The next morning looked more like the keystone cops than the way school mornings looked on those TV shows. Joanie would need more practice before she would be Donna Reed and I was never going to be Ward Cleaver. But somehow we got Theresa up and fed and dressed and out the door. I drove her even though she could've walked and most days she would although it was on my way and if the weather was too bad I'd drop her off.

Theresa was quiet on the drive over and I could see her fingers playing with one of the buttons on her coat, buttoning and unbuttoning it over and over.

"You don't need to be afraid, you know," I told her and looked over quickly to see her try for a brave smile. I wondered if that was a trait their mom had before she got sick too or if she just learned it from her sister.

"I'm not," she began and then she stopped, "Okay, yeah, I'm scared."

"Me telling you that you're going to do fine isn't going to help, is it?" I asked already knowing the answer.

"No," she said almost like she was apologizing for that being the truth.

I sort of chuckled, "Don't sound sorry. You don't have to lie to make me feel better. I have an idea though."

"What?" she asked and her fingers finally stopped fiddling with that button for a little while.

"You'll see when we get there."

I pulled into the parking lot and I went in with her to get her schedule and walked to find her locker and made sure she knew how to open it. We found her first class and she looked at me scared like I was leaving.

"I'm not going just yet," I told her, "There's one more place to go."

I took her hand and led her to the office and through it and to the counselor's office. I leaned in the door at the balding man hunched over paperwork on his desk. I knocked and he looked up at me.

"Hey Mike," I said, "Got a minute?"

"Jim," he said smiling, "If you've come all the way to my lowly little office I guess I could spare even two or maybe three."

I pulled Theresa into the office and led her to the desk.

"I have a special case for you," I told him, "Her name is Theresa McCloud and she's, well, it's hard to explain."

Of course I had to explain anyway so I made the long story of how I knew her as short as I could so she wouldn't miss the first bell. Once Mike knew what the story was I turned to Theresa.

"This is Mr. Terwilliger," I told her, "He does here what I do at my school and he has the same open door policy that I do. If you're feeling scared or having any problems at all, you walk right in here. If somehow he can't help, though I'm sure he can because he's better at this than I am, he'll give me a call."

"I am very pleased to meet you, Theresa," Mike said shaking her hand, "Jim flatters me. I've been at this longer but I doubt I'm any better. But he's right, if you need to talk about anything or just need a little quiet time, come on down here and see me."

She gave him a smile and it didn't seem like she was forcing it to be there. Mike was good at what he did and he was easy to talk to for all the kids. I knew she was in good hands.

"So kiddo," I said, "You should probably get to homeroom now."

She nodded and when we were out of the office she wrapped her arms around me and whispered, "Thanks Uncle Jimmy."

I patted her on the back and watched her walk away. It never gets easier to see them walking away from you. She wasn't mine and I'll tell you that first day of any new school for my own always tore me up even worse than seeing Theresa head off on her own. I know she'd been going to school all this time and I wasn't there but now she was my responsibility and that changed a lot of things. Well, there wasn't anything more I could do at the junior high so I went back out and drove to my own building and went into my own office with a cup of coffee and set to working on my own paperwork until my own students came to find me. Mondays were as busy as Fridays were slow. No one wanted to stick around Fridays and on Monday every bit of drama from the weekend beat down my door. Or it would have if my door had been closed. The good thing about Mondays if anything could be good about getting up early and putting on a suit instead of sleeping in and hanging around the house in jeans was that being so busy, my day went real fast. Now I usually stayed a little after if one of the kids wanted to talk to me but no one did that day so I blew out of there before anyone decided to. My real tough cases knew how to get a hold of me anyway.

I waited outside the building until I saw her walk out with two other girls and I waved to her. She smiled and ran over, new friends in tow.

"Uncle Jimmy," she said a little out of breath from the jog over, "This is Penny and Vicky."

I nodded, "Pleased to meet you ladies."

Those girls got to giggling and I had a thought or two about how Theresa made such fast friends. Apparently I was one heck of an ice breaker.

