Lacy was 9 years old. She was the stereotypical southern California girl, slim and tanned from regular outdoor sunshine, with sandy blonde hair untamed from a brush and instead combed by the wind and the dirt and the pools she swam in. Her eyes were a bright blue-green that were shining with a mixture of curiousness and adventure. But they also had a intensiveness that belied she had seen too much too young. Her demeanor was most often of restlessness from having too many unanswered questions in her life so far.
Today was Sunday, a day when adults can play with their children instead of the weekday office grind. Lacy sat on the grass in front of the suburban american home waiting for her father to arrive. She was living with Judy, a temporary home carer for Lacy and her sister Madelaine, whilst their father left to answer those life questions of his own he needed to answer. And what father wants to drag two young girls around during that period of their life?
Lacy's father had charmed a mother at her school, stating he needed some help for a few weeks whilst he had to leave on business, targeting the women who could not resist the story of a single father or the charm of the British accent he so eloquently spoke with. Lacy and her sister were usually moved in within the day of an offer.
At Judy's house, on this Sunday, Lacy sat waiting for the few precious hours to spend with her father. He arrived late in the morning, driving up in a battered old Honda and parked on the sidewalk. Lacy jumped up from the ground and sped towards the car.
"Daddy, Daddy!"
"Hello my little brown girl"
"Did you bring me anything from your trip?"
"Yes, I did. It is a special gift for you to write memories in"
And he handed Lacy a pink plastic diary. It was the best thing she had even seen, covered in little hearts and kittens, and even though she was the ultimate tomboy and pink was THE worst color, the gift was immediately treasured and held closely to her chest.
"I have something for you to write in it"
"What is that, Daddy?"
"A new address."
"Really, what is the address for?"
"For us. We are going to move and all live together again"
"Really? That's the best news ever, when do we move, will I have my own room, can I bring all my things...?"
Lacy continued to ask all the questions a 9 year old cares about bringing - she was no stranger to moving as this was the 10th place she had lived in her 9 years, and had become accustomed to seeing these moves as an adventure with new friends to be made, and not of it as a loss of everything she had today. Plus this time, she would be with her Daddy.
Later that night, Lacy sat on the bed she shared with 3 other girls at Judy's house and wrote in her pink diary "May 10th - The day we will be a family again". She had counted over 3 years since she had lived with her Daddy and was excited that she was going to be able to see him everyday. She was tired of living with strangers - they were often nice for a few weeks but would then lose their temper with her and hurt her. She thought about the past few caretakers...
Judy was fond of throwing hurtful things at Lacy like "your father doesn't love you, he abandoned you and dumped you on me".
Black Mama was fond of the leather belt. Lacy winced at remembering the pain of a leather belt smacking against her bare skin.
Reverend Jane would preach to her about the need for salvation with a look of fire in her eyes that scared her.
Maria could not speak a word of English and just spoke Spanish at her and pointed.
But all this would be gone because Lacy was going to live with her Daddy. 'He loves me and will look after me forever' she thought, doodling in the pink diary.
May 10th - "Moving Day"
Lacy's father arrived on moving day and picked her up in a magic car, a convertible light blue Volkswagen Beetle! The hood was down, and Lacy's father looked like a movie star with his hair swishing in the wind, dark shades on, and his tan face showing the hint of fine lines as he smiled. The sun seemed to smile when he smiled, not only to Lacy but to Judy as well.
"How are you Jeff?" said Judy, brightly, looking for the affection and attention of a handsome man
"Very well Judy. I wanted to thank you for looking after my girls for me."
"Oh, it's been no trouble at all. They are just soooo wonderful"
Lacy watched and thought how different Judy acted when her father was here then when he wasn't. Most days as soon as he turned the corner, she would grimace and start telling her how much of a problem she and her sister were. She had only just made her sister sleep all night in her wet bed sheets to "teach her a lesson".
"The girls are all packed up and ready to go. Again, it has been a great pleasure to have them here"
Lacy pack all her belongings into the Volkswagen Beetle, a grand total of two suitcases. She waved goodbye to Judy as they drove off, then turned back into her seat, quickly and easily forgetting the life with Judy, whilst smiling excitedly for the next chapter in her life...all whilst holding the pink plastic diary to her chest.
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