| Chapter Twenty-Three Changes |
Mark and Patricia let Wendy and Ricky spend all of Christmas day together, but on December 26th his probation officer came to visit him. Wendy paced back and forth at the top of the stairs awaiting word from Alex as to what was going to happen with Ricky. She hoped and prayed that he wouldn�t be going away again. Though they had spent Christmas together, they were now grounded from each other until Mark and Patricia gave them permission. Finally after an hour or so, Alex appeared on the stairs. Wendy leaned over the side. �Well, what happened?� Alex smiled, and gave her a thumbs up. �I guess he doesn�t have to go.� she replied. �He was smiling when he came out, and the guy left, so I guess it�s all ok now.� As Alex headed up the stairs toward Wendy, Missy appeared at the bottom of the stairs. �Alex! Did you forget mother wants us all to gather in the cafeteria for a meeting?� Alex turned and looked down the stairs. �Ohh I forgot,� she replied. �I will come up after the meeting, Wendy.� Wendy smiled. �Tell Ricky I said hi.� When Alex entered the cafeteria, Ricky and Sam sat quietly waiting. Missy quickly took her seat, and as Alex slipped into her chair, she caught a glimpse of her mothers disappointed face. Alex knew the look meant she was indeed late and would probably get a scolding. Alex folded her hands in her lap, then looked up at her mother. �Now that we are all finally here, we can begin. First let me say how happy I am that Ricky�s probation officer has decided not to take Ricky back to court. I hope that you are very grateful for his kindness, Ricky.� �Oh I am very grateful!� he replied. Patricia turned and looked at Alex. �Was Wendy excited and happy to hear that Ricky wouldn�t be going away?� Alex�s eyes widened. She didn�t understand how her mother could do that. �Yes Ma�am. She was very happy.� �I trust that you won�t overstep your bounds when it comes to being an informant?� �No Ma�am, I won�t,� Alex replied. �Well that is all I need to know. Now on to the real reason for this meeting. Two girls will be joining our family. I expect all of you to be on your best behavior and help them adjust. Elizabeth is ten and Lynda is thirteen. They are sisters and have been in many foster homes. They have had a very hard time finding a home that will take both girls. They have been separated for a while but their social worker wants the girls together. I heard there are some problems, but I�m not quite sure what they are. The reason I am telling you this, is because Elizabeth is special. She has been blind since birth, and I don't want you to stare at her or ask her any questions. "You mean she can't see?" Alex asked. "No, sweetie, she can't, so treat her kindly and help her as much as you can. Let them get settled a little before you invade their privacy. I am sure this is all very hard for her and she will probably be frightened by this big place. It will take her some time to learn how to get around.� �When will they be coming?� Missy asked. �Tomorrow morning. If any of you have any questions, you should ask me before the girls arrive tomorrow. Now we are going to cut this meeting short because I have many things to do. I need to get their room ready.� �We could do that for you, Mother,� Missy volunteered.� �Thank you, Missy. That is very kind of you.� After assigning Ricky the task of giving Sam a bath, Patricia dismissed her children. She took Alex and Missy to the linen closet for fresh sheets and blankets, then took them to an empty room just down the hall from theirs. �What do you think they will be like?� Alex asked as she finished making one of the beds. �Well I am sure it will be difficult for them, especially for Elizabeth. We will have to help her find her way around, that is if her sister doesn�t mind us doing that.� �Why would she mind?� Well Elizabeth is her sister, and since she can�t see, I imagine Lynda has always taken care of her and she might not want someone else taking her job.� �I never thought of it that way.� Alex said. Alex and Missy enjoyed the time together as they fixed up the room for their two new sisters. Later that night as Alex was putting her pajamas on, she couldn't get Elizabeth from her mind. Alex took a pair of her navy blue tights and tied them around her head, making sure to cover both eyes. When she turned around and took a couple steps she tripped over some shoes and fell to the floor with a thud. �What are you doing, silly?� Missy asked as she looked up from her book. �I was just wondering what it was like� she replied. �Wonder what?� she asked as she helped Alex up on her feet. �To not be able to see,� Alex replied as she turned around toward the door, then stuck out her arms. �Where are you going?