My name is Sabrina Sabrina sighed Whatever The orphanage would not just release you into anyone’s custody said Ms Smirt Oh really How about Ms Langdon who swore her toilet was haunted said Sabrina Everyone has their quirks Or Mr Dennison who made us sleep in his truck Daphne chimed in Some people love the great outdoors Mr and Mrs Johnson handcuffed us to a radiator Sabrina cried Ms Smirt rolled her eyes You act like it was the end of the world Imagine how hard this has been on me I was mortified when I heard what you said to the Keatons They locked us in their house for two weeks so they could go on a cruise to Bora Bora Sabrina said I think it was the Bahamas Daphne said It was Bermuda and they brought you both back some lovely T-shirts said Ms Smirt Anyway it’s all water under the bridge now We found a real relative who is actually eager to take you into her home and not a moment too soon To be honest we have run out of families looking for rude little girls Even if she were an imposter I would hand you over to her With that Ms Smirt put her nose back into her book Sabrina looked at the title It was called How to Get the Love You Want The conductor’s voice rang out from the speakers on the ceiling He announced that Ferryport Landing was the next and last stop What’s an imposter Daphne asked It’s a person who pretends to be someone she’s not Sabrina said Do you think there’s any chance she’s really our grandmother Not a chance Sabrina whispered into her sister’s ear Dad told me she died before we were even born No she’s some crackpot but don’t worry we’ll be gone before the crazy old bat knows what’s happened The train slowed as it pulled into the station and passengers got up from their seats They took down their bags from the luggage racks above and tossed half-read newspapers onto the coffee-stained floor before heading toward the doors Ladies let’s go Ms Smirt ordered Sabrina didn’t want to meet this imposter but she knew better than to argue with the old crone Smirt had a reputation as a pincher and she’d left more than a few nasty purple bruises on back-talking orphans So Sabrina did as she was told and dragged Daphne’s and her tiny suitcases down from the rack then followed Ms Smirt and her sister off the train
The rain was bitingly cold Daphne shivered so Sabrina wrapped her arm around her sister’s shoulders and held her tightly as they disembarked onto the crowded platform The two of you had better be polite or there’s going to be trouble Ms Smirt said No sass no back talk stand up straight and act like young ladies for once or so help me I’ll Ms Smirt A chubby old woman interrupted the caseworker’s threat She was dressed in an ankle-length navy-blue dress and had a white knitted shawl around her shoulders Her gray hair was streaked with red hinting at its original color and she wore it tightly tucked under a matching navy-blue hat with an appliqué of a big fuzzy sunflower in the middle Her face was a collection of wrinkles and sagging skin Nevertheless there was something youthful about her Perhaps it was her red cheeks and clear green eyes Next to her stood the skinniest man Sabrina had ever seen He wore a dark pin-striped suit that was several sizes too big and held a wide umbrella in one hand and his hat in the other His head was full of untamed platinum hair and his enormous watery eyes were hidden beneath wild unkempt brows Yes Mrs Grimm It’s us Ms Smirt said forcing her usual frown into a smile Sabrina Daphne the woman cried with a hint of a German accent Oh you are both so beautiful What little darlings I’m your Grandmother Grimm She wrapped her arms around the girls and pulled them close The girls squirmed to escape but the old woman was like an over-affectionate octopus
Mrs Grimm it’s so nice to meet you Ms Smirt interrupted I’m Minerva Smirt We spoke on the phone The old woman raised herself up to her full height which wasn’t very high and cocked an eyebrow at the caseworker Sabrina could have sworn she saw the old woman smirk It’s nice to meet you too said Mrs Grimm stiffly I am just so thrilled to have helped you and the girls reunite Oh I’m sure you are Mrs Grimm said turning her back on the caseworker and giving the girls a wink She placed a hand on each girl’s shoulder and turned them toward her companion Girls this is Mr Canis He helps me take care of our house and other matters He lives with us too and he’ll be helping me look after you she said Daphne and Sabrina stared up into the old man’s gaunt face He was so frail it seemed as though the umbrella he was holding might collapse on him at any moment He nodded silent as a statue then handed Mrs Grimm the umbrella He took the two suitcases from Sabrina and walked down the platform toward the parking lot Well ladies this looks like good-bye said Ms Smirt She stepped forward and limply hugged Daphne whispering something in her ear that made the little girl cringe Then she hooked Sabrina in her uncomfortable embrace Let’s make this the last time we see each other She gave Sabrina a final painful pinch before the girl could pull away then turned back to the old woman Good luck Mrs Grimm She reached out to shake Mrs Grimm’s hand but the old woman looked at it as if the caseworker were trying to give her something smelly and dead Smirt sensed her disapproval hemmed and hawed for a moment then quickly reboarded the train without looking back The doors shut and soon it pulled away back to New York City Mrs Grimm directed the girls down the platform unloading a barrage of kisses that continued all the way to the parking lot Mr Canis was waiting there next to a rusty heap of a car that squealed in protest when he opened the back door Is this safe Sabrina asked It got us here The old woman laughed I suppose it will get us back The girls crawled inside to find the interior was as ancient and shabby as the outside Springs and foam erupted through the seat cushions and when Sabrina looked down she could see a hole in the floorboard that revealed the pavement below Put on your seat belts Mrs Grimm said The girls searched for the belts but found just two ends of a frayed rope buried in the
