Chapter Two (Meeting under false intentions and new beginnings)
"You girls will be on your best behaviors, today, won't you?"
Staring at one another, my sisters and I would all turn back to Sherry and Roger with eager nods. Slipping on our shoes one by one, as we all whispered excitedly about finally being able to leave our prison of a home for a bit.
"Good, because I don't want an incident like last time." Sherry would try to tell us without smiling the slightest bit, her good heart cracking her cover as we all slid on our coats.
This incident, in which she spoke of was the matching of the three of us, to this poor lady who really had no common sense. She had allowed the the three well the two of us(Stacie and I) talk her into believing we didn't go to school because we were vampires and would perish if we ever saw the light of day.
Which was followed by a dramatic performance by me screaming and then dropping to the ground when she tried to force us on the school bus the next morning.
Stacie even ended up with hives on her arms...which was great for our performance!(ended up in reality being the result of her eating something with onion in it)
Boy oh boy did we traumatize her.
She eventually called Sherry with this news that if she didn't come get us that we were going to take her heart from her leg because we were supposedly so hungry!
Sherry, proclaimed she had never filled out such ridiculous paperwork in her whole life and was at first very disappointed with us for our stunt, but as the years went by, her love and patience for us grew all the same.
Sherry being the tender soul that she was, would kneel down to help my younger sisters zip up their pastel colored coats that covered their vibrant spring dresses.
Not being inpatient or mean as they wiggled around took up some time doing so.
Afterwards, she would double check that we were up to tip-top standards, tucking any stray hairs and replacing hair accessories as needed. Wanting to make sure we would all be given our best shot at this interview.
Linking arms together, we would wait patiently as she swiped her key-card through the lock, making the door hum with vibrations as it geared and lit up a lil panel, permitting us access to the outer world.
Roger following behind us, remained quiet as he hopped into the driver's seat of the old station wagon.
Placing our manila files into Sherry's lap as she got in the passenger side and as he waited for us to all buckle up.
Once we were ready to go, he would allow the radio to be turned on and would mentally prepare himself for our singing or mindless chit-chat along the way.
I was now almost eleven years old, Stacie had just turned seven, and Kelly was just barely four.
I had finally been forced to return to school, Kelly had begun her journey into school and we were finally living the most normal lives as possible.
By this point of being in the system, we all knew what to expect, or at least we thought we knew what to expect, when it came to these interviews with unknown families.
We always tried being on our best behavior, especially for Sherry and Roger, the only people we had to cling to.
We desperately tried to do what they wished of us, because we did not want to disappoint them, like we felt we had our parents and that's what kept us on our best behavior even when the days grew long and rough.
Sherry and Roger had given us things most kids in our system didn't receive.
They made sure we were healthy no matter where we went, that we had nice clothes, that we went out from time to time to places like; the zoo, the mall, skating, or even the movies.
They even made sure we had some of our heart's desires such as; new toys, books, or other things, and they did simple things that meant a lot to us such as baking brownies and having tea parties with us.
Us girls had often hoped that one of them would have been able to be more than an over-worked case manger, but they often reminded us that they couldn't take us, because somewhere there was the perfect family waiting for us.
Always keeping this thought in mind, we stayed on our best behavior on interview days, wanting to show our new families that we would be eager to join them and would be great kids to have, just like Sherry and Roger believed we were.
Though however, sitting in the system for a few years with as many epic fails we had with it made me ridicule and doubt that their was a place for us.
At almost eleven years old, I was done wishing that one of these families would save us, instead I was happy with our bland room, and our great case workers who brought us more joy and hope than they would ever know with the years to come.
Even though I had given up with being obsessed with our parents finally getting us or with someone else taking us in, I personally liked these meetings with random families because they usually meant we got to wear our nicest clothes, we got out of our prison for a bit, and if we were uberly swell, then we were usually treated with ice-cream afterwards.
Down side to them was, it could possible meant we were going to end up in another house, have to start restart a new school, and may only get to stay somewhere we grow to like for a only a few months, before we would receive the boot.
There was also the slim chance that we could end up in worse care than what would be advertised at our interview and that we would only be meal tickets for a group of screaming kids in a similar situation.
