DISCLAIMER: The characters are the property of Columbia Tri-Star Entertainment.  No copyright infringement is intended.  The author retains the rights to the story.

TITLE: One Big, Happy Family
AUTHOR: Cindy Wylie (RkieFan1960@AOL.com) 
RATING: PG

SETTING:   Thanksgiving 1985/Thanksgiving 1986, although technically it’ll start in March of 1986.  A sequel to the story ‘Fears, Secrets and Lies’ which can be found at www.FanFiction.Net and at http: //www.angelfire.com/tv2/rookies_fanfiction
 

SUMMARY: Mike and Jill make the decision to make Michelle and Savannah a permanent part of their family.
 
AUTHOR’S NOTE: In the story ‘Fears, Secrets and Lies,’ I introduced Michelle and Savannah Raeford to my Rookies universe.Now it’s time to make them a permanent part of the Danko’s family.  This story wouldn’t be possible without the help of my usual support group.  Thanks to Bridget, as always, for beta reading.  Sorry it took so long to get something going once again.  Thanks also have to go to Marc and Gina Gabrielle, CTL’s brother and sister-in-law for helping me out with all of the information I needed to know regarding the adoption of older children.  They’re heroes in my book who’ve gone this route twice now.  I’m going to divide this into three parts based on the feelings of the three girls, which tend to be quite opposite.

There will be references made to the movie ‘Ladyhawke.’  I love this movie and it was a huge favorite of Chuck’s niece, Kathryn, whom I have patterned Miss Mary Kathryn Danko after in many ways.  If you’ve never seen this movie, please do.  It has a little something for everyone.  Action, romance, humor and -- not to mention -- the at the time very hunky Rutger Hauer.

There’s also going to be references made to Pound Puppies.  These were stuffed dogs that were popular in the 80's.  I have the one that used to belong to Kathryn.  Like Savannah, she carried it everywhere from the age of three until she was five.  It also went on every hospital stay and was there for every surgery.
 

PART ONE: BUT WILL IT REALLY MAKE A DIFFERENCE? (MAR. 1986)
 

“Would you be willing to try to live with your parents if they continue to abide by the court’s order to continue with counseling and anger management classes?” The woman asked the young girl with the sweeping long dark hair.
 
The young girl's name was Michelle Raeford or as it was written in the court documents, Michelle Dawn Raeford, age 10 years, three months.  Date of birth: December 20, 1975.  Why didn’t anybody understand that she didn’t want her name to be Michelle Raeford anymore?  She wanted her last name to be Danko.  So did her younger sister, Savannah, who was almost six years old.  They had been living with the Danko’s since Thanksgiving,almost four months now.  Michelle unconsciously rubbed her right arm even though the cast had come off two months before.  Her father had twisted her arm and snapped it in a fit of rage over a stupid bracelet.  What made this woman sitting in her easy chair think he wouldn’t do it again?
 
“Why do you think I’d want to live with them again?  Nothing’s going to change!  Sure, they’re doing everything the court is telling them to do now, but the minute they think you people aren’t watching them any more, everything’s going to go back to the way it was.  They’ll both start drinking again and my father'll get mad over nothing again.  Don’t you understand? Nothing’s going to change!” Michelle raged as the woman took notes.  “Do you have to write down everything I say?”
 
“Michelle, I have to make a report for the court.  Everything’s going to be decided based on my recommendations as well as your case worker.  We’ve talked about this before,” the woman reminded Michelle patiently as she continued taking notes.
 
Her name was Phyllis Moore and she was a court appointed child psychologist.  Her job was to talk to battered children and make recommendations to the judge as to whether the children should be returned to their parents or put in foster care.  This case was slightly simpler in nature since the two Raeford children were already in a home with people who were willing to adopt them.  Her job was to state whether she felt the best interest of the children would be met by returning them to their birth parents or severing that relationship, clearing the way for them to be adopted by the Danko’s.
 
Her reports would go to the judge along with the case worker’s report, reports on the Danko’s and reports from the adult Raeford’s psychologist.  Every word would weigh heavily on the judge’s final ruling.  Miss Moore preferred to talk to both children involved in the matter, but Savannah’s inability to speak made that task impossible, so Savannah had been assigned to a psychologist trained in sign language skills.
 
"People do change, Michelle.  I see it all the time,” Miss Moore tried to reassure her.
 
“Did they send you the report from the last time?” Michelle asked as she sat down cross-legged on the floor.
 
“Yes, I read the reports,” Miss Moore replied in a monotone.
 
“Then you know they aren’t going to change.  They should’ve never returned us to them, you know.  He made Savannah drink bleach because she wouldn’t stop crying.  My so-called mother just stood by and did nothing.  If you send us back I’ll run away,” Michelle vowed as Miss Moore took copious notes.  “I don’t care if the judge sees that.  What would you write if I told you I wasn’t going to come back here?”
 
“You have to see me twice a week.  If you don’t, I can recommend that you be removed from the Danko’s and put into foster care or a group home,” Miss Moore smiled sweetly as she closed her file folder.  “Our time is almost up for today.  Why don’t you go into the playroom and wait for Savannah to finish her session?”
 
“Don’t you think I’m a little old for coloring books and crayons?”  Michelle asked sarcastically as she unfolded herself from the floor and stood up.
 
“I think you’re a little old for a lot of things.  I’ll see you Friday,” Miss Moore reminded her young client as Michelle opened the door.
 
Michelle went into the playroom down the hall and sat in a chair by the window as she waited for her little sister to finish talking to her psychologist.  She thought about the previous four months since that awful night when her father had twisted her arm and threw her to the floor in a fit of anger.  She didn’t remember much about that night.  She woke up in the hospital with her arm in a cast and a horrible headache.

 

PART TWO: Things Are Definitely Different in This Family (Nov./Dec. 1985)

“What happened to my mom and dad?” Michelle asked Mike Danko the day after Thanksgiving when he came to the hospital to pick her up.

“Your dad’s in jail.  Your mom was taken in for questioning and released late Wednesday night.  Do you want to talk about what happened?” He asked as he helped her put her meager belongings into a plastic bag.

“No.  I don’t remember a lot of it.  Where’s Savannah?” Michelle asked.

 
“She’s at home with Mrs. Danko and Mary Kate.  She’s fine, Michelle.  Come on, let’s go home,” he said as Michelle visibly stiffened up.  “What’s wrong?”
 
“You said my dad’s in jail, right?”
 
“Michelle, I’m sorry,” Mike apologized as he realized what he’d just said.  “I meant home to our house.  You and Savannah are going to stay there while we get all of this straightened out.”
 
Savannah was overjoyed to see her sister, even though she’d visited with her just the night before.  Both girls wanted to sign Michelle’s cast and they both had a million questions about what it was like staying in the hospital.  “Girls, girls!  Come on!  Give Shelly some space.  Come on, Shelly.  Let me show you where you’re going to be sleeping,” Jill led Michelle up the stairs to what would’ve been Matthew’s bedroom.  “We’ll talk about changing the wallpaper later,” Jill apologized as Michelle looked around at the sport motif on the walls.
 
“It’s fine.  Really,” Michelle said as she put her bag on the bed.  “Are we going to be staying here for a long time?”
 
“We don’t know yet.  Your father won’t go to court until Monday and we don’t know what’s going to happen with your mom.  You must be hungry.  Come on, let’s fix some lunch,” Jill ushered Michelle from the room and back downstairs.
 
It was different staying with the Danko’s, but different in a good way.  The judge the following Monday ordered temporary custody of the girls to be turned over to DCFS, which meant that at least for the time being, they remained with Mike and Jill.  He was also the one who ordered the psychologist’s reports on both girls.

