I again faked breakfast in the morning, and I was nude with my family when they were eating theirs.
I'll be the first to admit that it was pleasant. Even Edith only wore panties, and we chatted about school and about the movie last night. It feels good.
Edith and I got dressed, got on the bus, and the day toiled on.
Mrs. Sanchez introduced the new subject now that the Renaissance had been properly covered, and it was geography, which, to my surprise, doesn't trigger my issues as much as geometry.
What I liked about the class is that she didn't teach boring map facts. Instead, she made the US map feel alive.
She would explain examples of why one city was settled and why an area was left empty. It was rivers. Most of the time, at least. If not, it was the slave state compromise or the rush for oil or gold. In short, the map wasn't the way it was by luck. Cities were settled where it made sense.
And that was what we could tackle for this segment.
As luck would have it, we would again form groups, but, instead of letting us make groups, she added a twist.
"I know your grades, and I know which groups worked and which didn't. I believe in the meritocracy, so if your group did well, you get to stay together. Some people complained that one of their team members didn't pull their weight, and they will be put on the ballot. Some teams did terribly, and all the members will be put on the ballot."
Now, I know I complained about Lyndon, but eventually he pulled through. He even offered to combine the work I did with the one Olivia did along with his so he would feel like he did his part. We told Mrs. Sanchez, and she was thrilled.
"You know, Julie, I think you motivate him to do his best," she had told him. I don't know if it's true, but let's be honest, the theory that Lyndon would be my first crush when my sexuality wakes up was gaining ground.
He was funny, worked hard, and looked good. Any chapter now (don't hold your breath).
We were the first group listed, and I was the first listed group. Of course.
Four more groups were added so that 15 of the 33 students would stay with the same group.
Only 3 groups lost a member. The final 3 groups were dissolved.
The 3 groups who lost a member got, in the order they were selected, to pick whichever student they wanted from the 12 solo agents.
When that was done, the remaining 9 had until the next class to form three groups.
I was happy to stay with Olivia and possibly my future paramour.
We didn't get the subjects, and we weren't even told what kind of essay we would do. We just, well, formed teams.
Gym was next and was okay. Nothing to contribute, and science was just before the lunch break.
It was a boring physics lecture, which I liked, but which, well, led to more snoozing. Especially since the teacher said not much would be on the exam. That's like a guaranteed safe nap for most, as their stomachs were yelling for food.
Mine was quiet. I think it gave up on eating more than once per day, and that suited me fine.
I knew that eating too much could stretch a stomach; could fasting that much shrink mine? I didn't know, but I hoped so.
At the dance practice, I told my idea of the song to Mrs. Sanchez.
Now, she is younger than my parents, so she didn't know the song, but I had my laptop and managed to play it.
She was inspired, and we began crafting a routine based on my ideas.
At that lunch, only Emma came, and if I can be honest, she was only half trying.
Mrs. Sanchez helped her a few times, but I think she sensed that Emma wasn't in it and that I was, so she focused on me.
I had Mr. Cook in the afternoon. It's the first time since I heard he went to the non-landed club. I wondered if he would ever return. I knew he liked me as a student, but I wouldn't touch the subject with him.
I did stay and told him of the song I picked for my recital. "Oh, I know it well. It was in Pump Up the Volume. Great choice," he says. He knew the movie, but then again, he is older than Mrs. Sanchez, but it's not like I know his age.
Math was my last subject, and the teacher imposed a pop quiz in which I got a perfect score. Olivia too. Only one guy also got a perfect score. It felt like a woman win!
I got home with Edith, and my parents asked us to come sit at the table. My mom had a big envelope.
"Do you know what today is, Edith?"
"No."
"Today is the second anniversary of when you came to live with us."
"Oh," she said.
"Well, we told you we would keep you as a foster family for as long as you wanted."
"You did. I am so gratefu.l"
"Well, that ends now. We can't keep doing this. Edith. I am sorry, but we told Carmen that we wouldn't be your foster family anymore."
I knew that. It's what my mom told me on Sunday morning. I am trying not to react. My father is doing everything he can too.
"What?" She begins to panic. "What did I do wrong?" She says, crying. "You can't kick me out. I am just 16!"
"We aren't," said my mom.
"What?"
She takes out paper from the envelope and slides it toward Edith.
I see the document; she looks at it, but it's like she doesn't understand it.
She reads out loud, "Hereby grants full parental rights to," but stops. "What is that?"
"Adoption papers, Edith. We don't want you as a foster kid anymore. We want you as our daughter. Legally. And I asked your sister, and it's what she wants too."
"Wait, you want to adopt me?"
She was crying even more, but this time, they were tears of joy. For once, nobody is losing a family member today. We're gaining one.
"All that's left is for you to sign. As you are 16, you have a say. We have an appointment with the same judge who agreed to the foster care and took your mother's parental rights away, exactly two years after he made you our foster kid."
"I don't know what to say," she says.
"It's all right," says Dad. "I know what we can all say. Welcome to our family, Edith."
We all hugged. I was so happy.
Edith would have been my foster sister until she turned 18. This would preserve the relationship legally for life. Sure. My parents would lose two years of foster kid money, but it's not a lot, and it came with inspections and regulations.
We talked a while, and she called Charlie to give him the news. Meanwhile, I called Marge on her cellphone and gave her the news. She was happy for Edith and also for me.
I almost called Mindy, but the reality is that I wasn't that close to her anymore. Maybe now that I am a naturist again. Olivia barely knew Edith.
The reality is that I had only one friend who was also friends with Edith, and that was fine. I didn't need more. Marge was enough.
After supper, we got dressed and tried to go for ice cream, and I decided that I could cheat on my diet for once. But sadly for them and happily for my figure, all ice cream places were closed for the winter, even if it was still relatively early.
I swear that previously, they were still open that late in the year.
Ok, maybe I can explain that one, because we got the answer later, and well, it won't fit with the story.
In short, it's an effect of the "town going to shit"™.
I didn't see it that much. I saw there were more and more new faces in school, the kids of Main Town transplants. And I was missing a few familiar ones who moved to greener pastures.
Like I said, the two populations rarely mixed. Most of the transplants reconnected with previously moved-in transplants or moved at the same time.
Most of the old-timers didn't care about the new kids.
In the main town, there is apparently a legendary ice cream place, Walker's. Low cost, great quality, large portions. New arrivals just keep going there, and in the process, they tell their neighbors about it.
The reality is that of our three ice cream parlors, two had closed forever and not just for the winter. The last one, free from competition, tried to increase their volume by copying Walker's business plan.
It worked, somewhat, but that evening, we had three disappointed people and one faking disappointment going back home.
I got my story after my shower, and to my surprise, Edith later asked if she could sleep over.
"Are you okay?"
"I don't know. I don't think I can sleep in my bed until the adoption gets through."
"What do you mean?"
"That's the bed they got for me as a foster kid. I don't know. I feel like I need a transition."
"Come, sister," I said.
She was wearing pajamas, so I didn't need to do any tricks with the sheets.
As we were trying to fall asleep, she spoke up.
"I cannot believe, Julie, that the day I met you was the luckiest day of my life."
"Huh?" I said, half awake.
"It's what led to my life of being adopted by your parents."
"Our parents."
"Well, yeah, but, like, they weren't mine until I came here, and I came here because I met you. I love you, big sister," says Edith.
I laugh. It's an old in-joke. She is older than I am.
So I gave her a new nickname.
"I love you, chosen sister"
And that led her to hug me close.