Hey! DarkwingFan with another story...this time poor Gosalyn is in the center of it all.
What else is new with me huh?
Anyway...I call it,
The Trouble with Children's Aid!
It was another day of school for one nine year old girl by the name of Gosalyn Mallard.
Unlike most girls her age, she was a tomboy.
Never dressed up in fancy dresses and never wore any kind of makeup like all her other classmates.
Her alarm was frantically going off, screaming for her to get up.
"Gosalyn...time to wake up. You've got school." Drake Mallard called from the stairs.
Gosalyn turned to her side and tried to go back to sleep...kind of hard when you have the alarm clock buzzing in your ear constantly.
She turned off the alarm and hit the pillow once again.
Although going back to sleep would have to wait as Drake came marching into the room.
"Come on Gos...you're going to be late for school." he said to her as he pulled the covers off her bed.
"I don't wanna!" Gosalyn muttered as she tried to throw the blankets back on her.
"It's not a case of rather or not you don't wanna...it's a case of ya havta. Now get up!"
Gosalyn sat up in her bed and watched as her father left the room the way he came in, marching.
"Why can't I state just one time that I'm sick and have the feelings to back it up!" she groaned as she stepped out of bed and walked over to her dresser.
Grabbing her hairbrush, she started fixing her tangled up hair style and placed it into two pig tails.
Then she went downstairs to have her breakfast.
"Morning Gosalyn." Launchpad replied sleeply as she walked into the kitchen.
"Morning Launchpad." Gosalyn grumbled her usual reply as she pulled out a bowl from the cupboard and fixed up some frosty O's.
"My...aren't we cheerful this morning." Drake said as Gosalyn sat down and started wolfing down the cereal.
"Well, some of us aren't really morning people Dad." Gosalyn retorted with her mouth full.
Drake sighed as he watched his little girl scarf down the cereal.
It wasn't really good table manners...but what else could he do?
Drake was a single parent with no experience but he was doing his best.
He took the poor child into his home after spending nearly a year in the oprhanage and did his best to raise her properly.
If giving the oppotunity, he would probably give that child the whole world if he could just to make her happy.
She finished the bowl and went into the living room to watch a little bit of cartoons before leaving.
Most of the programs on first thing in the morning were either news or shows intended for babies.
Gosalyn flipped through them all until she finally found something decent to watch.
Drake came in from the kitchen to spend some time with his daughter before he had to send her off.
When the program was over, Gosalyn threw her bookbag over her shoulders, kissed her father goodbye and left the house.
She looked over to her right and saw her neighbour Honker also doing the same thing.
"Hey Honker...wait for me!!" Gosalyn called as she ran over to him.
They both walked to school together.
"Morning Gosalyn...are you ready for another day or learning?" Honker asked his best friend.
"Well...I'd rather spend another day playing and watching TV but...education is more important. Why cant I for once wake up feeling sick or something?"
As usual, Honker just tuned out Gosalyn's complaning of school and her father's rules and other things that sort of ticked her off in the mornings.
Everyday was the same old thing...
It was the slowest day in St.Canard Elementary School in Gosalyn's mind as she sat in Mr.Leopard's history class looking at the clock on the wall.
It seemed as if the clock stayed exactly at 1:00 in the afternoon.
"I'd give anything to get out of this boring class." Gosalyn muttered to herself...fighting off the feeling of figute.
Suddenly the P.A. system rang to life and a loud squeel went through the classroom, making all the kids cover their ears before it stopped.
"Oh man...we've got to get this thing fixed. Geeze." Principal Farnsworth muttered, not realizing she was speaking over the mic. "Would Gosalyn Mallard please report to my office...Gosalyn Mallard, report to my office imedieately."
All the class started to make oooohhhhing sounds as Gosalyn got up from her desk and walked towards the door.
"Alright now class settle down." Mr.Leopard stated as he continued his lesson.
Gosalyn wondered what it was she did now as she walked down the dreaded hallway to Principal Farnsworth's office.
She carefully opened the door to find two females sitting in the office.
The one female she didn't even reconized.
"You wanted to see me Principal Farnsworth?" She asked in a very nervous tone.
"Yes I did, Gosalyn. Close the door and have a seat." The Principal offered.
Gosalyn did as she was told and sat down beside the unknown woman.
The two were enjoying a plater of cheese and crackers.
Gosalyn took a piece of cheese and started eating.
"Gosalyn...I've called you in here to meet a very special person. This is Susie Canaryton. She's from the St.Canard Children's Aid society."
"Children's Aid Society? What the heck is that?" Gosalyn asked out loud.
"The Children's Aid Society Gosalyn is a organization that helps Children in need who maybe in trouble. We care for the child's welfare." Susie explained.
"So why are you here?" Gosalyn wondered...now fearing the worst.
"Gos...I'm here to ask you some questions. Is that OK? Can we go somewhere's private to talk?"
"Yeah..sure. I guess."
"Good. Mrs.Farnsworth...is there a room not occupied that we can go to have a talk in private?"
"Yes Mrs.Canaryton. Follow me."
Principal Farnsworth, Susie Canaryton and Gosalyn Mallard headed down the hallway towards the nurses room.
