The Lost Girl (Part One)

[Savannah Taylor]

OOC Note: This is a story arc that I have been planning for a while now and finally have a chance to put into motion. This is giving some backstory information on my character. This first part was actually written last night for my RP in FFW, but it works for here as well.  Enjoy!

October 1993
Las Vegas, Nevada
OFF CAMERA




When one thinks of the fall, images of brilliantly colored leaves, chilled air, hooded sweatshirts and pumpkin spice everything immediately come to mind. While this is true for most of the country, more specifically the New England region, the opposite is usually in play for the West Coast. The chill in the air was not found in Las Vegas, Nevada. Brilliant sunshine, perfect breezes and seventy degree temperatures were the norm. The beige one story house sat in a quiet neighborhood approximately ten minutes away from the hustle and bustle of the famed Las Vegas Strip. A neatly manicured lawn, equally manicured hedges and a well taken care of front flower bed give the appearance that the occupants care greatly about their home’s appearance in the neighborhood. Inside of the kitchen, five year old Savannah Taylor sat at the kitchen table, thoroughly engrossed in consuming the chocolate chip cooking that sat on a plate in front of her. Her golden blonde locks were plated into two braids that hung down just past her shoulders. The cartoon faces of Aladdin, Princess Jasmine and The Genie beam out from the front of her tiny royal blue t shirt. Black leggings and pink socks act as complements to the Disney shirt. Seated on the chair next to her is a brown teddy bear with a red bow around its neck, a bear that Savannah was attempting to feed a cookie to. At the sink, Savannah’s grandmother, Genevieve, turns around to glance at her granddaughter.



Genevieve Taylor: Honey, what are you doing?


Savannah Taylor: Mr. Tuffy was hungry, Grandma.


Genevieve smiles as she takes a glass and fills it halfway with the carton of milk she had taken from the refrigerator. Placing it back in the fridge, she shuts the door and places the glass in front of Savannah.


Genevieve Taylor: I don’t think bears like cookies.


Savannah Taylor: Not like COOKIES?!


To a five year old, the thought of not liking the most delicious of snacks was unheard of. Her grandmother laughed to herself looking at Savannah’s aghast expression.


Genevieve Taylor: Why don’t we look that subject up later, okay? Halloween is next week. Are you excited?


Savannah Taylor: Yes!!


The five year old squeals with excitement at the prospect of a candy filled evening in one week. In reality, who wouldn’t get excited about that?


Savannah Taylor: I need my costume though, Grandma.


Genevieve Taylor: We’re going to have to go shopping after school tomorrow, aren’t we?


Savannah Taylor: Uh huh!


Genevieve Taylor: Do you have any idea what you want to be?


Savannah scrunched up her face as she thought over the question. It didn’t take long for the youngster to come up with an answer.


Savannah Taylor: Cinderella! Nobody in my class is going to be her.


Genevieve Taylor: Well that sounds like a good reason to be her then.


Savannah Taylor: When are we going?


Genevieve Taylor: As soon as Grandma gets you off of the bus.


Savannah Taylor: Yay! Can we get a Happy Meal too?


Genevieve Taylor: We’ll see how you are after school.


Savannah Taylor: Pleeeeeasssseeeeeee?


She folds her hands underneath her chin and flutters her eyelashes at her grandmother, her blue eyes almost pleading to be allowed her favorite chicken nugget Happy Meal.


Genevieve Taylor: Now how can I say no to that face?


Savannah Taylor: YES!


Her little fists pump in the air in victory as her grandmother just sits back and laughs. Even as her guardian and caretaker, someone who was supposed to be an authority in Savannah’s life, Genevieve found it hard to resist her granddaughter’s angelic face and gorgeous blue eyes.


Genevieve Taylor: But you have to be good in school, you hear?


Savannah Taylor: I promise!


Savannah goes back to nibbling on her cookie as she takes a sip of milk, being careful not to spill anything on her favorite Aladdin shirt. She goes to wipe her mouth with the back of her hand, then remembers the promise of a Happy Meal tomorrow and reaches for her napkin instead. Even though the prospect of shopping with her grandma was an enjoyable one, there was a feeling within the five year old that something was missing. She takes another bite of her cookie and chews as she looks at her grandmother.


Savannah Taylor: Grandma?


Genevieve is taken slightly aback by the tone in which her normally bubbly and enthusiastic granddaughter went about engaging with others.


Genevieve Taylor: What is it, sweetie?


Savannah Taylor: Where did Mommy go?


Genevieve had to place her hands on the table in front of her to brace herself. She wasn't entirely too surprised that Savannah’s curiosity would lead her to wonder where her mother was. Still, broaching a sensitive subject with an innocent child would prove to be no easy task.


Genevieve Taylor: Well, you see…...let me ask you a question. Do you know what a jail is?


Savannah Taylor: Is that where the policemen take the bad guys and lock them away?


Genevieve Taylor: It is. What happened was your mommy had something that wasn’t hers but the police were confused and thought it was, so they took her with them.


Genevieve hoped that was a delicate enough response for what went on just before Savannah’s birthday last month. No child should have to go through any time away from their mother or father, which is a fact that made this slightly more heartbreaking for Genevieve. How does she give her granddaughter some form of reassurance that her mother would be back soon? How can one give assurances about the unknown? Savannah looks down at the table, then back at her grandmother, her eyes wavering a bit.


