Porch Swing Introductions

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porch swing 300x224 Porch Swing IntroductionsWhen the song wound down to a quiet close, Nikki and Allie continued to swing for a little while in silence. Finally Nikki smiled down on the tiny girl and asked if she wanted to hear about this family. At Allie’s nod, she pulled a small photo book out of her pocket and passed it to her. “Here. You turn the pages when you’re ready to hear about someone else, okay? That way if you have any questions you can ask them before we move on. Okay? … Hang on just a second before we start though.” She looked back to other end of the porch where Ms. Tyler still sat rocking. “We’re good here if you need to go. Thanks for bringing her to us.”

The social worker rose from her chair and came closer. “Goodbye Allie. Nikki will call me if you need anything. Okay?” Then she walked to her car and drove away.

Nikki looked back down at her small charge and grinned at her … “Whenever you’re ready!”

Allie smiled shyly and opened the book. The first photo was of Nikki with a very tall man. She pointed to him and looked at Nikki with her question in her eyes. “Ah … THAT is a very special man! His name is Jake and he is my husband. He loves me and all of our kids very much and I think that you will like him a lot.” Allie still looked dubious so Nikki continued, “He is a big guy and some times he talks kind of loud but he is never mean and he doesn’t hit me or the kids!”

“Never?”

“Nope! Yelling and hitting are against our rules for everyone in this house! We all try to be kind to each other no matter what.” She watched as the child processed that and then slowly turned the page. This page had another photo of Jake this time on the football field. “That’s Jake too. He’s a football coach at the High School. Have you ever been to a football game?” Allie shook her head, making her dark curls bounce, and Nikki leaned down and kissed the top of her head. “We will have to fix that!”

Allie slid her finger across to the next photo, a tall young man, with dark hair and eyes, who looked a lot like Jake. “That is our oldest son, Matthew. He is going to college so he’s not here most of the time but he comes home for the weekend when he can and he will be here all summer. He’s a lot like his dad. Big guy with a gentle spirit.” Allie nodded slowly and flipped the page over.

The 2 page spread featured a couple of beautiful teen age girls. Obviously sisters they were still very much individuals. Allie looked up at Nikki, ready for her introduction to these two. Nikki reached over and touched the page on the left. This is Morgan. She is 17 and a senior in high school. She and Mykah look a lot alike but you can tell them apart by their hair color. Morgan has dark hair like Jake and Mykah’s is red like mine.” Allie continued to gaze at her so she continued, “Morgan is very much a lady. The term girly girl is so Morgan! She likes dresses and flowers and her pink and white room. Then there is Mykah. She is my tomboy! You know what that means?” At a quick head shake she explained, “it means that she’s a girl who likes things that are more traditionally boyish. She likes blue jeans and boots, dogs and horses, and all kinds of sports! Morgan would have a picnic under a tree. Mykah would climb the tree and drop nuts on her sister’s head!”

Allie grinned up her red-headed foster mom who returned the huge smile and said, “My goodness! You are beautiful when you smile!

*****

I am just a bit dubious about my ability to wrap this story up by the end of the month! I meant to introduce the whole family here on today’s front porch but the characters just demanded more description. I hope that you are as happy as I am that Allie has found a safe place! Please continue to visit daily for the next installment in her story. Thanks!

 

April 18, 2012

My Only Sunshine

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Once Allie was awake Nikki began to gently release the straps that confined her in the car seat. When Allie was free, Nikki helped her out of the van and knelt down to the little girl’s eye level. “I know you’ve been through too many changes already and you’re probably not too happy about being here. That’s okay. We’re really happy to have you here and I think you’ll like us if you give us a chance. Okay?”

Knowing that she wasn’t really in charge of her own choices Allie whispered a quiet assent and accepted the hand that Nikki was offering to her. The tiny girl walked hand in hand with the beautiful red-haired woman towards the covered porch that covered the front of the house. Ms Tyler, carrying Allie’s tiny suitcase, walked behind them. When they got to the porch Nikki asked Allie if she wanted to go in the house and meet everyone or if she would prefer to sit on the swing and talk for a bit. Allie considered for a moment and opted for the swing. She and Nikki sat side by side on the porch swing which was set into a gentle motion by Nikki’s foot. Ms. Tyler set the suitcase down by the front door and sat in one of the rockers on the porch.

