Ch. 13: Guardianship Part 1

"There. What do you think?"

"Lovely, my dear Mrs. Ladybug. Both elegant and comfortable."

"Indeed so." Mrs. Ladybug looked around the newly furnished living room. "Though I'm quite looking forward to having some pictures of the family we can frame."

"All in good time, I'm sure. Goodness knows we've had our pictures taken more times we can count."

"Oh, of course. But for our home, I'd like a few more personal photos, not anything official for a newspaper."

"You ain't planning one of those professional jobs, are you?" Centipede asked, ambling into the living room, followed by Earthworm and Miss Spider. "I've seen pictures like that and all they look to me is smug."

"Really, Centipede." Mrs. Ladybug shook her head. "But I do agree more casual pictures would be best for now. Though a nice family portrait would be a good idea."

"I would imagine we could do that once our adoption of James is made official," Mr. Grasshopper suggested.

"Of course. We will need to celebrate that day," Miss Spider agreed.

"Provided everything goes through."

"Earthworm!"

But Earthworm continued, thumping his tail against the floor. "I know we managed to convince the city officials James belongs with us, but I keep getting the feeling that they think-"

The phone rang, thankfully cutting off Earthworm's rant. The serpentine bug jumped, and flinched, aiming a scowl at the device.

"I'm never going to get used to that," he groused. Everyone else ignored him as Mr. Grasshopper picked up the phone.

"Good afternoon. Ahh, Sam, hello. Is everything alright?" Mr. Grasshopper frowned and the others sent wary looks in his direction.

"Thought everything was in order," Centipede muttered.

"I'm sure it is, but the city is rushing the adoption for us," Mrs. Ladybug replied.

"Yes," Mr. Grasshopper was saying. "I understand, but... I see. And what would this entail?" There was a long pause as Mr. Grasshopper listened. "A moment." The elder insect covered the phone's receiver. "Where's James?"

"Outside." Miss Spider nodded toward the back door, where the sound of children's laughter could be heard. "He is fine."

"Good." Mr. Grasshopper went back to the call. "And this means we will never have to deal with them again in the future, correct?"

At the word "them," the rest of the bugs exchanged glances.

"Very well," Mr. Grasshopper was saying. "10:00 tomorrow? Yes, we'll be there. Thank you." Mr. Grasshopper hung up the phone with a sigh, rubbing his antennae with an upper hand.

"Don't tell me this about the old hags?"

"If you mean Spiker and Sponge, Centipede, then yes, it is."

"They're not being released, are they?" Earthworm asked, slight panic in his voice.

"No, far from it. But...we need to meet with them tomorrow at the prison where they're being kept."

"Meet them? Whatever for?" Mrs. Ladybug asked. "I doubt at this point there's anything we can do for them."

"Why would we want to anyway?" Centipede asked.

"It is about James, isn't it?" Miss Spider asked.

"Yes. But he doesn't have to be present for this. I would have put my foot down at that."

"So what are we meeting them for?"

"According to Sam, it's part of a deal Spiker and Sponge agreed to. They knew they were going to lose custody of James, no matter what. However, they agreed to sign over guardianship to us in exchange for leniency."

"Leniency? I don't want them gettin' off easy!"

"They won't be," Mr. Grasshopper assured the family. "They're not going to be released back into society, no matter what. However, if they agree to sign guardianship of James over to us of their own volition, then instead of going to prison when they're sent back to England, they'll be sent to a psychiatric hospital instead."

"So instead of jail, the nut house?"

"Centipede!"

"What, why bother sugarcoating it?"

"Either way," Mr. Grasshopper insisted, "it's in our best interest to meet with Spiker and Sponge. They're being deported back to England the day after tomorrow and won't be allowed back to America. And with them agreeing to this, our adoption of James can apparently be completed a lot faster. At least, that's what Sam said."

"If that is so, then I am willing to speak to Spiker and Sponge," Miss Spider said. Her eyes narrowed. "There are a few things I could tell them."

Mrs. Ladybug nodded. "I wouldn't mind giving those two awful women a piece of my mind either." She shook her head before looking over at Mr. Grasshopper. "But since James doesn't need to attend, at least one of us will need to stay behind to watch him."

"I will," Earthworm volunteered. "Spiker and Sponge may be in prison, but I'd rather not deal with them again."

"Very well. And I believe Ms. Glowworm will be home tomorrow too. Both of you together can stay and if we have to sign any paperwork, Sam can bring it back here for the two of you to add your signatures."

"Fine by me." Earthworm shuddered. "At least we won't have to worry about them possibly escaping from prison and sneaking here at night to-"

"Thank you, Earthworm. And please don't say anything like that around James."

