Callie

"Lawyers have a limited amount of time to persuade a judge and jury to accept their view. How do they do this?"

I'm sitting in English class listening to Timothy explain what a good essay is. It's funny: he's always telling us he can't teach us how to write and essay, yet it seems like most of the times that's what he's doing.

"Well," Timothy continues, "They are terse. They get their point across in minimal words. They're confident and believe in themselves. They put their best foot forward for their audience. In just a small window of time, they show the best that they have to offer and that's what draws people in."

This gets me thinking. It's weird to think that I have this ability to establish what people think of me. Most of the time I come off as a bitch, and that's on purpose. I don't want people getting the idea that they can walk all over me or control me.

I start to wonder about other foster kids. Do they have the same idea as me? To come off as tough? Do they come off as scared? Obviously there are other kids in the system, but sometimes I forget because being in foster care is so lonely. I always had Jude, but being the pseudo-parent for the past six-years made me feel less like a kid and more like an adult.

I wouldn't wish that on anyone.

I wish that Jude and I and every other kid in shitty foster homes could just find a decent home with decent parents. Too bad we don't live in a Disney movie. I just wish I could help…

Wait.

Maybe I could?

Stef

I get back from my lunch break to find a manila envelope on my desk with my name on it. I take a seat and open it, pulling out the papers inside of it. My heart jumps a little. They're progress reports.

To be more specific, Callie's progress reports. I know Callie is a good girl; I see past the façade she puts up so well, but other's might not, which is why I'm so nervous. I don't bother reading Lena's because I know exactly what she said. I pull out Dr. Kodema's and skim it. It's professional, and honest.

Attends every session.

Minimal participation.

Reluctant to share.

I sigh. I've barely started and it's already not looking good. I take out the next report. It's Bill's:

I have been Callie Jacob's social worker for a number of years. She makes poor decisions which leads to poor situations for herself and her brother. Recently, a rape allegation against a former foster brother has been brought to my attention. Social Services is investigating, although Callie has a tendency to create stories…

I shove the paper aside in frustration and move on. The moment I spot Principal Sanchez's name I roll my eyes to myself. This should be interesting.

Callie Jacob puts no effort into becoming a member of the Anchor Beach community. She is involved in just one extra curricular activity and only at my insistence. She spends lunch periods alone rather than with her peers. She has no friends within the school...

I toss the report on my desk, unable and unwilling to read the rest of it. Eventually I will have to, considering part of my job includes consolidating these progress reports for Captain Roberts so that she can see if she needs to take further action. With the reports I've seen so far, excluding Lena's, it looks like Callie is making minimal progress and is on her way back to juvie.

And that's the last thing I want to happen.

I wait outside Anchor Beach for school to let out. Callie has group today, so I'm going to drive her there while Lena takes everyone else home. I hear a bell and soon after kids and teachers begin to stream out of the school. It doesn't take long for me to locate my family and wave at them.

Well, my family plus Callie and Jude.

"Hi, guys!" I greet them as soon as they're close enough.

"Hey, Mom!" Jesus calls as he zooms past me so that he can claim shotgun. Mariana rolls her eyes, kisses me on the cheek, and gets into Lena's car. Brandon does basically the same. I say hello to Lena and give her a quick kiss before turning my attention to the Jacob siblings. For as long as they've been with us, Jude still gets a little nervous when Callie goes somewhere without him Lena and I assure him that she will be back in no time, but we know a small part of him doubts us.

Callie gives Jude a hug before setting him in the direction of Lena's car. He smiles at me, waves, and climbs into the back seat. I wave goodbye to Lena and lead Callie to my car.

"How was school?" I ask as I pull on my seatbelt and makes sure she does the same.

She shrugs, "Good, I guess." Callie glances at me and glances away. I sense there is something she wants to tell me but is unsure of herself or nervous. I reach over to pat her knee and she looks at me.

"What's on your mind, Love?" I ask, looking into her eyes so that she knows she has my full attention. Callie bites her lip and looks out the window before looking back at me.

"I, um…I had this idea."

I nod, "Yes?"

She begins to fiddle with her bracelets, "Today in class, Timothy was talking about how people like lawyers know how to show who they are in such a short amount of time and how they know how to draw people in. I started thinking about foster kids and how people are so quick to judge who they are from some out dated photo in their file and not even take the chance to see who they really are. I…I thought maybe I could take pictures of foster kids, so that they have photos who show who they really are." Callie looks up with an anxious look on her face, waiting for me to say something.

I'm absolutely speechless.

How did I ever get so lucky to meet a girl this amazing? I knew Callie was special the moment I saw her, but the compassion she is showing, the thoughtfulness and the awareness of others is so beyond her years that I am stunned into silence.

"Its stupid, I know," Callie mumbles, interrupting my thoughts and it kills me that she's so insecure, "I just—"

"Take it back."

She raises an eyebrow in confusion, "What?"

"Take it back," I repeat, "What you just said, about your idea being stupid, because it is anything but. Callie Jacob, what you want to do is an excellent idea and I am so proud of you, Sweetheart."

Callie's eyes widen a bit and her mouth drops open a little, "P-proud?" she asks me, saying the word as if it were the first time she had ever heard it and it kills me that there is a good chance that's true.

I nod and smile at her, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear before simply resting my hand on her cheek, "Yes, Callie. I'm proud of you. Do you even realize how far you've come since the day we've first met? You've been working so hard these past couple of weeks and I see the improvement. I'm sorry I haven't told you sooner, but I'm so, so proud of you."

I say my words with conviction because I need her to believe me. Those progress reports I read earlier, particularly Principal Sanchez's, lack anything about how good Callie is and only highlights her flaws. It doesn't matter that they can't see who she is because I can see, along with Lena and Jude and the kids. And with that, we simply won't let her fall through the cracks.

Callie is looking at me with wet eyes but a big smile on her face. I open my arms, "Come here, Love." We hug, and she lets out something that's between a sob and a laugh. I kiss the side of her head repeatedly before going back to simply hugging her. A moment later we pull back and I wipe the single tear that managed to escape from Callie's eye. She runs her hand over her cheek quickly to wipe away anything else.

"Sorry," she mumbles, trying to back move back into her seat as well as her shell. I take a hold of her hand so that she can't get too far.

I shake my head, "Don't apologize for having feelings."

She nods, "Thank you, Stef." Callie whispers.

"Of course."

Midterms start Wednesday. Pray for me. On a lighter note, I'm visiting my sister in Baltimore this weekend, which should be fun.

Also I won free potatoes. Life is good.

-Liv