Nikki sat silent for a while and then began to talk in a calm, gentle voice. “This is one of my favorite places in the whole wide world! When I need to get away from everything and everyone … I just come sit her in the swing and think. I like watching the breeze blowing through the leaves and the flowers and all the little birds and animals that come play on the front lawn. Some times I watch the people in the cars driving by and I make up stories about who they are and what they’re doing. Other times I think about the clouds and decide what pictures they’re making.”

Allie had been watching and listening carefully. Now she seemed to have decided to trust this woman. “Mommy and I used to lie on our backs at the park and find pictures in the clouds. … Did you know my mommy died?”

Nikki set a sad gaze on the little girl beside her and responded, “Yes, Allie. I heard about that and I am so sorry! I know that you must miss her very much!” Allie nodded and brushed tears from her cheeks.

spring sunshine 300x225 My Only Sunshine“She loved me a LOT! She used to sing the Sunshine song to me. I miss that. Do you know the Sunshine song?”

Nikki thought for a moment and then nodded. “I think so Allie. Are you sure that you want me to sing your mommy’s special song?” At Allie’s nod, she took a deep breath and began to sing …

“You are my sunshine
My only sunshine
You make me happy
When the skies are grey
You’ll never know dear
How much I love you
So please don’t take
My sunshine
Away”

Allie snuggled close under Nikki’s arm and requested more. As Nikki continued to sing the little girl joined her and tears poured down both faces as they watched squirrels playing on the front lawn, swung gently, and sang about love and sunshine!

*****

Porch Swing Introductions

April 17, 2012

Nikki

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FC Pic 9 300x199 NikkiThe social worker had considered carefully before deciding where to move Allie. The foster home she had ultimately decided upon was with Jake and Nikki Simpson. Jake was a high school football coach and Nikki a registered nurse and stay-at-home mom. They had found a calling in fostering special needs children about a decade before when the youngest of their 3 children started school. Because they worked with children with big physical needs, each of the foster children had an assigned aide during the day, and there was a nurse on duty at night, to allow Jake and Nikki to rest. It was definitely a unique situation as Human Services didn’t have the financing to provide that kind of support to all foster families. But every time Vivian walked into this home, she wished they did! It was warm, loving, cheerful, just a happy place to be. When she had called to explain Allie’s circumstances, and ask Nikki if they would be willing to take her, the response had been exactly what she had come to expect from this family, “of course! What’s one more?” She just hoped Allie would not be overwhelmed or frightened by the physical handicaps of the other children in the home.

Pulling up in front of the neat suburban home she looked up into her rear view mirror at the sleeping girl in the middle seat of her van. She was not insensitive to all that this precious child had been through in the past couple of weeks. Unfortunately her story was not all that unique. There were too many children in this society who were well acquainted with neglect, abuse, and violence. She was determined to clear the child for adoption as quickly as possible and allow Brad and Allie to take her home. In the meantime … she hoped this would be the best place for her.

Vivian exited the mini-van and was opening the sliding side door just as Nikki came down the front steps towards her. Nikki noticed the sleeping child and whispered a quiet greeting to the social worker. “Oh my goodness … she’s adorable! Did she cry herself to sleep?” At Vivian’s quick nod she added that she thought it might be best if she could meet Allie alone out here since everyone inside might overwhelm the little girl in their anxiousness to meet her. She then leaned in, towards Allie, and began to talk to her in a gentle voice. “Hey Allie, can you wake up for me? I’m Nikki and I’m so excited to meet you! We have a perfect spot for a sweet little girl in our family!”

