Cindy had not lost her love for her mother, but also she still held the warm affections she had for Daniel and Kara. When she was alone with Daniel and Kara she would referred to them as Mama Kara and Daddy Daniel. Sometimes I think that made it tougher for Kara, but Kara did befriend Sylvia, which strangely made it easier for Kara. After Sylvia’s surgery, she did improve rapidly for some time, but we did not hesitate in finding a treatment center for Sylvia. Time was Sylvia’s enemy with the type of cancer Sylvia had, and we knew any hesitation might prove fatal for Sylvia.
Kara maintained her stance on her decision to help Sylvia. She had come to the realization that to fail at helping Sylvia was to fail at helping Cindy. Kara doing everything possible to help in Sylvia’s recovery, a furnished apartment for Sylvia and Cindy, although Sylvia did agree to the visitation, due to the circumstance we made it as liberal as possible. Cindy spent as much time with her mother as her mother’s recovery would allow.
Cindy seemed to have a recovery of her own, with the love of her mother and Kara. Cindy immediately did better in school. Stood up to her tormentors and insist that they apologize not only to her, but to the other children they had teased. Cindy shared with the bullies the video clip of Sam tossing me, explained that that Sam was her cousin. That Sam’s sensei had promised to teach her how to do the same. Saying it was only a matter of time before she was as good. Of course, when I picked Cindy up she introduced Sam to a few individuals whose faces turn white.
On the way home I ask, “Cindy what was that about?”
The girls giggle, then Cindy says, “I just put the fear of Sam in the bullies. I am making them behave like you do Uncle JJ.”
I glanced in the rearview mirror before I say, “You know I do not ever really hurt anyone, and I will not allow Sam to hurt someone.”
Cindy says, “I found out something uncle JJ, bullies act that way most of the time because they are scared. If you scare them even more they back down, sometimes all you have to do is stand up to them.”
I reply, “That is true, but sometimes them being scared makes them act out. Be very careful when you deal with them. Remember my rules, first avoid the trouble, second get away from trouble, then when all else fails stand up for yourself.”
Sam points out, “Daddy that is not what you do all the time.”
I say, “I do except when it comes to protecting others, if trouble comes looking for someone and they cannot avoid it, or get away from it, I will stand up for them if they cannot stand up for themselves.”
Sam asks, “Daddy, if the bullies keep bothering Cindy does that mean I can stand up for her?”
I give my answer, “Sam if all else failed you could, but before that Cindy’s teacher should stop the bullying, the bullies parents should discipline the children to stop the bullying, the school should separate the bullies from the school. You see there is many things that should happen before you should ever need to help Cindy defend herself.”
Cindy says, “Uncle JJ my teachers never stop the bullies before, you think it was because they thought I deserved it?”
What Cindy said upset me. The way I look at it, no teacher should ever demean a child; the child is not the parent. The child is blameless for whatever the parent does or has not done. No teacher should ever demean a child because of the lack of quality clothing. The fact that child’s parent is in prison, or a saint should have nothing to do with how that teacher behaves toward that child. Each child deserves treated like the individual they are, their actions and behavior should be the only deciding factor in that child’s treatment.
To answer Cindy’s question I say, “Cindy if a teacher treats a child poorly because of anything other than the child’s actions, then the teacher is wrong. If a teacher fails to protect a child against bullies, the teacher is wrong. If the teacher does not listen to the other children who speak against the bullying that teacher is wrong. Teachers are human too, and they can be wrong. If the teacher is doing the wrong thing speak to the principal, and always speak to me, your mother or another adult responsible for you. They are there to protect you, not Sam.”
Cindy smiles, then says, “I bet you and Daddy Daniel would be down at the school in a heartbeat if a teacher did something wrong to me.”
I glance in the rearview mirror at Cindy and give her a smile. I say, “Damn right we will be there. We will not see you treated that way.” Cindy and Sam smile brightly at me, I have debated about putting Cindy in homeschooling like Sam, but because that would alter her environment, I thought it best to maintain Cindy’s normal environment.
Sam although younger, has finished the subjects Cindy currently takes in school. On more than one occasion, I have noticed Sam assisting Cindy with her schoolwork. Sam caught on quick when I explained to her the difference between helping Cindy understand something, or just doing the work for her and Cindy not actually learning anything. Sam agrees that helping Cindy understand is more important than Cindy’s grades.