Recalling how our first couple homes went, made me fear that my sisters could end up hurt or separated from me, so the idea of a new home, totally made me tremble.
We lucked out with most of the homes!, Many were fine with taking the three of us, but I knew somewhere out there, we were going to run into that one home that would want either half of us or just one of us.
My sisters however, never ever showed no real emotion to our situation.
They were just happy campers that we got to stay together and that we got to leave our bland room from time to time.
Kelly to me, even seemed okay with meeting new families all the time. According to her we were just going on vacation each time we left the state home.
Stacie and I both envied this about her.
Most of the time, we took a while to adapt to our new situations and we never built as many friendships with people as Kelly did.
We could go anywhere and Kelly would never see any enemies, she would only see potential friends.
Stacie, like I had said was a lot like me when it came to this stuff.
She didn't make new friends, she didn't fuss or bother anyone, even to tell them things were good, or to tell them that she hurt or not feeling well.
She was a good kid, who remained quiet most of the time, either reading books or playing sports, and I would honestly say she was by far the most adoptable one of us.
"Were here, lovelies." Sherry announced, trying to over voiced my two wannabe pop star sisters, as we drove up a long circular driveway to a house that resembled something you would see on TV.
"Whoa!" exclaimed Stacie softly, gazing at the manor we all were admiring with our faces nearly planted against the window.
"This ought to be a fun session." I thought with a smile, spotting a golden retriever prance around in the yard to the side, that revealed a swimming pool and more glamorous possessions.
Impatiently and hastily, we unlatched our seat-belts, bouncing in our seats while we waited for Roger to come open the backdoors for us, since they all had child locks upon them.
"Yep this is definitely it." murmured Roger glancing down at a note card he held in his strong hand as he let us out with the other.
He then skittishly gave the valet his keys, watching him drive off with his station wagon as he double checked to make sure he had everything.
Linking each others hands that would eventually link to Sherry, we all headed across the porcelain shaded threshold of the French double-doors.
The three of us, were rather nervous as we followed behind Roger and Sherry into what seemed like a overly decorated, but yet enchanting patio.
At the iron patio-furniture set, would be a middle-aged couple, resembling perfection and looking just as elaborate as their belongings. Dressed in stunning outfits of metallics and whites, they appeared to be waiting for lunch as they held their tea cups cooly.
Chattering merrily, they would stop to greet us as if we were long lost relatives, gesturing us towards the chairs that circled the table.
My sisters wide-eyed would look to me for permission to join the lovely looking people, always waiting for my blessing or my action that whatever was taking place was alright.
To answer them I would be the first to sit down, allowing everyone else to file in as I fidgeted with the petticoat that peeped out from my plaid dress of blue and green.
The mint scented breeze would gently toss my neatly styled caramel and vanilla swirled curls about as I curiously glanced around.
Whoever these people were, and whether or not they lived like this all the time was totally out of all of our minds as our eyes continued to attempt to take everything in.
"This place is purddy, sissy." Kelly would whisper, her frail pink lips curving into a smile as she picked up a spoon, her sapphire eyes admiring it's patterns.
Sherry, meanwhile, fixed us all a small plate of what the couple was having for lunch, listening in on our mindless chit-chat.
Nodding with a bright smile at my baby sister, I would turn to glance over at Stacie.
I was mainly checking to make sure that she was alright as I watched her drum her fingers impatiently across the arms of her chair.
Nudging her with the silent command to "cut it out", she stopped, rolling her emerald eyes at me.
The bubbly adults that sat across from us, chatted excitedly with Roger about politics and other various subjects that most grade-school children could give a darn about.
While they chatted, the three of us kept each other company, before being interrupted by a plate being placed in each and every one of us.
Sherry with a smile revealed to us that it was a nice green salad, along with some other stuff that most kids didn't eat willingly, causing us all to let out a quiet "bleh".
Kelly crinkled her button nose at it, glancing up at me, giving me that look that said "No way am I eating this!".
Smiling innocently at Sherri ,she waited patiently as Sherri took the plate away and came back with some grapes for her to eat, hoping that would put an end to any future problems.