*****

My Only Sunshine

April 16, 2012

Moving

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minivan 300x232 MovingVivian Tyler had called the Cranfills to let them know she was coming to take Allie to a more permanent placement. Mrs. Cranfill had asked if they couldn’t please just keep her until she was released to a relative or an adoptive home. It was a tempting suggestion, especially since she knew it was what Lanie preferred too, but Ms. Tyler stood firm. The Cranfills were licensed only as an Emergency Placement and Allie had been there longer than she should have already. Besides … it would probably be better for the child to be in a home with a younger family and other children. She parked her minivan in front of the neat home and went to the door.

Mr. Cranfill opened the door and gazed at her with sorrow filled eyes. “There’s something very special about this child, ma’am. She’s tucked herself deep into our hearts and it’s hard to let her go. Are you sure you have to take her?”

“I’m so sorry. I do understand but I honestly believe it will be better for everyone if we follow policy and move the child to a longer term arrangement.”

“I guess we sort of had a feeling that the young social worker and her husband might like to adopt the girl. There was such an obvious connection there.” Mr. Cranfill was looking at her curiously.

“I really cannot share any confidential information, sir. All I can tell you is that Ms. Davis is very fond of the child. I felt it better to remove her from the case under the circumstances. We ALL want what’s best for Allie and she hasn’t been released for adoption yet.”

“I see,” said the elderly man, looking like he would like to say more about what might be best for a child that Vivian Tyler hadn’t even met yet. With some obvious reluctance he offered her a seat and said he would go fetch Allie. A few minutes later the couple came back into the room with a tiny dark-haired beauty. Mr. Cranfill leaned down and looked into the little girl’s face, “Sweetheart, this is Ms. Tyler. She’s a social worker and she’s going to take you to another home. There will be other kids to play with and so on. You’ll be happy there.”

Allie, looking dubious, simply shrugged in resignation and clung more tightly to her doll and her teddy bear. Mr. Cranfill passed her tiny suitcase over to the social worker and told her that he would walk out with them. Mrs. Cranfill squatted down to the child’s eye level and asked for a goodbye hug. Allie put her scrawny arms around the old woman’s neck as tears began running down both faces. Ms Tyler barely heard the whispered, “Goodbye Gramma,” as she carried the suitcase out the front door. A moment later the old man followed her to the van with Allie in his arms. Obviously struggling to speak he tucked the tiny girl into the car seat and then whispered, “Be good, Princess! We love you!” He glared briefly at the social worker and then hurried back to his house. Ms. Tyler looked at the little girl in the backseat of her van, silent tears pouring down her face, and wondered, not for the first time, if some of the rules were really in the best interest of the children. She checked the car seat connections to be sure Allie was secure, slid the van door closed as the child began to wail, and walked around to the driver’s door.

*****

Nikki

April 14, 2012

Love and Loss

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red sky at night 300x200 Love and LossBrad parked the police car in his driveway, pulled the keys from the ignition, and sat quietly for a few minutes before opening the door and getting out. Lanie had called him earlier so he knew that her meeting with her boss hadn’t gone as they had hoped it would. It was the result she had told him to expect but they were still disappointed. He leaned back against his car and gazed at the evening sky. “Red sky at night … some how I’m not feeling the promise of a delightful day tomorrow. How much grief, disappointment and loss is one little family supposed to endure? All of our friends are starting families, having babies, why … just … why?” He groaned in frustration and gazed out at the neighborhood they had chosen 3 years ago because it would be a good place to raise a family. Maybe they should of stayed in the condo. It would have hurt less than coming home day after day to an empty house.

Brad scrubbed his hands against his short hair and turned his gaze on their home. They hadn’t filled it with the babies they had both expected but it was full of love anyway. Were they wrong for wanting to share that love with children? He didn’t think so. And the worst part was that they could barely talk about the simmering disappointment that they both felt because Lanie already felt too guilty about her … THEIR … infertility. He had tried, time and again, to convince her that it didn’t matter, he didn’t love her any less, and he would be perfectly happy to just adopt. She was the one who had resisted, believing that one of these months the baby they wanted would miraculously be on it’s way. Besides … she had seen so many adoptions go wrong. Especially infants and they both wanted a baby! Lanie had said that she would like to adopt an older child or two later. Maybe some hard to place kids. But she wanted her own babies first. He had to admit that made sense. So they waited and hoped and waited and ….

