Third Person Point Of View
Lorraine looked at the folded note again. She wondered how the letter had come to be in the pocket.
"What an earth could that lady give me that would 'elp me get off the streets?" Lorraine said to herself out loud.
The street was empty because the day was only beginning and it was still quite early to see people rushing to work. For once it looked like the sun would come out on the cold October day. It would help lessen the bite of the cold Autumn weather.
" What should I do?" she thought as she scratched her dirty head. Lorraine decided she would go to the hospital and inquire about the baby. Even if she didn't find out what had happened to the baby she may be able to feel a bit warmer. Despite all the clothing the beautiful dark haired woman had given her she still felt cold.
Leeds General Infirmary or LGI as locals called it was only a few minutes away. She walked tiredly towards the hospital. She wondered what everyone would think of her when she walked into the hospital.
When Lorraine arrived at the hospital she looked for the main entrance and then walked inside. She scanned the room for a reception.
Lorraine walked over to the reception and asked, " Excuse me. I 'eard a baby was left here today."
The receptionist looked at her puzzled, "Really? Like abandoned?"
"Yeah, abandoned."
"Hun, did you leave your baby here?" the small middle aged blonde haired lady asked.
"No, No, It's not mine. Do I look like I just had a baby?"
"It's hard to tell because you are wearing a lot of clothing." the receptionist said politely and with compassion in her eyes.
"No, it's not mine. A lady gave me this note. I think it was her kid. She gave me all these clothes I am wearing as well." Lorraine handed the note to the other woman.
The middle aged woman peered at the note.
"Ah, I see from the note that you are not the mother but she wanted you to look out for the child. Did the mother look distressed to you?"
"No, she looked quite calm to me. Although I thought it a bit odd 'er giving all her clothes to me. Especially as it is so cold out there. I thought she'd catch her death of cold. But she said she lived close by. She didn't seem in her right mind though because she said she'd just been to a Halloween party. It was a fantastic costume though.I 'ave never seen anything like it."
"Okay. It sounds like odd behaviour. Maybe she was in shock. Anyway, I'll look up the baby for you here on the computer.
"Okay, I can't see anything about an abandoned baby, yet. It could be that they haven't entered it into our database yet. Do you know which entrance the baby was left at? Oh, of course you don't, the mother didn't say anything in the note.
If you wait here, I'll call the neonatal department, she may have been taken there."
Lorraine wondered if it was a slip of the tongue but the receptionist had called the baby she and not it. Lorraine didn't remember the note saying if the baby was a girl or a boy.
As she looked around she noticed a dark haired older woman looking confused next to her.
The dark haired woman said quietly, "How am I going to ask where my daughter is?"
" Are you all right, love?" Lorraine asked the older woman.
" You speak Greek. Thank goodness! Can you help me? My daughter is in labour and she told me to come here but I don't know how to ask where to go."
"I don't speak Greek but I will ask for you. What is your daughter's name?"
" Her name is Foteini Johnson. I know you don't think your Greek is good but it is like you are from Athens."
"I'll talk to the other receptionist for you." Lorraine said, smiling at the older woman.
" Excuse me, this lady is looking for her daughter, Foteini Johnson,"
"Just a minute. I'll look for you," the other receptionist said, "Okay, she's gone into labour. She's on the Labour ward which is on the fourth floor. Room 400."
"Okay, she is on the fourth floor. In room 400," Lorraine said looking at the older woman again.
"Beautiful Girl. Will you come with me?" the Greek lady implored Lorriane, " By the way, my name is Paulina,"
"Um-"
"Why don't you go with the lady as you seem to understand what she is saying and you can speak her language. You can act as a translator and the neonatal ward is on the same floor," the first receptionist suggested as if she understood the Greek lady as well
"Okay. I'll come with you to the fourth floor because that is where I want to be as well, Mrs. Paulina."
"My girl, what's your name?" Paulina asked.
"Lorriane."
"Lorianne, how old are you?"
"Sixteen."
"Why aren't you at school or work?"
"It's a long story, Mrs.Paulina. We should find your daughter." Lorraine said as she led Paulina to the elevators.
Paulina became quiet and looked at the dirty haired girl and noticed her grubby hands and thought the girl could do with a good feed. It was so nice to meet someone who spoke Greek so fluently and understood her as well. Her son-in-law tried but he still found it difficult. She came to stay with her daughter before she gave birth to her first child. Unfortunately, her son-in-law was away on business and because the baby wasn't expected so early, he was driving back from London to try and make it back before the baby was born.
Before they knew it they were on the fourth floor looking for room 400. When they came to room 400, Lorraine knocked on the door.
"Come in," a young woman's voice said with a slight accent.
"Mama," a young woman said in one of the beds in the room.
The young woman was a younger version of Paulina except the young woman was probably taller than Paulina."
"Toula, this is Lorraine. She speaks Greek fluently," Paulina said.
"Hello. That's impressive. Greek is a hard language to learn and we speak so fast as well. You are shaming my poor husband," Toula said, laughing warmly.
"Lorraine, sit down if you want."
"Well actually. I came here to check on a baby."
"Wow, you are right, Mama! Lorraine speaks perfect Greek."
"Come back after. We'll be here for a while." Toula, said enthusiastically.
"Okay. I'll see you later then."