"Speaking of, we gonna tell him about this?" Centipede asked, looking around at the group.

"It wouldn't be fair of us to keep this from him," Mrs. Ladybug admitted.

"True. Although I don't think we should ask him if he wants to meet with Spiker and Sponge right now. If he wants to contact them when he's older, that should be his decision."

"What if he asks to see them?" Earthworm asked.

"I don't think the kid's gonna wanna do that."

"But what if he feels he has to?"

"We'll just have to assure him that he is under no obligation to do so," Mr. Grasshopper insisted.

"And that Spiker and Sponge won't be able to go near him again," Mrs. Ladybug added.

"So, when are we tellin' him?"

"I will tell James later tonight," Miss Spider volunteered. "He has asked me about his aunts at bedtime before." She sighed. "At least this time, I can tell him they can no longer come after him."
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As Miss Spider had promised James, they had agreed on a scheduled bedtime within their first few days in the city. Spiker and Sponge hadn't bothered with such a thing, preferring instead to order their nephew to his room when his chores were done or if they simply wanted him out of their sight. Sometimes that meant James was able to spend a little time to himself before going to sleep, but other times, he would be forced to try and stay awake long past a time he should have been sleeping until his aunts were satisfied with his work.

The late Mr. and Mrs. Trotter, on the other hand, had last set a 7:00 bedtime for their son. As such, Miss Spider deferred to their judgment. However, when James asked if he could stay up until 7:30 now, as he was close to being seven, neither Miss Spider nor the rest of the family saw a problem with that request. And as it was half past seven now, Miss Spider headed for James's bedroom.

James, fresh out of a warm bath and snug in his pajamas, was curled up in bed, immersed in one of his new books. However, Miss Spider could see his eyes were already half-closed and his head was starting to nod. Smiling Miss Sider slipped into James's room and gently took the book from his hands.

"I think," she said as James looked up at her, "that you will be able to enjoy this story when you are not asleep."

James watched as Miss Spider marked the page for him and set the book on his bedside table. "It's so good so far." He stifled a yawn and laid his head on his pillow. "I wanted to get to the end of the chapter, but I started to fall asleep before I could."

"More to read tomorrow, my James." Miss Sider carefully drew the blanket up to James's chin, smoothing it over him. Gazing down at her son's face, Miss Spider took the time to gently stroke his hair and cheek. As she did, she couldn't stop herself from noticing that James's face was still quite thin, thanks to Spiker and Sponge starving him. She remembered how sad and lonely James had been when she had first met him, how cold his room was, and how miserable he had looked curled up in his old uncomfortable bed.

She would do anything to make sure her James never had to worry about such a thing again.

"Miss Spider, are you alright?"

Jerked out of her thoughts, Miss Spider met James's brown eyes, which were clouded with both sleepiness and worry.

"I am fine, James. I promise, everything is fine. But tomorrow, I have to meet with Spiker and Sponge."

"What?" James started to sit up, only to be pulled into Miss Sider's reassuring hug. "Why? What's-"

"Shhhh," Miss Sider soothed. "It is fine. This is just to make sure they can never go near you again."

James huddled in Miss Spider's arms, looking warily up at her. "Aren't they going to jail? Centipede said they were going to be locked up until they were as old as the skeleton pirates."

"And I will be having a word with Centipede about that," Miss Sider said with a sigh. "They are being sent back to England, James. And they are never going to be allowed to come back here ever again."

"Never?"

"Never." Miss Spider smiled and ran her fingers through James's hair. The little boy leaned against her, shaking slightly.

"Do I have to go see them?"

"No, no, of course not. Centipede, Mr. Grasshopper, Mrs. Ladybug and I are going to see them tomorrow. Earthworm and Glowworm will stay here with you."

"What time will you be home?"

"We are meeting with them at 10:00 tomorrow, so we will be home in the afternoon. I promise."

James was silent for a moment before looking up at her again. "They can't hurt you, can they?"

"No, my James," Miss Spider soothed, holding her son as close as she could. "They will not hurt us and they will not hurt you. We are going to make sure of that."

James sighed and closed his eyes, his head on Miss Spider's shoulder. Miss Spider smiled and gently laid him back down, tucking the blanket snuggly around him.

"Sweet dreams, my sweet boy," she whispered, kissing his forehead. "I promise all will be well."

Miss Spider quietly left the room, closing the door behind her. Yes, all would be well, even it meant meeting with James's abusive aunts one last time. And besides, Miss Spider mused, she too had quite a lot she wanted to say to Spiker and Sponge.

After all, they couldn't use flyswatters or bug spray this time.