Victoria Swan — John Dony

She was born on a cold rainy February morning. Even the midwife gasped with horror when the small disfigured child was lifted into the air for its mother to see.

The mother didn't even look at her baby, didn't even look. She just spoke one word “No”.

So the baby was taken to the Angels of Mercy orphanage on Victoria Street. No name, no family. Not a great start by any ones imagination.

The nurse walked briskly with the small crying bundle, not wishing to be in the rain any longer than she had to be. She approached the small Hatch the orphanage had had installed 5 years ago, only because so many babies had been left on the doorstep in all weathers. It cut down on even more misery.

A serving hatch. Serving up misery and loneliness for so many. The nurse rang the bell and she heard a large metal bolt slide away out of sight. A voice asked for her name and hospital, she gave them both willingly. The serving hatch slid open and she placed the child on the cold stone slab.

“Name of child?” came the voice questioning from behind the hatch.

The nurse was confused, the child had no name? She looked around her and spoke the first name she saw “Victoria, her name is Victoria”.

The nurse turned away and walked passed the street sign that had just unwillingly christened a small hunchbacked unwanted baby girl.............Victoria.