The Principal turned on the light and checked to see if the room was empty.
"Here you are. Is there anything else I could get you before I go?"
"No. Thank you anyway Principal Farnsworth. Come on Gosalyn."
Gosalyn walked into the room and Susie closed the door behind her.
"Have a seat."
Gosalyn took a seat in a chair that spins around while Susie took one of the normal seats.
"Ok...Gosalyn Mallard, right?"
"Yes."
"I'm going to ask you a couple of questions here Gos...if you don't feel comfortable with one of them, you don't have to answer it Ok sweetie? I'm not here to scare you...I'm here to help you. Understand?"
Gosalyn nodded.
"Alright hon. Now...let me explain why I'am here this afternoon. We received a phone call from your school asking us to do a background check on a certain student which is mainly you Gosalyn. According to your Principal...you have quite a record of bad behaviour, playing baseball in the hallway...being disruptive in class...very alienated from the other students. It says here that you only have one friend right?"
Gosalyn nodded. "Honker. He lives right next door to me."
"Honker is a male duck is that right?"
Gosalyn nodded again...wondering in her mind where all of this is going.
"Do you have any friends who are female Gos?"
"Not really...nobody wants to hang out with me."
Susie took out her pen and started making notes.
"Why do you think that Gosalyn?"
"I don't know. Maybe it's because I'm not girlie enough for them I guess."
Another note was made.
"Tell me Gosalyn...what's it like at home? Do your parents get along?"
"Yeah..."
"Who do you live with? Do you live with a mother and father or just one parent?"
"Just my father, and his friend."
"Hmm-mmm. I see. And who's your father's friend? Is it a girlfriend, room-mate?"
"More like a room-mate."
Susie continued writing on her note book.
"Male or female?"
"Male...why do you want to know?"
"Just curious Gos. No need to worry. Now...Gosalyn, is everything well in the home? Does your father hit you?"
"OF COURSE NOT! He would never hit me."
That question sent off an alarm in Gosalyn's head telling her something was terrably wrong here.
"What about this room-mate of his? Does he do things to you that you don't want to do?"
"Like what?"
"Well...does he make you do sexual acts for him? Pulls out his privates and makes you touch him and stuff?"
"No..." Gosalyn quickly answered, maybe a little too quick cause that caused Susie's face to look at her like she was lying.
"We're only here to
investigate honey...alright. Don't be alarmed. Even if this case is
a false alarm we have to make sure it isn't real. Your welfare could
be at stake and we want to make sure you are in a good
home."
"Well...I don't care what you think...I'am in a
very good home. My Dad doesn't hit me...he yells at me sometimes
and that's it. Launchpad doesn't make me do anything sexual. Are you
happy now that you know? Can I go back to class now?"
Susie nodded as Gosalyn stormed out of the room.
"It was nice meeting you Gosalyn." She called out.
Seeing as the history class was over, Gosalyn went to her next class...Miss.Panda's Math class, the last class of the day.
All the class was busy working on the multipule table when Gosalyn walked in.
"So nice of you to join us Miss.Mallard. Honker already told me. Have a seat and start working on your mutiple table."
Gosalyn took the sheet of paper and sat down at her desk beside Honker.
"Here, Gosalyn...I brought your book bag with me." Honker whispered to her.
"Thanks Honk."
"So...what did the Principal want this time?"
"Just to hassle me."
"SSSSSHHHHHHHHHH." Miss. Panda hissed.
"I'll tell you more after school."
The bell rang, signalling another day over as Gosalyn and Honker walked home together.
"So, what really happened in Principal Farnsworth's office?" Honker asked. "You looked pretty pale when you came back into math class."
"You'll never guess what Principal Farnsworth did to me Honk...she called the St.Canard Children's Aid Society on me!"
"Children's Aid? FOR WHAT?"
"She now thinks that due to my misbehavial record that things aren't well in the Mallard home. That I'm getting sexual abuse and neglect in the home. Why can't the schools stay out of other people's business? It's not like I come to school full of bruises and cuts and come up with excuses all the time like what's her name's!!! Marline Hampton. Her parents I'm sure abuse her...why can't they go after her instead of me. That's the kind of child they should be looking for. I've got a perfect home."
Honker could tell Gosalyn was quite upset about the day's events.
He knew Children's Aid all too well.
The reason...?
"Gos...I know how you feel! We too have to deal with the Children's Aid."
"Why? Your family is so perfect. Well...besides Tank that is."
"Yeah...that's the whole point. Due to the fact that Tank is a bully in school, they, the School board that is, they thought that there was some abuse going on in the home to cause Tank to act the way he does. It all started when Tank was in Grade 1. He pushed this little girl off a swing and broke her leg. School called Children's Aid and they've been with us since."
"All because Tank was bulling way too much?"
Honker nodded.
"So why do they suspect that I'm being abused in MY home? My Dad never hit me and he would never dream of doing it either. He yells at me sometimes and that's it. I don't call yelling a form of abuse."
They walked down the street of Avien Way towards their houses, 537 and 539.
"Hey...who's car is that?" Honker asked as he neared the Mallard's house.