Stacie unlike Kelly just stabbed her salad like she was cutting concrete, glaring at it.
Sighing and sitting up straight, I tried to lead by example.
Bringing a leafy bite to my mouth with a false smile, I took a couple of bites, holding back any faces that I wanted to make as I chewed it.
Kelly, watching would snicker as she plucked off a couple of grapes to offer to me, while Stacie smirked picking up her own fork, to take a quick couple rabbit like nibbles on some of the vegetables found in the well assorted salad.
Sherry watching quietly would shake her head with the quiet slap of a face palm, swiftly, removing her glasses with her free hand. Not even bothering to ask us what was going on over there, for she, im sure was a bit afraid to find out as I caused more giggles by spitting out my bites over the side of the white wicker chair.
This act of mine lead to more chaotic like behavior from my two wound up siblings.
Roger queuing in on this, worried about how things were going to go, and would quickly cleared his throat to hush us.
"So girls, why don't you introduce yourselves to the Roberts?"
"Who are they?" piped up Kelly as she went from pitching her grapes at Stacie to sitting upright like a perfect little lady.
"Why the lovely couple who invited you." answered Sherry trying to keep her cool as she tried without notice to clean up my mess and Kelly's stray grapes.
Looking to my sisters, I waited for one of them to make the first move, but found they were in return waiting for me to go first.
And oh how I hated to lead these sort of things, especially considering I never any reason to sell lies to potential "parents", which often lead things to go very wrong within a matter of moments if my sisters didn't chime in and save our shot.
Clearing my throat I folded my hands in my lap, trying to tell myself that I would be as pleasant and polite as possible.
"Hello I'm Skipper."
"Skipper, you say?" Inquired the fake bake looking woman, twirling her pearls around her slender fingers. Clearly amused by the sounds of her giggle as she swooshed the deep ruby liquid in her glass about.
Bobbing my head as an answer, her smile would shine as bright as the very pearls she had been playing with.
"That's an interesting name….Don't you think, George?"
"Oh I do Margaret." George, the man with salt sprinkled locks would reply with a laugh. Swirling the deep fluid in his glass as well. "You've ever been on a yacht, my dear Skipper?"
Shaking my head "no" shyly, they would laugh again.
This was the moment for me, that I felt like I truly didn't belong with these loaded idiots.
Not only had I never rode on a yacht, but I didn't even know what a yacht was or why they were laughing about it.
Blushing I would return my attention back to the mob of veggies awaiting me.
Deciding that this was the moment I shut up and remain silent until we were done here.
"Oh isn't she a cutie?" exclaimed Margaret flouncing her crisp gold curls. "Our daughter will love her for certain.. Now what are you two lovely young ladies named?"
"I'm Kelly!" my youngest sister jolted her hand up, acting very boldly from across the table. Her delight increasing as the small golden retriever came closer to our end of the table.
George would raise his glass in approval, his white teeth also shinning like his wife's.
"Well pleasure to meet you, lil one! I'm George!" He then extended his hand across the table for Kelly to shake.
Margaret seeming delighted by Kelly would extend her hand out as well to her.
"And I'm Margret!, lil one"
"I'm Stacie." murmured Stacie, offering her hand out timidly to them.
Kindly they would shake her hand as well.
"Oh what an interesting trio, you guys make." Margaret smiled to her husband as he gave her a nod to concur. "Would you three like to meet our daughter?"
Stacie would look to me, her emerald eyes telling me "no" as Kelly would nod, being happy about the chance to move as I contemplated what my answer should be.
"We would love too!" I'd announce, taking Stacie's hand as they lead us inside to a lavished living room with a pool table, arcade games, a huge screen TV, along with a few other things that just seemed like fancy robots with flashing lights.
"Just wait here, girlies!" Margaret would order calling out "Barbie!" as she strutted up the stairs, George following behind her as we looked to Sherry and Roger.
"I think the whole state home could fit in here." Roger muttered, examining objects in the room as he and Sherry quietly chatted to one another with the folders in their hands and with a clipboard for them to take notes on.
