Bring my purse off the chair and take twenty dollars out.  One more thing. said Mrs. Williams, Can you please not carry that old book with you?  You will need to have both of your hands free to carry the eggs without breaking them.

Although she could not read the book, she refused to part with it even for a moment.  When Nesselorette first spoke, Karen Ming and Kate Littlefield told her about the book.  They made it clear that her mother said that the book must remain with her at all times.  Once she grew old enough to understand that the book must stay with her, she refused to leave it behind. 

Nesselorette was extremely smart for her age.  When she entered school in 1971, her ability to comprehend things that others and those older than her age could not; amazed all the teachers.  She could play any musical instrument. It produced jealousy and envy in students and teachers alike.  She learned Math, Science, English, and History easily, shocking all the teachers.  However, she infuriated her teachers by carrying the book everywhere.  When she was at lunch, the book sat near her.  When she played during recess, Nesselorette would always carry the book. 

Nesselorette did not say a word, but just stared at Bertha Williams after she got the money out her purse.  Walked out of the room, and Mrs. Williams heard the door close and assumed that she had left the book. 

Mrs. Williams had not been feeling very well, and slowly turned to face the window in her bedroom, breathed her last breath, and died!

Nesselorette put on her blue coat and red cap, and looked at herself in the mirror.  With the old tattered book under her arm, she walked out the door, turned, and closed the door behind her. 

Although the elevator worked fine, she preferred taking the stairs.  Skipping was one of her favorite pastimes, other than flipping through the pages of the book.  Flipping through the book was her way of trying to figure out and understand all the words.  She had thought that one day the words would be understood. 

After skipping down the stairs while humming to herself, she finally reached the door that led to the apartment building’s main lobby.  No one was talking in the lobby, nor was Mr. Bartee the mailman, putting mail in the apartment mailboxes.

Mr. Meeks was not around either.  He was probably smoking his minty flavored cigar.  She liked the aroma of his cigars, and frequently told Mr. Meeks that he looked like a train, blowing smoke from its engine. Mr. Meeks would blow smoke rings, and she would put her hand through them until they would disappear.

She opened the door from the main lobby, and walked outside.  Watching the traffic, she always remembered instructions that Aunt Karen, and Mother Williams gave about waiting for the traffic light to turn red before crossing the street.  She then skipped down the steps heading to Ming’s grocery store.

CHAPTER THREE

Jason Marks advanced from a Compliance Agent to the Lead Investigator for the New York City Child Protection Agency.  He had spent the last nine years looking for Nesselorette, and was determine to crack the case of the missing baby girl.

He continued his tactics of spying and using unorthodox inquiries about Nesselorette.  He knew that the baby Margaret Doucette listed on the adoption application nine years ago was still in New York.  Although he did not have hard evidence, something drove him to believe she still was in New York City.

He traced her to the Bedford Arms Apartments building.  Jason stood at the corner of Lennox Avenue and 135th Street, talking to a drug user.  The junkie told Jason that he had seen a little girl around the Bedford Arms Apartments for years.  He did not believe him but continued to press him for facts to prove his point.

Look man, you been coming around here for the past few years, hassling me about this damn little girl, snapped Kennan.  I have been telling you over and over, that I have seen the little girl myself. What else do you want me to do man? 

Kennan Wilson was once a computer programmer but got hooked on crack.  He was not a bad looking man but allowed drugs to ruin his life.  He lost everything, including his girlfriend, Paula Jones. Paula graduated from NYU, and had once lived in the Bedford Arms Apartments, before she became pregnant by Kennan.  After becoming pregnant, she decided to move out because of the hassling she got from Mrs. Williams.  Mrs. Williams would see her in the elevator and complain that she did not want to hear no crying baby.  The harassment got so bad she just moved out. 

Why do you continue to come around asking me the same damn question, when I keep telling you about the little girl, are you that dense man? yelled Kennan. 

Kennan told Jason that his old girlfriend became angry about all the harassment she received and moved out before the baby was born.  My girl cursed the apartment manager because of an old bat name Mrs. Williams that lives there.  The old’ bitch got her granddaughter living there with her and I am sure as a baby she cried, said Kennan.  Kennan could not give up his drug use and lost everything, including Paula and never had a chance to see his baby.

Jason parked his car looking toward the Bedford Arms Apartments.  Jason decided he would no longer waste his time talking to Kennan if the little girl did not turn out to be Nesselorette.

It was a very bitter cold November morning in New York and Jason was on his third cup of coffee when he spotted a little girl leaving Bedford Arms.  She stood looking around, holding something under her arm.  Jason got out of his car and dumped the lukewarm coffee on the street.

In a very furtive manner, Jason darted behind several cars until he was standing on the opposite side of the street. 

Nesselorette began to skip down the stairs, carrying a book.  The book looked so old; Jason thought it would fall apart as the little girl ran across the street heading to the grocery store.

After she entered the store, Jason turned, and saw a police car coming down Lennox Avenue.  He quickly flagged the police over to where he was standing, as he continued to watch for the little girl to exit the store.  He presented his identification to the police, and explained his role at CPS.  He then showed the officer the papers that gave him the legal rights to obtain the child; he told police she had just entered the store. 

After speaking further with the police, he stepped into another obscure hiding place next to Ming’s grocery store to wait.  It did not take very long before he heard the door of the grocery store swing open and out walked Nesselorette. 

When she stepped out of the store, looking for traffic before she ran across the street, Jason grabbed her.  She did not scream nor did she show any signs of emotions, or an unruly behavior.  She dropped the bags of groceries but held firmly to the book.  She remembered what Mrs. Williams had said about not going off with strangers and tried to run. Holding firmly to her arm, he was able to secure her from running off.

Mr. Ming ran outside as he witnessed a man grabbing Nesselorette.  Once outside he saw that it was Jason with CPS, he looked around and saw Meeks talking to the mailman.  Mr. Ming shouted to Meeks. Jason pulled her to his car while the police watched.

When Mr. Meeks was talking to the mailman in front of the apartment building and heard Ming cry out; he turned and saw Jason taking Nesselorette.  Frantic and not knowing what to do, he ran back inside the apartment building.  Panicky he ran over to the elevator.  He quickly stepped into the elevator, and pressed the fourth floor button. When the elevator stopped on the fourth floor, Mr. Meeks ran to Mrs. Williams’s apartment and alarmingly knocked on the door.  He continued to pound, but there was no answer.  Knowing that Mrs. Williams had difficulty walking, and since he did not hear her cry out to come in, as she had done before, Meeks decided to enter the apartment.  Meeks stood for a second listening before he decided to use his keys to enter her apartment.  He slowly opened the door and called out again, but still there was no answer.  He rushed to her bedroom.  He stood looking at the back of Mrs. Williams as she lay