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Kate enjoyed days like these. Recess seemed longer than the usual thirty minutes and she kicked her feet playfully as she swung high in the air. The soothing movement lulled her mind into a pleasant sort of comfort. She closed her eyes as the March wind rushed through her hair. The giddy sounds of the other children drifted melodiously across the playground, interrupted only by the clanging bell which signaled that it was lunchtime. Kate jumped from the swing and raced across the playground and found her place in the single file line. She stood calmly and quietly, very uncharacteristic of an eight year old as all the other children stood and fidgeted, waiting for their teacher�s approval to begin their journey to the lunchroom. Her teacher walked along the line, smiling at them stopping periodically to adjust a shirt or to simply press one finger to her lips to quiet an over-anxious pupil. After what seemed like an eternity she finally gave the signal for them to proceed and they filed anxiously into the lunchroom. Kate followed the others through the line then sat next to her friends. Lunchtime conversation always drifted to the usual subjects � from who was the tetherball champion to birthday parties and so on. Kate participated minimally in these discussions, not because she was antisocial, but primarily because she was unable to relate to much of it. This was usual fare for her, she continued to eat as lunchtime slowly passed. The rest of her school day went on much like the beginning, steadily monotonous. This was the most obvious pattern of her life. These were the cyclic necessities that dominated her existence, shaping her after only eight long years of life.
She lived only five minutes walk from school, and enjoyed the walk which afforded her a chance to escape the sounds that filled her days. She entered through the back door.
�Well, hello Kate,� the babysitter, Angela smiled down at her as she finished washing and drying the last dish.
Kate looked up at her and smiled slightly, �Hi Miss Angela,� she responded quite politely.
�Would you like a snack?� she asked, still smiling down at her. She admired the strength of the small child she had grown to know over the past few years. She understood her family�s situation, especially the strain that was placed upon Kate, and she tried to help in any way she could. It never seemed enough, though, things had gotten worse and no improvement was visible to her. Not without extreme change.
�No thank you,� Kate replied as she lay her books on the kitchen table.
Angela slowly began to gather her things to go. She bit her lower lip and worried, as usual, about leaving Kate alone with her little brother. She did not worry that Kate was responsible enough to care for him, but it was the other people out there that she worried about.
�Alex is asleep in his room, there are juice pops in the freezer for you both.� Angela said, reluctantly drawing close to the door.
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