In the beginning, the female doctor had seemed kind and caring, but throughout the tests, she’d gradually become less and less talkative and less interested in asking Eshe questions until the whole experience began to feel like a well-rehearsed drill, almost mechanical.  It made Eshe wonder with a hidden grin if the woman doctor was secretly a robot.

The Rainbow of Hope House wasn’t the first orphanage she’d been in.  Not the others either.  But it was the nicest and cleanest.  And the strictest.

Most of the other children didn’t care and said it was worth the plentiful food and clean beds.  So, they did whatever was asked of them to ensure they wouldn’t have to leave.

Whatever the adults asked, the children did, including Eshe.

Because for all of its rules and punishments, Rainbow was nothing like the other places she’d lived, where the beds were dirty, as well as the people, and bad things happened to the older kids at nighttime, causing them to want to stay in their beds for days and days.

Rainbow was different.  Rainbow was safe.

And that was the reason why no one wanted to leave.  They even had doctors, who came to look at them a lot, checking for problems or sores, even in their mouths and ears.

The adults and teachers who ran the house weren’t as friendly, but they didn’t hurt you unless you did something wrong, and even then, the doctors would come to check you again right away.

It was hard living there.  But it was still better.

Eshe continued watching the expressionless man in his seat, wondering who he was.  She didn’t remember seeing him before, or even the woman doctor. Not until the examinations had started.  Suddenly, she’d appeared and began asking all sorts of questions, like whether Eshe could remember her family.  How she liked the house.  Whether anyone had hurt her before, and if so, where?

It was more than the other doctors asked, at least all at once.  But whatever she’d said to the woman doctor must have been good because she’d been chosen with the others and was now aboard a fancy airplane.

Eshe didn’t understand most of the testing, which had lasted for days, or what, exactly, they were being tested for.  She’d tried to ask, but the woman doctor had never answered her.  She’d simply tell her not to worry before continuing with the examination.

They were strange questions, too.  How well did Eshe sleep?  What kinds of dreams did she have?  Did she like music?  Or art?  Did she get nervous?  What things was she afraid of?  Did she like to play?  Could she draw?

So many questions.  And then there were the tests.  Then more questions.  Eshe had been convinced the woman liked her and enjoyed talking to her.

Now she wasn’t so sure.