He heard children’s laughter floating on the Spring evening air and gazed back out at the cul-de-sac. “What are we supposed to do about Allie? More waiting, eh?” Brad sighed heavily and pushed himself away from the car. He walked towards the house, pausing to pluck a few weeds from the flowers beds lining the walk. He could hear Copper, Lanie’s Pomeranian, working himself into a frenzy, so excited that Brad was home. “Am I never going to know what it’s like to have a child so excited to see me come home at the end of the day?”

The tiny dog’s volume increased and Brad looked up to see that Lanie had opened the inner door and was leaning against the lintel watching him. He smiled at her and beckoned her to come outside and sit in the porch swing with him for a while. As she opened the door Copper raced out to meet him and danced excitedly around his feet. He laughed and leaned down to pet the little dog. “Hey Beast! Did you have a good day?” Then he continued up the walk to meet his beautiful wife on their front porch.

~~~~~

Moving

April 13, 2012

(Finders) Keepers

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Ms. Tyler sighed as she leaned back in her chair and gazed across the desk at the earnest young woman. “Lanie … this isn’t a threat … but what if I told you that this could cost you your job?”

FindersKeepers titlecard 300x204 (Finders) Keepers“I was hoping maybe I could have an exception,” Lanie shrugged helplessly. “I didn’t really expect it but I hoped! Or Brad and I could arrange our schedules so that I could work at least part-time until she starts Kindergarten in the Fall.”

“Lanie, there are no exceptions. Foster children do not go to day care. Period! It’s not a rule that I always agree with but it is a rule and we will comply with it.” She paused for a moment and gazed at Lanie fondly. “I like you, Lanie! You’re a lovely young woman, an excellent employee, a caring case-worker, and an awesome human being. I would hate to lose you. But we’re getting ahead of ourselves … does the child have family?”

Lanie shook her head. “It really doesn’t look like it. Her parents both spent their teens in a group home. Dad went straight into the military out of high school. Killed in action. Mom remarried. No sign of other family in the file.”

“Neither parent had a sibling ? Have you interviewed friends, neighbors, co-workers?” Ms. Tyler groaned lightly at Lanie’s vague head shake. “Lanie, you cannot … actually YOU cannot keep this case on your desk … WE cannot shirk our legal duties just because you’ve decided you want this child. Especially if you want to adopt this child! We have to make every possible effort to find a will and/or a relative. “

Lanie shrunk back into her chair and murmured, “I know. I know.”

“Allie is in an emergency placement?” Lanie nodded a sad affirmative and her boss sighed. “You know we can’t leave her there. She’s going to have to be placed in a foster home.”

“Can’t we take her?”

“Lanie … for heaven’s sake … you barely know the child and this is breaking your heart! How much worse is it going to be  if you take her home and then some relative crawls out of the woodwork? No … I’m sorry, Lanie, but you have to let the system work! I will get the research started on this case right away. In the meantime you and Brad can start the adoption paperwork. But Lanie … no promises! She isn’t yours yet and she may never be. You need to stay away so that she isn’t hurt worse if you aren’t allowed to adopt her!”

“But …”

“I mean it, Lanie! Children are not a pawn in Finders Keepers! You know that. I’ll do my job. You … try to be patient!”

Lanie wiped her eyes, tried to smile, thanked her supervisor, and stood to leave. As she reached to open the door she heard one last word of advice from her boss. “And pray Lanie! Pray!”

*****

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April 12, 2012

Job

11

cluttered desk 300x245 Job“Ms Tyler? Do you have a minute?”

Vivian Tyler looked up from her cluttered desktop and smiled, “Lanie! I always have time for you. Come on in.”

“Is it okay if I pull the door shut for a moment?”

Ms Tyler sighed, removed her glasses, and beginning to rub the bridge of her nose, nodded and said it was okay as long as Lanie didn’t plan to submit her resignation. Lanie laughed nervously, shut the door, and then perched on the edge of a chair, across the paper strewn desk of her supervisor. That woman looked up, put her glasses back on, took a deep breath, sighed it out heavily, and said, “Okay kiddo … spill it!”

Lanie smiled nervously and passed Allie’s case file across the desk. “Brad and I want to adopt this little girl.”

A concerned look on her face, Lanie’s supervisor questioned, “One of your cases?”

“Yes and no. Can I begin at the beginning?”

“Usually a good idea. Go ahead.” Ms. Tyler leaned forward as if to pay closer attention and not miss a word.

