Twenty's Mission Log
Chapter 13 - Lost and Found

Lost and Found

From the data files of Dianne Somersby

Sender: Dianne Somersby, Spitfield POZ

Recipient: Emma Somersby, Durham RUK

Date: June 26th, V23 (2043)

Message Begins:

Hi mum,

Sorry I have not messaged you in a while. Things have been pretty hectic here in the last week. I finally moved into my own apartment in the City. It is a big improvement on that share house I was staying in before.

Danny Watanabe, dad’s old Lieutenant from his army days, helped me replace the new place. He has been a real godsend – he even roped in some other guys that knew dad to move my furniture.

They were all really sweet and I made them coffee afterwards. The stories they told me of what dad used to get up to were quite funny. A bit rude too until Danny made them stop. He can be a real prude at times. Hard to believe he runs a Bonds and Brokers office here in Spitfield.

Of course the new apartment is a total disaster at the moment. I have boxes of clothes and cutlery and who knows what scattered over the floor and piled in corners. I don’t mind but I can’t replace dad’s box of medals and stuff from the war. I know we packed it at the old place but I am totally lost about where they are now.

Actually, talking about dad leads into my biggest news. I had a customer come into the coffee shop tonight. I was working a late shift and it was near closing time when this gorgeous blonde lady walked in. She was done up really fancy too, in a business suit and nice leather shoes. Way too high class for our end of town.

She ordered a tea and some cheesecake, the last we had on hand. It wasn’t even on display but she knew we had one piece left. I told her she must be psychic or something and she laughed. Said it was just a knack she had.

There was no one else in the shop so we got to chatting. I asked her what she was doing in town and she told me it was family business. I got her name but I can’t quite remember – it was old, something like Violet. Definitely started with a V, I know that much.

So she asked me about my family. You know how chatty I am so I told her all about you, and then dad. Turns out she had served in the war too, though she seriously did not look old enough.

Now Violet (I’ll use that for now) must have known some of the same people dad knew. She was asking about Danny, and how his business was going. I told her all about my plans too, to open my own coffee shop once I got more experience. Violet thought that was a great idea and she said I would be a big success.

We got to closing time and Violet grabbed her purse. She paid me, and then as an afterthought gave me another twenty. She said she had noticed a young girl in the alley behind the coffee shop, probably homeless. If I could take her something hot to drink and maybe some food she would really appreciate it. Kind of her good deed for the day.

Naturally I agreed, being the big softie that I am. I told Violet she did not need to pay me to help the girl but she insisted.

As she left, she told me I was far too good to be in this city, which made me laugh. I closed and locked the door behind her and then opened the delivery door for the shop.

Sure enough, I found this little blonde girl huddled in the alley. She did not want to come inside, but I coaxed her in with a promise of hot chocolate and toasted sandwiches.

Her name was Millie she told me after downing an entire mug of hot chocolate in record time. She was scared I think but you know me, I can talk the leg off a chair as dad always said. I made her some toasted cheese, tomato and ham – my specialty – and she wolfed them right down too. I had to laugh when she burnt her tongue on the hot tomato but she laughed with me too so it was OK.

I told Millie I needed to feed her up as she was way too skinny. The promise of more food seemed to sway her to accept my help. I also tried to give her the twenty Pandas from Violet but she refused to take it. She certainly has her pride.

We got to talking some more and I realised I liked her. She was at least five years younger than me but we clicked. She admitted she had nowhere to stay in the Spit so I offered her my couch. At least until she could replace someplace to go.

After all the dramas in that share house I thought it would be good to live by myself for a while. Yet having Millie here has already made me feel a lot better. It sounds so weird, but she does not feel like a stranger. I think we are going to turn out to be the best of friends.

So there you have it mum. I made a new friend today and she is sleeping on my couch right now.

Lots of love,

Dianne.

PS: When I found my spare sheets and a blanket for Millie, folded up inside was the box with dad’s medals. I remembered afterwards putting them there to keep safe while I moved. It is amazing how you lose something and then replace it again in an unexpected place. Just like friendship I guess.

End Message

End of Part 4 of Millie the Gunsinger