This rankled Michelle to no end.  “I don’t like talking to strangers,” she complained for what seemed to be the 20th time.

 
“Shelly, the judge wants to do what’s best for you and Savannah.  For him to do that, he has to have reports on what other people observe by talking to you and Savannah.  More than likely, his recommendation will be for you to stay here with us,but your parents have to do things, too.  They have to go to counseling and your father has to go to anger management and AA meetings.  If they do what they’re supposed to do, there’s a possibility that the judge might give them another chance,” Mike explained as Michelle continued to sulk.
"If we stay here, can you and everybody else please stop calling me ‘Shelly?’  That name was part of those people and I don’t want to be part of those people, anymore,” she looked at Mike.
“Agreed,” Mike promised with a nod.
 
Michelle was used to having one sister, but for Mary Kate, it was a serious adjustment from going to being an only child to suddenly having two sisters, even though Jill warned her repeatedly that she was not to start thinking of them in that way.  “Right now, they're guests in our home,” Jill reminded her daughter as she was driving her to gymnastics practice one afternoon.
 
“When will they be something other than guests?  I heard daddy talking to Willie and Terry about adopting them.  When will that happen?”  Mary Kate asked from the backseat.
 
“Not for a long time, if it happens at all.  You need to stop listening to other people’s conversations.  And, you don’t go repeating anything you hear to Michelle and Savannah.  Do I make myself clear?” Jill asked, glancing at her daughter in the rear view mirror.
 
"Yes.  Do my grandparents know that they need to buy two more gifts this year?” Mary Kate asked her mother.
 
“Let’s not go there, Mary Kathryn,” Jill sighed as Mary Kate bit back a grin.  “You’re a devious little miss, at times.  You know that, don’t you?”
 
<><><><><><>
 
Michelle and Savannah had never had grandparents before, at least not that they could remember.  The two girls entered Mary Kate’s bedroom to find Mary Kate singing very loudly to her radio.  On her bed were two fancy dresses and white tights while on the floor were a pair of fancy party shoes.  “Are you going to a party?” Savannah signed as she surveyed the dresses.
 
“No.  I have to go visit my grandparent's.  Which dress do you like better?  The white one or the blue one?” Mary Kate held up each dress in turn so the two girls could look at them.
“What’re we going to wear?” Savannah asked as she pointed to the blue dress.
“I don’t think you’re going.  I don’t think my grandparents know about you guys and they hate surprises.  They also don’t like my mother, which is why she isn’t going to go.  I think she’s taking you guys to the movies or something, which is way better than going to their house,” Mary Kate explained in appeasement as she put the dresses back on the bed.

 
“We’ve never had grandparents.  Do they give you presents like in books?” Savannah wanted to know as Mary Kate shook her head.
 
“Not these grandparents.  I have to dress up, I have to be still, I can’t talk unless they talk to me first, which never happens.  Sometimes there are cookies, but if there is, I can only have one and I have to eat it in the kitchen,” Mary Kate told the two girls as they looked at one another, wondering if she was lying to try to make them feel better about not being invited.
 
“Why in the kitchen?” Michelle spoke for the first time since entering the bedroom.
 
“Crumbs.  My grandmother hates crumbs on the carpet.  And I always have to play the piano for them,” Mary Kate sighed.
 
“Mary Kate, aren’t you dressed, yet?” Mike asked, popping his head in her bedroom door.  “We’re supposed to be there at seven and you know how your grandfather is about being on time.”
 
“Do I really have to go?” Mary Kate whined as she sat down on one of her dresses.
 
“We’ve talked about this.  Now, get dressed and go let your mother fix your hair.  I want you downstairs in half an hour.  Michelle, Savannah, let’s go downstairs so that Mary Kathryn can get ready,” Mike said pointedly, using her full name to let Mary Kate know he meant business.
 
An hour later, Mary Kate found herself sitting on an uncomfortable chair in what her grandmother referred to as ‘the sitting room.’  She didn’t understand why it was called that as she didn’t see how anybody could sit comfortably on anything in this room.  The chairs had hard backs that hurt when you sat against them.  The couch was covered with some kind of slippery cloth that made Mary Kate slide to the floor unless she sat on the edge and dug her toes into the floor, which scuffed the toes of her good shoes and in turn angered her mother when she returned home.  She just couldn’t win.
 
“So, how have you been?” Mr. Danko asked his son in what Mary Kate could only describe as stilted conversation.  She’d read that phrase in a book and had wondered what it meant.  Now she knew.
“Good.  Right now we’re thinking about adding to the family,” Mike told his father as his mother smiled.
 
“Oh, a new baby would be wonderful!” Mrs. Danko gushed as Mary Kate tried not to fidget.
 
“No, mother.  I mean, Jill and I would love to have a baby, but that’s not what I’m talking about.  At the moment, we have two young girls staying with us.  Sisters who have been temporarily removed from their parent’s custody,” Mike explained as his father’s face seemed to turn to stone.
 
“Mary Kathryn, I believe that there are cookies in the kitchen,” Grandmother Danko instructed in a frosty voice.
 
“Can I put some in a napkin for Michelle and Savannah?” Mary Kathryn asked as she quickly slid off the chair in relief.
 
“See if Gail will put some in tin foil.  That way, you won’t leave crumbs,” her grandmother suggested as Mary Kate nodded and left the room.  “Michelle and Savannah.  Are these the two waifs you were referring to?”
 
“Yes,” Mike answered, refusing to dignify the rest of his mother’s remark with a response.
 
“Why didn’t you bring them along?  At least that way Mary Kathryn wouldn’t have been bored and she would've had someone to play with,” his mother suggested as Mike almost choked on his drink.
 
“Mother, I don’t believe anybody has ‘played’ in this house in 30 years.  You’re the only grandmother I know who doesn’t keep some toys on hand for her grandchildren.  If Mary Kate is bored when she’s here, you’ve only yourselves to blame,” Mike pointed out as his father got to his feet.
 
“Watch your tone, Michael.  You might be a grown man, but you’re in our house,” his father reminded him as Mike took another swallow of his drink.
In the kitchen, Mary Kate was sitting on a high stool talking to Gail.  Gail was the only reason Mary Kate tolerated visiting her grandparents.  Gail was an Irish maid who had worked for the Danko’s for more than 20 years.  She didn’t put up with most of the other Danko grandchildren, but she had a soft spot for Mary Kate.
“My grandmother said I could put some cookies in tin foil and take them home to Michelle and Savannah,” Mary Kate told Gail.

"And, who are your new friends?” Gail asked as she got a large sheet of tin foil and wrapped several cookies in it.
 

“Their father beat them up, so right now they’re living with us.  Michelle’s going to be ten five days before Christmas and Savannah’s five.  They didn’t come tonight because my grandparents don’t like surprises,” Mary Kate stated sagely as Gail smiled at her.
 
“You’ve certainly got that right.  Here you go, missy.  A packet of cookies for you and your new friends,” Gail handed the packet of cookies to Mary Kate.
 
<><><><><>
 
Jill was watching TV when Mike and Mary Kathryn returned home shortly after nine.  After kissing Mary Kate good night and sending her off to bed, Mike went to the kitchen and got a beer before returning to the living room and collapsing beside his wife on the sofa.
 
“That bad, huh?” Jill guessed as she glanced at Mike.
 
“If I hadn’t had Mary Kate with me, I probably would’ve stopped somewhere on the way home and got drunk,” Mike leaned back and closed his eyes.
 
“Willie called.  He wanted to know if you were interested in helping him coach Thomas’ hockey game this weekend.  And, Michelle and Savannah wanted to know why your parent’s hate me, so you know what that means?” Jill looked over as Mike slowly opened his eyes.
 
