what you sow

[katrea]

On the doorstep of a townhome in New York City, a basket is placed.

The doorbell rings.

There are footsteps, and then there are not.

Comments

[katrea]

The basket child takes this in solemnly.

[pythbox]

"And you're too big to be a baby, and you can talk. Babies can't talk," she says.

[katrea]

"Okay," says the basket girl. "I can talk."

[pythbox]

"Yeah. So you're not a baby. So you came from somewhere and you weren't just born in front of my house. But you don't remember anything?"

[katrea]

Basket-girl shakes her head, frowning.

[pythbox]

"My aunt is going to try to find your parents," says Elizabeth.

[katrea]

The basket-child blinks owlishly at this pronouncement. "Why?"

[pythbox]

"In case you got kidnapped from them or something, I guess," she says.

[katrea]

"Why would that happen?"

[pythbox]

"I dunno."

[katrea]

"Oh." The basket girl begins to climb out of the basket, not particularly gymnastic about it.

[pythbox]

Elizabeth watches closely, in case she needs help.

[katrea]

The basket girl tips the basket over in the process of emerging, and winds up under it.

[pythbox]

Elizabeth lifts up the edge of the basket and peers at the girl underneath.

[katrea]

The girl looks up at her. "I didn't want to be in a basket, anymore," she explains.

[pythbox]

"Oh," says Elizabeth. "Well, come out, then."

She holds up the edge and scoots back to make room.

[katrea]

The girl crawls out from under the basket, then sits down, no longer in it.

She looks out the window, and she yawns.

[pythbox]

"Do you wanna go to sleep again?" says Elizabeth. "You can."

[katrea]

"I wanna know what's happening," complains the debasketed girl tiredly, but she flops against the couch anyway.

[pythbox]

"Me too," says Elizabeth.

[katrea]

"If I'm not new I should have a name," she adds.

[pythbox]

"Well, do you?"

[katrea]

"I don't know!"

[pythbox]

"Me neither," says Elizabeth. "I guess your parents would, if Chris finds them."

[katrea]

"Are you sure I have those?" asks unbasketgirl suspiciously. "I don't remember having those."