“Brad responded to a domestic violence case last week. Murder suicide. The man shot his wife and then himself. Allie,” Lanie nodded towards the folder, “slept through it, hiding in the back of her closet. Evidently when the police heard that there was a child they spread out to look for her. Brad found her in the closet. She wouldn’t come out but she let him come in. Then she snuggled up against him and fell back asleep. She woke up again as he was putting her in a car seat. Somehow … in that little period of time … she stole his heart. He asked me to check into her case. I thought he was just following up so I traded cases with Liz. Then he wanted to go with me to tell Allie that he mother had died …” Lanie paused for a moment to take a breath and think.

Ms. Tyler raised one finely arched eyebrow, “you let him?”

“He’s with the police. We work with the police all the time.”

“Lanie …”

“I know! Yes, I let him come with me. We got there and Allie recognized him. She said she thought he was Jesus until he abandoned her!”

“Oh my goodness. How old is she?” Lanie was encouraged by a note of compassion in her employer’s voice.

“She’s 5. Anyway … we were still recovering from that when she told us that she knew her mother was dead because she had come to her in a dream and told her goodbye … and Brad asked if he could hold her … and she let him … and we all cried! I know she’s fine in the emergency foster home but leaving her there was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done!”

“Lanie, I know. Some of these kids will steal your heart! You cannot save all of them. If you can’t deal with that … you won’t survive this job!”

“I know that! I do really! She’s different! This is the first time I’ve been more than vaguely tempted to rescue one of my kids and take them home as my own. Ms. Tyler … we want THIS child. We want to be her family and have her be ours.”

Ms. Tyler sighed as she leaned back in her chair and gazed across the desk at the earnest young woman. “Lanie … this isn’t a threat … but what if I told you that this could cost you your job?”

*****

(Finders) Keepers

April 11, 2012

Grief and Guilt

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~~~~~

Brad parked his Jeep in front of the Cranfill’s home and looked at his silent wife. “You want to tell me what’s wrong?”

Lanie, who had been gazing quietly out the window since he had picked her up 10 minutes earlier, turned to him and smiled. “Nothing’s wrong, Brad. I was just thinking. And I really dread telling this poor child that her mother is gone.” Lanie’s eyes filled with tears at the thought and she blinked them away before they could spill over. It wouldn’t help anything for her to walk in crying.  ”Let’s do this.”

“If you’re sure.” Brad hopped out of the Jeep and went around to open her door. As she moved to get out he stepped in front of her. “Do you have any idea how much I adore you?”

Lanie laughed, looked up into his face and answered, “At least enough to put up with my yappy little dog! I love you too, Brad. Now let’s go do this before I chicken out and run away to Mexico.”

“I dunno, Hun. Mexico sounds pretty good.” Brad moved to the side to allow her to exit the Jeep and laughed at her saucy response.

“Who said I was taking you?” Lanie walked quickly around the Jeep and up the walk toward the house. She turned to advise Brad to behave himself but he beat her to it.

“I’ll be good, Babe. Ring the bell.”

Mrs. Cranfill had obviously been watching for their arrival because she opened the door just as Lanie reached out to ring the bell. “Come in, come in. I just sent Grampa to fetch Allie. She’s watching TV in the other room. Can I get you a drink or anything?”

sad girl 022 300x199 Grief and GuiltBrad and Lanie both declined and moved to sit on the couch. Lanie set her briefcase on her lap and opened it to retrieve Allie’s case file. As she was setting the briefcase back on the floor she heard the child walk into the room and looked up. Allie was a beautiful little girl with creamy olive skin, curly dark hair and darker eyes. She seemed a bit small for a 5-year-old but perhaps she was just slightly built. There was a bruise healing on her left cheek and sorrow in her eyes. Brad spoke first, “Hey Allie. Do you remember me?

The child turned her solemn gaze on him and studied him for a moment. She finally responded, “I thought you were Jesus but you’re not.”

Brad started at the comment and asked why she had thought such a thing.

“Mommy told me that when I was scared and thought I was alone in the dark that I wasn’t really alone because Jesus was there and He would never leave me. When you were in the closet, I thought you were Jesus. When you left me alone … I knew you weren’t.” Lanie felt Brad deflate as he heard the child’s speech and she knew this was going to be harder than she’d anticipated.

Allie turned to leave the room as if she was done with them but Mrs. Cranfill stopped her. ”Allie, honey, these people came to talk to you. Can you please come sit down for a little while.” Allie shrugged lightly and crawled up into a chair that seemed to swallow the tiny girl. She turned her sad eyes on Lanie but didn’t speak.

