Disclaimer: I do not own the FOL settings or characters, and I do not own the poem at the end of the chapter. I don't know the author, but I don't own the poem either.
At the dinner table Natalie, Tootie, Blair and Jo were still talking about memories.
"Remember when we tried finding my birth mother Blair? You helped me out so much. Even though I wasn't old enough to find her." Natalie said.
"If you ever want to find her, I'll be here for you." Blair stated.
"No you won't! You're leaving us!" Natalie exclaimed and left the table and went to the kitchen.
"Blair, what happened with Natalie's mother?" Jo asked.
"It's a long story." Tootie replied. Jo crossed her arms.
"I've got another year and a half here at Eastland. I have the time to kill." Jo responded.
"Well if you feel THAT way." Tootie said.
(flashback)
Sue Ann, Blair, Tootie, and Molly walk into Natalie's room.
"Did you just find out that you're adopted?" Molly asked.
"No, I've known since I was five." Natalie responded.
"Oh Natalie, why didn't you tell us you were adopted?" Sue Ann asked as she got on her knees in front of Natalie who was sitting at the table in her dorm.
"Because I didn't want to be treated any differently." Natalie replied.
"That's silly. We're not gonna change the way we treat you." Sue Ann stated.
"Sure. Here have some cake." Molly said as she handed Natalie a plate.
"See what I mean? You're giving me gifts already. Feel sorry for me." Natalie said.
"Natalie, it's your cake." Blair stated.
"Thanks." Natalie said and took the plate from Molly.
"But Natalie, you should have told me you were adopted. I've probably been saying stupid stuff about you without even knowing it." Tootie said.
"What do you mean Tootie?" Natalie questioned.
"Well since you didn't know who you are. I could have been insulting you every time I told the Polish joke." Tootie explained.
"Tootie." Sue Ann warned glaring at Tootie.
"Do you know who your real parents are?" Molly asked.
"No." Natalie said.
"Well that's not all bad. Sometimes I'd like to forget who mine are." Molly stated.
"Must be tough. Every time you bump into someone on the street wondering if they're your real mom or dad." Blair said.
"Yeah Nat. Try not bumping into people." Tootie said.
"Tootie!" Sue Ann exclaimed standing up.
"Listen Natalie, I know exactly what you're going through. The adoption trauma. I saw it on the Dinah Shore show." Blair said.
"I remember that. They had this woman on there and she spent twenty years looking for her real mother. The records were sealed and no one could help her. Dinah couldn't believe it." Molly chimed in.
"All the clues turned out to be dead ends. Then one day, all her searching finally paid off. She found her." Blair said.
"She did?" Natalie asked.
"Yeah, on Skid Road!" Molly exclaimed.
"Skid road?" Natalie questioned. "And it took twenty years?"
"She was one of the lucky ones. Some people spend their whole lives searching and never find a single clue." Molly said.
"Probably be pretty hard for a kid my age to track her mother down." Natalie said.
"Not if I were helping you." Blair replied.
"What do you mean?" Natalie asked.
"I've got connections. Listen Natalie, do you really wanna find your mother?" Blair questioned getting down on Natalie's still sitting down level.
"Well, sure, I guess so." Natalie said.
"That's all I need to know." Blair replied standing up. "My mother's dating a judge who has access to everything."
"Blair, don't go butting in. You think you're such a big deal. Well where would you be without your mother and her big shot boyfriends?" Sue Ann asked.
"Probably like you. Dodging cow chips on Sunny Brook Farm. Listen Sue Ann, I happen to be in a position to help Natalie and I'm gonna do it." Blair said.
"Blair, are you nuts? You can't stick your nose into something that could change Natalie's whole life." Sue Ann stated.
"Well of course I can. What are friends for?" Blair asked.
(present)
"Oh boy. So Blair has something other than her own selfish side." Jo stated.
"Yeah, I help when it's actually wanted and appreciated." Blair said staring at Jo.
"Well, Tootie, I bet Mrs. G. didn't like that idea at all. How'd she react?" Jo asked.
"She was not happy. Blair was in trouble." Tootie said in her Tootie way.
(flashback)
Blair burst in the bedroom door.
"Terrific news! The judge can get us the information we want. He's calling in an hour." Blair paused to take a breath. "With the name of your real mother." Tootie, Molly, Sue Ann and Blair were all talking at once.
"Boy Natalie, you're really lucky. We've all known our mothers for years and you're getting a brand new one." Tootie said.
"A brand new mother." Natalie responded deflated. The girls all start talking again.
"Wait a minute girls; Blair, I wanna know exactly what's going on here." Mrs. Garrett said.
"Didn't you hear? Blair's finding my real mother." Natalie responded.
"How?" Mrs. Garrett asked.
"It was easy. I just called the judge's office, dropped a few important names and he called right back." Blair replied.
"Well it's not funny Blair. Blair! What you're doing is very dangerous and I want you to stop it right now." Mrs. Garrett said.
"Mrs. Garrett, Natalie's my friend. I wouldn't do anything to hurt her." Blair responded.
"That's right. Mrs. Garrett, this is my life, not yours. Blair is doing me a big favor by finding my real mother." Natalie chimed in.
"Alright Natalie, come on, we're gonna talk this over with Mr. Bradley and your mother. Come on, we're going to the office right now." Mrs. Garrett practically dragged Natalie out of the room.
(present)
"I can really imagine Mrs. G. saying something like that." Jo stated.
"I'm just glad I decided not to talk to the judge and find my mother." Natalie said. They all turned around and looked at her.
"Natalie!" Tootie exclaimed.
"I talked to Mrs. Garrett and she told me that I should talk to you guys. I'm sorry I got so defensive, I really shouldn't have." Natalie said.
"It's okay Nat." Jo replied.
"I remember that poem Mrs. Garrett read and copied for me." Natalie said and sighed.
Not flesh of my flesh
Not bone of my bone
But still miraculously my own
Never forget for a single minute you didn't grow under my heart, but in it