Chapter Four
School.
That was a big adjustment for both girls. But it would be the last new school they would have to put up with. Jorja didn't like having to repeat Kindergarten. She remembered certain things from the school year prior. She still remembered how to write her name and most of the alphabet and could read simple words. But like the first time around she struggled with math. Her teacher respected that the child had been in this grade before and didn't try to make her start "from stretch." Jorja's reading level was higher than the usual even for repeat kindergartner. But she had been being read to by her sister since she was doll-sized infant just released from the NICU. That made a difference. Jorja hated school for more than because it was "boring."
Some of her classmates teased her because she was small and pale. Kids were always asking "what's wrong with you? Why are you so small and always pale? Why do you got circles underneath your eyes? You look like a raccoon! "
Her only relief was she didn't have to take her medicine in front of those same kids. She did that in the privacy of the nurse's office. The principal arranged to have the nurse come to class to explain Jorja's illness and her appearance without her present. The nurse stressed Jorja was just like any other child. It hadn't helped much. So far Jorja hadn't had any seizures at school. A student aid was there to whisk Jorja out the classroom at the beginning signs of a seizure and tend to the situation -and only for that. Otherwise the aid left Jorja on her own.
Brianna had an easier time making friends despite she was getting fed up with explaining how she had only known her foster parents less than a year and yes, she said she called them both "dad.". Her outlook was different from her sister's. She wanted to make friends her own age. Now that the sisters had parents, Brianna could be a kid. She wasn't going to stop being a great sister but it was all she had to be, finally. Brianna was now best friends with Riley Jennings the daughter of a female, now former army major and surgeon Drew had first met during his final tour of duty. Riley and her mother, Syd had been family to Drew and Rick even before they met their daughters. Syd was out of the army now too. She worked the day shift at San Antonio Memorial Hospital.
Chapter Five
Six months ago, neither Drew or Rick couldn't imagine a night that made their blood boil would lead to a day so full of joy.
And be the best Christmas gift ever.
It was December twentieth. The couple, with Brianna and Jorja supported by the entire shift staff went before a judge to finalize both adoptions. Both girls had new middle names along with their new hyphenated last name. They were excited to write their new names when school started again. Brianna's new name was Brianna Daisy Alister-Lincoln and Jorja's was Jorja Jaymes Alister-Lincoln. Everyone was coming to a pizza party with Christmas cookies and ice cream at the family home afterwards.
The next day the family went to go get their Christmas tree. This was their first Christmas as a family and everything about it was a big deal. Jorja told everybody that "Santa Claus finally got it right. Me an' Bri got adopted!" She had asked a mall Santa for that since she was three-year-old. Talk about putting a volunteer in an awkward position. Her request this year would be much sim0ler. An easel, paints and markers so she could draw bigger pictures, the huge panda (that was actually bigger than her) that she seen at Costco and a tablet. She would tell him that her sister wanted a digital camera and a new tablet because hers was old and almost broken .Every kid (almost) had a tablet nowadays. Besides videos and games, there was educational apps that disguised games that help Jorja with her math problem. That was Santa's motive for getting Jorja the device this year.
Hot cocoa, shaped and decorated shortbread cookies were a great treat as the new family of four looked though the handmade Christmas ornaments bring sold at the tree farm. The older lady who was selling them she could customize them if someone wanted something special written on the bulbs. There was all kinds of Baby's First Christmas bulbs but that wasn't what Brianna was looking for.
"My little sister and I finally got adopted from fostet care this week," she said, pointing to her parents and Jorja who were looking at colorful mittens. "I was looking for something for that but I can't find anything."
The lady suggested she could write Our First Christmas with each girl's name and the year on them. Brianna liked the idea. She picked out a Kung fu Panda with Po on it for Jorja and a bulb with a stack of bulbs on it for herself. She tried to pay the woman but she refused.
"Your story made my day, honey," she said, "it's on the house."
Across the way Drew and Rick were laughing at Jorja in a set of reindeer antlers. It was too cute not to buy it for her. The afternoon was a blast. Rick's parents were flying in from Houston and would be there by that night. Drew would have to work the following night and the night after. But he had Christmas Eve and Day night off. T.C. was going to fill in for him. His friend said this holiday was too special to miss spending it with his family.
"You guys deserve to still be celebrating," he said.