“Our daughter has a big mouth.  I’ll talk to her tomorrow.  Sometimes I wonder why I bring her to see them, babe.  They don’t speak to her.  They just want to have her displayed like one of those Faberge’ eggs that you see in a museum,” he sighed as Jill took his hand in hers.
 
“She needs to know her grandparents, Mike.  And we should be thankful that she’s a lovely little girl who should be displayed like a museum piece.  Now if we could just stop her from speaking . . . “ she grinned as Mike burst out laughing.
<><><><><>
A few mornings later, Mike came downstairs and into the kitchen where the girls were eating cereal.  Pouring himself a cup of coffee, he sat down across from Michelle, who glanced up at him suspiciously.  “Did I do something wrong?” She asked with a mouthful of cereal.

 
"Except for talking with your mouth full, no,” he answered as he thought of what he wanted to say.  “We were just wondering if you wanted to do something special for your birthday.”
 
“Why?  It’s five days before Christmas,” Michelle reminded him as he made a face.  “What’s the matter?”
 
“Are you going to tell me that your mom and dad never did anything special for you on your birthday?” Mike asked in disbelief.
 
“Maybe when I was five.  It’s too close to Christmas.  My dad told me it was just my own bad luck to be born in December.  He said the only good thing about a December baby is they can be claimed on income tax, whatever that means,” Michelle got up and took her bowl to the sink, rinsed it and put it in the dishwasher.
 
“Michelle, do you want to do something for your birthday?  Is there anything that you want as a present?” Mike wondered as Michelle returned to the kitchen table.
 
“Dad, I thought we were going to Mount Shasta!We always go there for Christmas vacation!” Mary Kate reminded her father as he hushed her with a look.
 
“What’s Mount Shasta?” Michelle questioned.
 
“We go skiing.  Hey, maybe we can all go and daddy can teach you and Savannah to ski!” Mary Kate suggested as Savannah nodded in excitement.
 
“Mary Kate, you and Savannah go upstairs and make your beds,” Mike told the two girls as they reluctantly left the table and went upstairs.  “Now, seriously.  What would you like for your birthday?”
“I can have anything?” Michelle asked in a mixture of wonder and disbelief, finally warming to the subject.
“Well, within reason.  Furs, Porsche’s and diamond jewelry are pretty much out of the question, but if there’s anything else . . . “

“Can I get my ears pierced like Mary Kate?” Michelle asked eagerly.

“I don’t see why not.  Do you want a birthday party?” He asked as she shook her head.  “Why not?”
 

“I don’t want a whole bunch of people here for my birthday, just all of you.  And Thomas, Natalie and Eric.  Nobody else.  I don’t want to have kids at school here.  Most of them don’t like me, anyway,” Michelle pointed out as she got up to leave the table.  “Thanks, Mike.”
 
<><><><><><>
 
When Michelle arrived for her next session with Dr. Moore after Christmas, the first things the doctor noticed were the new gold studs shining in the young girl’s ears.  “I see you got your ears pierced,” the doctor commented.
 
“Jill took me to the mall Saturday before my birthday.  It’s my birthday present.  They do it with a gun.  Not a real gun with bullets, but Jill said it’s still called a gun.  It sounds like a gun, too,” Michelle remembered.
 
“Did you have a nice Christmas?” Dr. Moore asked as Michelle sat down on the floor.
 
“My mom sent a card.  Savannah ripped it to shreds,” Michelle recalled as the doctor took notes.
 
“How did that make you feel?”
 
“I didn’t care.  Savannah also got in trouble for breaking the windows out of the house we used to live in.  My mom and dad moved out of it.  Did you know that?” Michelle asked.
 
“I was told they had moved out of the neighborhood.  What happened when Savannah broke the windows?”
“Why don’t you ask Savannah’s doctor?  I didn’t help her, you know.  I didn’t stop her, but I didn’t help her.  Mary Kate, Thomas and Natalie did, but not me,” Michelle insisted as the doctor took more notes.  “Would you please stop writing?  I told you that I didn’t help her break the windows!”
“I didn’t say you did,” Dr. Moore looked over at her young patient.  “When do you and Savannah meet with Ms. Callahan again?”

"I don’t know.  She called after the window incident, but I don’t think we have an appointment any time soon.  I’m glad.  She’s a witch, you know,” Michelle got up and began walking around the room, picking up various objects in the room and replacing them.
 

“She’s not a witch, Michelle.  Why would you say that?”
 
“I heard her telling Mike and Jill that her job is to ‘reunite’ the family.  If she thinks my parents are so wonderful, maybe she should try living with them,” Michelle picked up a figurine and examined it before putting it back on the table.
 
“Remember when you went to court right after your father got arrested?” Dr. Moore reminded Michelle, who nodded.  “Remember what the judge said about doing what’s in the best interest of you and your sister?  It might happen that what’s in your best interest is to go back and live with them.”
 
“Haven’t you done any background checks on them?  Isn’t that what you people are supposed to do?” Michelle asked with far more wisdom than her 10 years should’ve allowed.  “If we go back, they’re going to kill one of us or maybe both of us!”
 
“Let’s back up for just a second, okay?  I want to discuss something you’ve mentioned a couple of times.  How old were you when Savannah drank the bleach?” Dr. Moore wanted to know.
 
“Seven.  Ben was eight and Savannah was a baby.  I think she was almost a year old.  I know she didn’t walk, yet,” Michelle shut her eyes against the memory.
 
“According to the reports I’ve gotten, she was nine months old.  Can you tell me what happened?” Dr. Moore asked as Michelle shook her head furiously.

“Are you upset because you couldn’t protect her?  Michelle, you were just a little girl.  You weren’t much older than Savannah is now.  You can’t protect everybody,” the doctor reminded her.

 
“My job was to make sure she didn’t cry.  She cried a lot, but I was the only one who could make her stop crying.  Jack told me that if I couldn’t make her stop crying, he would.  He was mad because Ben and I got caught stealing from lunch boxes at school.  We were hungry.  There wasn’t any food at home and Savannah cried all of the time.”
 
“Your dad hit you and Ben?”
“With his work belt," she admitted in a shaky voice. "I guess Savannah heard me screaming, so she really started screaming, too.  She wouldn’t stop.  Jack got really, really mad and told Irene to ‘shut that kid up!’  I don’t know how long it was when Irene told him that there was something wrong with the baby.  She was turning blue and gasping for air.  He had to call an ambulance and when the doctor at the hospital saw me and Ben, he called the police.”
“We’re done for today.  Why don’t you go wait for Mike in the playroom and I’ll see you next week?” Dr. Moore suggested as Michelle quietly left the room.
 

PART THREE: THE LITTLE GIRL (DEC. 1985)

 
Jill walked in the front door and hurriedly turned off the alarm before closing and locking the front door and resetting the control panel.  Walking through the living room, she picked up reminders that they were no longer a family of three, at least temporarily.  There were puzzles and the stuffed dog that Mike had given to Savannah the night they’d brought her back from the hospital.  She’d slept with that dog every night for almost two weeks.  In fact, she took it everywhere which made Jill wonder just what she had in bed with her tonight.  Walking quietly up the stairs, she opened Savannah’s bedroom door and peeked in.  Sure enough, Seven was laying across the foot of the little girl’s bed.  “Seven, come,” Jill whispered as the dog reluctantly got off the bed and followed her down the stairs, where she let him out into the backyard.  Returning upstairs, she put the stuffed dog into Savannah’s arms before walking back to the door.  She was almost to the door when she heard a frantic tapping on the bedside table.
 
“Savannah, the dog doesn’t belong in the house.  Go back to sleep,” Jill told the little girl as she left the room and checked the other two girls before going to the master bedroom.  Mike was reading in bed.  “You didn’t notice that we had one extra body sleeping in our house?”
 
