Brave Face

Chapter Six

Nasir POV

"I couldn't see my life without you in it" ~Tammy Townsend (One Kiss)

"Nasir you requested to speak to me," Ms. Natasha says, breezing into the office, sipping coffee.

I have been sitting in her office for the past twenty minutes trying to decipher if I am doing the right thing. I decided to tkle a chance, the worse that could happen is she says no.

"Yes, I have made my decision about the offer, but I have a few stipulations," I says, as she takes her seat.

She settles into her chair and leans back. "Ok let me here them and then we can make an agreement."

"First I want to adopt Jason. He has communication problems and doesn't do well with change. I want him to be a permanent member of my family, simply because he has wiggled his way into my heart," I pause to gauge her reaction and she just nods her head for me to continue.

"Secondly I want to bring the girls in tomorrow for bring you kid to work day. They asked and you know I can't tell them no unless I have to. Finally I want to make a 10,000 dollar donation to the orphanage for much needed repairs," I say and her eyes pop wide open. I won that money in a scratch off I found in the middle of the street, I had it tucked away until I needed it. I know the money would help sway her decision fron hell no to maybe.

"If you can meet those demands then I'll take the job, no questions asked."

She sits up and strums her fingers on the desk. "Ths girls can Come tomorrow no problem. That donation would be much needed but there is one problem. Nasir you know how long and drawn out the adoption process is. By the time you would get custody of him, they would've filled the position with someone else."

"I don't care. I love him like my own and I want him home with me. He is an orphan, the process takes six months with red tape, there is no red tape. It can be over and done with quickly, if you have someone come evaluate my home and have a judge sign off on it. Two weeks top, over and done."

She leans back in the chair and sips her coffee again, deep in thought. She is silent for a while until I hear a quiet, "Fine."

I jump up and reach over, pulling her into a hug. "Thank you, thank you, thank you. You don't know how much this means to me."

"Yeah, yeah, yeah," she says standing up. "I'll send someone to you home the day after tomorrow. You will be observed for two weeks before everything is brought before the judge. After that my hands are tied."

"Ok. I'll have everything straight and ready to roll. I acxept the job and will fly out in one months time," I says, shaking her hand.

"Okay. Don't bitch up on me a month from now," she warns pointing a well manicured hand at me.

"Never that," I wink at her and walk out the office feeling on cloud nine.

"Jason," I call, searching for him.He pops out of the hallway and walks up to me, giving me a hug. "Hey. How would you feel about coming to stay with me and I be your dad?"

"Jason can come live with you," he asks and I nod. "Videos, food and fun with you" he excitedly gushes.

"Yes. We have to get the judge to say yes but the next few week's you can come visit me and my daughter's, and have fun with us."

"Jason love to Mr. Salazar."

"Good. Hopefully soon enough I'll be able to call you my son and we will move far away from here," I says, thinking of my brightly lit future. "Question, why do you have a nerf blaster hidden in you waistband?"

"To shoot you with duh," he says, swiftly pulling it out and unleashing on me. I dodge the darts and grab him into a hug, laughing the entire time.

The rest of the day breezes by and I head home on 100.

One month and two weeks later...

"Put in car," Jason says, taking Nasuri's suitcase from her. We are putting the last essentials in the car for the long ride to Atlanta and everyone is excited.

I gained full custody of Jason a week ago ans worked out a deal to continue observations with him in Atlanta.

Jason had stayed with us for two weeks, where he got to know the girls and vice versa. They all have adapted to each other and slowly are working out a way to understand each other. It is truly a beautiful sight to see them all together. The most amazing thing about little kids is; they don't see race, religion or a disablity, all they see is a new playmate, and that's what my girls saw.

"Get in or we are going to be late," I say, rallying them up.

They all jump into the car and I hook each of th into their respective booster seats. After that is finished I get into the front seat and we are off.

A long 10 hours later, filled with songs, more songs oh and did I mention songs, we arrived at our new home. The state provided us with a foreclosed home they owned, so all I had to worry about was utilities.

The house was in a nice quiet neighborhood on the outskirts of College Park, Atlanta. Our street looked to be very quiet, and uniformed. Each house sporting the same color houses, same flower beds in front the house and on the window ledges and the same neatly cut grass. Everything was perfect and not a thing was out of place.

Thankfully we had hired a moving company to move and set up our furniture so everything was already in place, all we had to do was bring our suitcases in the house.

I woke up the sleeping kids in the backseat, and told them we we're here. They all jumped up in excitement and rushed out the car, haphazardly grabbing their suitcases in the process.

They patiently wait while I unlock the door and as soon as I do their eyes light up like a Christmas tree. They run inside and begin exploring and my heart feels like it wants to explode.

Me and the girls never had a house, we always lived in apartments, simply because my pay sucks. Jason on the other hand has never even lived outside of the orphanage, so this house was a wonderment for them.

The door lead to spacious living room, equipped with royal blue couches, beautiful silver lamps and curtains. A coffee table, end table and area rug complete the "Home Goods" look.

From there is the dining room with a table that seats eight and a sparkly chandelier.

We stayed up into the wee hours of the morning, enjoying our new house. We ordered pizza, watched movies and ate candy til they passed out on the couch.

I turned off everything downstairs after I carefully took them upstairs, one by one, and tucked them into bed. I stand in the dark room and take a deep breath, excited about what life had to bring.

Funny thing about life is, it's a game of chance, with a 1/99 chance of it going your way.