"You 'bout ready to go, Theresa?"

She nodded and called out that she'd see her friends the next day and then climbed into the car.

"I take it that means things went well?"

"Yeah," she said smiling, "I think it's going to be just fine here."

"Well, you know I don't like to be the type who says I told you so," I smiled at her.

"But you just can't resist now, can you?"

I laughed a little at her.

"This isn't the way home, is it?" she asked.

"No."

"Are we going to see the boys?" she asked.

"And your sister," I answered, "I think she needs to hear all about your first day at school. Besides, if you want to stop and say 'hi' to Al, he does still keep that dish of candy on his desk."

"Uncle Jimmy," she said rolling her eyes, "I'm almost fourteen years old."

"I guess you'd probably be more interested in the kid that works for him, some guy named Jesse."

"Maybe," she squeaked and I decided from that tone that I'd better keep somewhat of an eye on her whenever she was near him.

I pulled into Al's driveway and passed Annie in the doorway. She had come over to sit with Lou while Rachel was working.

"Hi Annie, the kids with Emma?"

"No, I wouldn't do that to her right now," she said smiling kind of sadly, "They're with mother today. She was complaining that she doesn't see them enough. We'll see what tune she's singing once I get there to pick them up."

I laughed at the little joke. I had watched those kids before and they were good for me usually but they could wear you right out and sometimes communicating with Timmy could be frustrating for those of us who don't know sign so well or when he ran into something he didn't know how to say yet. It's one thing when a little one don't know how to say something in a language you speak but quite another when you're not so good at the language they're learning.

"How's she doing today?" I asked nodding toward the house.

"The same," Annie replied looking apologetically at Theresa who forced that brave smile that fooled no one and really made us all hurt for her a little more.

Theresa and I got in the door and I could tell Rachel was having a hard time of things that day. It was hard for her. She had taken to us all really quick and seeing the way the war was tearing through our little makeshift family was wearing on her. It was hard not to like Lou, hell, it was hard not to love her. She had spunk and she was kind of inspiring too so seeing her like she was well, it was kind of like seeing Superman hailing a cab or something. It just wasn't how things was supposed to go. I nodded to her and went with Theresa down the hall to the room Lou was in.

"Hey Lou," I said, "I see you got to visit with Annie today. That must've been nice for you, she's a nice lady. I brought Theresa again. I thought you'd like to hear about her first day. I imagine she'll tell you more but she already has a couple friends. I knew she would, she has your sweet smile and magnetism."

I looked at her and tried to wish myself into seeing her move or react but she didn't.

"Well, I'm going to leave you girls to your chit chat and see how Rachel's day was."

I made it back out to the living room where Rachel was sitting on the sofa with her head in her hands and I know she was trying real hard not to cry but she was all the same.

"Can I get you something, Rachel?"

Her head shot up and she quickly wiped her eyes.

"No, Jimmy," she said, "I'll be alright. I've got probably the least right to cry and just look at me."

"I'd say you've got as much as anyone else here," I said, "You want my opinion, it's nice you care about us this much. Al got himself a good one with you, that's for sure."

"I read to her. I talk to her. I brush her hair and feed her and I just can't reach her."

"I know it's a helpless feeling," I agreed, "Lou's tough but I think she just ran out of tough for a while. When she gets it back we'd all better just watch out."

We talked a little more and I think Rachel just craved talking to someone who could talk back. I think Al was even getting a little quiet with all that had been going on. Poor Rachel had no one to talk to but silent, motionless Lou and a bunch of junior high English students who called her 'Mean old lady Dunne' behind her back.

"I'd better go see how the girls are doing," I said, "Theresa still wanted to see the boys and I think she wanted to stop over and see Jesse too."

"You keep an eye on that, Jimmy," she cautioned, "He's a good kid and all but…"

"I know and I am."

I got to the bedroom doorway and nearly ran smack into Theresa looking frantic.

"What's the matter?"