"I don't know Honk, but I've got a bad feeling about this. Mind if I stay with you for a few hours...til she leaves?"
"Sure...come on."
They went over to the Muddlefoots and began playing.
Come sundown the vehicle started to leave.
"Good. She's going! I knew it was her." Gosalyn said as she looked out the window from Honker's bedroom.
"Who?"
"Susie Canaryton. My Social worker. She just doesn't know how to stay out of other people's business. Well...I've gotta go home now before my Dad flips. It's getting late. See you tomorrow!"
"Bye Gosalyn." said Honker from his bedroom.
"Bye Mr.and Mrs. Muddlefoot." Gosalyn called as she neared the door.
"Bye Gossarooni." Said Herb.
"Bubbeye Gosalyn...so nice having you over for dinner." said Binky.
"Thanks." Gosalyn said before she left the house and ran over to her own.
"Gosalyn...is that you honey?" Drake called from the kitchen.
"Yeah...I already ate at the Muddlefoots house. Don't bother making dinner."
Drake came out of the kitchen and gave his daughter a great big hug.
"Gos...we need to talk."
"Why...what's going on?" Gos asked...panic quickly entering her voice.
"Let's go somewhere's private...like say..Darkwing Tower?"
"Sure Dad...but why can't we talk here?"
They both sat on the twin blue chairs and spun off towards Darkwing Tower.
Once there, Drake changed into his purple costume then took Gosalyn to his office, closing the door behind him.
"What's all this about Dad?" Gosalyn asked.
"Sit." was all Darkwing had to say.
Gosalyn quickly sat down at her father's desk.
"Gos...somebody by the name of Susie Canaryton from the St.Canard Children's Aid Society came to see me today. She told me that she had a talk with you. Is that right?"
Gosalyn nodded, not wanting to say a word.
"What in God's name was she asking you that made her so suspicious? She even eyed Launchpad like he was a sexual predator."
"She asked me things about my home life...was it good, stuff like that."
"And what did you tell her?"
"I told her the truth Dad. She kept asking me questions...very personal questions about my life and I just don't know what to make of all this. She was asking me things like...does your father ever hit you and does your father's room-mate make you perform sexual acts and stuff like that. I was scared, Daddy. I told her no to all those questions." Gosalyn started to cry.
"Who made the call to have them come in and investigate you?"
"Principal Farnsworth."
Darkwing closed his eyes and sighed.
He knew this was something the school was involved in.
Sometimes he wondered if the school board went a little too far to ensure a child's welfare and safety, even if it meant to get their noses in other people's business that doesn't belong.
Now he, Launchpad and Gosalyn were one of those business.
"Gosalyn...what ever happens...you'll probably get a visit from her again someday. You tell her that there is nothing...and I MEAN NOTHING Wrong with the Mallard family. You tell that Children's Aid Society to go after Children who REALLY DO have a BROKEN FAMILY and to leave us alone! I'm a perfect Father. I don't hit you, or neglect you in anyway..." Darkwing had to really think about that..."Alright...there are times where I neglect you, but it's only for a short time. JUST DON'T TELL SUSIE ABOUT THAT. THEN THEY REALLY BE ON OUT TAILFEATHERS. Neglect is under the the law's act. Children's Aid finds out that I leave you alone in the house all night they will take you away in a snap of a finger. This is what they are looking for...they see you as suspious. No friends...no social life...a very bad behaviour record...all of these point to imedieate troubles in the home and that's why the school gets in contact with Children's Aid to investigate further. The school can't do it cause they have no rights. Children's Aid is funded by the government and they have a say in what these guys can and cannot do. If they feel the child is endangered, they will come in with a warant and take the child away. Sometimes I give them credit where credit is due...some children deserve to be put in better care. But when they faulsey accuse you of being a bad parent...don't go there with me. So when Susie comes again for her annual visit, just tell her that everything is fine and that there is nothing to worry about. Ok Honey? Hopefully this will all blow over."
"I hope so Daddy...I love you so much. I don't want to be taken away because you have been deamed unfit."
"Gos...nobody is going to label Darkwing Duck as UNFIT. NOT EVEN THE CHILDREN'S AID!!!"
End of Part 1.
A note from DarkwingFan: I decided to make this into a series of events. Don't get me wrong...I do agree that Children's Aid or the Department of Social and Human Services do good for the most part with kids who's parents ARE abusing them or neglect them. But sometimes though you do have to question them when they get their noses stuck in other people's businesses that don't belong.
There are kids out there who have trouble making friends, and have a hard time fitting into society but that doesn't mean we should label them by saying the child is being sexually abused or hit by their parents. That is just wrong to say the least! I dealt with that myself growing up...being faulsy accused of being in a broken home when it really wasn't a broken home to begin with!
Thanks to the Children's Aid...they more less made my home broken!
Anyway...find out what happens to Gosalyn in the next Chapter when her so-called 'Social Worker' probes ever deeper into the Mallard's life.
Will Susie Canaryton find out Drake's deep dark secret as Darkwing Duck?
Will Gosalyn slip up by saying something right out of text?
Find out in chapter 2 of The Trouble with Children's Aid!