"What’re you talking about?” Mike asked, looking up from his book.
 
“Some cop you are.  How was Savannah able to sneak Seven into the house and up to her room without setting off the alarm?” Jill asked in amusement as Mike grinned.  “Mike, it isn’t funny.  I don’t want that dog in the house.”
 
“Maybe he came in through the doggy door,” Mike suggested.
 
“Michael, we don’t have a doggy door,” she reminded him as he made a face.
“We don’t?”
“No.  I gave her the pound puppy back,” Jill told him as she got her things out for bed.

“She hates her therapist.  So, she refuses to talk to him.  He told me that this afternoon when I went to pick her and Michelle up.  He said she just sits on her hands for the 50 minutes and won’t say a thing,” Mike pointed out as Jill stopped in the bathroom doorway.

 
“Did you call Ms. Callahan and tell her?  Maybe they can find someone that she will talk to,” Jill walked into the bathroom and closed the door behind her.
 
The next afternoon Mary Kate and Michelle walked into the house after school to find Savannah laying on the sofa, the pound puppy at her side and Seven stretched out on the floor in front of the sofa.  “My mom doesn’t like him in the house,” Mary Kate reminded Savannah who just looked at her.  “Where’s my dad?  Does he know Seven’s in the house?”
 
“What’re you watching?” Michelle asked her sister as she sat down beside Seven on the floor.
 
“Ladyhawke,” Savannah signed as her sister made a face.
 
“I thought Mike told you that you couldn’t watch this because you don’t understand it,” Michelle complained as Savannah signed furiously.  “What’re you so pissed off about?”
 
“I’m telling daddy that you cursed!” Mary Kate ran from the room as Michelle looked at her sister, who shrugged and went back to watching her movie.
 
“They moved out,” Savannah told her sister who shook her head, not comprehending what her sister was talking about.  “Those people who live across from the Gillis’.  When Jen brought me home from school, everything was gone.”
 
“Mom and dad?  Where did they go?” Michelle asked as Savannah made another face.  “Sorry, stupid question.”
 
“Michelle, what’re you doing cursing?” Mike asked as he came into the room.  “Savannah, put that dog outside!”
“Are you going to beat me if I don’t?” Savannah signed defiantly as Mike and the two girls stared at her in stunned disbelief.
“Who are you and what did you do with the sweet little girl who used to be staying here?” Mike asked as Savannah signaled to the dog, who followed her out of the room.

“The Raeford’s moved out of their house,” Michelle told Mike.

“Oh,” Mike sighed as Jill walked into the house carrying the mail.
 

“Michelle, your mother sent you and your sister a Christmas card,” Jill said as she handed the white envelope to Michelle.  “What’s going on?”
 
“Savannah’s having a major meltdown,” Mary Kate warned her mother.
 
“Look, Savannah!” Michelle called to Savannah who had come back into the living room.  She sat back down on the couch and clutched the pound puppy close to her chest.  “Mom sent us a Christmas card.”
 
“Let me see,” Savannah held her hand out for the card.
 
Opening the card, Savannah read the inscription before taking the card and ripping it into a million tiny pieces which she let drift like confetti to the carpet before getting up and going upstairs to her room.  “I told you.  Major meltdown,” Mary Kate repeated as Jill looked at her.
 
“We’d better get upstairs before she decides to destroy her room next.  Mary Kathryn, get the vacuum cleaner and get this carpet swept,” Jill ordered Mary Kathryn, who made a face.
 
Savannah was sitting cross-legged in the middle of her bed when Mike and Jill walked in.  Mike sat down and the floor and crossed his elbows on the edge of the bed before resting his chin on them.  “Bad day at the office?” He teased as Savannah glared at him.
 
"Very funny.  Do you know where they went?” Savannah signed as Mike looked at Jill.
 
“No.  I know you’re upset because they moved, but you know what?  Maybe it’s better.  You couldn’t stay over at the Gillis’ and play with Natalie because they were there.  Now you can.  They’ll be in court for your visitations.  Do you miss them?” Mike asked, trying to think of the questions her therapist would be asking.
“No.”
“Then, what’s the problem?” Mike wanted to know.

“What if we have to go back?” Savannah asked.

“You know what?  We’re not going to worry about that now.  You can do us a huge favor if you’d start talking to your therapist.  He needs to know what to tell the judge and he can’t do that if you won’t talk to him,” Mike told her as she shook her head.
 

“He’ll tell everybody,” she worried.
 
“Sweetie, he can’t tell everybody.  He just writes a letter to the judge based on what you tell him.  He can’t tell everything you say because he’s a doctor and doctor’s aren’t allowed to repeat what you tell them in their office.  I don’t know anything that Michelle’s telling her doctor and neither does anybody else.  Doctors are the best secret keepers in the entire world,” Mike promised as Savannah weighed this information.  “Now, Jill’s going to take your sister this Saturday to get her ears pierced.  Do you want to go to the mall with them or do you want to go to Eddie’s with me?  I have it on very good authority that there are some new kittens out there.”
 
"Can I have one?” Savannah begged as Jill tried to catch Mike’s eye.
 
“We’ll talk about that later.  Go downstairs and help your sister and Mary Kate clean up that mess you made,” Mike lifted the little girl off of the bed and set her on the floor before looking at his wife.
 
“Mike, you’re not going to let her pick out a kitten!  I don’t like animals in the house!” Jill reminded him.  “You’re going to spoil her rotten and if we don’t get to keep them, things are going to fall apart for the next family they go to!  What’s going to happen if they get separated?”
 
“Have faith, baby.  I know all of the family court judges and I don’t think there’s a one of them who’s going to give those two little girls back to those monsters,” he assured her with a kiss.
 
"Were you telling Savannah the truth about not knowing where they’ve gone?” Jill asked as she followed him across the hall to their room and closed the door.
 
“Let’s just say they got a letter from Judge Myers suggesting that they would have a better chance of getting the girls back if they moved out of the neighborhood.  After all, they weren’t exactly abiding by the keep away order.  It was hurting their chances,” Mike said as he sat down on the edge of the bed.
“I’m going to start dinner,” Jill turned and left the room.
<><><><>
It was pouring rain the next afternoon as the children stayed at Jen’s and Willie’s house after school.  Savannah sat on the couch staring at the house across the street.  Jen was upstairs with Eric leaving her and the other kids downstairs watching TV.  Willie hadn’t arrived home from work yet.  Savannah walked over to the coat rack and removed her rain coat before opening the front door and leaving the house. “Where’s she going?” Thomas asked Michelle, who shrugged.  “My mom’s going to be really mad if she gets soaking wet.  We’d better go get her.”
 
“Then, we’re all going to get wet and your mom’s going to be even madder,” Mary Kate pointed out.
 
“We can explain that we were just bringing Savannah back into the house,” Thomas reasoned as he walked over and got his rain coat.  “Are you guys coming or not?”
 
When the other four children walked out of the house, Savannah was standing on the sidewalk in front of what used to be her house, just staring at it.  Without any curtains hanging in the windows, it looked like the house was staring at her.  Walking up to the muddy flower bed, Savannah picked out several large rocks and walked back toward the curb.  “What’re you doing?” Thomas asked as him and the other kids joined Savannah at the curb where she was examining the rocks in her hand.  “My mom’s going to get mad if you don’t come back into the house.”  Savannah handed him one of the larger rocks.

“What do you want me to do with this?  Throw it?”