~~~~~

Home

April 7, 2012

Family

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Lanie hung up the phone and continued to gaze out the window. She suspected that she knew what Brad was thinking. They both wanted kids and it just hadn’t happened. It was so hard to work, every day, with abused kids, unwanted kids, people with too many kids. It had gotten to a point where just looking at a pregnant woman broke her heart. Why God? Why is it so easy for everyone else to get pregnant but it’s beyond us? Have we done something to offend You and you’ve made me infertile to punish us? Do you still do that? I know You did in the Old Testament but I don’t remember it happening after Jesus came. Besides … You said that I stand pure and holy, guiltless, in Your presence so why would You punish me for something that I don’t even remember doing? I guess You wouldn’t. So WHY? Why can I not get pregnant? Why no babies? Why is my husband now “shopping” for an orphan? Have I failed him? We haven’t even talked about adoption yet God. Well we have but only in general terms. I want a baby. Fresh. New. One that only knows us as parents. Are You REALLY calling us to adopt an older child? One who has suffered so much loss and abuse? God she is going to be so emotionally needy and I’m not sure I have the strength. What are You trying to do to me? Heaving a heavy sigh, Lanie turned back around, sat in her chair, and started to read Allie’s case folder.

~~~~~

broken family Family“Okay Allie-girl, let’s see what we can find about your family.”

The first page consisted of Allie’s name, Allison Rose Campbell, date of birth, December 8, 2006, Social Security Number, last address, etc. Lanie flipped the page to see what she could find about Allie’s parents and how and why she was known to the Department of Human Services.

Father, Scott Andrew Campbell, Killed in Action in Afghanistan, December 7, 2006. “Wait … that couldn’t be right.” Lanie flipped the page back to double-check Allie’s birth date. Sure enough … the poor child was born the day after her father died.  What a horrible day that must have been for the young mother. Lanie felt a wave of empathy wash over her for the new widow and her baby. She hoped someone had been there for them, someone to love them, help them survive their grief. She turned the page back to find more information about Allie’s mom.

Mother, Jennifer Rose Allan, born in 1989, Dallas, Texas. First referred to the foster care system in 1992. Mother tried to clean up and custody was returned to her in 1994. Jennifer was returned to foster care in 1996. Returned to biological mother the next year. Back in foster care in 1999. Lanie muttered a quiet “Damn” under her breath. She rarely swore but cases where a child was bounced between a parent and the system made her angry. Parental rights were not terminated until 2001. By then Jennifer had been, for all intents and purposes, not adoptable, and she spent her remaining teen years in a Children’s Home. She met Scott Campbell in the Children’s Home and ran off to marry him right before he shipped out with the Marines. All he left her with was a baby she had no way to take care of. Remarried, Kevin Daniel Allan, summer of 2007. “Just looking for someone to take care of you and your baby the best way you knew how, weren’t you, Jen? I’m so sorry the system failed you so badly. I promise … I swear … we WILL take better care of your child than we did you. I promise!”

Lanie slammed the folder shut. She would look in more detail later. For now she knew that both of Allie’s parents had spent their teens in foster care. That made it pretty unlikely that there was any family out there who would be able to take their child. Allie was truly an orphan.