Savannah Taylor: Does that mean Mommy is a bad guy? Is that why she isn’t here?


Genevieve Taylor: Oh honey….


Genevieve reaches across the table and places her hand on top of Savannah’s.


Genevieve Taylor: Your mommy loves you very much. Your daddy is working to get mommy back here with you. She isn’t a bad person.


Savannah Taylor: So she didn’t leave because she didn’t want to play with me anymore?


Genevieve Taylor: No sweetie. That isn’t it at all.


Savannah nods slowly as she finishes the last bite of her cookie. Genevieve sits back and watches her granddaughter intently. She couldn’t possibly imagine how an innocent five year old could grasp the fact that her mommy wasn’t coming home for a while. Then again, Savannah had always been a bright child, always curious and always loving to learn as much as she could. Kindergarten this year was proving to be one of the best things to have happened to the youngster. A sharp rap on her front door shakes Genevieve out of her reverie as she stands up and heads to the door. Standing on the opposite side was a middle aged woman with shortly cropped black hair, wire rim glasses and a sharp black suit with a white button down shirt. Standing behind her was a fairly tall, decently built Clark County Sheriff's deputy.


Genevieve Taylor: May I help you?


The woman shifts a black folder in her arms as she clears her throat.


Michaela James: Mrs. Taylor? My name is Michaela James with the Nevada Department of Child Welfare. This is Deputy Sanders with the Clark County Sheriff's Department. May we come in?


Genevieve stands back and allows Michaela and the deputy inside.


Genevieve Taylor: What is this about?


Michaela James: My office has received a couple of anonymous tips about child endangerment and potential abuse of a minor.


Aghast would be the best way to describe Genevieve’s facial expression when she heard Michaela’s words leave her mouth.


Genevieve Taylor: Excuse me? I would never harm my granddaughter or let anyone hurt her in any way, shape, or form.


Michaela James: My office has reports from a couple of witnesses who have seen you be verbally abusive in public places as well as grabbing her arm and legs on more than one occasion.


Genevieve Taylor: I never laid a finger on Savannah.


For her part, Savannah had remained quiet while the two unfamiliar people talked with her grandmother. She could see that her grandmother was not looking very happy.


Savannah Taylor: Grandma?


Genevieve looks at her granddaughter with a pained expression on her face.


Genevieve Taylor: Grandma is okay, sweetheart.


Michaela James: Mrs. Taylor, we have enough evidence to believe that Savannah is not safe to remain in your care.


Genevieve Taylor: What?!?


Michaela James: We will discuss this downtown. Deputy Sanders will escort you there himself.


The deputy steps out of the shadows and places his hands on Genevieve’s shoulders.


Deputy Sanders: Mrs. Taylor, would you turn around please?


Genevieve Taylor: Am i being arrested? I didn’t do anything!


Pained tears began to glisten in her eyes as the deputy turned her around, reaching for the shiny silver handcuffs. Deputy Sanders guides her arms behind her back as he begins to place the cool metal “bracelets” on her wrists.


Deputy Sanders: Genevieve Taylor, you are being placed under arrest for endangering the welfare of a child and abuse of a minor. You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to an attorney. If you cannot afford one, the court will provide one for you. Do you understand these rights?


Genevieve can only nod her head slightly as Deputy Sanders begins to escort her from the house.


Michaela James: Given the fact that her parents are not viable options at this time, we will be ensuring that Savannah is placed in a safe environment until a more stable, potentially permanent option is available.


Michaela turns her attention to Savannah, who has witnessed the entire ordeal. Clutching her beloved Mr. Tuffy to her chest, her eyes threaten to brim over with tears.


Savannah Taylor: Where is Grandma going?


Michaela James: Your Grandma is going with the nice deputy for a ride downtown.


Savannah Taylor: NO! I want Grandma!!


The tears were now spilling down her cheeks as she buried her face into the soft fur of her bear. Michaela stoops down to Savannah’s level and places a hand on her knee, a maneuver that is supposed to be a reassuring gesture. Not for the now shell-shocked five year old.


Michaela James: Hey, will you do me a favor? Help me get some of your clothes, books, toys, anything together.


Savannah Taylor: Why?


Michaela James: Because you, little one, are going to go on a trip.


Savannah Taylor: To see Grandma?


Michaela James: I’m afraid not.


Savannah Taylor: Then I don’t wanna go! I WANT GRANDMA!


The tot slides off of the chair, still clutching her bear, and runs past Michaela and down the hall to the room that had been made up for her. It didn’t make sense for Savannah. Just minutes ago, her grandmother was telling her that only the bad people were taken away by the policemen and that her mother wasn’t a bad person because she was sitting in jail. Now what was she to believe? She didn’t know it yet, but this would be the last time that she would set foot inside her grandmother’s house. There would be no trip to the store to pick out her Cinderella costume. There would be no McDonald’s Happy Meal with the precious toy inside. There wouldn’t even be a Halloween for her this year. All that would be certain was that her life would never be the same again. Her life was forever changed this day. But at five years old, Savannah didn’t realize this. She had been through a traumatic event and would need time to adjust to this Earth shattering change in her life. The only problem is, she might never fully adjust. That was a fact that would remain to be seen.