Dragon Girl

Part 22 New Life

A rare happening,Janey was too exhausted for school on Monday. She was slightlyfeverish so Gail let her stay home. Katey asked her a dozen times ifshe "caused" it, by making Janey keep the shield up for so long.Janey finally told her "Go talk to Mom and let me sleep."

"I'm so sorry,Mrs. Richardson, I didn't mean to make Janey tired." Kateyapologized as soon as she saw Gail.

"Katey, youdidn't make Janey do anything, no one does, ever." Gail smiled."If the way she feels today was because she used her abilities foran extended period of time, it was Janey's decision to do so. Youcould not have dissuaded her, believe me."

She made Katey sitdown at the kitchen table and brought her a glass of milk and a smallbanana.

"You need asnack then you and Richard and I will discuss ground rules."

"Yes, M'am."

Katey sipped themilk and peeled the banana and nibbled at it.

"First of all,Katey, I don't need to know the details of any of the homes you'velived in before, but you must know that Richard and I do not believein striking a child in any way for any reason; it accomplishesnothing but distrust and emotional pain. You will never, ever, bestruck here. Do you understand that?"

"Yes, M'am."Katey replied looking Gail straight in the eyes. She wasn'tcowered.

Just then, Richardwalked into the kitchen and got himself a cup of coffee and sat atthe table with the ladies.

"Katey, thechoice is yours, but we would rather you did not address us as Mr.and Mrs. Richardson, that's too impersonal. I know we are not youractual parents, and you would have to feel comfortable with the ideaof calling us Mom and Dad, so we leave it up to you ... Richard andGail is fine with us." He spoke gently to the girl.

"If not Mr. andMrs. ... may I call you my Aunt and Uncle?" Katey volunteeredwithout hesitation.

"That would befine." Richard smiled and Gail nodded with a happy smile on herface.

"Katey, thatmakes me feel very special, because Richard and I are only childrenof only children I never had any brothers or sisters or cousins, sobeing someone's Aunt is very special to me." Gail told her andopened her arms for a hug.

Katey went to herreadily and offered that hug.

"You both knowthat I'm an empath. I feel other people's emotions and thatusually means I know right off if someone is lying to me. I want totell you that your house is probably the calmest, safest place I haveever been in my life. It's like all the anger and other badfeelings going on out there stop at your walls. Even the institutewasn't this safe."

"I'm veryhappy you feel comfortable here, Katey. That's what we want. Butthere are a few house rules you need to know so that all of us canremain happy." Richard told her.

"I understand.Would you please make a list of the house rules and post them where Ican read them every day for a while, until I know them by heart?"

"If you insistbut our house rules are mostly common sense and common courtesy."

Katey took herseat again and took a judicious bite of her banana, her attentiontotally on "Uncle Richard".

"Bedtime is notnegotiable. We give you a one hour warning and you are expected to bein bed at the time designated. However, since you and Janey sleep inthe same bed, your bedtime is eleven pm.

"Secondly, don'tever take anything without asking first. This is common courtesy.Third, if you make it dirty between meals, you clean it. If you breakit, clean it up and tell us the truth. You may be responsible forreplacing it, or we may let it slide but don't ever lie to us."

Gail interjectedhere. "Katey, neither Richard nor I have powers as strong as yoursor Janey's but we know when we've been lied to, so just don't.If you were out of control for a while and something gets brokenbecause of it, admit the cause as well as the result."

"I can't lieanyway. I don't know why, I just can't." Katey replied.

"Leave a note ortelephone us when you are not going to be where we expect you to bewhen we expect you to be there. If you don't have your own phoneyet, we'll get you one." Richard finished.

"Mr. Frost gaveme a phone he pays the bill on it." Katey told them and pulled itout of her jumper pocket to show to them.

"Gail, this is acontract phone, an IG17. There is a tracking chip in it." Richardsaid as he examined the machine.

"Mr. Frostexplained to me he wanted me to have this phone because sometimes Irun away and then get lost. This particular phone means I can befound if I can't get a signal to get home by myself."

"I certainlyhope you feel you can talk to Janey, or Gail or me before you get sostressed you have to run, Katey. We can protect you in here, we can'tout there." Richard said with his heart in his eyes and a handsoftly on Katey's where it rested on the table.

Katey looked atthat hand and into his face for a few minutes and her own eyes beganto tear up.

"Uncle Richard,may I give you a hug?" She asked softly.

"Any time." Hereplied and opened his arms to her.

Over Katey'shead the look shared between Richard and Gail told each other thatnot only had this child no one to love her, she had a lot of love togive and she never had the chance before.