The Beckhams stood at the middle of the living room. Some members of the family stood with their arms crossed, at akimbo or in their pocket.

Mary walked into the huge room. She had lived there alone for a while but she spent most of her days in the basement. She could not recall what the living room looked like but she was definitely sure that that it was not as magnificent as the marvel before her eyes.

The mix of white leather and cushions, wood and frames, gold and black in traces, all formed a work of art before Mary's eyes.

Her eyes strolled around the room once more and then their sight landed on the Beckham family.

Alice had a wide smile on her face. Melody was clueless. Richard looked like one out of norm composure and George had nothing but fury in his eyes.

"Welcome to our humble home." Alice said as she took gentle steps towards Mary.

She got to where the ruddy girl was and took her hands.

"Come along now, I'll take you to the bathroom." Alice said. She walked up wooden stairs and Mary followed.

Richard slumped on one of the white-leathered sofas and let out a breath loudly.

Melody sat next to her father. The confused child yawned loudly. She was half asleep.

"Seriously dad? Mum slips into sexy mode and your thoughts get compromised?" George asked still standing. His arms were crossed while he glared at his father with disgust.

"Watch your tongue boy!" Richard scolded his son but guilt wrapped his heart.

"I'm watching nothing dad! I'm not blind and I know what I saw! And I'm not a kid!"

"You're a kid George! What would you know about marriage, love and the compromises you'd have to make to keep the one you love?" Richard asked. He expected his son to back off from the conversation due to his last statement, but George was truly 'no longer a kid'.

"Don't blabber to me about marriage dad. I don't think you know what it means for a man and a woman to be married because, if you did then you'd know that mum's your wife and you have her with you every time. You can have all the sex you want and stare at her boobs as long as you want anywhere and anytime because she is your wife. You don't have to fulfil her every request first before she sleeps with you. She's not a whore. And you don't need to quiver at a bit of her nudity when you see it every day. She's your wife and it's time you stopped treating her like one of the bitches on Playboy Magazine." George said.

After the fifteen year old spoke, he saw the red in his father's eyes and a chill crept down his backbone. It was then he realised that he had gone too far with his words. He wished the ground could swallow him.

Richard stared at his son for a while. His mouth was opened for a second and then he shut them close. He tried hard to dust George's words off his shoulders but the words came back to him. They were repeated within his skull, over and over. He looked down and then looked straight at his son's eyes. They only spelt one thing; Disrespect.

A few minutes of tranquillity had passed by and Richard's cackle broke the chains of silence. He laughed mockingly like the Joker would.

George was startled for a while then he gazed at his father with fear.

Richard unlike his wife Alice was absolutely normal but like every human had their demons, he had a hateful side as well. A dark side his family had seen twice or thrice and dreaded.

George took silent steps backwards. He had to get far from his father. He knew what followed after the crazy hollow laughter.

Richard still laughing began to take a few steps as well towards George.

Melody bit her fingers.

Richard's heels were set to chase and George's feet were ready to run, when they heard a familiar voice call from the wooden stair case.

"Hey guys, get ready for something that will blow your mind!" Alice shouted.

George gave out a sigh of relief.

"Saved by the bell." He thought.

Alice hopped down the stairs like a twelve year old. The smile on her face remained constant, full of pride and satisfaction.

When she finally strolled down the last stair, she stood beside the stairs as though waiting for someone to join her. Suddenly like an announcer, in the loudest tone she could muster, her words beat the air around the cabin.

"I present to you the new and improved version of Green eyes!!" She said, hands pointed upwards.

In that second, a figure walked down the stairs with calm grace.

First a neat and fair pair of ankles appeared, then the smooth skin of legs and thighs followed then hips and others were hidden by a pair of mint coloured shorts. Waist thin and perfect was kissed by the knot of a white T-shirt which was covered at sides by plaid sleeves. A face that could only belong to a movie star sparkled smooth and white. Pink lips could never shine better, nose perfect in its way, ears clean without earrings or a spot. Green eyes glowed bright and beautified by full long eyelashes. Eyebrows carved as though by a make-up artist. Brunette hair shone at ends wrapped in a neat bun but fell at sides in a sassy and yet cute way.

That figure was Mary Angela. A clean and perfect Mary Angela.

"Pretty!" Melody said with bright eyes. The innocent child could not hold back the words of truth, though the one before her was her pet's murderer.

"Sweet lord of all things perfect and pure." George said in the calmest of ways. His eyes strolled up and down Mary's perfect being.

When her eyes caught his, he cleared his throat, put his hands into the pocket of his jeans and looked away in his own charms. The cool kid charm.

Richard's eyes glowed but the reason for the brightness in his blue circles of vision differed from his son's.

Whatever reason it was, Richard took a few steps backward and forgot about the existence of the sofa behind him. His calf came against the chair and he fell on it. Luckily, it was a soft leather chair so no damage was done. However sweat began to gather at the lumpy waves on his forehead. Drops of the fatigue water began to trickle down his bearded face.

