A/n: Thank you for the reviews. I'm sorry I made a mistake. In the last
chapter I meant to say the twins were 2 ½ not what I said. Please forgive
me.
Eric: (confused) Excuse me?
Judge: Sir I am so sorry but... Erica is still young. She is younger than your 2 youngest only by 1-½ years. With so many children and the twins I don't believe that Erica would be able to have the proper attention a 1 year old needs
Eric: But your honor I assure you my family and I can give all the attention she needs even with Samuel and David.
Judge: (apologetically) I'm sorry reverend.
Just then Mary stood up. She sighed and closed her eyes then spoke.
Mary: Your honor I would like to take Erica in as a guardian.
Judge: Excuse me. And you are?
Mary: Mary Camden. I am 18 years old and am eligible to become a guardian of a child. Erica is my cousin and since the death of my aunt and uncle I have grown a lot closer to Erica. I love her more than anything and to see her go to some family that never knew or met her before would be heart braking.
Judge: Miss. Camden your intentions are great but can you possibly take care of a child at your age with school and all.
Mary: I already a scholarship to college. I am a senior and I have a part time job so that I can take care of Erica financially and I promise that I have a proper education to take care of Erica. I have never done anything illegal or anything so I won't be a bad guardian.
Judge: (skeptically) And what about when you are at school?
Mary: Well my parents can take care of her while I'm at school and while I'm at my part time job. While at school they won't have, as many kids to care for so more attention would be given to Erica. Of course I will be responsible for Erica and if anything happens to her I will take full responsibility.
The courtroom is quiet for a while, while the judge reviews some papers. After what seemed like an eternity he looked up and face Mary.
Judge: Well Miss. Camden I have reviewed your files and by the looks of it you are very well capable of taking in a child. Of course you do realize that being so young it may be harder for you to take care of her where as if we put her with another family.
Mary: (confused) Of course I realize it will be hard but I am willing to take in her no matter what.
Judge: Well Miss. Camden I see no reason in why you can't take Miss. Hastings in....
Just then Eric spoke up. He looked at the judge then at Mary and then started to speak.
Eric: (angrily) Excuse me your honor but you won't let me, a responsible minister who has raised children before take in my niece but you are willing to let my 18 year old daughter take her in!
Judge: (calmly) Reverend please don't shout. Your daughter, unlike you does not have 7 children to take care of along with Erica. Also since she does live at home you will also be able to take care of Erica. I just think that this way it works out the best. When Mary is older she can take care of Erica on her own with no help and you can have your own children to care for and Mary doesn't lose her cousin and gets to have custody of her. I think it will work out for the best.
Eric raised his finger to speak but instead just sat down. There was no way he would change's the judges mind. He looked up at the ceiling and silently prayed to god. "God Julie! Why did you have to leave! Why did you put Erica in such a position?" He leaned back in his seat and looked at Annie, who had the same confused look, he had on his face just moments before. After court when everyone got outside Eric went towards Mary to speak with her. Of course all of the other kids were talking and asking how she would take care of an infant. Eric cleared his voice and all of the kids cleared into the van.
Eric: Why Mary? Why did you just sign yourself as legal guardian of a child at the age of 18?
Mary: (calmly) Dad I know you must be angry with me but I couldn't let Erica have to go through the whole orphanage process. I mean her parents just died and in all honesty she will never know them. I think we at least owe it to her and to aunt Julie and Uncle Hank to have her be with family don't you?
Eric: But you're so young?
Mary: I know and until I'm older I was kind of hoping you and mom would help me take care of her. I know that you can't get parental custody of her but maybe this is just as good.
Eric: You know your mom and I will help you through this no matter what.
Mary: Thank you dad. I love you
Eric: And I love you.
A/n: Surprising twist? I thought so. Anyway please review and tell me what you think! As always guy thank you so much for all of the wonderful reviews I have received so far. Also thank you to Kaykayellee for giving me this idea
R E V I E W
Eric: (confused) Excuse me?
Judge: Sir I am so sorry but... Erica is still young. She is younger than your 2 youngest only by 1-½ years. With so many children and the twins I don't believe that Erica would be able to have the proper attention a 1 year old needs
Eric: But your honor I assure you my family and I can give all the attention she needs even with Samuel and David.
Judge: (apologetically) I'm sorry reverend.
Just then Mary stood up. She sighed and closed her eyes then spoke.
Mary: Your honor I would like to take Erica in as a guardian.
Judge: Excuse me. And you are?
Mary: Mary Camden. I am 18 years old and am eligible to become a guardian of a child. Erica is my cousin and since the death of my aunt and uncle I have grown a lot closer to Erica. I love her more than anything and to see her go to some family that never knew or met her before would be heart braking.
Judge: Miss. Camden your intentions are great but can you possibly take care of a child at your age with school and all.
Mary: I already a scholarship to college. I am a senior and I have a part time job so that I can take care of Erica financially and I promise that I have a proper education to take care of Erica. I have never done anything illegal or anything so I won't be a bad guardian.
Judge: (skeptically) And what about when you are at school?
Mary: Well my parents can take care of her while I'm at school and while I'm at my part time job. While at school they won't have, as many kids to care for so more attention would be given to Erica. Of course I will be responsible for Erica and if anything happens to her I will take full responsibility.
The courtroom is quiet for a while, while the judge reviews some papers. After what seemed like an eternity he looked up and face Mary.
Judge: Well Miss. Camden I have reviewed your files and by the looks of it you are very well capable of taking in a child. Of course you do realize that being so young it may be harder for you to take care of her where as if we put her with another family.
Mary: (confused) Of course I realize it will be hard but I am willing to take in her no matter what.
Judge: Well Miss. Camden I see no reason in why you can't take Miss. Hastings in....
Just then Eric spoke up. He looked at the judge then at Mary and then started to speak.
Eric: (angrily) Excuse me your honor but you won't let me, a responsible minister who has raised children before take in my niece but you are willing to let my 18 year old daughter take her in!
Judge: (calmly) Reverend please don't shout. Your daughter, unlike you does not have 7 children to take care of along with Erica. Also since she does live at home you will also be able to take care of Erica. I just think that this way it works out the best. When Mary is older she can take care of Erica on her own with no help and you can have your own children to care for and Mary doesn't lose her cousin and gets to have custody of her. I think it will work out for the best.
Eric raised his finger to speak but instead just sat down. There was no way he would change's the judges mind. He looked up at the ceiling and silently prayed to god. "God Julie! Why did you have to leave! Why did you put Erica in such a position?" He leaned back in his seat and looked at Annie, who had the same confused look, he had on his face just moments before. After court when everyone got outside Eric went towards Mary to speak with her. Of course all of the other kids were talking and asking how she would take care of an infant. Eric cleared his voice and all of the kids cleared into the van.
Eric: Why Mary? Why did you just sign yourself as legal guardian of a child at the age of 18?
Mary: (calmly) Dad I know you must be angry with me but I couldn't let Erica have to go through the whole orphanage process. I mean her parents just died and in all honesty she will never know them. I think we at least owe it to her and to aunt Julie and Uncle Hank to have her be with family don't you?
Eric: But you're so young?
Mary: I know and until I'm older I was kind of hoping you and mom would help me take care of her. I know that you can't get parental custody of her but maybe this is just as good.
Eric: You know your mom and I will help you through this no matter what.
Mary: Thank you dad. I love you
Eric: And I love you.
A/n: Surprising twist? I thought so. Anyway please review and tell me what you think! As always guy thank you so much for all of the wonderful reviews I have received so far. Also thank you to Kaykayellee for giving me this idea
R E V I E W