"Yet's do a puh-zzul."
Her voice
Her way of talking
Carried me back in time
to Kaley
age 2 or 3:
"Yook! I found a piyyoh, Mommy!"

I tried to keep my voice normal, "Okay, but I have to go pretty soon, so only one puzzle."

"Who wih watch me den?"

My eyes watered as I compared this beautiful child to my own beautiful child. Who would watch her? The frazzled shelter childcare workers?  Her own tired, broken mother?  What trauma had she been through to land her in such a place?

Kaley so safe and secure with her Daddy ..."Yets eat a man-goh,  Daddy! I yike man-goh!"

Did this little girl have good memories with her Daddy? Did he hurt her instead? Did he hurt her Mommy?

"Well, I can stay a little longer - let's do that puzzle!" I smiled at her and loved her...and prayed for her happiness and future.