I was on a cloud that next morning. I had a possible date with the guy I had been thinking about for weeks; my sister was legally becoming my sister, and I had only one class to attend, the one in the morning, and it was social studies with my favorite teacher. My possible future boyfriend and my increasingly closer and closer school friend.
The reason Edith and I even needed to go to school is that my parents's philosophy is that we should minimize school interruptions.
I had, of course, warned Olivia to get a lunch; I wouldn't feed her, but I was thrilled to see her. I was just a little sad that since Lyndon was with us, I couldn't really give her the news, right? Not in front of him. And there was no time in the morning.
We sat in our quiz configuration. The desks had been moved a little, and Mrs. Sanchez explained why. In short, she does this for all of her students. We were the first class to set the desks, and basically, the others just mostly followed the configuration.
The exceptions were either because someone just wanted more light or they had a laptop and wanted to be next to a power outlet.
Personally, I have two items in my bag that simplify my life so much! The first is an outlet multiplier. It lets you plug in 6 things instead of just two. The second was a power cord extension, which gave my power supply more reach.
It's not an accident. With my learning disability, I had a laptop before most of the other students had one. It's like I was the pioneer, the trendsetter.
We didn't have group work; instead, we had an important class on the slavery compromises.
"Now, I am your social studies teacher, not your history teacher. Can someone tell me the difference between the two?"
No one raised their hand. So I raised mine.
"Anyone but Julie?" She said, laughing.
When no one manifested an interest, she asked me to lower my hand.
"Of course you know Julie. I'll tell the others. It's not that different. The main one, the main thing that distinguishes us, is that in history, the focus is on the sequence of events. Like why the slavery compromises were made, what their effects were, and so on. In my class, however, it's like Julie was about to explain. My goal is for you to think about the social aspect of the various historical facts. Why did we talk about the Renaissance? So you can learn dates? No, so you realize what our biases and values are. If Gabriel, Jake, and Paul had not messed up their work on ancient history slavery, I could have distributed their essay to you so we could compare US slavery with ancient world slavery. And yet, I told you about Constantinople and how slavery saved the population. Well, we'll talk today about the 100% evil system of chattel slavery in the USA. And if any of you want to claim it helped economic development or that it eventually helped the freed slaves get more civilized, raise your hand now so I can schedule a long series of after-school extra work to reform you. Are you all clear?"
No one raised their hand.
Mrs. Sanchez was still smiling and in a good mood when talking about the Three-Fifths Compromise and the Missouri Compromise, but I could see that she was boiling under the surface.
She went on a long tirade about how the Senate forced more states to be slave states than normal in the name of the compromise and how it distorts the current federal system.
I was so inspired by her passion that by the time the bell rang, I hadn't noticed the time fly.
I was even sad to leave, even if it was to get to a joyous occasion.
Still, she asked me to stay after the class while the others left.
"You needed me?"
"No, you did. I remember leaving school for stupid braces, and it always made me feel awkward. I thought I could keep you until the switch of class is done. I am free for the next period, and you can go meet your parents. Unless you are in a rush?"
I smile. "No. I am not."
She smiles.
"Can I ask a huge, possibly impossible challenge? But I would hate myself if I didn't give you that opportunity," she says.
I look at her.
"What is it?"
"As you know, I am running for president of the non-landed club. It's badly run, in a financial mess, and seriously, we can do so much better. Well, the ballots become available Saturday, so I will distribute them at the supper. I will do a speech, and I was wondering if you could do one about your personal growth that made you return to naturism. I feel like you have a truly inspiring story."
I look at her. This is still very fresh in my life, but then again, she was there so much for me.
"I'll try."
"I can write you something if you'd like, since you are so busy, but I know you write so well that I don't think I could do you justice," she says, smiling. It makes me smile.
I hear the class bell.
"I guess I'll go. I'll see what I can do."
"Just a minute or two. Nothing deep. Just something inspiring."
I smile.
Inspiring... I like that.
I make it outside, where Edith is already with my parents. "Sorry, I was held up a little."
"No worries, Sugar... We are plenty in advance; you just didn't have time for another period," said my father.
We got in the car, and I decided to take Edith's hand. "Now we will legally be sisters for life," I told her.
"I like that. For life. I feel like doing things that last is helpful for my recovery," says Edith.
My mom, sorry, our mom, intervened.
"I don't want to overstep on you, Edith, but I think you are done with recovery. I think you are now in a period of growth instead."
