Shiloh

His calloused hand seemed to swallow her tiny sepia toned fingers.  Her coarse hair, wild.  The kind of wild that says my daddy got me ready today.  Her soft pink dress grazed the concrete around her worn ballerina shoes.  They waited for the bus that was due in a few minutes.  They were catching a ride to the theater across town. 
A group of women passed, nodding at the unlikely duo.  He had a roughness about him; a look of worry set deep into his eyes.  She was like any toddler, oblivious of the world around her, humming to herself, staring down at her shoes.
'She's beautiful....let me guess....um, four?' the grandmotherly woman inquired as she eyed the little girl.
Impressed, he agreed.  'Yes, exactly.'
'Well, I have 13 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren,' the woman humbly justified.  'She really is a doll, you keep her close,' she advised with a wink and a smile.
'Oh I will,' he assured her.  'I will.'
He uneasily glanced at his watch, trying to avoid anymore attention from passersby.  The bus should be here any minute.  Pulling her hand from his grasp, he decided it wouldn't hurt to let go a little.  She hopped onto the bench and began walking it like a balance beam.  His eyes kept a careful watch as she walked up and down the stripped wood, putting one foot directly in front of the other.  He was right there in case her curious feet darted out from the glass enclosure towards the street.
As he saw the bus nearing, he called to her.  'Shiloh.  Hey...Shiloh!  Come on,' he almost begged.
Unresponsive, he walked over to her and grabbed her hand and led her to the bus as it came to a hissing stop.  As she walked up each step, she felt the hand of this now familiar stranger upon her back.  She wondered if she was finally going home to the mother and father that were now becoming only a strange memory.