Happiness is not so much in having as sharing. We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.    — Norman MacEwen

After hours of howling at everyone on his path, they later found out that Martinez had lost his grandmother, and yelling at everyone was probably his weird coping mechanism. Most of the staff felt sad for his father, Mr. Martin Marcello. The staff was
informed that his stay in Italy had been extended until further notice.

                   ★★★★★★

"Rise and shine, Tara," Dora's voice rang out as she opened the door and stepped into her daughter's room. She chortled at the sleeping position of her daughter, which hadn't changed.

Tara sprawled across the bed with a pillow hugged to her chest. Tara had never slept without clutching onto something.

Dora walked across the room and pulled the lilac curtains open.

A burst of sunlight illuminated the room and made a bright spot on the light yellow walls.

Dora turned and faced her daughter, who still slumbered despite the activities taking place.

She bent over Tara and shook her gently. "Tara, dear, it's time to wake up. We have a few hours before we have to leave."

"Ugh, Mom, it is too early to get up," Tara grumbled and stuffed her face into the pillow.

"No, it isn't, it is 9:05 am." Dora laughed. "And besides, we have places to be so you need to get up and get ready." She rubbed Tara's back in encouragement.

"Okay, fine." Tara signed and rolled over to face her mother. "Good morning, Mom." She smiled.

"Good morning, dear. How was your night?" 

"It was as good as it could be." She sat up and wiped the drool from the side of her face. "I didn't get to sleep till two in the morning." She sighed and rubbed her eyes.

"Why couldn't you sleep?" Dora's eyes clouded.

"The same old reason." She yawned. 

Dora produced a sympathetic smile and said, "Don't worry, the Lord will set everything right."

Tara's mouth raised in a slight smile. "I know he will." 

"Well then, let's get the show on the road. I need to pack the things we are taking along." Dora stood up and straightened her plain black shirt.

Tara crawled out of bed and said, "Let me take a shower, then I will come to help you pack the things."

Dora smiled in appreciation. "I am looking forward to spending the day with the children." Her eyes twinkled.

"Me too. I would love to get to know them better."

"That's wonderful!" Dora smiled and patted her daughter's cheek. "There is no better way than  spending the day putting smiles on the faces of motherless children."

"You are correct, mom. I don't want to be anywhere else."

Dora squeezed her daughter's arm and smiled in gladness at her daughter's compassion. She walked out with a smile on her face. Her decision to take Tara to the orphanage once a month all those years ago was worth it.

                           ★★★★★

The taxi screeched to a halt as both women climbed out.

Armed with two bags each of goodies; they marched towards the pale blue duplex that had "God's Children Haven" boldly written on it. 

Climbing up the concrete steps, they arrived at the mahogany door that shielded the inhabitants from the outside world. Tara knocked on the door. While waiting, Dora caressed the potted tulips that stood proudly on both sides of the door.

The orphanage door squeaked open as a dark-skinned matron welcomed them in. They exchanged pleasantries with her.

Stepping further into the house, they smiled in fondness at the cute artworks of the children which hung on the wall.

Tara giggled at one artwork in particular. It was a lopsided drawing of a butterfly. The body of the butterfly was a lot larger than the wings. 

"Welcome, Dora and Tara. It's so nice to have you here." The voice of Mrs. Tessy, the owner of the orphanage, drew the attention of the two women.

The mother and daughter smiled at the middle-aged woman in.

"Where are the children?" Tara asked as her eyes roamed around.

"They are in the playroom."

"Okay.  We brought these for them."
They handed the bags of things to the women.

"We got some school supplies for them," Dora said smiling

"Thank you. God bless you both." Mrs. Tessy said as she took the bags from Dora.

Dora and Tara sent the woman a smile and proceeded down the hallway to the last room on the right.

The voices of excited children filled the women's ears as they entered the peach-painted room with different toys scattered around.

"Good morning, children." The women announced their presence.

The children looked upon hearing their voices, a large smile split on their faces. They abandoned their toys and raced to the two women, who crouched down to embrace the excited children.

A little girl leaped on Tara that she could barely keep her balance. 

"I missed you, auntie Tara." She flung her hands around Tara's neck. 

"Aww! I missed you, too, Remi. How are you doing?" Tara kissed the girl's cheek.

"I am fine, but I am sad because my doll's leg broke." She pouted and rubbed her eyes.

"Aww! That's not nice. Let's see if I can fix it." 

The girl smiled brightly and pulled Tara to her playing spot in the corner of the room.

They crouched down by the girl's pile of toys, which comprised two Barbie dolls and a cooking set.

The girl handed Tara the doll with a broken leg.  She watched attentively as Tara effortlessly twisted the leg back in place.

"Voila! Here you go, dearie." Tara smiled in contentment as the little girl beamed at her.

"Yayy! Thank you, auntie Tara." The little girl ran off to meet her friends.

Left alone, Tara tuned into the conversation Dora was having.

"... Add the two numbers before you divide the other numbers," Dora said to the boy she was helping with his homework.

Deciding not to interrupt her mother, Tara walked across the room to a boy who sat alone with a drawing book, crayons, and colored pencils.

Looking down, she saw him coloring a picture with "my family" inscribed beneath the drawing.

"Hello. How are you doing?" She asked with a smile.

The boy looked up with a blank expression. "I am fine," he snapped and closed his book.

Not disturbed by his defensive attitude, she asked, "Can I have a seat?" Her eyes flickered to the space next to him.

"If you want to," he said with distrust dancing in his eyes.

She smiled and plopped down beside him. She crossed her legs and said, "What's your name?"

He glared at her for a few seconds before replying, "Why do you want to know?"

"Because I want to be your friend." Tara smiled. 

