Leonita showed up on our porch

Leonita showed up on our porch last night around 10pm. We heard her calling to us and when we went out, we found her on our bench, hair in curlers, baby in arms.

She had lost her way. Had lost her address. Her phone number. But she had her name. Nita. The baby turned out to be a doll, to our relief. Nita was sweet. Confused. But she laughed a lot and easily.

We spent a little while walking the block with Nita, to see if we might find someone who knew her or a house she recognized. Then we settled in on the porch bench with a blanket, and Barbara asked her questions while I called for reinforcements, requesting an extra nice policeman.

By the time extra-nice Chris showed up, we had a good guess at her street address and her daughter’s name. Her daughter was right around our age.

Barbara and Chris ended up getting Nita home. Later, as we settled in for the night I told Barbara I was glad she had found us. Not that other people wouldn’t have helped. But I didn’t like the idea of her on someone else’s bench in the cold, calling out with no one home.

“She told me why she picked our house,” Barbara said. “Our porch light was on.”