18 Weeks

The Maternity Home/ Chapter 8

Abbey opened up the book and started on number 1 and ran through all the rules. I had read them that day at the pregnancy help center but I listened anyway. Next she took me to the dining room and there sit a large glass jar full of folded pieces of paper. Abbey told me to pull one out. I pulled a piece, I unfolded it and it read WRITE RULE # 16 TWENTY TIMES. I set the paper down and in my mind I thought what am I 12? I kept quiet out of respect. I looked at Abbey and she said"these are penalties. Every time you break a rule, you will pull out one of these and what ever rule it is you pull out you will write how ever many times it says". Abbey then shut the lid on the jar and brought me over to the laundry room and she picked up a binder and opened it. "This",she says, "you use to write down any  Dr. appointments or any other visitation out of the home so you and I can keep track, but as you already know there is no going away visits until you've been at the home for at least a month, and no phone call until two weeks" She then set that down and brought me over to the kitchen and showed me a small white board that listed Sunday through Saturday. The list was for  certain chores to be done after dinner. For example Sunday tomorrow I will be emptying the dishwasher and Monday I will vacuuming the dining area and wiping the table down. The last place she took me to was the laundry room again to show a bigger white board that listed daily and weekly chores. The daily chores consisted of cleaning our rooms and vacuuming each week Stephanie and I would switch out cleaning and vacuuming the dining room or cleaning the bathrooms. Those chores were everyday after breakfast. The weekly chores would consist of a full clean of the kitchen, cleaning the van, and a full clean of living and dining room. Those chores would also be swapped every week between residents. The last thing we talked about were church times and bedtimes. For church Anthony' Jessica, Abbey, Stephanie, me and Anthony's children would go to church every Sunday and Wednesday AND WAS MANDATORY! Also Stephanie and I would go to classes every Tuesday to prepare for the baby. Mondays would be community service at the PHC. For bedtimes wake up is 8:00 am and bed times is at 9:00 pm but lights out at 10:00pm. She stated if I am late on any of these times I will have to pull from the jar. I nodded and understood. She showed me where I'll be sleeping. I climbed up the stairs and there was a long hallway with several rooms on each side. she gave me a room closest to the bathroom. I could see Stephanie's room across the hall. I walked in the room and it was huge I had a room all to myself like Stephanie did since we were then only two. But there were two beds with a significant amount of space between them. Further in then room was a closet which was also huge. to the right of the closet was a desk and chair. Each bed had a nightstand with an alarm clock and dresser. I loved the room. Abbey had also mentioned that I must clean my room every day and if its not up to standards I will have to pull from the jar. Abbey left me to unpack my things. When I opened my suitcase out of the corner of my eye I saw a pink piece of paper. I stood up to look at it I opened it and it read...Dearest woman and your unborn child, I know you do not know me but my heart cares for you and your precious child . I hope you will allow me to pray for you.... Dearest heavenly father, I pray this precious lady feels your loving arms around her. Lord if she does not know you as her savior, I pray she will open her heart up to you. Help her feel your awesome love and forgiveness. May you guide her as she raises this miracle you blessed her with. Provide her with family and friends to love her and share your truth with. Dearest Jesus, thank you for your gift of salvation, In Jesus name Amen. I put the letter down wondering who it could be from. Along with the letter there was a basket full of hygiene products. Suave shampoo and conditioner, body wash, nail clippers and a nail file, a scrubby, and a note book I assume I could use as a diary. The next day I would begin my stay at Safe Haven.