 
Savannah smiled slightly and hurled one of the rocks as hard as she could at one of the large picture windows.  It shattered with a resounding crash.  Mary Kate glanced next door to where Terry and Serena lived.  She knew Terry was home.  She also knew that her father was going to be furious.  By the time her mom and dad got finished with her, she’d probably be grounded until she graduated from high school.  Savannah signaled to Thomas to throw his rock. The same thoughts that had gone through Mary Kate’s head were now coursing through Thomas’.  He threw the rock at one of the small windows in the front door, smiling as his aim rang true.  “Let me throw one, Savannah,” Natalie begged as Michelle glanced over at Mary Kate, who was furiously biting her lip.
 
“Mary Kate, do something,” Michelle hissed as Mary Kate glared at her.
 
“Why me?  She’s your sister,” Mary Kate reminded Michelle as Savannah handed Mary Kate a rock.  “Savannah, no!   I’ll get in trouble!”
 
“It’s fun,” Savannah signed as her, Thomas and Natalie threw their rocks at the house.
Mary Kate was getting ready to follow through with her rock when a vice like hand gripped her wrist.  Her heart almost stopping, Mary Kate slowly turned her head to find Willie with his hand on her wrist with his former partner standing right beside him.  “Get back to the house, right now!” Willie bellowed as the other four children hurried back across the street while Willie and Terry followed closely behind, Willie practically dragging Mary Kate behind him.  “Sit down!” Willie ordered them as he walked in and slammed the door behind him.  “Are any of you aware that I should be hauling your behinds down to the precinct right now?  Who’s  bright idea was it to break the windows across the street?”
 
The three girls and Thomas all looked toward Savannah.  “Yeah, right.  Blame the littlest kid,” Willie snorted in disbelief.  “I want the truth.”
 
“Willie, that is the truth.  We went across the street to make Savannah come back home.  We weren’t going to do anything,” Mary Kate said as Willie glanced over at Terry.
 
"What did she do?  Strong arm you guys?  She’s three and a half feet tall!  Give me a break!  I want my kids in their rooms until I decide what to do with you.  Mary Kate, you and your partners in crime will stay down here until your dad comes to get you.  I’m ashamed of all of you!  Thomas, Natalie, move!”  Willie ordered as his son and daughter thundered up the stairs to their room.
 
“Is he going to beat us?” Michelle whispered after Willie and Terry had left the room.
 
“Worse,” Mary Kate whispered back.
 
“What’s worse?”
 
“We’re going to get the ‘disappointed’ speech,” Mary Kate whispered back.
“What’s the ‘disappointed’ speech?” Michelle wanted to know.
“Don’t worry, you’re going to find out.  You’ll be begging him to beat you by the time he’s finished talking.  Savannah, why did you do that?”  Mary Kate asked as Savannah just looked at her with a cool expression on her face.

“Didn’t you like the noise?” Savannah asked as the other two girls stared at her in horror.

“Savannah, they might send us away!  Ms. Callahan told us we have to behave!  They could send us to a place worse than the orphanage in ‘Annie!’  Didn’t you listen to the stories Eddie told us about being in one of those places?”  Michelle warned her sister as the doorbell rang.  “Oh, no!  Your dad’s here!”

 
“Stay there,” Willie ordered as he went to the front door and opened it, letting Mike in out of the pouring rain.  “Mike, we have a situation.  We need to talk,” he said as he walked toward his study with Mike right behind him.
 
“What’s wrong?  Is somebody hurt?” Mike asked as he walked in and shut the door behind him.
 
“The kids decided it would be a good idea to break the windows out of the house across the street.  I stopped Mary Kate, but Savannah, Thomas and Natalie are all guilty as charged,” Willie informed Mike, who shook his head in disbelief.  “The kids said it was Savannah’s idea.”
 
“What about Michelle?”
 
“I don’t think she threw anything, but she’s guilty of guilt by association.   She was there, just standing and not doing a damn thing to stop anybody.  It’ll be a cold day in hell before my kids get off of restriction,” Willie said as Mike picked up the phone.  “Who’re you calling?”
 
“Their case worker.  She wanted to be told about stuff like this.  Savannah’s been acting out for several days now.  May I speak to Rita Callahan please?” Mike asked when he was connected.  “Can you please have her call Mike Danko at home when she gets in?  Thank you.”
 

An hour later . . .

 
“What were you girls thinking?  Mary Kathryn, I’m so disappointed in you right now that words can’t even begin to express it.  Do you know what your mother said when I called her at work to tell her about what you did?”  Mike asked.
“No, but I can just imagine,” Mary Kate whispered under her breath.
“Do you have any idea how much it’s going to cost Mr. Holland to replace those windows that you all broke?  Do you know whom he’s going to make repay him?  Take a wild guess, Mary Kathryn,” Mike looked at her as she looked at the floor.

“You,” she guessed unhappily as Mike started pacing in front of the three girls, who were sitting side by side on the sofa.
 

“You’re half right.  Me and Willie.  You should be counting yourselves lucky that he’s not charging you all with vandalism.  But, after Willie and I get done paying for the windows, you children are going to be paying us back.  Listen to me carefully.  Look at me when I’m talking to you, Mary Kathryn!” Her father ordered as Mary Kate reluctantly raised her eyes to look at her father.  “No allowance, no TV, no going anywhere after school, no stereo.  When I get done removing things from your room, all you’re going to have is a mattress and a chest of drawers.  Go to bed!  All three of you!  I don’t want to see any of you before tomorrow morning!” He pointed toward the stairs as the three girls got up.
 
“Aren’t you going to come up and kiss me good night, daddy?” Mary Kate asked as she fought back tears.
 
“Go to bed, Mary Kathryn,” Mike repeated.
 
“Daddy, I’m sorry,” she whimpered.  “You can spank me if you want to.  Would that make you feel better?”
 
“No, it wouldn’t.  I’m not telling you again to go to bed.”
 
Mike looked at his watch as the three girls slowly made their way upstairs to their bedrooms.  He was still waiting for a call from Rita Callahan.  He didn’t know what this was all going to mean regarding the current living arrangement.  Mike’s first call after getting home and before dealing with the three girls had been to Mr. Holland, the owner of the home the Raeford’s had been living in.  As expected, he had been angry, but had calmed down somewhat after Mike explained who had broken the windows and probably why she’d done it.  His next call had been to Jill at work.  Jill, on the other hand, had not been as calm and understanding about the situation as Mr. Holland had been, particularly after he’d told her that Mary Kathryn had been involved.  Mike saw serious housecleaning in Mary Kate’s future.  He jumped as the phone rang.  He picked it up just as he heard the sound of Mary Kate sobbing as if her heart was going to break.  “Hello?” Mike answered as the sobbing got louder.  “Rita, good evening.  Can you hold on for just a minute, please?  Mary Kathryn, knock it off!  You don’t want me to come up there!”
 
Ms. Callahan listened as Mike explained what had happened that afternoon.  “Have you talked to Savannah about why she did it?”
 
“I know why she did it.  She’s been angry for the past several days, ever since she found out that her parents had moved out of the house,” Mike explained to the social worker.
“That’s your take on it, but you need to find out from her why she did it.  I’ll try to come out early next week to talk to both of them, but right now, I’m tied up until after the new year.  We do go back to court on the 10th of January and the judge is going to have to know about these incidents.  He’s also going to know what steps you and Jill have taken to insure that this doesn’t happen again.  Has Savannah talked to her therapist since the last time I spoke to you?”
 
“He said she colors a lot.  They’re going to be doing chores to repay what Mr. Gillis and I are having to pay to have the windows replaced.  I’ve also taken TV privileges away.  Hopefully, they’ll think next time before they act,” Mike sighed as he heard the key in the front door and wondered what Jill was doing home early.
 
“They’re children, Mike.  They don’t understand that there are consequences to their actions until after they’ve done the deed.  Why do you think we get so many children in the system?  Look, just calm down, talk to Savannah and start over again tomorrow.  I can assure you that I’m not going to go running to Judge Myers to have a removal order signed.  You and Jill are probably what’s best for those two girls right now.  We’ll talk in a week or so,” she promised as she told him good night and hung up the phone.
 