"Where's her record?" Theresa asked.

"What record?" I asked right back, "Whatever it is probably is still packed in the boxes in my old apartment."

That room over the garage came in pretty handy for storing things and knowing they'd be safe and all.

"It was our mom's record and when Lou was a baby she'd put it on and sing it to her and when I came along she did to me too until she got sick."

Her eyes were still darting around as if she'd happen upon it if she just looked a little harder.

"She always plays it when she's upset and it makes her feel better," Theresa continued, "She's swaying now like she does when she listens to it. I have to find it and play it for her, Uncle Jimmy. I just have to."

"I can go through the boxes tomorrow and look for it-"

"Now, Uncle Jimmy," she insisted, "She needs it now."

"Theresa, there's just too many boxes to go through for right now," I explained, "If we start right after school tomorrow I'm sure we'll find it. Tell me what I'm looking for and I'll get it for you then."

"It's a Jimmie Davis record," she said, "You Are My Sunshine. I know, we'll just sing it to her. I'm sure that would be good enough."

"You should sing to her," I told her, "Believe me, if you want your sister better, having me sing won't do it."

"Please," she said and looked up at me with those big eyes and there was nothing I could do. Only a monster could say no to those eyes when something meant that much to her.

"I'm not sure I know the song all through," I said still kind of trying to back out. I did know the song. Before Polly turned to the bottle she would sing it to me sometimes. I would never forget that song.

"I'll start and you sing what you remember," Theresa said taking my hand and leading me over to where Lou was swaying in her chair.

"You are my sunshine, my only sunshine," Theresa started in softly and I could hear the strain in her voice as she fought her tears. Well, I couldn't leave her singing solo like that so I joined in.

"You make me happy when skies are grey. You'll never know dear, how much I love you. Please don't take my sunshine away."

I watched Lou as we sang. She didn't speak or move really but her expression changed and I felt her hand tighten around mine as a tear escaped her eye and trickled down her cheek. We sang through it a couple more times but that was the extent of what we got out of her. I stood and kissed the side of her head and whispered to her, "I knew you were still in there. I'll get that record for you. I promise I will, sweetheart, I promise."

I went to the doorway and turned to see Theresa stand and hug her sister tightly and then, even though she still didn't speak, Lou's arms wrapped around that girl and held her tight for a moment before they went slack again. Theresa let go too then and her eyes were shining when she turned to me and I'm certain mine were getting a little moist too. I put an arm around her as she left the room and we headed over to Emma's to see how the boys was faring. Well they charged Theresa the second they laid eyes on her and any sadness she had about her sister was replaced with happiness at seeing those faces. They were a couple of pretty cute faces too. I could hear Theresa giggling as both boys tried to tell her everything they had been doing all at once.

I found Emma in the kitchen stirring something on the stove with Sarah Jean on her hip.

"How's it going with them?" I asked.

"They're stronger than the rest of us in a lot of ways," she answered, "I still don't think they entirely understand but they have adjusted to the arrangement finally. I still think they'll do better once they get their mama back. I check on her sometimes in the evening."

Emma shook her head sadly.

"Well, I think we're making progress with her," I said and went on to tell her of what had happened when we sang to Lou.

"You sang to her Jimmy?" she asked for that moment disregarding the impact it'd had on Lou, "I just can't even see that."

"Theresa asked me to," I told her, "She said please."

Emma laughed a little at me and I think she was really feeling better that there was a little improvement for Lou. I went back out in the living room and while Theresa was playing with Jack and Bobby I could tell she wanted to be somewhere else but didn't know how to get away.

"You know," I said, "I wasn't kidding that Al still has that dish on his desk. If you took those boys for a walk I'm sure it would be a help to Emma to not have them underfoot while she cooks and then you'd have a legitimate excuse to be heading over there and you might just get to see Jesse for a minute or two."

I saw the gratitude in her smile as she got the boys' coats on. They protested until she told them they were going to visit Al and then they were more than willing to get ready. I watched her walking down the sidewalk with one chubby little boy's hand in each of hers.