~~~~~

Grief & Guilt

April 6, 2012

Conversations

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betterwriter Conversations

Today’s Challenge: I want you to write three excerpts of dialogue. They don’t need to be lengthy. The focus is the exchange of words even if it is just back and forth a few times. So, first identify which register it should be written in and then write a few lines of text back and forth between the parties.

1.) A boyfriend and girlfriend saying goodbye as he is deployed for the next year. 

Intimate Register

Increased security meant that Shelley couldn’t walk to the gate with Brian and spend every possible second with him before the plane disappeared into the sky. So he wanted to say their goodbyes here at home. Then he would climb into a taxi with his duffel bag and be gone. For a year. How was she supposed to survive without him for a year? She stood off to one side as he gave final words and hugs to his family.  Tears filled her eyes and she blinked them back furiously. He didn’t want her to cry. There would be time for tears later. The taxi pulled up in front of the apartment building and she felt her heart begin to race. His dad picked up the bag and carried it to the taxi. Brian walked to her with a smile in his eyes. “I WILL be back, Babe. I promise!”

Shelley blinked back more tears and smiled up into his face as he wrapped his arms around her. “And I’ll be here waiting! You’ll Skype?”

“Every chance I get. A year isn’t that long, Shell, and when I get back … we’ll schedule our wedding. Okay?”

“I’ll be holding you to that,” Shelley whispered. The taxi honked impatiently and Brian’s dad called to him. One last kiss and he walked to the waiting car. As  he was easing his lanky body into the back seat of the cab, Shelley called, “I love you, Brian! You’re my life! Please be safe!”

He grinned back at her, “I love you too, Babe!” Then he closed the door, rolled down the window, and waved goodbye as the car pulled away from the curb.

Shelley waved until she couldn’t see him anymore. She felt like she would collapse from grief and worry. His mother walked over and put her arms around her trembling shoulders. “Come in the house, Shelley. It’s going to be okay.”

2.) A professor giving a lecture on the importance of attending class regularly.

Formal Register

Professor White stood behind the lectern and cleared his throat. He had been teaching college for a long time and he knew that students tended to tune out on this first day of class. He had been giving them an overview of the syllabus and now he needed to give them a final word of caution before dismissing them.

“Finally, ladies and gentlemen, let me offer you a word of caution. I am aware that it is not an easy thing to get out of bed and attend an 8:00 a.m. class every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Particularly when you stay out too late the night before. While I completely understand this … I do not excuse it. Nor will I allow you to make excuses! Attendance will count for 25% of your grade and the percentage of time that you spend in class will make up that number. So every time you choose to sleep in … you are choosing to lose points! Any questions?”

Groans rose from around the classroom and one timid girl in the second row raised her hand. “What if we’re sick?”

“I suggest that you pray for good health. No excuses means just that. NO excuses. Class dismissed.”

3.) A discussion between women at a local Mom’s group regarding pre-schools.

Informal/Conversational Register

Jenny sat on the park bench watching the children play and listening to the other moms talking about pre-schools. Her oldest boy, Sean, was almost old enough for her to be considering enrolling him but she loved having her babies at home. Besides which she and Kyle were thinking about home-schooling their kids. She dropped that thought into the conversation, as her eyes continued to focus on the children playing a few feet away, “Have any of you thought about home-schooling?”

“You mean, like, teach our own kids at home,” laughed Brooke. “And never get a break? I can hardly wait until mine are in school all day. Maybe then I can actually get the house clean and the laundry caught up.”

“Don’t count on that happening,” Heather countered. “3 of my 4 are in school and I’m still struggling to catch up. Are you really thinking about home-schooling, Jenny? I admire people who can do it but … not me! I’m not that disciplined or organized.”

“We’re praying about it,” Jenny responded. “We just think that God gave us these children to raise … not to turn them over to someone else to train them. Besides … I would miss them if they went off to school. I enjoy being a mom.”

button Conversations

PRACTICE
Let’s try writing stream-of-consciousness today. And for those still uncer­tain, feel free to not fol­low Faulkner to a T. Use punctuation, use full-sentences, but flesh out what your char­ac­ter is think­ing and feeling.

