Dedicating Every Day to You

Chapter Four

It's a two hour car ride from Jackson to New York City. Mr. Hamilton doesn't make me talk, but I'm nervous, so I babble on and on. He's very nice, and seems to like hearing me talk.

"So, Mr. Hamilton, I forget what you do for a living," I say, smiling a little and playing with the edge of my dress. Miss Falcon insisted I get changed before I got in the car. I'm in a white sundress now, one that has lace on it and little black buttons on the bodice. It matches my black Converse sneakers, and I like it- but it's only a matter of time before I spill something on it.

"Please, call me Alex. I'm the Secretary of the Treasury under President Washington." Mr. Hamilton- no, Alex- smiles at me.
"What made you decide you wanted to adopt me?" Emmy always says that I'm too curious for my own good. I guess she's right.

Alex sits back and sighs, locking his fingers together. "Well, we wanted to expand our family, but we're really too busy for an infant or even a toddler. We were looking at local sites and Eliza found your picture. We could tell you were perfect right away."

I remember writing my bio for the site. I still have it written down in my notebook.

My name is Kathryn and I'm twelve years old. I've been in the New York foster care system since I was born. I take ballet and love theatre. I like dancing and singing, and I'm very social. I like to climb things because, when I do, I feel like I'm flying. I like to touch the sky. That's why I dance- because every step feels like I'm flying higher and reaching the sky. Looking for a loving, forever family.

"You're exactly the breath of fresh air that our lives need right now, and your previous foster mom has resubmitted your application to the Odom Academy of Performing Arts main school here in the city."
"Thank you so much for choosing me," I say earnestly. "I think I'm really going to like it here."

Around six o clock, we pull into the driveway of a huge brownstone house. Alex parks the car and then helps me climb out.
"Ready to come meet everyone?" He smiles eagerly.
"...can I just sit out here for a few moments? I'll be inside in a minute."
"Sure. Just be in soon so that no one thinks I'm making you up."

Once Alex has walked inside, I scurry up the nearest tree. I go higher than I should, balancing just barely on a branch thinner than my wrist.

My life has changed in the course of a day. I might have a forever family now. Alex is my new dad, so I assume that the Eliza he talks so much about is his wife- my new mom. I wonder if I'll make any new friends.

The sky is slowly growing dark, its cerulean hue tinged with navy blue. I watch the stars as they slowly wink into existence. One of my old foster parents, Mrs. Hubbard, taught me a rhyme for nights like this.

"Star light, star bright, first star I see tonight. I wish I may, I wish I might, have this wish I wish tonight." I take a deep breath of air, to calm my dizziness and relieve my light head. "I wish for a forever family to love."