Might, Power, Battle

The storm had been violently hitting the coast for hours. The waves were hitting the shore with such passion that it just made Mandy see exactly the power of nature. She shouldn't even be out here right now, but she never heeded the warnings and now she found herself with empty cupboards, and on the verge of starvation. She worked so hard and was focused on the newest advertising campaign, she never expected to see this day turn out as angry as it did. Mandy wrapped herself up in her fur coat with a scarf and face mask. As she opened the door to leave, Whiskers, her golden tabby, had tried to run between her feet and out the door. She caught him just in time. Whiskers was hungry too, so she added cat food to her list.

As she started down Sea Boulevard, she felt blinded by the ice pellets hitting her face. She tried to think back to a time when the weather had been this bad, and she came up blank. Not in her lifetime had she ever seen such a winter storm take over the island. She lived close enough to the Pack -n - Shop where she could walk, and she was grateful for that. The streets were empty. They usually were this time of year, but those few that did live here didn't venture out in this kind of weather. Most of the residents were retirees, very nice people, but homebodies.

Within minutes, Mandy was walking through the door of the Pack-n-Shop. Just like she thought it would be, the aisles were deserted. As a matter of fact, she couldn't see anyone, not a soul. The lights were on, music was playing, and she could smell the roasting chickens, which is what she wanted. She called out, "Hello, hello, anybody here? Nick, it's Mandy. Where are you?" Nick was the owner of the store. She knew he would be here. She was sure that he sent all of his employees home. He always had their safety and well being first. That's why she liked Nick. He and his wife Patty were permanent residents, just as she was, and they had known each other since they were twelve. Mandy's parents used to live on the island. They had since moved to Florida. They liked year round warm temperatures, and since Mandy had not given them a grandchild, they figured it was okay to move.

Mandy continued to walk down each aisle calling for Nick, but feeling more and more uncomfortable as she went further into the store. She was very worried, and a little scared, maybe a lot scared. After ten more minutes of nothing, not even getting Whiskers his cat food, Mandy felt this eerie feeling overtake her. That's it, she was going to leave. Unfortunately, she had left her cell home next to her computer. That was a mistake coming out into this weather with no way to communicate with any one. Mandy started toward the door. The lights started to flicker, and that scared her even more. Just as she stepped on to the electric door mat, the power died, but she heard a noise. "What the hell was that?" She said to herself. Then she heard it again. It sounded like a cat had gotten into the store, but where was it. Then Mandy heard it again. "Here kitty," she quietly yelled as she walked behind the counter. Mandy followed the sound until she stumbled over a stack of boxes. Now it no longer sounded like a cat. The pile of boxes started to cry. And looked down. She had tripped over a baby. The baby had been lain in a box and covered with newspaper, and other scraps. Somebody was hiding this baby, but why. She still couldn't find Nick, so she bent down and picked up this beautiful little girl. She was completely naked, but whoever left her did try to keep her warm. She was newly born, and Mandy immediately noticed that she was still attached to the umbilical cord. Mandy started to cry. "Why would anyone do this to you, sweet girl?" Again, without her phone, and no working power, she had no choice but to take the baby with her. She didn't think Nick would mind, wherever he was, if she took some diapers and formula to help save this little beauty. She would see him tomorrow. She also found a blanket, and wrapped her and warmly as she could, and started home. What had started out as a journey to buy food for her and Whiskers, turned out to be lifesaving adventure. She was in the right place at the right time, and she saved this little one. When she got bak to her apartment, after struggling with the wind and blinding snow, she found that she did still have power. The storm had been worse than she thought, and now she was sure that Nick was sheltering in place in the basement of the store. She was very lucky to have made it to and from the Pack-n-Shop, and she knew it.

She unwrapped this little beauty, and put the diapers on. She opened the formula, and realized that when her friend Claire had come over last week, she left one of Macy's baby bottles behind. Mandy was thankful. She looked down at this precious face as she fed her, and realized what a strong little one she was. She called her Matilda, after the Roald Dahl character. The name means might, power or battle. At that moment, it just fit.

Mandy went to the phone to call the local police department, but was unable to get in touch with anyone at first. After a few more tries, she finally made a connection. She explained what happened at the store, and how she found Matilda while hoping to buy food for Whiskers. The officer on the other end of the call asked if she would be able to care for her until the storm died down and they could get social services out there. Mandy quietly said, "I would be happy too. She is growing on me for sure." Mandy was in the right place at the right time, and she hoped that someday the baby would learn about her adventure, and little Matilda would be forever grateful.