Chapter 2
Skye spent some time in what was supposed to be her new room. Her new foster siblings had left to give her some time to adjust. Natasha’s words were ringing in her ears. Better than the best. Was that even possible? Maybe. Afterall Phil and Melinda had taken in three kids and adopted them. Did it matter? No. Skye had been sent by enough places to know that the problem was never the homes. It was her. She was what nuns called a problem child. It was not like Skye liked being a problem child. She tried really hard to be what the fosters wanted but always ended up doing something wrong. She was tired now. She just wanted to grow up and runaway. No fosters; no nuns; no trying to please anyone.
Skye sat on the bed. It was comfortable. Skye wondered what was expected from her in return for such a room. Perhaps they had a list of chores. She could cook. Not really but the food mostly turned out to be edible. So, what if she got a few burns or cuts. That was the least she could do for people who provided her with necessities. She shook herself out of these thoughts as she heard Melinda calling her for dinner. She left the room and retraced her steps back to the dining area.
Skye sat on one end of the table. Phil was sitting on the other one. To his right sat Melinda and to his left was Fitz. Bobbi was next to Fitz and Natasha next to Melinda. “I made some grilled cheese and tomato soup. I hope you like it, Skye,” Phil said. His eyes crinkled as he smiled. Skye felt reassured, as if everything was going to be alright. Skye smiled back at him but waited to take the food. She was not sure what were the rules regarding food at this place. Natasha gestured her to serve herself so taking her cue from that, she picked up the grilled cheese. It was superb. Skye could not remember eating something so delicious before.
Skye focused on the food. It was delicious and she was hungry. On the back of her mind, she wondered what was expected in return but tried not to focus on that thought. “Skye,” Leo spoke after a while. Skye looked at him in question. “Let me tell you the most important rule of this house.” Skye felt a dread in the pit of her stomach. Rules. Why on earth had she thought there wouldn’t be rules? She continued to look at him. “Mum is not allowed to cook,” Leo told her in all seriousness. Skye frowned. What kind of rule was that. “Unless it’s Chinese food,” he added.
“He is right,” Phil agreed. “Melinda has burned the kitchen more than once.”
“And she was just reheating the soup,” Natasha added.
“But…” Melinda glared everyone.
“But Mom knows the best takeout places so she is awesome,” Bobbi grinned. “Jokes apart, Dad’s the main chef at this place. If he isn’t at home, we usually get takeouts. Sometimes, Nat and I cook something or Mom makes some Chinese food.” Skye nodded in understanding.
“You are welcome to help in the kitchen but only if you want to,” Phil told her. Skye absorbed his words. He was telling her that she had a choice. “If cooking is not your thing, you don’t have to be anywhere near the stove.” Skye nodded again and focused on her food.
“Anyways,” Melinda gave everyone a look before looking at Skye, “We do have a few rules. You, like Leo, will have a bedtime on school nights. 10 PM seems fair?” Melinda looked at her and Leo in question. Leo nodded and Melinda turned her attention to Skye. She was expecting an answer. Skye nodded too without thinking much. It’s not like she was going to be spending a lot of time out of her room. Right? “On other nights, no bedtimes.”
“There will be chores,” Phil spoke this time. “Nothing much. Just setting the table or clearing it. Helping with cleaning and stuff.”
“If you want to have a friend over or want to go to friend’s place, we’ll need a day’s notice. In case of sleepovers, three days’ notice.” Skye nodded at Melinda. It’s not like she had friends to do that. Melinda looked at Phil. “Anything else?” she asked. Phil shook his head in negative. Skye frowned. That was all. She had to help with some stuff, needed to inform them if she wanted to have friends over and had a bedtime.
“What about school?” Skye couldn’t help but ask.
“We’ll go on Monday, get you enrolled. You will start when session starts,” Phil told her with a smile. That was not what she meant.
“No. I meant like isn’t there some rule about grades or something?”
“We just want you to do your best, kiddo,” Phil said.
Skye ignored the warmth that spread in her body when he called her kiddo. “What if my best is C minus?”
“It’s better that D. Isn’t it?” Phil asked. He sounded amused.
“If you need help with school work, just tell us and we’ll figure something out. All we need you to do is your best. Not anyone else’s,” Melinda said. Her tone told Skye that she was serious. Skye nodded but found it difficult to believe. She focused on her food. Her stomach was full and her plate was almost empty. Skye looked around the kitchen and noted, with delight, that the cabinets weren’t locked.
Bobbi cleared her throat as the dinner ended. “I like to know where everyone is. Like just make sure you tell me if you are going to be at a friend’s place or something. Not knowing brings back some bad memories.” Skye nodded in understanding. She could do that.
“Don’t call me Leopold,” Leo said. Skye frowned.
“Why would I call you…that?”
“It’s supposed to be my full name but no one uses it.” She nodded. She understood not liking your name. Afterall, she didn’t like being called Mary Sue Poots.