"How is she doing?" Emma asked from behind me, Sarah Jean still on her hip.

"Actually, she seems like she's holding up alright," I replied walking over and taking the baby from her and kissing the little girl on the forehead. "She gets sad, of course but she made some friends today and I think it helped her a little that she came up with the idea that started getting through to Lou. She wants to help her so bad."

I sat for a while and talked to Emma, catching up mostly. She told me how Sam and Jesse had taken to the boys but still how hard it was sometimes. She didn't know the boys' night time routine and so the first few nights were very tough as she learned what they needed to feel secure and maybe a little less like their whole world was tipped upside down. They were feeling more at home though and that was good. Still I don't think even Emma was prepared for the mischief two boys so close in age could make. I could tell that some days she had been nearly at her wits end with what they could get into and the messes they could make. Oh yeah, and how little time it could take them to get into something. She sounded almost afraid to use the bathroom sometimes and I could see why. Most of the time though I think she was too much in love with those kids to get too mad at them though.

After a while I had to go and collect Theresa and the boys so I could get her home and get some supper started before I had to head to class. As I walked up on the garage I could see Jesse leaning against the side of the building talking to Theresa. She looked like she was crying and I saw him reach out and brush his hand against her face. I guessed he was drying her tears and I mentally complimented him for such a smooth move. He took her hand and I have no idea what he said to her but she wasn't crying anymore. I almost hated to break up such a sweet moment but then I did have to get her home and see if she had homework and things like that, things I hadn't thought I'd be considering for quite some time.

"You leave the boys inside with the old man?"I asked and Jesse looked up like he was guilty of something. I think he was just startled and I was more an authority figure to him than any of the other guys that looked at me like a brother. I was like a big brother and he looked up to me. I know he tried to make me proud of him the way that he wanted Sam to also. I think he was a little worried about me approving of something or other.

"Yeah, I guess I should go get them and take them back to Emma's," Theresa said looking down and heading into the garage.

I walked over and leaned against the wall next to Jesse and leaned my head back.

"Is she okay?" I asked.

"She's sad," he said, "I guess we all knew that though."

"She seemed to feel better after talking to you," I observed.

"I didn't do anything," he told me looking at his feet, "I just listened."

"Sometimes that's all it takes. I know you understand her pretty well," I said, "She's lucky to have a friend like you."

"I kind of wish I was more than a friend, you know?"

"That's natural. She's a pretty girl," I acknowledged, "And she likes you. You just be damned careful of her. You hear me?"

"I'm not going to do anything to hurt her," he said, "I just wanted to maybe take her to a movie or out for a malt or something. I've never asked a girl out before. I'm not sure how."

"When you figure it out, you know my phone number. I'm pretty sure she'd say yes."

"You think?" he asked and I wondered if I had been that thick when I was his age. I figured I probably had.

"Yeah, I can all but guarantee it."

We went inside and Theresa was telling Al about the song and Lou's reaction to it.

"I know that song," he said, "I guess that's worth a try to keep singing it. If nothing else she might come back to us just to tell us all to shut up."

I chuckled a bit and figured she might just to stop my god awful singing. But still I was going to find that record.

"I guess we'd better get going Theresa," I said, "You want to get the boys back to Emma's and meet me at the car?"

"I'll walk with you," Jesse piped up, "I mean if that's okay and all. I have a lot of homework so Al was sending me home early anyway."

Theresa looked at me and I nodded to her that it was just fine if he walked with her and she smiled at him. Those smiles are the kind of smiles all men dream of getting from girls.

The young people all left and I watched them go. Theresa and Jesse in the middle of the two boys and him being so bold as to take her hand.

"If that don't beat all," Al said.

"Yeah, it kind of makes you feel like there's some hope in the world, don't it?" I replied.

Ah yes, young love...so sweet...hopefully soon I can get Lou talking...she's not a lot of fun to write right now.-J