Alexa is with the school nurse, who is cleaning the little girl's fresh burns. Alexa just sat on the table with a non emotion showing look on her face. She's thinking about what her social worker, James will say we he gets word of this.
Meanwhile in the principal's office, Principal Aven Santos is about to call social services when Alexa runs in.
"Wait! Principal Santos, please don't make that call." Alexa pleaded "Please."
Aven sighed softly, "Alexa, I'm sorry but I have to. The proof of your abuse is all over your body."
"But I... I...James will be mad." Alexa mumbled as she looked down
Aven looked confused, "What was that, Alexa?"
Alexa sighed as she looked up and took a deep, shaky breath, "James will be mad. He says I'm too hard to place."
"James?" Aven asked confused "And what do you mean by 'too hard to place'?"
"James is my social worker. I've been a foster kid since I was three." Alexa told her principal
"Oh I'm sorry, Alexa, but I still have to call social services to report the abuse." Aven explained
Alexa sighed and nodded, "Okay." Then she asked, "Can I go back to class, Principal Santos?"
"Of course." Aven replied with a soft sigh as Alexa walked out of her office. She felt so bad for the little girl, but she still had to make the call to social services, so she dialed the number.
"Hello, Department of Social Services. This is Carol." The receptionist, Carol answered
"Hi, this is Aven Santos, principal of Seattle Elementary school. I'm calling to report that one of the students here is abused, and I've been informed by the child that she is a foster kid." Aven explained
"Okay can I have the child's name please?" Carol asked
"Alexa Kobekin, age 8. She's in third grade." Aven replied
Carol sighed softly, "Oh Alexa, she's a sweet kid. Despite all she's been through, she's really sweet, but she's also really shy and reserved." Then she added, "I'll tell her social worker to pick her up from school when it's over."
At the end of the school day, Lexie went to the school to pick up Lillibeth.
"Auntie Lex!" Lillibeth exclaimed when she saw her aunt
Lexie smiled and hugged her niece, "Hey sweet girl, how was school?"
"It was good." Lillibeth replied. Then she asked, "Not that I'm not happy to see you, Auntie Lex, but what are you doing here? I thought mommy was picking me up."
Lexie nodded, "That was the plan, but she went home to rest. She didn't feel well."
"Oh okay. So am I going home or am I going to the hospital?" Lillibeth asked
"It's up to you, but it might be a little boring at home." Lexie told her niece
Lillibeth thought about it, "I want to go home. I'm going to keep mommy company."
"Okay home it is them." Lexie replied
On the way to the car, Lillibeth saw Alexa walking with an older man, probably in his mid-thirties.
"Bye Alexa." Lillibeth said to her new friend
Alexa waved with a small smile, "Bye Lilli."
"Who's that?" Lexie asked her niece as they got in the car
"That's my friend, Alexa." Lillibeth stated "I feel so bad for her. At lunch I found her in the bathroom crying. She had bruises and cigarette burns all over her."
"Oh poor kid." Lexie said "Did...Is she abused?"
Lillibeth nodded, "Yeah by her foster parents."
Lexie sighed softly as she drives to Meredith's house. Upon arriving at Meredith's house, Lillibeth walked into the front door. She walked upstairs to her mom's room to find her mom and her baby sister laying in bed sleeping peacefully. Lillibeth crawled in bed and curled up next to her mom.
Meredith woke up and smiled softly, "Hey sweetheart, how was school?"
"Good." Lillibeth replied "How are you feeling, mommy? Auntie Lex said you weren't feeling well."
Meredith smiled and gave a small nod, "I'm feeling better, baby. Thanks for asking."
"That's good, mommy. I'm glad." Lillibeth stated
Meanwhile with Lexie, after dropping off Lillibeth and checking on her sister Meredith, Lexie drives to social services. She parks the car and then walks into the Social services building.
"Hello, can I help you?" Carol asked Lexie with a friendly smile
Lexie nodded, "Actually you can. I'm Alexandra Grey and I'm looking to foster an eight year old girl by the name of Alexa."
"Okay let me call her social worker for you." Carol replied as she picked up the desk phone, "James Conaway, a young woman came in. She wants to foster Alexa."
James heard the call through his desk phone speaker. He turned to Alexa, who is looking at him confused, "Stay here, Alexa. I'll be back soon." Then he left his office and walked to the lobby of the building.
"Hello I'm James Conaway, Alexa's social worker." James introduced
"Nice to meet you. I'm Alexandra Grey. I'd like to foster Alexa, and I already have a fostering license. I got one when my sister and brother-in-law got theirs." Lexie told him
James nodded, "Okay well come to my office and I'll have you sign a couple papers. Then you can take Alexa home."
About half an hour later, Lexie is driving home with Alexa. It's really quiet in the car, but the silence is broken by Alexa.
"Is Lilli your daughter?" Alexa asked softly
Lexie shook her head, "No, sweetie. Lillibeth's my niece. She's my sister's daughter."
"Oh okay." Alexa replied before becoming silent once again
"Hey Lexa, what's your favorite color?" Lexie asked trying to make conversation with the young girl
Alexa thought about it for a second, "Umm...green? Yeah green."
"Cool. Green's a nice color." Lexie told the girl. Then she added, "I was thinking that before going home we'd make a quick stop at the store and get anything that you might need. Sound good to you, Lex?"
Alexa shrugged, "I guess." Then she asked, "What kind of stuff?"
"Like clothes, pajamas, shoes, books, and a stuffed animal or two." Lexie listed to give Alexa some ideas
Alexa nodded, "If you want to, but you don't have to. I don't deserve it anyway."
"Oh sweetie, but you do deserve it. You're not worthless, Lexa." Lexie sighed softly feeling sad for the little girl.
Hope you enjoy. Comments are greatly appreciated.
What would you like to happen next?
Why do you think Meredith wasn't feeling well? What's going to happen with Alexa and Lexie? Will Lexie adopt the little girl?