George glared at his father's reaction with disgust and lucid suspicion.

Richard caught his son's eyes strolling on him. He stood up, folded his hands, cleared his throat and spoke in the most comfortable way possible "You did a great job Alice. She looks more human now."

Alice smiled.

"Alright! Since we're all here and we're all exhausted, how about we have dinner." Alice said.

No one spoke.

Completely ignorant of their behaviours and negligent to their suggestions, Alice went into the kitchen with Mary and started the preparation of a perfect evening meal. The kind of meal that told the household that a guest was present.

After the perfect and satisfying meal, Mary and the Beckhams sat at the living room. Their stomachs filled till laziness made itself a friend.

"Now that we've eaten, it's time to discuss the most important matter now." Alice announced.

No one spoke as always. They just turned their eyes to Mary.

"It's about where Mary would be sleeping tonight. And not just tonight but other nights as well."

"What kind of screwed up question is that Alice?" Richard barked. He had taken enough nonsense from his wife. He turned to George who nodded slightly at him.

"Alice you can't keep having everything you want when it concerns this dog murderer!" He said and pointed at Mary.

George nodded again but with pride on his shoulders this time.

Alice placed her hands over Mary's ears.

"Why would you call her that and in her presence?! What's gotten into you Richard?!"

"What's gotten into me?! What's gotten into you Alice?! Why are you acting strange around this girl?! She killed your kid's dog! No that's wrong. She butchered your daughter's dog! If you had no kids then I'd understand your madness but you've got your own kids! Two incredible kids! You've got a beautiful, innocent and cheerful daughter who doesn't look like a reject! So why on earth are you obsessed with this one?!"

"You've answered your question Richard. It's because I'm a mother. I am a mother so I understand the pain of a child. I can tell their pain and wishes even when they say nothing. I also know that I'd feel great pain if my child got missing. I can only imagine the pain her mother must be going through right now...not sure if her child is dead or alive. It's tragic. Just tragic." A tear fell down Alice's right cheek.

Richard bit his lip when Alice spoke of the pain Mary's mother would have felt.

George noticed but stood still.

"All I'm asking is that we take care of her until we find her real parents. If we try for weeks or months and come up with nothing, we let her go. She will be placed in the best orphanage in the city. It's just for a while Richie. I'm just offering the poor girl warmth and comfort while we make a few calls. That's all." Alice said but in the sexy way like did before. With googly eyes she spoke in gentle whispers. Whispers that turned Richard's already made decisions to pudding.

"Fine! About where she'll sleep...she can stay in the basement. After all that's where we met her. She'll feel more comfortable there." Said Richard.

George nodded in agreement.

Melody remained silent and half asleep.

"No! She's not a dog! Even Poodles stayed with Melody! On a bed! She's human...and speaking of Melody...our new guest will be staying in Melody's room." Alice said.

Richard and George mumbled and complained. A sensible word could not be picked.

"I found a perfect bed stead and extra bed foam in the basement. We'll take it to Melody's room. That's where Green eyes would sleep tonight and other nights. Come help me get the bed Richie. George you go with Melody and clear up some space for our guest." Alice commanded.

After a little more murmuring, everyone in the Beckham family did as Alice commanded, except Mary Angela who sat still in the living room.

Everyone had left the room. Mary gazed at the fire that glowed in the fire place. She smiled.

A bed had been prepared for Mary and the Beckhams had their bath and got ready for bed.

Alice entered Melody's room with the girls.

Richard and George stood at the door.

Mary climbed the bed stead prepared for her, turned to the wall and began to sleep.

While Alice tucked in Melody, the little girl held her mother's hand. She wanted to say something but the only words that came out her confused mind were "New rommie?"

"Yes love. You have a new roomie. She's your new sister." Alice said.

"Come on boys. Let's go." Alice told Richard and George who hesitated.

After more talk and persuasion, the cabin fell into deep silence and darkness. Everyone had gone to bed.

Everyone might have gone to bed but in the early hours of the morning, George Beckham twisted and turned in his bed. He was wide awake.

"Dad's gone crazy! Everyone's gone crazy! I don't care how pretty she is..." George muttered as he stood up from his bed.

He put his feet into furry flip flops and tip toed out of his room with a very dim torch light in his hand.

He tried hard to walk without making a sound but the old cabin could not help itself but creak.

While George struggled to walk quietly, he heard a sound that troubled him.

It sounded like a voice. A voice with a melody. Someone sang.

Melody's door was opened.

"Oh no!" George said as he took hasty steps towards his little sister's room.

He got to Melody's room and peeked in.

A dark figure stood in the middle of the room. George squinted.

At that moment the moon's rays hit the figure as though at George's request.

It was a female. She sang calmly. Both her hands wide apart in what seemed to be passion. She took a few steps from Mary's bed and walked towards Melody.

She stood over Melody and slowly took out an object.

She lifted the object.

"No!" George screamed.

The figure turned.

He turned on the flashlight and focused its rays on the once dark figure's face.

She smiled.