With a few minutes passing the nice couple finally returned with bright smiles as they took seats on the leather couches near by, clicking a button to activate their fire place and to brighten up the room.
"She'll be down in just a moment!" informed George , offering us all a piece of candy from the small glass bowl that on the table in front of him, all of us taking one gladly.
Then, finally, came down their daughter.
Being totally way older than we were expecting- well actually her very presence was not what we're expecting at all.
Drenched from head to toe in her attire of bubblegum pink, she strutted towards us, looking like something that had just got off the catwalk.
"Do you know who that is?" she bounced, shaking my arm.
I would nod my head, wanting to lose my poise and just bounce with energy as well.
"Of course I know who Barbie Roberts is! She's only the most amazing model and actress that there is on the telly!" I would whisper excitedly into her ear.
"You mean in the whole wide world! I thought she was on tour with her rock group.." whispered Stacie as I shrugged.
"Hello!" she would smile, kneeling down to our level, examining us with her pooling eyes of sky.
She was as perfect as any image I had ever seen of her and I couldn't believe that this was thee Barbie!
Celebrities aren't usually found in Wisconsin, are they?
"Ello" Stacie would eventually manage out, peeping out from behind me with a shy smile. Nudging me to say more so she wouldn't leave us.
Flashing her a bright smile, trying to not say anything stupid, I would manage to get out a simple "Hello!" after a few deep breaths.
And to think I did not want to come to this greeting when I arose out of bed this morning.
Kelly of course had no problem saying a thing.
She boldly approached the star, her head tilting from side to side as she took a few moments to take in "Barbie", before just chiming into the conversation with "You really pruddy…I like your hair it's like my doll in my room!"
Barbie would giggle, making me do a face palm, knowing the doll in which Kelly spoke of was based off of her.
How could she not connect those dots?
"Why thank you! Now who are you lil one?" she answered.
"I'm Kelly, duh!" she would say causing me to want to smack myself more, not believing my youngest sister just said "duh" to a star, especially one like "Barbie"
We were totally on our way out the door, I was sure of that as my lil sister stood unapologetic to one of the world's most beloved role models.
"I like this one..she's got a lot of boldness…definitely a child star in the making" she declared.
She then ruffled Kelly's hair tenderly as she smiled brightly at us.
This would be a day we would never ever forget.
Barbie would not only give us a tour of her home, but she would let us play dress up with all her clothes, allowing us to try on what ever our lil hearts desired, all before allowing us to take something from her jewelry box.
We then would go horseback riding, cake tasting for Barbie's upcoming music awards ceremony, and we gt our nails done!
After this first magical meeting came a series of other meetings, each one an entirely different experience from the one before it, and soon new opportunities started to sprout like flowers in spring.
Some of the things we did over the next couple months were; baking, playing board games, making crafts, going on picnics, the movies, skiing, lunch dates with her bandmates and sometimes her silly friend Midge, roller-skating. Other activities were doing things like going to the zoo and actually being able to go pet baby animals, going shopping for clothes and we even went to a fashion show, here in Wisconsin!, but no matter what it was, we all three felt special because we, out of all the kids at the home were chosen to be spoiled by a star.
Never once did she make us feel bad for wanting her attention when she needed to be working, and never did she mind when we pleaded to stay longer anywhere.
She was just so amazing to us that she seemed like a dream.
For things in our lives were actually starting to look up for once!, but we all know what goes up must come down.
Finally the day came for our good luck to fade to an end.
Barbie was leaving for Malibu!
Something to do with promoting a new surf and swim line.
According to her boss, Malibu went along with being more convenient for her line of work and something to do with being where the other grad stars were located.
And with rumors that Barbie was this horrid party gal who sat unrealistic expectations for those who looked up to her, I could understand why she wanted to move to a place where she could get some ground back under her feet, and perhaps get more job opportunities.
This however, meant we were no longer going to be able to see one another, or so we thought.
With heavy hearts at the home, all of just staying in our bunks, we were shocked when someone was pounding on our door.
Sliding off the top bunk, hitting the floor with a quiet thump. I would try to fix myself up on my way to the door, hollering "Ummmm I'm Coming!"