“I couldn’t concentrate,” Jill explained as she walked over and kissed Mike.  “Nobody said it was going to be easy, Mike.  I know how much you hate punishing Mary Kathryn, so this must’ve just about killed you.”
 
“Rita wants me to talk to Savannah.  How can one small child have so much rage bottled up inside?”
 
“That’s just it.  It’s been bottled up.  I don’t think she’s ever been able to express anything and now it’s all reached a boiling point.  Come on, let’s go talk to her,” she kissed him once again before taking his hand and leading him upstairs to Savannah’s room.
 
“Mommy, is daddy coming in to kiss me good night?” Mary Kate sobbed when she heard her parents come up the stairs.
 
“She hasn’t called me ‘mommy’ since she was three,” Jill whispered.  “Good night, Mary Kathryn.”
Savannah turned to face the wall when she heard Mike and Jill enter her bedroom.  “Savannah, I know you’re not asleep,” Mike said as he turned on the light.  “Nobody can sleep with the noise Mary Kate is making.  We need to talk.  Let’s go downstairs.”
They led her into Mike’s small wood paneled study and sat down.  “First off, we understand that you’re angry.  But, you have to understand that you can't go around breaking windows,” Mike tried to reason as Savannah stared at him, the whole time clutching the pound puppy that never seemed to leave her side.
 
“Don’t you like the sound of breaking glass?” Savannah signed as Jill looked at Mike in puzzlement.
 
“What did she say about breaking?” Jill wanted to know.
 
“No, I don’t like the sound of breaking glass and neither do most people that I know.  What would’ve happened if one of you had gotten cut on all of that glass?” He asked her as she rolled her eyes.  “Please don’t do that.”
 
“Nobody was close enough to get hurt.  Why are Mary Kate and Michelle in trouble?  They didn’t even do anything.  Thomas and Natalie wouldn’t have done anything if I hadn’t given them the rocks.  Can’t you let them off?” She begged as Mike shook his head.
 
“It doesn’t work that way.  Mary Kate and Michelle should’ve told somebody.  How do you explain Willie catching Mary Kate with a rock in her hand, getting ready to throw it?” He asked her.
 
“But, she didn’t.  And rule number one is nobody likes a snitch,” Savannah pointed out as Mike shook his head.  This wasn’t going well, at all.
 
"Go on back to bed.  We’ll talk about this more in the morning,” Mike ordered as Savannah got up and left the room.
“What was it Rita said after she talked to them the first time?  Savannah always played the part of the peacemaker.  If she smoothed things over, nobody got beaten.  She thinks she has to keep playing that part,” Jill said.

 

PART FOUR: THE JEALOUS MIDDLE GIRL (MAR. 1986)

Mary Kate was sitting on the bleachers one sunny spring afternoon in March watching Thomas play baseball.  She made it a point to sit high up away from those other two girls who seemed to have taken over her parent’s lives.  It had been fun, at first.  Now it was becoming a drag.  Between taking Michelle and Savannah to their therapist, their case worker and to court, her mom and dad seemed to no longer have time for Mary Kate, or as she liked to refer to herself, their real daughter.  Mary Kate still had her gymnastics and piano lessons, but it was a rare occasion when one of her parents actually picked her up or dropped her off at these lessons.  Nowadays it was left up to Jennifer or Serena or on rare occasions, Eddie or Trap.  She felt the bleachers sag as Terry walked up and sat down beside her.  “What’s the good word, Mary Kate?” Terry asked as he looked toward the baseball diamond.
 

“I finally got all of my stuff back.  I was beginning to feel like slave labor,” she told him, referring to her punishment after the window breaking incident of a few months back.
 
“What do you know about slave labor?” He chuckled.
 
“Hey, I watched ‘Roots.’ Kunta Kinte didn’t have anything on me.  Is the swimming pool going to be ready by summer?” She asked as Terry bit back a grin.
 
“Yeah.  Are you going to teach Michelle and Savannah how to swim?”
 
“I’m going to spend a lot of time holding their heads under water.  It’ll make them better at holding their breath,” she quickly explained as she saw the look on Terry’s face.
 
“Is there something that you want to talk about?” Terry asked as Mary Kate shook her head.  “I won’t go to your mom or dad.  I promise.”
 
“It’ll be okay once they go back to their own parents,” Mary Kate assured Terry.
“What if that doesn’t happen?”
“Oh, but it will.  I light candles in church every Sunday.   Besides, aren’t they doing everything they’re supposed to be doing?  So, why wouldn’t they go back to live with them?   They’ll be retrained and I’m sure they’ll never put another hand on either of them ever again,” Mary Kate stated positively as she smiled at Terry.

“How much do you know?” Terry asked.

“I don’t know anything.  Come on, Terry.  I’m eight.  How much do you think my mom and dad are going to tell me?  I just know that their dad broke Michelle’s arm.  That’s why they live with us right now, but that’s not going to last forever.  Pretty soon, they’ll go back.  Maybe when school’s out.  I listened to my mom and dad talking in the kitchen and I heard my dad say that the final court hearing might be in June or July.  It would be a great birthday present for them to go home,” Mary Kate smiled.

“So, is your dad picking you up?” Terry asked as Mary Kate made a face.

“He’s coming to pick them up to take them to their therapist.  I have to ride home with Jennifer and the whole baseball team since it’s her turn to car pool.  They squish me and they all stink,” she corrected, making a face for emphasis.
 

"I’ll tell you what.  Let me go talk to Willie and I’ll tell him that I’m giving you a ride home with me.  We’ll stop on the way home and get ice cream.  Okay?” He asked as the little girl visibly brightened.
 
They stopped at Baskin-Robbins on the way home where Mary Kate seemed delighted to have somebody’s undivided attention.  “You know what else is wrong?” She asked with a mouthful of ice cream.
 
“No, what else is wrong?” Terry asked as he handed her a napkin.
 
“Well, two things.  Savannah has taken over my dog.  He won’t even come to me any more, but he follows her everywhere.  And, now I have to share my room at Eddie’s with them.  With both of them.  It was my room first!  It’s the only room I have where I got to pick out the furniture and the wallpaper.  Now, they’ve taken it over!  They have to go back, Terry!  If they don’t, maybe I’ll live with Trap. After all, I’m going to marry him someday, so I might as well start living with him now,” Mary Kate pointed out as Terry almost choked on his soda.
 
“Does your mother know you’re going to marry Trap?” Terry asked as he pictured his best friend’s face on hearing this bit of news.  Mike tolerated Trap, but they weren’t what you would consider best buddies.  There was just too much history.
 
“You mean, does my dad know?  Not yet.  I’ll tell him when I’m 18.  Oh and another thing.  The bicycle thing.  You know what I’m talking about?” She asked as Terry nodded.
A couple of weeks before Mike had bought the girl’s bicycle’s and spent the afternoon teaching them to ride them, in the process forgetting that his daughter had a gymnastics meet.  When Mary Kate had shown him the ribbon she’d won, he’d barely glanced at it.  Terry had noticed this and it had troubled him.
“Well, to give your dad some credit, he was also the one who taught you how to ride a bike.”
“But, I came in first place in my age division!  I almost never beat Emily Cole at anything!  It might not ever happen again!”

"It’ll happen again.  Besides, didn’t you say yourself that Emily Cole is getting kind of chunky?” Terry grinned.

“She’s getting a big butt,” Mary Kate corrected as she rolled her eyes.  “But she still gets to do better tricks than I do.”

“Don’t worry.  It’ll be your turn soon and then the other girls will be jealous of you,” Terry promised her.