When we arrive home, Ms. Clark is there waiting for us or she had just arrived I am uncertain to which. It being a cold day and not good for bike riding, I let the girls go swimming as long as one of their aunts is at the pool. Speaking with Ms. Clark as we said in the family room with Kathryn, a month has passed since Crystal and Cindy had come to live with us. I thought it is just a normal visit from Ms. Clark to check on the girls. As Ms. Clark begins to speak, I realize it is something quite different.
Ms. Clark begins, “JJ and Kathryn because you’re adopting Crystal there are the matter of Crystal’s estate. Crystal’s parents died without a will, and no executor. As you know, Crystal has no living family. Her parents’ deaths left several debts outstanding. The judge in Cindy’s adoption is requesting that you become Crystal’s executor. One of the most pressing is Cindy’s previous home. No one was available to secure the residence, and it has been standing abandon since the day of the accident. Unfortunately, the mortgage payment is past due, and we found out that it had been prior to their death. The bank is foreclosing on Cindy’s previous home, you only have a few days to work with the bank and remove any items from Cindy’s home.”
Ms. Clark hands us the paperwork, Kathryn and I do not hesitate to sign the paperwork. We both would do anything for Crystal, even though this may prove to be unpleasant and painful it needs performed.
Ms. Clark takes to signed paperwork back to the judge in Crystal’s case. She leaves us, the thick folder containing several delinquent bills, and notices of disconnection for the utilities at Crystal’s previous home.
We make several phone calls before the evening is over, several will have to wait until the next day. We did manage to get a hold of the bank holding the mortgage, and arrange for a meeting the next afternoon. We will pay off the mortgage and have the bank give us a key to the home. We want to retrieve any personal items remaining in the home. As I understand it, only a sheriff’s deputy has been in the home to retrieve Crystal’s clothing.
Crystal’s former home is in the town next to us, it still is in the county but nearly thirty miles away. The bank holding the mortgage has a branch in our town, but they do not possess the key and we will have to take a trip to Crystal’s hometown. I make the necessary arrangements for myself to be away during afternoon classes. The Coach, will take over in my absence, although it more or less gives the girls a day off from their training.
Kathryn and I call Crystal to us. We explain what will happen tomorrow and ask if she would like to accompany us to her previous home. I remember how painful this was for Sam, and how much fear it caused her. We are determined not to make that mistake again. We can arrange for Mom to stay with Crystal if she truly does not want to go, but it probably would be best if she did come with us.
Crystal does not seem upset by the prospect of returning to her former home. She does ask, “Can I get all my toys?”
With the squeeze from Kathryn’s hand, I reply, “Anything you want from your old house, it all belongs to you now.” Crystal smiles obviously not upset. I ask, “Crystal you are okay with going back to your house, it was not really good for Sam.”
Crystal explains, “Sam told me about that, she said were just going for pictures and things. That I will not be staying there, this is my home now. You never going to not be my Mommy and Daddy.”
She gives us a hug, and ask, “If I get sad there…”
I interrupter, “We will be with you, if you get sad that is okay. If you need to cry, we are there for you. We understand, and we love you.”
The trip to Crystal’s house the next day was not very bad. I brought a U-Haul trailer behind my SUV. Where the power was off it was rather cold, and Crystal and Sam stayed in their coats. The fridge would definitely need cleaned out after this long the food was rotten. Several things needed removed from the home. I found their mail, and Crystal’s father received unemployment checks for the past two months.
In the living room, was a dead Christmas tree, nearly all the needles had fallen onto the gifts below the tree. Crystal did seem sad looking at the tree, which definitely would be normal. I really hope that Christmas time is not sad for Crystal I do not want the two memories tied together.
I am going to do my best to separate the memory of the accident from Christmas for Crystal. I say, “Crystal you know the accident had nothing to do with Christmas. It just like most accidents happened. They are never at a good time.”
Crystal turns to me and buries her head against me, she begins to cry and I do my best to comfort my daughter. Kathryn wraps us in a hug too, and then Sam joins us. We are all holding Crystal tightly not so tight that we would suffocate her. After about ten minutes, Crystal looks at me. Crystal says, “I feel better now, Daddy. Thank you for being my Daddy. I love you.”
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