Surviving or Thriving?

Legal Issues (Elizabeth Darcy in picture)

The last thing I want to be doing right now is sitting in legal aid waiting for my alcoholic father to show up. First, I guess I should introduce my self, my name is Elizabeth Darcy, I am seventeen years old. My little brother, Lucas who is four, is sitting beside me playing on my phone.

I look up as the door opens and my father walks, more like stumbles in. "It's about time you show up." I tell him, and he just glares at me.

"Darcy party." The lady behind the counter calls." We stand up and she says, "Follow me, please." She leads us down a hall way to a small conference room. In the middle is a table with six chairs and a man sitting at the end.

"Please come in and take a seat." The man said. Lucas and I sit on one side, while my father sits on the other side. "We are hear to talk about the physical custody of Lucas and Elizabeth, are there any questions before we start?" The man looks around and sees that there are no questions.

"Sir, I do not have a question, but I would like to say something." I said.

"Go ahead" the lawyer permitted.

"Sir, my father is a drunk. He has been one for as long as I can remember. I am the one who always took care of my younger siblings when my mother was at work. I was more like a second mom instead of a sister. There is no way that my father would be able to take care of us, he cannot even take care of himself. So, I would like to request that my father sign over guardianship of my brother to me." I voiced.

The lawyer looked at me and said, " That is a very ambitious request." He turns to my father and asked, "Do you have anything to say about this request?"

My father looks and the lawyer and slurs, "Just give me whatever papers I have to sign so I can get out of here."

"Here they are, but for right now we will leave who the guardian will be empty. If you will just sign and date the bottom." the lawyer instructed. My father picked up the pen and signed the papers. He pushed himself out of the chair and walked to the door and left without a single word or glance towards us. As the door shuts the lawyer turns and looks at me, "Now, before I can recommend that you be given guardianship I need to ask you a few questions," He states. "First, how will you provide for yourself and Lucas?"

"When my mother passed away, she left Lucas and myself a large life insurance policy. I also have my college fund that I can access, as well as we are waiting on the settlement from the accident." I state.

"Next question, where will you live?" the lawyer probed.

"After the accident that killed my younger sister and mother, I located my mothers will. It stated that if anything were to happen to my parents we were to be sent to her college friend in Colorado. I have already spoken to her and her husband and they are willing to allow us to stay in the guest house," I announced.

The lawyer nodded and made notes on his pad, "But if they are willing to take you, then why not allow them to take guardianship of yourself and Lucas?" he asked

"Sir, He is the only family I have left. I will be in college in a year and I will not leave him behind. I will take care of my family." I told him.

The lawyer stood up and exited the room. After fifteen minutes he returned with a stack of papers. "This is a very unusual case, but I spoke to the judge and agree that you seem to understand what you are getting into and that because you will have adult supervision at the residence we will agree to the placement of Lucas into your custody. However there are a few stipulations, and they are: some one will come by once a month to check on Lucas and your living situation; you will need to submit paper work indicating that Lucas is in school or a certified child care facility, banking statements and billing receipts every three months, and a copy of your report cards every nine weeks. Do you understand?" he asked. I nodded my head in response.

"Then all you need to do is fill out the top part and sign at the bottom," The lawyer said as he indicated the different areas. "I will file this with the court, and you should receive an official copy of this in two to three weeks." He stated while gathering all the different papers on the table. "If you will come with me, I will make a copy of the application that you can use for doctor visits or any other legal need until the official copy is received."

We all stood up and I took Lucas by the hand and walked out of the conference room. We waited in the waiting room until the lawyer brought us the copy. "Thank you, Sir. Can You take a picture of us as we start this new chapter in our lives?" I hand the lawyer the camera and we both smile. Lucas and I turned around, walked out of the building, we got in the car and drove home to start packing. "Will I be able to survive the life I have just chosen?" I ask myself in my head. "Guess we will see." I answer my self.