Tajna ima krila - Secret has wings Drawing inside the book and cover, author Dalibor Prstacic. Book is published on Croatian language. Here is a gift for kids and parents translated to English language: Renata Renata is not quite a local, Croatian name. Re-nata is a name of Roman descent, meaning reborn. Perhaps this might seem irrelevant hadn't there been for an event that changed a little girl's life completely. She was found twelve years ago in a hand basket in front of an orphanage in Nazorova Street in Zagreb. She was no more than a newborn baby, neatly wrapped, wearing clean clothes and feeling hungry. So hungry that all you could see was a tiny red face with mouth opening as wide as possible, making noises that could have meant just about anything. This time it meant she was hungry, but it might easily have meant wet diapers. As soon as she was found she made fuss. A nurse made sure she was fed and her diapers were changed, while the other nurse informed the manager and the police. An advert was printed in the media. Her mother was urged to respond to it. The days went by and nothing happened nor did anyone respond to the advert so the nurses continued taking care of the baby. At first they called her “baby”. As simple as that – “baby”. They were hoping her real mother would appear and they would find out the baby's name, that is, if she had one. As this didn't happen they decided to name her and they threw a small party attended by all of the children living in the orphanage. They decided the name would be Renata. She was very sweet and loved by all. At times, people who couldn't have children of their own would come to the orphanage. It was a very sad sight. It's hard to tell who was more disappointed upon their leaving. However, there are certain rules and conditions that determine who gets to become a «parent». It was very often that a child who could understand the reason of their visit would sneak in behind them. It would pull them by their sleeve or grab the lady by her hand as she was leaving, and ask her: Are you my mommy? Or Would you be my mommy? There are so many kind people out there who want a child, but unfortunately there are those who cannot take care of their child for some reason. Life isn't always fair and can be cruel. Little Renata was growing up enjoying affection and love of the nurses and the children loved playing with her. A few months had gone by and our little baby could already sit, crawl, chuckle and laugh on her own. The one who liked playing with her the most was Snježana. She was a seven year-old girl. She new what living in an orphanage was like, but she also new what it meant to live with her parents. Her parents got divorced because her dad was an alcoholic. Her mom remarried but her new husband didn't want Snježana. Grandparents didn't have the means to take care of the little girl and a few times even confronted each other about who would take better care of her. It was a strange decision made by a mother, but Snježana ended up in an orphanage. She couldn't remember her mom's face that well anymore, but the memory of her gentle hands stuck with her like a scene from her past. She knew that her mom had recently given birth to a new baby. Aside from that, an image of her angry father shouting would always appear to her. The orphanage was nice, but just like all the other children she also wished that some kind people would come and she would be the one to find a new home. Renata and Snježana became inseparable. As soon as Renata would see her friend, her face lit up and she smiled the way no game or a fun-time could make her smile. The nurses and the psychologist were worried about the girls being that close but they knew it happened sometimes. The years went by. Snježana left the orphanage because she found people who took her as their own child. They would sometimes bring her to see Renata, but lately they had stopped visiting. Renata was sad, but she hid her sadness behind playing with other children and she was getting ready to start school. One day Renata was invited to have a talk with the social worker and the psychologist. All of the children knew what that meant. Every single one of them had secretly wished for it. They knew that usually meant one more empty bed in the orphanage. - There are people who are interested in you. They would like a girl just like you... - Me? They want me...? Her scared eyes gazed at them in disbelief. - Would it make you happy if someone would want you for their own child? If they took you to their home? - Well...I think so, but no one wants me. - They do, sweetheart, they do. Let me introduce you to these nice people who would like to be your mommy and daddy. They entered the room where the people were sitting. She was speechless as she was looking at them. The lady reached out her hand to fondle the scared child. How much she had always wished to be fondled by someone! She kept hearing stories other children would tell, about how wonderful it was to have a mother and a father...And this lady, she had such gentle eyes. Still she stepped back. She got frightened. Her head started buzzing with new thoughts and fears. - May I ask a question? – She said... - Of course you may. - May I be left alone with this lady just to ask her a question? - Well...said the lady psychologist...I don't think that should be a problem. When they were left alone she kept quiet for a while and then she dared to ask. - Have you been here before looking for a child? - Well, yes, a few years ago. - Why didn't you want to take me then? - Well you know, we wanted a bigger girl at the time. - And did you find her? - Yes. She is a big girl now and you know her very well. - But I don't know anyone besides the kids from the orphanage and some other kids I met when we went on a field trip. - I think you might recognize this girl. It's your best friend. - My best friend? Tears started coming down Renata's face because she hadn't seen Snježana in a very long time. She didn't even dare to think about it. - Is that alright? Will you be our little girl so Snježana can be your big sister? - It's not true. - It is true. - And where is Snježana? I haven't seen her in such a long time. - You know, it was her who convinced us we should come take you, but a lot of application forms needed to be filled out for them to let us have you as our little girl...if you want to, of course. And you know, we weren't sure if they would let us take you specifically and we didn't want to hurt your feelings. Snježana didn't come here so she wouldn't accidentally mention something to you if we would later have to disappoint you... - I think I want Snježana to come here. The man that came to be her dad stood up and said he'd be back in half an hour with her friend. Renata and the lady were left alone. Soon came the lady psychologist and asked a few more questions. Then the social worker came, then the nurse who took care of the children and of Renata from the very first day she had laid her eyes on her. It was so strange. They talked about things the little girl couldn't understand. She was hoping it was true and scared they might change their minds. Maybe she was just too curious? Maybe she wasn't sweet enough? Her little heart pounded in excitement waiting for Snježana to finally show up. And she really did. As the door opened, a gentleman came in with a big girl she could hardy recognize. Her hair was long, in a pony tail. They looked at each other for a while. Then they both cried and hugged. Everyone knew that everything was finally going to be alright.
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