Barely even cracking the door fully open, my jaw dropped widely at who awaited me.
"You guys aren't packing?" Barbie inquired with a kind smile, her perfect sapphire orbs scanning our small, bland living quarters, her face going from a smile to disgust.
Shaking her head, she would raise her arms up
"Well come on, you three! Our plane is leaving in an hour! And even though I like to be fashionably late, the airport doesn't like stalling planes for me." she continued, her face clearly revealing she didn't think our packing would take very long.
While she was talking I glanced to my sisters with wide eyes as all our tears came to a halt and as we ran to hug Barbie tightly.
"So you're not weavin us?" sniffled Kelly, wiping her nose on her sleeve as Barbie came to kneel down by her.
"Of course not…I can't live it up in Malibu without my favorite girls!" she replied pulling us in for a hug. "Didn't you guys get my phone call?"
We would all shake our heads no.
"Were only allowed to get calls from Sherry or Roger!" explained Stacie as Barbie let us go, before we all began digging whatever good stuff we had or wanted from our few simple drawers and bunks.
"Hmm well they should've called you guys as well to announce that the paperwork finally went through! No wonder it's a sobbing party in here! I feel horrible for causing all this…I'll definitely make it up to you once we get to Malibu." she nodded opening the door, letting a few servants with a cart gather all our belongings.
Before we could say anything her phone rang, causing her to put us off for a second as she stepped out of the room.
Stacie would sign language me "Are we really going with her?"
Nodding I would answer back with my hands. "Do you want to stay here, with no family?"
"But what about our plans with Sherry and Roger?" she would frantically signal back, clearly liking the idea of living with them better.
"Well a bigger and a better plan has came through for us.. we should be grateful! Were going to be living with a star who can give us whatever we want, and just think we won't never need to worry about a thing again!" I signaled back as I chuckled watching Kelly flash us signs that meant nothing with her small hands, she seemingly really enjoying talking with her hands.
"I'm grateful.. just worried…Malibu is so far away." she whispered looking around our room.
"I know, and I know its going to be different from Wisconsin but we'll be fine" I then took her hand with a smile, trying to cover my nerves "Were family and like Sherry says home is wherever your family is"
"Do you think we can tell Sherry and Rog goodbye?"
Latching my last case I would think about it.
"Well we should be able to.. come on lets go!" and with that we left our room for the very last time.
Sherry and Roger were happy and sad to see us when we poured into their office, all chatting excitedly about what had just happen to us.
Being small children we never noticed what a big deal this actually was.
Sherry and Roger did what they had done each time we were suppose to be leaving the home, they gave us contact cards, times they would be coming to see us, and reminders about what others were allowed to do to us.
After getting the sad goodbyes over and exchanging pictures, files, and such, Roger pulled me aside.
"Skipper, I'm putting you in charge of reporting back to me, okay?"
"Don't I always, report back to you?"
"Yes, and normally I check that your words are true , but you're going all the way to California darling, meaning I have to be able to trust you to report honestly because of laws, Sherry and I can't just come barging in whenever we want to know. You are now legally adopted by Miss. Roberts...this is far different from times before" he explained kneeling down to my level, his caring eyes full of worry as his firm hand remained grasped on my shoulder.
I gasped. Barbie wasn't just borrowing us as her parents always made this situation sound out to be, she was claiming us as FAMILY.
Rog was right. This was different from the other times….
"Don't worry Rog, I solemnly promise that I will tell you whatever happens good or bad, I'll tell ya"
I then wrapped my arms around him and gave him a hug, trying to confirm that everything would be okay.
He would nod.
"That's my girl...Have a wonderful time in Cali, and I hope your new life is everything that you could of wish for,." he whispered as both let go and I gave him one last wave goodbye, not knowing that what I had just promise would never happen.
From that point on, I would lie and say we were fine, when really we felt like we had been moved to hell from our small room. On the times they would visit before things were finally official in the state of California, we would all play the part of happy children, not wanting to worry the only people who were like family to us, and would let them think we were a-okay.
They, of all people, should have known that things are never what they appear to be.