Learning

Chapter 22: Options

Barriss remained mostly silent throughout her lessons. She spoke at break and lunch to comfort Ahsoka but the thought of Ashla being dead was too terrible. No wonder Ahsoka had been silent at the weekend, Barriss wondered if it was a good idea for her to be at school today when it happened so suddenly. While it was often Ahsoka who came around to her house and had sleepovers there, Barriss did go to the Tano residence every now and then and Ashla had always been kind, warm and welcoming to her. In many ways, Barriss had seen her as a cool aunt that she didn't have. It hurt her to know that she was gone.

At lunchtime, Barriss suddenly got an idea. Ahsoka had told them about her new social worker, therapist and lawyer and the situation she was in. They could both understand why Ahsoka didn't want to live with Hosin and his new family and supported it vocally. Inside though, Barriss was surprised that she didn't even want to see him despite it was clear how quickly the people you love can be taken away from you. It was not her place to question the thought process of someone who had just lost the most important person to them. Anyway, Barriss decided that Ahsoka could come and live with her. She knew her parents wouldn't mind, they practically considered Ahsoka their own.

Running up to her friend, Barriss excitedly jumped up and down. "Ahsoka! I have got a great idea!" She twirled Ahsoka around with her in joy.

Ahsoka laughed slightly as they stopped. "What? What do you mean? Great idea about what?" She held her head as the world refocused itself.

Barriss's smile widened. "Your living situation, you can come and live with me! My parents won't mind, they love you." She patted herself mentally on the back as Ahsoka also started to smile.

"Wow! You're right, Barriss. That would solve everything! You're such a good friend! Ahsoka hugged her as they laughed. "Have you spoken to your parents yet?" It needed to be absolutely certain before they began to celebrate.

Barriss shook her head. "Not yet, but I'll call them now. Trust me, they will agree." She untangled herself from her friend and walked over to a nearby tree to make the call.

After a few rings, her mum picked up. "Hello Barriss, is everything okay?" She sighed, trust her mum to assume that something bad had happened.

Barriss fixed a smile to her face although her mother couldn't see. "Yes Mum, I'm fine. I called to ask you a question. Ahsoka lost her Mum over the weekend and will have to choose where she lives when she goes home. I was thinking that she could just come to live with us for a while. Then if it works we could see about making it legal. What do you think?" Barriss had heard a few gasps and sobs coming from the other end but she assumed that was natural because Ashla had been her friend.

Instead, she heard her mum sigh and blow her nose. "Oh Barriss, that's really sweet of you to offer but it wouldn't work. Ahsoka's always welcome here whenever she wants but your Dad and I don't have the money or the space to permanently accommodate another person. It wouldn't be fair on Ahsoka to lose her Mum and then have to be squished into a new home while she is still grieving." Barriss could understand all the words coming out of her Shiyma's mouth but couldn't believe it.

"I don't understand!" Barriss cried. "Ahsoka's always been there for me but when she needs us most you're turning her away?! That isn't what you raised me to do!" She couldn't believe that her parents were being such hypocrites.

Shiyma handed the phone to Bizao and let him speak to his daughter. "Barriss I know you want to help Ahsoka but it isn't within out reach to provide a permeant solution. I want you to apologise to your Mother and pass our condolences onto Ahsoka. No child should ever have to go through what she is. We are here for her but it's more complicated than just a never-ending sleepover. We would be taking on another child. You have to remember that your Mother and I were concerned that we wouldn't even be able to raise you probably. Please try to understand that it simply isn't possible. We love you." He ended the call as Barriss dropped her phone to her side. What was Ahsoka going to do now?