10:30 AM CDT
Real World Universe
Amanda was in the living room with Marty and Calvin, when a buzzer was heard. Amanda felt very nervous, as she knew that she was going to have to face social services sooner or later.
"Everything will be all right, Amanda," Calvin said, as he gently sqeezed Amanda's shoulders. "We are on your side, and you are seventeen years old - so it's not like you're just a little child anymore."
"That is true," Amanda said, sighing, "but I am still legally considered a minor. I will fight this tooth and nail. I have just about had enough of the bullshit! I love my mother a lot, and I refuse to let us be separated, again!"
"Hey, Amanda," said Karen, as she walked into the apartment, "this is Lucy Conway. Do you remember her?"
"Uh, yeah, sort of," Amanda said, swallowing. Then, turning to Lucy, she asked, "So what did you come here for? Are you going to separate me from my mother again? I really love her a lot, and it's really not fair that I wasn't even allowed to see her within the last three years. I am sick of tired of being put in foster homes!"
"Well, listen, Amanda," Lucy said, gently, "I understand how you feel. I understand that you really wish to be able to see your mother again. I'm not sure that it would be in your best interest to live with her, though. I mean, she really is not in any condition to take care of you. Do you understand what I'm saying?"
"Uh, no, I really do not understand," Amanda said, vehemently. "Look, I am seventeen years old - which means that I am almost an adult! I'm not a helpless little kid anymore! Let me tell you right now that I was very unhappy living with Paula and Gordy Lewis. I really wish to never see them again, and they can go screw themselves!"
"Paula Lewis did contact me three days ago," Lucy said, "and she did make it clear to me that she does not want you back in their home, so I guess the feeling is mutual. Do you really believe that running away was the best thing to do? I mean, you could have gotten seriously hurt. You did act in a rather childish manner."
"Well, what else was I supposed to do?" Amanda asked, defensively. "I really didn't not want stay there and take my punishment for disagreeing with them. My social worker also told me I might have to stay there for awhile."
"Listen, Lucy," Calvin interjected, "I realize that this is probably not any of my business - but Amanda happens to be my friend, and I am very concerned about how she forced to live with foster parents who were emotionally abusive to her. She has made it clear that she wishes to live with her mother, so why can't she?"
"Well, she is still a minor," Lucy replied, "which means that she is still a ward of the state. As much as she says that she really wants to live with her mother, I am afraid that that is not her decision to make."
"Why not?" demanded Calvin. "She may be a minor, but she is still a human being - and she does have feelings. Don't you even care about how she feels? Besides, what about her mother? Her mother wants them to live together - and she is an adult, isn't she? Not that I believe that being a minor makes you any less of a person, but still."
"Well, uh," Lucy said, stunned, "I guess you are right. I will do whatever I can do to appeal on your behalf, but I really cannot make any promises. I do care about how you feel, and it is your life. Anyway, Amanda, I still believe that it was wrong for you to run away - but I do understand that you were unhappy living with the Lewises."
"So what's the plan?" Karen asked, sighing. "Even if it gets ruled that Amanda needs to be placed in foster care, I really would like to have to ability to have regular visitation with her. I really missed her so much over the last three years, and I do not want us to be separated again."
"I suppose she could stay with you until Monday next week," replied Lucy, "and, by then, we should be able to reach a final decision. I will make it clear that the two of you would really like to have visitation rights."
"Well, thanks for understanding where we're coming from," Karen replied. "I guess I'll hear from you Monday, then?"
"That's correct," replied Lucy. "Either way, we'll be collecting her belonging from the Lewises - and we will bring them over here. So I guess I'll be heading out here, now."
"Have a nice day, Lucy," said Karen, as she saw Lucy out the door.
oooooooooo
"So, Doc," asked Marty, "how long are we going to stay here? I mean, I really care about Amanda a lot - but I guess I'm starting to feel a little bit homesick. I'm starting to miss Jennifer, already."
"Well, I believe Amanda's social worker said that the plan should be finalized by Monday," replied Doc.
"But what if this doesn't work out, Doc?" Calvin asked, worriedly. "I really do feel for Amanda, and I hope they do allow Amanda to live with her mother again."
"Let's just wait until Monday first," Doc replied, "and then we'll see what happens."
"Why don't we just take the time machine forward in time to Monday?" suggested Marty. "This is a reunion for Amanda and her mother and grandmother - and this really doesn't concern us, does it? Don't you think they would like to be alone together for a few days? I'm afraid we're wearing out our welcome."
"Marty, she enjoys being around us," protested Calvin. "Anyway, I have become very fond of Amanda - and I will miss her, once we return to our own reality. You do seem a little antsy about returning home. Anyway, I really find this to be a nice break from school. This is probably safer than travelling through time, in fact."
"Yeah, I guess you're right, Calvin," replied Marty. "I'm wondering if we should have just taken Jennifer with us."
"Just relax, Marty, okay?" suggested Calvin. "Amanda's grandmother is a really nice cook - and her mother is a very kind person. I can see why Amanda really loves her mother a lot. It wasn't fair for social services to separate the two of them like that, and I'm glad I was able to reason with Lucy."
"So would you two like to play a game?" asked Amanda, as she walked into the room. "My mother said that we can have pizza and breadsticks for supper tonight. How does that sound?"
"Are they all going to be plain cheese pizzas?" asked Doc, with uncertainty.
"Well, no," replied Amanda, "my mother and grandma like to have beef on their pizza. So we're ordering one that has beef on it, and another one that is plain cheese."
"Okay, that sounds good," replied Doc. "I don't understand how you could stand to have just cheese on your pizza."
"I dunno," replied Amanda, shrugging. "I guess that's just the way that I like it."
"We all just have different tastes, I guess," replied Calvin. "I sure could go for a Pepsi right now."
"I have to say," commented Amanda, "I really will miss you, after you leave."
"I'll really miss you, too, Amanda," replied Calvin, "but we could may stop by and visit you, occasionally."
"Now that sounds awesome," replied Amanda. "I wonder what the Bobs would say, if they ever found this out?"
"It's maybe best just not to tell them," Calvin said, laughing. "It might just freak them out."