"As you probably know, we've talked to the people that you listed as
references on your adoption application for Amanda," Mrs. Johnson started.
"And everyone gave glowing recommendations, which I was not surprised to
hear," she continued with a smile.
"But.?" Bosco asked, sensing that something was about to follow.
Kim sensed it as well and gave Bosco a nervous look as he reached over and took hold of her hand.
"And the visit here to your home went well. You've set up a wonderful room for Amanda and she and Joey seem to get along well. And Amanda can't stop gushing over little Johnny," Mrs. Johnson continued as Kim and Bosco tensed further.
"But.?" Bosco repeated.
"Well, we had some concerns with your work schedules and child care when you're both working," the woman said, trying not to sound too critical.
"Well, we both work the third watch, but we don't have the seniority yet to move to days," Kim started to explain.
"We are both here for the kids when they get up in the morning. We get them off to school after a good breakfast and we're here with them all weekend long. If we need to take time off from work for any school functions or doctor appointments, at least one of us is there, more often both of us," Bosco said. "So, I don't understand the problem. Either my mother or Kim's mother take care of the kids when we're working and they're both very dedicated to the kids. They're each looking forward to having a little girl to look after and pamper."
"I'm sure that's true, Officer Boscorelli," Mrs. Johnson said.
"Then, what's the problem? I'm sure we're not the first adoptive parents that each have jobs. You've seen Joey and Johnny. You know how well Joey's doing in school and Johnny's already trying to count things.." Kim said, but was interrupted.
"I'm sure that you're both very dedicated to the task of taking in and caring for Amanda. I have no doubt about that at all. It's just that. well. you have a very dangerous job, Officer Boscorelli, and both of your jobs are very stressful, and there is potential danger with your job also, Mrs. Boscorelli," she replied.
"Yes, and anyone riding the bus to their 'office job' could get into an accident or walk in front of a truck too. What's the point?" Bosco asked, trying not to lose his temper.
"Well, there's also the idea of Amanda staying with your mother, Rose Boscorelli, over a bar. We have to take all this into considera.," Mrs. Johnson started when Bosco stood up and began to pace.
"Wait. Let me get this straight. We are a happily married couple, with two children already that we'd lay our lives down for in a heartbeat. We want to take this child, who's mother was murdered by her father - right in front of her - and give her a secure, loving family, and you have a problem with that because we have what YOU consider to be dangerous occupations and because my mother lives above her place of business? My mother does not work during the hours she takes care of these kids and is totally devoted to their well-being. There is a separate entrance to her apartment that has no connection to her TAVERN, by the way - not BAR. She does serve food to people that don't drink as well," Bosco said, and Mrs. Johnson started to stammer.
"Officer Boscorelli, please. I'm just trying to." and she was interrupted by Bosco again.
"No. I want to make sure I have this straight. You would take all that away from this child and put her in a foster home with God knows what kind of people? Because, let me tell you something, Mrs. Johnson. I've been to some of these foster homes during the course of my job, and the majority that I've been to have been enough to screw up more than one kid for the rest of their life," he said, pausing to catch his breath.
"Bosco," Kim interrupted, trying to get him to calm down.
"No, Kim. You and I would fight to the death for this little girl. In just the two days she spent with us this past weekend, she's grown attached to Johnny and Joey and I think to you and me also. And I have to tell you that the feeling is mutual. I'd give my life to protect this kid, and you know you would too. And I don't think that."
"Look, Mrs. Johnson," Kim interrupted, stepping in front of Bosco. "What my husband is trying to say is that we love this little girl and we want to give her the security and love that she deserves and needs to grow up to be a well-adjusted, loving person and be happy. That means getting her the necessary counselors to help her deal with whatever emotional trauma she suffered at the hands of her father or mother. We will do whatever we can to make sure that happens, including fighting DCFS as far as we have to in order to make that happen, including taking DCFS and yourself to court. My mother and Bosco's mother are two of the most loving, generous people in the world. And to tell you the truth, I think - no I know - that Joey and Johnny are better for just having known them. They would do whatever it took to make this adoption of Amanda happen, even if that means leaving their homes every day to come here and take care of these children."
Mrs. Johnson sat down in her chair and looked at the two people standing in front of her. After a moment of looking at the intense looks on both of their faces, she needed no more convincing. Bosco and Kim watched as a wide smile broke out on her face.
"Mrs. Johnson?" Kim asked, hopeful.
"I have no doubt that you are sincere in your intentions to provide a loving, stable home for Amanda and provide her with whatever she needs. And you have just proven to me that which I've known all along. You will do WHATEVER needs to be done to ensure that happens. I will make my recommendations to my supervisors and the judge assigned to this case. You should hear from us within the week," Mrs. Johnson said, gathering her things and standing up. She shook both Kim and Bosco's hands and headed out the door.
Kim and Bosco stood at the door after seeing Mrs. Johnson out. "What the hell just happened?" Bosco asked out loud.
"I think we're going to have a daughter," Kim said excitedly, jumping up and down. Bosco grabbed onto Kim and swung her around, putting her back on the ground and pulling her into a hug.
"Thank, God," Bosco said into her hair as he hugged her.
"I don't think anything, including some drunk puking all over my rig, can ruin my night now," Kim said, as she broke free of Bosco's grasp and headed to the kitchen to turn off the coffee pot and put the snacks she'd set out for Mrs. Johnson away before they both left for work.
As they opened the door to leave for work, Bosco said. "Man, I thought I really blew it when I lost my temper, but I just couldn't hold it back no matter how hard I tried."
"Thank goodness for that Boscorelli temper this time," Kim said.