His brows wrinkled.  "Why do you want to be my friend?" 

She tilted her head to one side and said confidently, "Because you look like a good boy who would make a good friend."

"Well, I don't want to be your friend!"

Tara went silent. Her eyes darted to her mother who was engrossed in teaching some children.

She looked back at the boy, who toyed with his book. Unease radiated off him. He didn't trust her. She wondered what made him so guarded.

"How old are you?" Her eyes gleamed with curiosity.

"Eight," he said without looking at her.

"That's wonderful! You are a big boy." She smiled. "What are you doing?"

"Nothing." His voice came out harsh.

"Oh! Okay. What do you want to do?"

"I don't know," he muttered.

She looked at his closed drawing book and asked, "What can you draw?" 

"Many things." His head remained down.

"That's nice." She searched her brain for things to say or do to ease his nerves.

"Uncle Philip!" came the excited voices of the children playing outside.

"Uncle Philip!" screeched the boy from beside her. She faced him and stared in wonder at the broad smile that spread across his face. 

Tara concluded that when he is older, he will be a heartbreaker by charming girls with his dazzling smile.

He jumped up and rushed towards the door, leaving his drawing book open on the floor. 

Other children abandoned their activities and raced out the door.

The orphanage staff had a huge smile on their faces. They wore a knowing look.

Tara faced Dora with a raised brow and Dora shook her head and shrugged in response.

Tara faced the staff and asked, "Please, what is going on?"

"One of their favorite visitors has come," Mrs. Tessy replied with a smile.

Tara nodded in understanding and faced the door.

The loud voices of the children drew closer. 

Tara's ears perked up as a familiar male voice rose above the children's chatter.

Tara swallowed hard as the face from two Sundays ago came into view.

"Good morning everyone." He sent a smile to each person present.

"Good morning, Philip." Mrs. Tessy and Philip embraced each other with fondness shimmering in their eyes.

Locking eyes with Tara, Philip's smile broadened. He untangled himself from the excited children and headed towards her.

"It is so nice to meet you again, Miss," he said as he stretched out his hand for a handshake. "Thank you so much for your help that day."

Tara shook his hands and said, "You are welcome, Sir." 

He smiled, released her hand, and stepped back.

She looked up and said with a smile, "It was wonderful having you in our church. Thank you so much, sir, for the things you did for the youths."

As Philip opened his mouth to speak; Dora sauntered over and spoke up with a huge smile. "Yes. It was great having you over. The young ones needed to hear those wise words."

"Thank you so much, ma'am. But I thank the Lord for enabling me to help my fellow youths. And please, both of you should call me Philip."

Both women smiled in acknowledgment. Dora took her leave when a child asked for her attention.

"Uncle Philip!" yelled a boy and a girl as they skipped toward the adults.

"Please, let's go outside to play." They chorused and looked at him with puppy dog eyes.

He placed his palms on their shoulder and asked, "What game do you want to play?" 

They thought for a second and shouted, "Let's play a ball game!"

"And hide and seek." The girl added.

He nodded in agreement. They held his hand and pulled him along.

Suddenly, the girl stopped and faced Tara with a toothed smile. "Come and join us." 

Tara shook her head vigorously. "No. I don't know how to play ball."

"Okay, we shall race. You said you used to run in school, right?" The girl pouted. "Please, come and play with us."

Tara sighed. "Okay. Let's go." She took her place by their side as they proceeded out the back door.

                           ★★★★

   "PHEW!" the adults and children exclaimed as they plopped down on the grass. The late afternoon sun shone on the group as they gasped for breath. 

After uncountable rounds of hide and seek, playing catch with the ball,  and of course, rounds of racing that Tara always came first in, the group was exhausted.

Philip faced Tara and said with a smile, "You run pretty good."

Tara toyed with the grass and muttered, "Thank you. It has been quite a while since I ran."

"You should do it more often."

Tara nodded. "Yeah, I should," she muttered more to herself.

"We should do it again." The boy squealed and jumped up.

"Yes, we should. Now!" The little girl struggled to get up.

"NO!" Tara and Philip yelled together.

"If I run again I will faint," Tara said as she wiped the sweat from her forehead.

"We shall do it another day," Philip said and patted the boy's shoulder.

"And besides, it is time for me to go home and for you guys to prepare for dinner," Tara said as she got to her feet.

The children threw their heads back and groaned.

Philip stood up and straightened his grey shirt that was glued to his body from sweating. "Let's go in. I need to talk with Mrs. Tessy." 

Dora was all packed up and ready to go when they got inside.

"I was about to look for you," she told Tara.  "We should start going so that we can get a taxi."

Tara nodded and picked up her bag that was placed on the light blue couch.

"Ladies, can I drop you home?" Philip asked as he came to stand in front of them.

"Oh no, thank you for offering, but we have some places to stop by before getting home," Dora responded with a smile.

"No problem. It was nice spending time with both of you." He smiled at both women. "I hope we meet again."

They returned his smile.  Dora and Tara went around the room to hug and say goodbye to the children and staff.

Many of the children had a downcast look, and they only cheered up when the women promised to return soon.

Walking out of the building, Tara felt that the events of the day were different. She hadn't had so much fun in a long time. When she raced with the children, she felt she was racing towards something new.

She wondered what new changes would come up and how they would change her.

                    ★★★★ ★★

Phew!

This chapter is the longest so far 😁But I believe it was worth it.

So... 

Moving on to...

Our Question Of The Chapter: What games do you play when you have the opportunity?

Mine are: Scrabble & Words with friends 

Monopoly

Chess

And candy crush.

Thank you for reading ❤❤❤❤

Until next time. Play some games, but not too much. XD