 
“Another reason why those two girls can’t stay is because my mom and dad promised them they could take lessons if they get adopted.  Next thing you know they’ll also be taking piano lessons, too, and then I won’t have anything that’s completely mine anymore,” she complained as she put her spoon down.
 
“I understand that you have a recital coming up.  Are you nervous?” Terry asked, changing the subject away from the two girls.
 
“No.  Why should I be?” She asked as she picked up her soda.
 
“Overconfidence must run in the family,” Terry said as Mary Kate made a face.  “Never mind, I’ll explain what I mean in a few years.  Come on, I’ll take you home before your mother starts worrying about you.”
 
“She probably doesn’t even notice that I’m not home,” Mary Kate complained as Terry led her out of the door and to his car.
 
Jill was examining the dress she had just brought home for Mary Kathryn to wear to her upcoming piano recital.  It was a beautiful dress, basic black with white buttons going down the front of the bodice.  With her daughter’s long dark hair caught up in a black ribbon she was going to be the prettiest girl there.  Jill couldn’t wait to see her in the dress.  She looked up as Mary Kathryn and Terry walked into the house.  “Come over here and see the dress I bought you for the recital,” Jill instructed Mary Kathryn, who obediently walked over to see it.  “You're going to look great!  I can’t wait to see you in it.”
"Why black?  I’m going to look like I’m going to a funeral,” Mary Kate complained as she looked at the dress.
“Maestro said you have to wear black.  I just hope Michelle’s and Savannah’s dresses fit.  I don’t know if I’ll have time to take them back if they don’t,” Jill remarked, missing the storm clouds brewing in her daughter’s eyes.

“Why did you buy them clothes?  They aren’t going to be playing the piano!  They have clothes!  Lots of them!  I don’t believe this!” Mary Kate shrieked as she ran through the living room and the kitchen, out the sliding glass door, shutting it so hard Jill was surprised that it didn’t shatter.

“Now it’s her turn to have a meltdown, I take it,” Jill looked over at Terry, who nodded.
 

“She’s fighting for yours and Mike’s attention and feeling like she’s losing the battle.  It’s rough to be the only child for eight years and suddenly having to split your parent’s attention three ways.  She doesn’t understand, Jill.  I love you and Mike, but you’ve put that little girl in an impossible situation,” Terry pointed out as Jill sat down.
 
“Terry, we’ve explained to her . . . “ Jill started to say as Terry cut her off.
 
“Jill, she’s eight!  A very smart eight, but nonetheless, still only eight!  I don’t want to say much more since Mike’s going to be home any minute, but both of you come over and talk to me later.  You need to learn a few facts of life,” he concluded as he left the house.
 
Jill sighed as she walked out into the backyard where Seven was sitting patiently at the bottom of the tree where the tree house was located.  “Mary Kathryn, please come down and talk to me,” Jill called up into the tree.
 
“No!  I’m not talking to you again, ever!  I’m going to go live with Trap!”
 
“I thought you weren’t going to talk to me ever again,” Jill reminded her daughter as Mary Kathryn stuck her head through the tree house opening.  “Terry’s upset.  Don’t you want to know why?”
“Go away!”
“He’s upset because you’re upset.  And he’s upset with me and your dad because you’re upset,” Jill continued talking up into the tree, feeling like an idiot.

“Call Trap and tell him to come get me now!”

“You’re not going to go live with Trap,” Jill told her daughter.

“Why?  At least I’ll have my own room!  I used to have my own room at Eddie’s, remember?  White furniture, candy cane wallpaper!  It was all mine until you and daddy said they had to share it with me!  I want them to go away!” Mary Kathryn shouted.

The sliding door opened and Mike walked out into the backyard.  He looked at Jill and mouthed ‘What’s going on?’

“Mary Kathryn, do you want to talk to your daddy?  He just got home,” Jill motioned Mike over to the tree.
 

“No! I don’t want to talk to either one of you!  Mom, call Trap or I’m going to go inside and do it myself!” Mary Kathryn once again ordered as Jill shook her head in frustration.
 
“Mary Kate, I’m coming up,” Mike decided as the chain ladder suddenly disappeared up the tree.  “Mary Kate, drop the ladder back down,  please.”
 
“No!  Go away!”
 
“Would you mind telling me what started this?” Mike hissed to Jill.
 
“Dresses,” Jill hissed back as she walked toward the house.  “Terry wants us to come over later.  I don’t think it’s going to be a pleasant visit.  Mary Kathryn, I’m going to go inside and call Eddie.  You can stay at his house tonight.  Is that okay?”
 
“Why are you giving in to her?” Mike hissed furiously.
“Because we’re not going to get any peace, otherwise," she snapped in a whisper as she turned to once again face the tree. "Come inside and pack your overnight bag."  She and Mike walked back to the house.  “We’ll send the other two girls to Willie and Jen’s and then go talk to Terry.”
Mary Kate waited until both of her parents had gone into the house before dropping the ladder and climbing out of the tree house.  Seven was patiently waiting when she got to the ground.  “Don’t get too used to them, Seven, because they aren’t going to be here that long.”

Entering the house, Mary Kate didn’t see her parents.  Michelle and Savannah were in the living room watching TV.  Watching Mary Kate’s video of ‘Ladyhawke,’ as it so happened.  Mary Kate marched over to the VCR, turned it off and removed the tape from the machine.  “What’re you doing?” Michelle demanded as Mary Kate headed for the stairs.

“This is my tape!  I want you to stop watching it every five minutes!” Mary Kate shouted

“You’re acting like a three-year-old!  We weren’t hurting your tape!” Michelle countered back as Jill came down the stairs.

“Mary Kathryn, go pack your bag.  Eddie’s going to be here in 45 minutes,” Jill ordered her daughter as she saw the tape in her hand.  “Where are you going with that video?”

 
“To my room.  I don’t want them watching it anymore,” Mary Kathryn answered as she stalked upstairs.
 
“Jill, she’s acting like a brat.  We weren’t hurting her tape.  Do we need to pack our bags, too?” Savannah asked as Jill shook her head.
 
“No, Mary Kathryn’s going by herself.  She’ll be back in a day or two.  I want you girls to go try on the dresses I left on your beds.  That’s what you’re going to wear to Mary Kathryn’s recital Friday night.  And leave Mary Kathryn alone!” Jill warned them as they headed upstairs.  She wondered if this is what she had to look forward to at puberty and decided if it was, Mary Kathryn was going to boarding school.
 
A short time later . . .
 
“She’s one angry, confused little girl,” Terry pointed out to Mike and Jill as they sat in his living room.  Willie and Jennifer had also joined the group while the four older kids played upstairs and Eric slept in his play pen nearby.
 
“I figured that much out when she yanked the tree house ladder up a while ago,” Mike remembered as he took a drink of his beer.
“You’d better start preparing her for the very real possibility that Michelle and Savannah might not be returning to the Raeford’s,” Terry advised.
“Maybe we should keep our voices down,” Jennifer suggested as Terry looked at her.

“Jen, they’re upstairs playing Atari.  If a meteor came down to earth right now, they wouldn’t hear it.  Trust me on this,” Terry said as he warmed to his subject.

“Mary Kate doesn’t feel like she has anything of her own, any more.  She seems to feel that ‘those two girls’ as she now refers to Michelle and Savannah, have taken over everything that was once hers . . . her dog, her room at Eddie’s and you two.  I guess she feels that Michelle and Savannah have sucked up every ounce of attention in your house, leaving her with nothing.  And, when you mentioned the dresses this afternoon, Jill, that was the last straw.”

“I thought she understood why we’re doing what we’re doing,” Mike sighed as he wearily rubbed his face.
 

