“ Hannah .” I smiled at her . “ Hi , Hannah . I ’ m Dominic . And that ’ s
Diesel and Almarie .” “ Where are your parents , Hannah ?” asked Almarie . Hannah shrugged . “ I live with the Fishes . They ’ re my foster parents . They don ’ t pay much attention to me , though .”
I untied the first knot , got through the second quicker , and helped Hannah off the toilet seat . Then , I tore off my backpack and sweatshirt and pulled the latter over her . It engulfed her like a circus tent , falling just above her knees . Slipping the backpack on again , I scooped Hannah into my arms and carried her out of the stall . Diesel and Almarie followed as we headed back the way we came . Hannah clung to me ; her small arms wrapped around my neck . Even through the sweatshirt , I could still feel how cold she was . If Diesel and I hadn ’ t decided to investigate the school despite the ban , she could ’ ve died from hypothermia . It was enough to make me wonder if some higher power had meant for us to do this investigation . “ Dominic ,” said Hannah , “ where are you taking me ?” “ To the hospital . We ’ ll get you warmed up and taken care of there .” She sniffed . “ All I wanted was friends ,” she repeated . “ I ’ ve never had anything nice .”
I paused , cringing . Then I remembered “ the gift ” I always carry . I motioned to Diesel to reach into my backpack to grab it . Two seconds later , I handed a teddy bear to Hannah . She immediately hugged it tightly .
18 HANNAH AND OTHER STORIES
“ Hannah .” I smiled at her . “ Hi , Hannah . I ’ m Dominic . And that ’ s
Diesel and Almarie .” “ Where are your parents , Hannah ?” asked Almarie . Hannah shrugged . “ I live with the Fishes . They ’ re my foster parents . They don ’ t pay much attention to me , though .”
I untied the first knot , got through the second quicker , and helped Hannah off the toilet seat . Then , I tore off my backpack and sweatshirt and pulled the latter over her . It engulfed her like a circus tent , falling just above her knees . Slipping the backpack on again , I scooped Hannah into my arms and carried her out of the stall . Diesel and Almarie followed as we headed back the way we came . Hannah clung to me ; her small arms wrapped around my neck . Even through the sweatshirt , I could still feel how cold she was . If Diesel and I hadn ’ t decided to investigate the school despite the ban , she could ’ ve died from hypothermia . It was enough to make me wonder if some higher power had meant for us to do this investigation . “ Dominic ,” said Hannah , “ where are you taking me ?” “ To the hospital . We ’ ll get you warmed up and taken care of there .” She sniffed . “ All I wanted was friends ,” she repeated . “ I ’ ve never had anything nice .”
I paused , cringing . Then I remembered “ the gift ” I always carry . I motioned to Diesel to reach into my backpack to grab it . Two seconds later , I handed a teddy bear to Hannah . She immediately hugged it tightly .