Edith thought while our dad drove, and eventually, she said. "You might be right."
The tribunal was in the other city. The one trying to swallow us whole. We don't go there often because, well, most of what we need, we have in town.
We park, which requires paying a fee, and get inside, where Dad asks for directions.
We are soon sitting in front of the courthouse when a woman leaves and asks which group we are.
When he explains, she asks for Edith to come to her office for identification and confirmation and for one parent to accompany her. That it's just a formality.
Edith asked my dad to go, and soon, I left with my mom.
"I am so nervous. This is... I always wanted two kids, you know?"
"Right, you had a miscarriage. I remember."
"Yeah. So, anything new on your side?"
I look at her, and I realize that she needs to calm her nerves down.
"Well, yeah. There is a guy, Lyndon."
"Right, you went to his place yesterday with Olivia. What about him?"
"Well, I might like him."
"Oooh, as in, like, like him?" She says, almost like a teenager gossiping.
"No, not quite, but not far. Just, he is nice, and, well, I like his company."
"It's how it often starts."
"Yeah. Well, he sort of asked me out for a movie on Friday evening," I say, all shy.
"Oh, my God, my baby is going on a date? Wow, I am so happy for you, kiddo."
"Wait, I am not sure if it's a date, and well, I am not sure what I want. I haven't said yes yet."
"Even if it's not a date, kiddo, it's practice. As long as he is respectful of your limits, it can still be a good time."
"That's what I am thinking. And I could do a lot worse than him."
"I bet. Wait, I don't think there's a good date movie out right now. I think it's rated R movie season."
And she wasn't wrong, but this isn't the time for this. "It," "Kingsmen: The Golden Circle" and "Mother!" were out the previous month, all rated R. I would see as an adult many of them, and both the "Jigsaw" and "the Foreigner" movies were out, but they were also rated R.
The awful "Geostorm" wasn't out yet.
Edith and Dad came back soon enough, and we had to wait again.
My mom decided that family didn't have secrets and spilled the beans.
"Julie has a date Friday."
"I might have a date; it's not a done deal," I said.
"Wait, whom? Lyndon?" Said my dad.
"He asked her out for a movie."
"Congrats sister," said Edith.
"It's not done yet. I am not sure if I will say yes."
I'll be honest, the wait time was spent between teasing me and giving me tips. I think the teasing was to lighten the mood, and the tips were out of love.
Edith didn't know Lyndon, like, at all, but she was still happy for me.
I wanted to give you the exact rundown of the courtroom when we were actually summoned.
The four of us were at a table, and Carmen was there, and another man I didn't know and who barely spoke.
Carmen presented the case as Edith's social worker. She reminded the judge that he stripped her parents of parental rights permanently, that her biological father was in jail until after Edith's majority, and that my parents had taken custody of her since day one and even occasionally before the incident.
Carmen summarized Edith's progress, but the judge quickly interrupted her. "Is there anything negative in your report?"
"No your honor. Nothing."
"Is there any reason for concern in your report, or anything that would affect the adoption?"
"No your honor. Nothing."
He turns to Edith. "Do you wish to become a permanent member of this family and be legally adopted by them?"
"Yes, your honor."
"Is that your future sister?" He said.
"No, your honor. I've been seeing her as my sister since I moved in with them."
He turned to me. "What's your name?"
"Julie," I hesitate and add, "your honor."
"Do you want Edith as your sister?"
"More than anything, your honor. "
"Steven and Kylie, do you also agree?"
"Of course, your honor. We suggested it," says Dad. Mom also confirmed.
"Then, by the authority vested in me, I hereby grant the adoption. You are now legally a family," he says, signing pieces of paper and lifting them so the clerk can give them to us.
He addressed Edith.
"This adoption will legally change your last name. If you wish to change it at a later time, that can be done through a separate process."
"I want to take their last name today, your honor."
"Good, good luck; not every child gets this second chance."
"I know, your honor, thank you for everything."
"No, thank you, Edith, for doing the work and improving. You are an inspiration."
We soon left, with Edith legally my sister.
It was quick enough that after eating in town, we might have been able to catch our last period, but we were in no shape to do so. I am even shocked I managed to digest a meal I now normally skip.
We went home, undressed, and technically did the routine, but something huge occurred.
Edith went into her room to undress and came back completely nude, revealing she was a smoothie.
I know I said Edith only undressed for Lucy's wedding, but... well, I can be unreliable at times.
All in all, an outstanding day.