Write about that char­ac­ter of yours that still seems a lit­tle bit of a mys­tery to you. What would they do if they were in a room full of peo­ple, but tun­ing every­one else out.

I’m choosing to write about Lanie from Allie’s Story.

2409509 s 300x200 ConversationsLanie hung up the phone and continued to gaze out the window. She suspected that she knew what Brad was thinking. They both wanted kids and it just hadn’t happened. It was so hard to work, every day, with abused kids, unwanted kids, people with too many kids. It had gotten to a point where just looking at a pregnant woman broke her heart. Why God? Why is it so easy for everyone else to get pregnant but it’s beyond us? Have we done something to offend You and you’ve made me infertile to punish us? Do you still do that? I know You did in the Old Testament but I don’t remember it happening after Jesus came. Besides … You said that I stand pure and holy, guiltless, in Your presence so why would You punish me for something that I don’t even remember doing? I guess You wouldn’t. So WHY? Why can I not get pregnant? Why no babies? Why is my husband now “shopping” for an orphan? Have I failed him? We haven’t even talked about adoption yet God. Well we have but only in general terms. I want a baby. Fresh. New. One that only knows us as parents. Are You REALLY calling us to adopt an older child? One who has suffered so much loss and abuse? God she is going to be so emotionally needy and I’m not sure I have the strength. What are You trying to do to me? Heaving a heavy sigh, Lanie turned back around, sat in her chair, and started to read Allie’s case folder.

April 5, 2012

Explanation

14

A%2Bto%2BZ%2BBadge%2B2012%2B%25281%2529 Explanation
 

 

2409509 s 300x200 Explanation

Brad was mowing the lawn when his cell phone rang with Lanie’s ring. He stopped the mower, so he could hear, and answered. “Hey Babe.”

Lanie answered with a smile in her voice. “Hi Brad. Guess what I’m looking at.”

“More games, eh? Uh … romantic getaway vacations?”

“I wish. No … I traded files with Liz and had your Allie reassigned to me. I was just sitting here looking at her file. I also called Mrs. Cranfill to check on her and she said Allie is settling right in. Too bad that’s an emergency placement. I hate to have to reassign her if she’s feeling safe and settled there.”

“She doesn’t have any family available to take her?”

Lanie sighed, “It doesn’t look like it, Babe.” Brad could hear her flipping pages in the file. “Mom grew up in the system and … biological father died a few years ago. We’ll do some investigating to see if we can find someone to take her but it doesn’t look good.”

Brad stood gazing at the sky … thinking.

“Brad?”

“Yeah, Lanie. Just thinking. Did anyone tell her yet?”

Lanie shifted her phone to the other shoulder and turned so she could look out the window. “No, Brad. She doesn’t know. I guess I’ll go tell her this afternoon. Please pray for me. I hate this part of my job.”

“How about if I go with you?”

“As a police official or as Brad?”

“Whichever works. Are you going to have to move her to another home today?”

“I was thinking about that. It would probably be best for the child if I find a foster to adopt home that would be able to take her as soon as possible. I’ll have to look through the files and see if I can …”

Brad interrupted his wife mid-sentence, “Lanie … could you wait a few days on that?”

“Brad why would I want to wait. The sooner we can get this child settled in a permanent home the better it will be for her.”

“Just a couple of days, Lanie! I promise I’ll explain why tonight. And I’ll help you look for her family too. Please?”

Lanie paused, considering the plea in her husband’s voice and the fact that he had never interfered in her cases like this before. “You’ll explain tonight? You promise?”

“Absolutely!”

“And you want to come with me to tell this child that her mother is dead?” It felt harsh to put it out there like that but situations like this were one of Lanie’s least favorite things about her job.

“I do. What time do you want me to pick you up?”

Lanie suspected that there was something going on here that she wasn’t completely grasping yet but she loved and trusted this husband of hers. She gazed at the skyline and asked God what to do. “2:00. No uniform. And Brad … this better be an awesome explanation!

April 5, 2012
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