by Twila

Feedback is always welcome: twila@e-scribblers.com.

Copyright © 2008 by Twila. All Rights Reserved.

---

“More like scared,” Lizzie admitted truthfully. Even though there was almost four years difference between her and Megan, Megan seemed very mature for her age and Lizzie could admit that she was actually immature.

“Why?” Megan asked in concern.

“I haven’t had a family since I was your age. I’ve been alone a lot. I’m not sure I’ll fit in very well.” Lizzie was shocked to find herself admitting all of this to practically a stranger. Again, Megan proved her worth and sincerity by her response.

“I know it’ll take some getting use to,” Megan said. “We’re a noisy lot, but I think you’ll like it. It’ll be great having you in school too.”

“What grade are you in?”

“Sixth and working on some seventh.”

“Wow, you must be smart,” Lizzie exclaimed.

“Not really. It’s just much easier with Mom teaching us. I learn more, faster.”

“Oh. Well, I hope that works for me. How exactly does this home schooling thing work?”

They had arrived at the van and after climbing in the back and buckling up, Megan explained how it was set up.

“So you all do school at the same time and your mom sort of helps out where needed?”

“Sort of. She teaches us history and science and math, then we work on stuff by ourselves while she goes to the next person.”

Does your other mom teach you too?”

Megan nodded. “When she’s home and sometimes in the evenings if we still have stuff to finish. Mama works almost everyday and Mom stays home, except for one or two days a week, she goes to work. Then we have a sitter if Mama can’t get off.”

“You do school with the sitter?”

“Some stuff that we can do on our own, otherwise we wait until someone gets home from work and finish. Then we have evening classes after dinner.”

“What about friends?”

“We have friends in the neighborhood where we live and see kids at activities we go to like karate and art classes.”

Lizzie was quiet, trying to absorb all of this information and picture what it would be like. Before she could ask another question, they had parked at a restaurant and were unloading.

Lizzie hadn’t been out to eat in a long, long time and just followed Megan, sitting across from her and taking the menu she gave her. “What are we allowed to get?” she whispered to Megan.

“Anything you want,” Megan said. “I can still get stuff from the kids menu, but you’re too old for that, so just find something you like.”

Lizzie looked over the menu and then set it aside to watch the rest of the kids. Andy and Allie were talking softly as the rest of the kids colored with the crayons and paper the waitress had provided.

“Lizzie, do you know what you want?” Andy asked, after noticing that Lizzie was watching them.

Lizzie shrugged.

Andy let it be. “Megan?”

“Yes, ma’am. The hamburger please, off the children’s menu.”

Lizzie stared at Megan. ‘Ma’am?’ Then she remembered that’s what she’d answered her mom’s with earlier. As Lizzie thought it over, that’s how Megan had answered them every time and so had the rest of the kids. Lizzie’s mouth fell open. ‘Did they expect her to do that? She didn’t think so,’ was her defiant thought.

Andy had asked the rest of the kids what they wanted and went back to Lizzie. She was surprised to see a defiant look on Lizzie’s face. ‘Ut oh’ Andy thought. “Lizzie , do you need more time or have you decided?” Andy wished she wasn’t sitting at the other end of the table, so she got up and headed over to Lizzie. Lizzie’s eyes got bigger as Andy approached.

Ut oh, did I do something? She doesn’t look happy about something?

Andy pulled out the chair by Lizzie and sat down. “Do you need some help, hon?” she asked softly and gently.

Lizzie stared at her in shock. She had thought she was mad at her for something but she didn’t sound like it. Lizzie nodded.

Andy didn’t correct her. That could be done once they were home. “What do you like to eat? They have burgers and pasta and chicken.”

“Burger,” Lizzie whispered.

“They have mini ones and big ones.”

“Mini.”

“Okay. Now, what do you like on them?”

“Ketchup and mayo.”

“And to drink?”

Lizzie stared at the menu. “Can I have anything?” she whispered. She hadn’t had a coke in a long time and really wanted one. Caffeine drinks were not allowed at the orphanage.

“Like what?” Andy asked, confused. She couldn’t understand what she meant.

“Coke?”

Andy smiled. “I don’t think one will hurt you.”

“Thank you.”

Andy gave her a hug and headed back to her seat.

“Everything okay?” Allie asked and Andy filled her in.

The meal was an eye opener for Lizzie. The nuns ran a strict orphanage and meals were usually quiet, with whispering going on but not much else. Her new siblings weren’t loud, but they didn’t whisper either. Her new parents laughed with them too. Lizzie couldn’t remember a more enjoyable time. She was sorry to see it end.

Andy and Allie noticed that Lizzie was very quiet on the ride back to the orphanage. Andy could tell her wife was close to crying. She squeezed her hand as they pulled into the parking lot. “Soon, babe.”

“I know. Sorry.”

“It’s okay. I wish we didn’t have to wait either. She’s tearing me apart inside.”

Allie turned a knowing grin on her partner. For all her hard exterior, she was a softy inside. Allie knew it and so did their kids.

Lizzie was almost in tears as they pulled in. She lost it when Allie hugged her.

“Shhh, hon. Please,” Allie begged, hugging her tight and crying with her.

Andy couldn’t stand it anymore. She hugged Allie and Lizzie. “Wait here. I’ll be right back.” She strode into the headmistress’ office. “We want to take her home now. What do we need to sign to do that?” she demanded.

The headmistress stared at her a minute and then smiled. “Well, legally, you can’t. The paperwork isn’t ready, you know that. But,” she added, holding her hand up when Andy would have interrupted. “You can always act as a foster family, briefly, until the paperwork comes through. It should only be a few days. We’ve done that before.”

Andy breathed out a relieved sigh. “Great. Let’s do that.”

Allie, meanwhile, put Megan in charge of the kids in the car and led Lizzie inside. She met Andy coming out. Allie relaxed when she smiled at them.

“Lizzie, why don’t you go get packed while we sign some papers,” Andy smiled at her, watching as she stared at her in surprise.

“Really?” Lizzie whispered, afraid she was dreaming.

“Really. Meet us in the headmistress’ office when you’re done.”

Lizzie nodded, in a daze, and then headed off.

Continued in Part 4

Feed the Scribbler: twila@e-scribblers.com.