“Which part?  Mike, she’s eight!  It doesn’t matter how smart she is or how outspoken, which, by the way, you and Jill are to be congratulated on.  She definitely has a mind of her own that knows what it wants.  No matter how you slice it up, she’s still only eight years old.  In other words, a little girl.  Right now, all she understands is the sun rises in the morning and sets at night, school is Monday through Friday and she’s losing your love and attention,” Terry sat down and looked at his best friend.
 
“I guess I should drive out to Eddie’s,” Mike sighed as he stood up and dug his car keys out of his pocket.
 
“Now?” Jill asked.
 
“Yeah, right now.  I’ll be home in a couple of hours, sooner if I’m still getting the silent treatment,” he leaned down and kissed Jill before walking out the door and up the street to his car.
 
<><><><><>
Mary Kate was laying on her back watching the moon and stars revolve on the ceiling of her bedroom.  Eddie had made a lamp shade exactly like the one
she had in her room at home.  She was almost asleep when she heard two voices coming from the living room.  At first she thought it was Trap and Eddie, but then she recognized her father’s voice.  “Are you asleep?” She heard her father’s voice from her doorway.
“Yes,” she answered.
“Very funny,” Mike reached over and flipped on the light switch, flooding the room with light.

“I’m not coming home and I’m still not talking to you,” she threw the blanket over her head as Mike walked in and sat on the edge of her bed.

“I’m sorry about not paying attention to your gymnastics ribbon.  I know that was important to you,” he tried to apologize as Mary Kate kept her head covered.

“It wasn’t important to you.  Teaching them to ride bikes was more important,” Mary Kate pointed out from under the blankets.

“If you’ll remember, I also taught you to ride a bike.  I also taught you to ski and swim.  Willie taught you how to ice skate and play hockey.  Michelle and Savannah can’t do any of that.”

“Yet.  Give it time.”
 

“Mary Kate, will you please come out from under the covers so I can talk to you?  I didn’t know you were so upset.  Neither did your mom.  You’ve had a wonderful life.  Michelle and Savannah haven’t had it nearly as good as you have.  On a scale of one to 10, their lives were probably in negative numbers before they came to stay with us.  If we give them a lot more attention than we’re giving you right now, it’s probably because they’ve never had any of that kind of attention before.  I know that’s not an excuse.  Look, I’ll talk to Eddie and we’ll see what we can do about the bunking situation, okay?” Mike continued talking to the blanketed mound that was usually his daughter.
 
“Not good enough,” Mary Kate mumbled from under the blanket.
 
“What do you mean, not good enough?  Mary Kate, I’m really trying here.  Listen to me.  Do you know why Savannah can’t talk?” He asked, hoping to ply on his little girl’s overly sensitive nature.
 
“If you’re going to tell me some bleeding heart story, I don’t want to hear it,” came the muffled response.
 
“Terry wasn’t kidding that you’re outspoken.  Where do you learn this stuff?”
 
“Books.  Where do you think?”
“Savannah’s mother put bleach in a baby bottle and made her drink it,” Mike told her as the covers finally came down.  “My gosh, she has a face!”
“I already knew that story.  Michelle told me.  I like being the only child,” she explained.

“I know that.  But, you know what?  Those two girls need us.  They don’t have anywhere else to go.  They’re not like you.  You can come here or you can go to Willie and Jen’s or Terry and Serena’s or worse case scenario, your grandparents.  Oh, forget about marrying Trap.  I can promise you that’s never going to happen,” Mike grinned as he got up.

“Terry squealed!  Daddy, they can stay on one condition,” Mary Kate decided as Mike sat back down.  “You and mom have to show up for my stuff, too.  It can’t just keep being about them all the time.  Oh... and one more thing.  ‘Ladyhawke’ is my tape.  They can’t watch it any more.”

“Agreed on your stuff.  We’ll talk about the video another time.  Go to sleep and I’ll see you tomorrow afternoon.  I love you,” he leaned down to kiss her as she wrapped her arms around his neck and hugged him tightly.

“I love you, too, daddy.  Stay and tell me again about when I was born.  The story about how I was the prettiest baby in the entire nursery . . . “
 

PART FIVE–RESOLUTION (JUL. 1986)

 
It was incredibly hot outside, but it was nice and cool in the courtroom.  This hot July day was the day that the judge would be making his final decision regarding the future’s of Michelle and Savannah.  Their father had recently been sentenced to two and a half to eight years for assault and child endangerment.  He had voluntarily signed away his rights to the girls, which solved half the battle, leaving only their mother who was still fighting to reclaim custody.  Jill and Mike were sitting on one side of the courtroom with the two girls who were dressed in their Sunday best.  Their mother sat on the other side of the courtroom with her attorney, occasionally glancing toward the girls.  Rita Callahan was also in attendance as well as the attorney representing the children and DCFS.
 
Everybody stood as Judge William Myers entered the courtroom.  After ordering everyone to be seated, he glanced over at the sparsely filled courtroom.  “I have carefully read all of the reports that have been submitted to me by both parties as well as psychological evaluations submitted by the children’s psychologist.  I have also talked with Michelle and Savannah Raeford in great detail as well as their case worker and the foster parents.  First, I want to commend the Danko’s on what I’m sure couldn’t have been an easy task.  Ms. Callahan, I understand that it’s the recommendation of both yourself and your superiors that custody of the children should continue to be under the supervision of The Department of Family Services?”
 
“Yes, your honor,” Ms. Callahan answered.
“I thought we were going to be living with you,” Michelle whispered as Mike shushed her.
"I understand that John Raeford has signed papers terminating his parental right's.  Is this true?”

“Yes, your honor,” Ms. Callahan again answered.

“Mrs. Raeford, I’ve seen many parents come and go through my courtroom.  While it’s true that your husband is the one now serving time in prison, I can’t for the life of me understand why you’re not there in the cell right beside him,” the judge glared at Mrs. Raeford, who began violently shaking.

 
“Mike, I’m going to take the girls out into the hallway,” Jill whispered as she motioned to the two girls to follow her.
 
“I’ll be out in a few minutes,” he whispered behind her.
 
“Order!  Mrs. Raeford, you put household bleach in the baby bottle of your infant daughter.  I don’t care whether it was at the behest of your husband or not.  You were the one who did it.  That is not a good parent.  Therefore, I’m agreeing with the recommendation of DCFS and severing your parental rights in the matter of the minor children, Michelle Dawn Raeford and Savannah Leigh Raeford!  Custody of the children shall remain under the supervision of the Department of Children and Family Services for the next 120 days.  At that time, adoption by Michael and Jill Danko will then be finalized.  Court adjourned!” The judge banged his gavel, signaling that he was through.
 
Mike almost jumped up and down for joy as he watched Irene Raeford and her attorney prepare to leave the courtroom.  “May I speak to the girls?” She begged as Mike shook his head.
 
“You have nothing to say to them that they want to hear,” Mike answered as he left the courtroom and went out into the hallway where Jill and the girls were waiting by the elevator.  “One hundred and 20 days!”
“Until what?” Michelle asked.
“Until you have the last name of Danko!” He shouted before he remembered where they were.  The four of them hugged tightly as the two girls jumped up and down excitedly.  “Come on, let’s go get Mary Kate and we’ll go celebrate!”

At home, Mike put a huge wall calendar on the kitchen wall and hung a red marker next to it.  “What’s this for?” Savannah signed as she looked at the calendar.

“Every morning when you get up, put an ‘X’ through the day.  I’ve circled the 120th day and that’s the day we’ll all go to court and become one big happy family,” he told Savannah who grinned, revealing missing front teeth.

“We all go to court?  Even Mary Kate and Seven?”

“Well, not the dog.  But, the rest of us,” he promised her.

“One big happy family sounds good to me,” she continued grinning as she hugged her sister.


THE END

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