Friday, March 09, 2012

The meaning of, "orphan"

Maia was at work today because she had the day off.
She came into my office wanting to know why the meaning of orphan was given as having both parents dead.
"Are my parents, not you guys, you know,"
"Your birth parents.."
"...dead?"
"No."
"Then why does it say that? I am an orphan."
"It also means deprived of parental care. You were in the orphanage because you were deprived of parental care."
"For how long?"
"About two years."
"Two years!" she said. "Why did they put me there? Were they mean?"
"We don't know. And I don't think they were mean. We just don't know why. Would you like to know why someday?"
"Yes."
"Then we will go find them and ask them."
"Did they know about my ear?"
"Yes."
"Did you know them?"
"No."
"Did you give me the name, Maia?"
"Yes."
"What did they name me??
"Fatima?"
"Why did you change it?"
"I don't know, we just did. Do you want to change it back?"
"No. I don't know. It doesn't fit. Maybe."
"Okay, we can change it someday if you want. Maia Fatima, or Fatima Maia."
"And Isabella."
"Yes, and Isabella."
We looked up the names--Fatima and Maia.
And then she left, off to play games on the iPad.
My case is taking up a lot of my time and energy.
I have taken down my facebook page out of concerns. I hate being paranoid, but I think that's called for now.
John, Friday, March 9, 2012