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