� Missy asked. �I�m going to try to find the kitchen. I need a snack,� Alex replied as she felt for the door, and then opened it. �If you try to go down the stairs you�re going to kill yourself, stupid,� Missy stated as she went back to reading her book �Leave me alone,� Alex replied as she made her way out of the door. This was harder than she thought as she stood just outside the door. She tried to picture what the hall looked like as she walked along the wall toward the stairs. When she ran out of wall, she suddenly remembered that the stairs were on the other side. How will I ever get there she asked herself. With hands straight out, she walked slowly toward the stairs. What if I�m not going straight? I can fall right down the stairs she thought. She stopped and listened. She didn't hear anything so she sat on her bottom with feet out and scooted until she felt the floor drop. �Ahhh the stairs.� One by one she took the stairs on her bottom. "How many steps are here anyway?" she asked as she began to wonder if they would ever end. Finally her feet and her bottom felt like they were on the same level. She stood up and brushed off her dress. �Well I am impressed.� Alex jumped and turned when she heard Missy's voice. �I thought for sure you would kill yourself and I would have my own room. If that girl Elizabeth could see you, she would laugh her butt off at how funny you looked scooting on your butt like that.� �It�s not funny for you to sneak up on me like that� Alex tried to hit Missy, but Missy jumped out of the way and started laughing. �What in the world are you two doing,� Patricia asked as she approached the girls. Missy quickly turned around to face her mother and Alex quickly pulled the tights from around her eyes. The girls stood silent. �I asked you a question, and I expect an answer from both of you, now!� she scolded. �I was just wanting to know if I could find my way around if I couldn't see, and Missy was teasing me,� Alex replied as she blinked her eyes to try to get them to adjust to the light again. �Alex, I am glad that you are curious, but you have to be careful. You could get hurt doing that, and Missy, you know better than to tease your sister.� �Yes Ma�am, Missy replied with a snicker. �Your disrespectful manner is about to get you a lesson you won�t soon forget, young lady!� Missy�s giggles turned to worry. �I�m sorry, Mother. I won�t do it again.� �I should just put you across my knee for being such a disrespectful child!� �No, Mother, please. I�m sorry. I won�t do it again.� Missy stood with her hands covering her bottom. Patricia looked at her watch. It is just a little after eight, but not to early for you to be sent to bed.� Missy knew what her mother was telling her to do and she didn�t want to push her luck any further. �Yes Ma�am,� she replied as she turned and headed back up the stairs. Patricia reached around and started to untie the tights from around Alex�s neck. �I know you were only trying to understand, but I hope it is out of your system. I do not want you doing such things after the girls arrive.� Patricia folded the tights and handed them to Alex. �I do not want you going down the stairs again. You could have fallen down and broken your neck.� �Yes Ma�am,� Alex replied. �Now go and get ready for bed.� Alex took the tights and headed back up the stairs. As she approached her room, she hesitated about going in. She feared that Missy might throw something at her, so instead of doing as she was told, Alex headed across the hall to Wendy�s room. After filling Jessica and Wendy in on the new sisters, Alex felt it would be safe to return to her room. She had barely gotten into her bed when her mother entered the room. Patricia smiled to see that both of her girls were in bed as she had instructed. Patricia quickly tucked in the girl, then headed to the boys dorm before turning in for the night. Ricky had gotten Sam into his pajamas and was reading him a story. �Lights out boys,� she stated as she entered the room. �Night, Mommy,� squeaked Sam as he held his arms out for her. Patricia leaned down and gave him a big squeeze before tucking him in tight. Ricky sat on his bed and watched. �Lights out, Ricky,� she stated as she turned and looked at him. �Can I stay up and read just a little longer?� he asked. �Not tonight. It's already after nine. Sam needs his sleep and so do you, so come on,� she replied as she reached out for the book. Ricky reluctantly gave her the book, crossed his arms and threw himself back on his pillow. Patricia leaned over Ricky and quietly spoke to him. �When you go to bed, I want to see you smiling. I want to know that all is right with you, and that you are happy. I do not like sending any of my children to bed with warm bottoms, but if you continue to behave this way, your bottom will be stinging. Understand?� Ricky's eyes focused right onto her face. He shook his head yes and then gave her a little smile. �Much better,� she replied as she kissed him on the forehead. "Goodnight, Ricky.� �Goodnight, Patricia.� |
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