"Your Zambrano temper didn't do too bad either," Bosco said, pulling the door shut behind them.
"But.?" Bosco asked, sensing that something was about to follow.
Kim sensed it as well and gave Bosco a nervous look as he reached over and took hold of her hand.
"And the visit here to your home went well. You've set up a wonderful room for Amanda and she and Joey seem to get along well. And Amanda can't stop gushing over little Johnny," Mrs. Johnson continued as Kim and Bosco tensed further.
"But.?" Bosco repeated.
"Well, we had some concerns with your work schedules and child care when you're both working," the woman said, trying not to sound too critical.
"Well, we both work the third watch, but we don't have the seniority yet to move to days," Kim started to explain.
"We are both here for the kids when they get up in the morning. We get them off to school after a good breakfast and we're here with them all weekend long. If we need to take time off from work for any school functions or doctor appointments, at least one of us is there, more often both of us," Bosco said. "So, I don't understand the problem. Either my mother or Kim's mother take care of the kids when we're working and they're both very dedicated to the kids. They're each looking forward to having a little girl to look after and pamper."
"I'm sure that's true, Officer Boscorelli," Mrs. Johnson said.
"Then, what's the problem? I'm sure we're not the first adoptive parents that each have jobs. You've seen Joey and Johnny. You know how well Joey's doing in school and Johnny's already trying to count things.." Kim said, but was interrupted.
"I'm sure that you're both very dedicated to the task of taking in and caring for Amanda. I have no doubt about that at all. It's just that. well. you have a very dangerous job, Officer Boscorelli, and both of your jobs are very stressful, and there is potential danger with your job also, Mrs. Boscorelli," she replied.
"Yes, and anyone riding the bus to their 'office job' could get into an accident or walk in front of a truck too. What's the point?" Bosco asked, trying not to lose his temper.
"Well, there's also the idea of Amanda staying with your mother, Rose Boscorelli, over a bar. We have to take all this into considera.," Mrs. Johnson started when Bosco stood up and began to pace.
"Wait. Let me get this straight. We are a happily married couple, with two children already that we'd lay our lives down for in a heartbeat. We want to take this child, who's mother was murdered by her father - right in front of her - and give her a secure, loving family, and you have a problem with that because we have what YOU consider to be dangerous occupations and because my mother lives above her place of business? My mother does not work during the hours she takes care of these kids and is totally devoted to their well-being. There is a separate entrance to her apartment that has no connection to her TAVERN, by the way - not BAR. She does serve food to people that don't drink as well," Bosco said, and Mrs. Johnson started to stammer.
"Officer Boscorelli, please. I'm just trying to." and she was interrupted by Bosco again.
"No. I want to make sure I have this straight. You would take all that away from this child and put her in a foster home with God knows what kind of people? Because, let me tell you something, Mrs. Johnson. I've been to some of these foster homes during the course of my job, and the majority that I've been to have been enough to screw up more than one kid for the rest of their life," he said, pausing to catch his breath.
"Bosco," Kim interrupted, trying to get him to calm down.
"No, Kim. You and I would fight to the death for this little girl. In just the two days she spent with us this past weekend, she's grown attached to Johnny and Joey and I think to you and me also. And I have to tell you that the feeling is mutual. I'd give my life to protect this kid, and you know you would too. And I don't think that."
"Look, Mrs. Johnson," Kim interrupted, stepping in front of Bosco. "What my husband is trying to say is that we love this little girl and we want to give her the security and love that she deserves and needs to grow up to be a well-adjusted, loving person and be happy. That means getting her the necessary counselors to help her deal with whatever emotional trauma she suffered at the hands of her father or mother. We will do whatever we can to make sure that happens, including fighting DCFS as far as we have to in order to make that happen, including taking DCFS and yourself to court. My mother and Bosco's mother are two of the most loving, generous people in the world. And to tell you the truth, I think - no I know - that Joey and Johnny are better for just having known them. They would do whatever it took to make this adoption of Amanda happen, even if that means leaving their homes every day to come here and take care of these children."
Mrs. Johnson sat down in her chair and looked at the two people standing in front of her. After a moment of looking at the intense looks on both of their faces, she needed no more convincing. Bosco and Kim watched as a wide smile broke out on her face.
"Mrs. Johnson?" Kim asked, hopeful.
"I have no doubt that you are sincere in your intentions to provide a loving, stable home for Amanda and provide her with whatever she needs. And you have just proven to me that which I've known all along. You will do WHATEVER needs to be done to ensure that happens. I will make my recommendations to my supervisors and the judge assigned to this case. You should hear from us within the week," Mrs. Johnson said, gathering her things and standing up. She shook both Kim and Bosco's hands and headed out the door.
Kim and Bosco stood at the door after seeing Mrs. Johnson out. "What the hell just happened?" Bosco asked out loud.
"I think we're going to have a daughter," Kim said excitedly, jumping up and down. Bosco grabbed onto Kim and swung her around, putting her back on the ground and pulling her into a hug.
"Thank, God," Bosco said into her hair as he hugged her.
"I don't think anything, including some drunk puking all over my rig, can ruin my night now," Kim said, as she broke free of Bosco's grasp and headed to the kitchen to turn off the coffee pot and put the snacks she'd set out for Mrs. Johnson away before they both left for work.
As they opened the door to leave for work, Bosco said. "Man, I thought I really blew it when I lost my temper, but I just couldn't hold it back no matter how hard I tried."
"Thank goodness for that Boscorelli temper this time," Kim said.
"Your Zambrano temper didn't do too bad either," Bosco said, pulling the door shut behind them.
