*{Click the Title: 2become1 by the Spice Girls, read the story below to learn Why]
So here it is August, and every August I remember 2 girls that our family fostered when my son was 6. And this song reminds me of them.The younger one was 6 monthes older than my son, and her name was Taylor, and the older one was named Chrystal and she was 15.They came to us because they chose us as their safezone. Their mom was strung out on Everything, from meth to booze to coke. Chrystal mothered Taylor and kept watch over her, and everytime their mom went off the deepend , she would choose a new safezone for them. They had been in Protective Services before, but that had led to them being seperated.I didn't know any of this when we met them. I met them at the Pool of where we lived. I was in my mid 30's and my Doctor had just told me that I had to have a hysterectomy. I was crushed, I wanted more kids. ( Anyone that knows me will tell you I should have had a slew of kids). But that summer we moved in an apt complex in the Northwest that was full of kids, and they hung out at our apt or at the pool. I made alot of spaghetti, and alot of cookies, and read them alot of books, and at odd hours kids would show up.In many ways it was very good for my son, an only child. Suddenly doing chalk art, and making playdough was more interesting with different kids around.
But in August everything changed, I had given Chrystal my number, in case she ever needed a sitter for her sister.But by September her mom was strung out and I got a phone call asking for me to come get both of them. I thought it odd that she asked me to drive over to get them, they lived within walking distance. I arrived and their bags were packed by the door. Both had been crying and their mother was passed out in the other room, and the apt was in total dissarray, and there were two men passed out as well, one in the Living room and one in the bedroom. The place reeked of bourbon and drugs and sweat and vomit. I was beyond horrified. Chrystal took me to the frig and opened the door, and showed me WHAT was in the butter container, and never said a word. Her eyes said it all. I picked up the bags, and Taylor held onto my hand while Chrystal wrote a note " We have gone to stay with friends, we will call you.We can NOT stay Here." She stuck it on the frig door with a piece of chewed gum and great force. There was desperate anger on her face.
We drove home, all of 5 blocks to the other side of the complex. The silence in the car was painful. Taylor sat next to me and still held onto my sleeve and tears rolled down her face. Chrystal sat in the backseat silent and angry , but tears rolled slowly down her cheek, and she did not even brush them away.
We got home and 6-6 was watching "Home Improvement" with Mr.Enigma. They both saw us enter with Chrystal and Taylor and were stunned...but stayed silent.Taylor went and sat on the sofa with my son and snuggled next to him, and he pretended to annoyed,but moved closer to her. She was a tiny blond waif with twinkly blue eyes. I took Mr Enigma into the Kitchen and discussed the situation while Chrystal went into the other room and called her grandmom to let her know that they were safe. I explained to MrEnigma that their living situation was not safe, and he nodded, and said well, they can't go home.He asked How long do you think they need to stay and I said I don't know, but they can't go home. And he said okay.He was and is a Good Man. And he rode the Girls Roller Coaster for the next 6 monthes, through Halloween,Thanksgiving, Christmas,and all that Fall and Winter brought with the situation.He even played Santa for these two girls and even turned our Reading room into a bedroom for them.
Chrystal told me their story, and we did as best we could. We made their mom get help, and explained that while her life was spinning out of control that it was unsafe for the girls. The Grandmother lived many hours away , but we did talk on the phone and tried as best as we could to coordinate a plan.....and we did this for monthes.And yes I did have to go and confront the Mom that she was Unwell, and to get her shit together, and that until then the girls were staying where they were safe. I also explained that I was willing to call in the Professionals and Protective Services if needed, and that did knock some sense into her.
The Girls favorite song was This Song,the Spice Girls song, they would sing it ALL the time. Chrystal really did look like Scary Spice and she was beautiful. And the little one really could grow up to look like Baby Spice. My son would sit on the sofa and watch them in awe as they sang. He didn't mind having sisters that year....not one bit.He didn't mind the Barbies, and the arrival of many pink things, and that I tried to teach Crystal how to cook. I hear this song and I think about them, and how I tried to teach Chrystal how to take care of her and her sister.And how hard I tried to give them what they hadn't had. I hear this song and I hope they know how much we as a family loved them......They moved that following spring after their mother finally got clean, and needed a new start. So we had to let them go.....
I still miss them...and yes, in my minds eye they are still 6 and 15....It's been 10 years and I hope that their lives are better...and that they are still together, in a better place.
