Arizona's Zone: Why not? Part 4

To my surprise {and delight}, Natalie and Grace totally fell for Willow! "But Ari," Grace reminded, "It's against school regulations." I nodded and said that I knew.


So, we put our heads together and thought. The room inspector would be back, and I couldn't let her find my little charge! Natalie thought of something very clever.


"By now, all the rooms on this level are inspected. We could station her in one of the janitor's closets until the inspection is done. It wouldn't be any more than five minutes!" She suggested.


Willow looked up trustingly at me. "Should we do it Ari?" She called me by my nickname. I nodded. "Let's go!" I took her hand, and carefully led her out into the hallway.


Luckily, no one was there. Willow was comfortably tucked in a pile of clean rags in the janitor's closet. "Call back Mrs. Wilkers. We're all ready now!" I smiled.


The inspector was done in a couple minutes. "Good work, students!" She beamed, happy with the order she found. I exhaled deeply when she exited. "Glad THAT'S over with!" Grace giggled.


Natalie quickly retrieved Willow. The little girl was happily excited. "I got a place to live!" She cheered. "Not yet," Grace said. "Yeah, we still got to figure out a bunch more things." I said.


"Like what will Willow wear and how she'll get out and about," Natalie added. "She can't stay in two rooms forever, 'Zona." I nodded.


She was right. "For now, Willow, we'll have to stay here." I stated. "You can borrow some of my old clothes." Once she was all dressed up in capris and a tunic {and once her chocolatey hair was put in braids}, she hopped up on the windowsill. 


"Willow!" I cried, but it was too late. She swung open the windows, leaned out, and laughed. From below, I could hear questions of, "Who's that?" I was appalled. NOW what?