“Don’t enter my room without knocking if the door is shut,” Natasha was next. “Unless I am having a nightmare. But even then, let Mama handle it.” Skye nodded.
“What about you, Skye?” Phil asked. “What are your rules?”
Skye frowned. “Rules?”
“Yes. Like these three told you theirs. Rules that make you feel comfortable. Safe.”
Skye was confused. She could have rules. Rules to feel comfortable and safe. She suddenly felt powerful. She could decide. Would they actually listen to her? Maybe. They didn’t seem like people who said and did two different things. Rules. Skye wondered if she could tell them that she didn’t like being touched. But that sounded weird and it was not entirely true. Maybe she could have the same rule as Natasha. “Entering my room after knocking seems fine,” she said, trying to act nonchalant. She was pleased when everyone nodded seriously.
Skye helped Natasha in clearing the table and in doing the dishes. Everyone else had gone to the den. “Thanks,” Natasha said as they finished their task. “We usually do it in pairs. Makes the task easier.”
“So whose turn was today?” Skye asked, grinning.
“Today is Saturday, right? Leo and me. But I think Dad would make different groups now.”
Skye nodded but didn’t say anything. She was feeling a lot confused right now. Everything was too much. Phil and Melinda were weird. Their rules were weirder. Instead of joining them for the board games, Skye asked to be excused for the night. After ensuring them that she was fine and didn’t need something, she went to her room. Melinda had told her that she’d check in before going to bed. Skye wondered what that meant. She unpacked and stuffed her clothes in the dresser. The bundle of papers was stuffed in with them. Her drawing copy and pencils ended up on the desk. She looked at them for a while, itching to hold them and draw something. Contemplating for a while, she decided to give in to the urge. She opened a fresh page and busied herself.
Skye was taken by surprise when she heard a knock on the door. She had been really engrossed. She quickly transferred the pencil to her right hand and softly called out for whoever it was to come in. Melinda entered the room, a small smile on her lips. “Hey,” Melinda said, moving further into the room, “You have unpacked?” Skye nodded in response. Melinda opened her mouth to say something but her eyes fell on Skye’s drawing and she stopped. She walked to stand beside Skye’s chair and focused on the drawing. “You made this right now?” she asked. Skye nodded again. “It’s beautiful,” she whispered.
“It’s not complete yet,” Skye said shyly. She focused on the drawing. She had been making a house. A cottage type house. It was almost done. She had already made the outlines for the mountains in the background. She planned to add trees and maybe people too. Maybe a dog.
“I can’t wait to see it when it’s completed,” Melinda said. Skye felt warmth spread over herself when she heard the words. Hardly anyone had ever said that or taken interest. “I would love to see the rest of them if you don’t mind,” Melinda said. She waited till Skye gave her a nod before flipping through the pages of the notebook. Flipping was the wrong word perhaps. Melinda paid attention at every page and hummed appreciatively. It was mostly scenery, although once in a while, Skye had drawn an animal too. And people. “This is wonderful, Skye. Have you thought about choosing arts as your elective in school?”
Skye had. But while she enjoyed sketching, she liked computers more. And most fosters had enrolled her for an additional language. She told that to her foster mother who shook her head. “If you want to study arts, then that is what you will study,” she told her. Skye couldn’t stop herself from smiling. It felt good to know that her choice mattered. “Shall I tell you tomorrow’s plan?” Melinda asked. Skye nodded and on Melinda’s beckoning, joined her on the bed. They sat side by side and Skye made sure to remain perfectly still. “We will be going to the mall tomorrow,” Melinda began and Skye couldn’t help but look at her in surprise. “We need to get you school supplies and perhaps some new clothes.”
“You don’t have to. You don’t need to waste your money or time on me,” Skye told her.
“Skye,” Melinda’s voice was sad. Skye wondered if she had offended her. “Skye. Phil and I. We made a commitment to you when we brought you home. To keep you safe and happy and content. And to make sure you have everything you need. And maybe the things you want too. Any time or money we spend on you, with you, is not wasted.” Skye bowed her head. Not even a full day, and she had already managed to offend these people. “Please look at me sweetheart.” Skye looked at Melinda immediately, mostly because she was surprised at the endearment. “I know this is a new place and I promise you; we’ll take things as slow as we need to. Hmm?” Skye nodded. “We are so grateful that you came home with us. Thank you.” Skye looked at the woman in wonder. Shouldn’t it be opposite? Shouldn’t Skye be the one thanking them for bringing her home? “Are you alright with the shopping trip tomorrow? Or do you want to push it for a few days?”
Skye thought about it. It seemed to her that she couldn’t avoid the shopping trip. Best get done with is as soon as possible. “Tomorrow is fine,” she said with a small smile.
“Bobbi and Tasha have both expressed interest in joining the two of us. Would that be okay with you?” Skye nodded. With those two, Melinda’s sole attention won’t be on Skye. Melinda smiled gently and Skye suspected she could read her thoughts. “Are you going to finish your drawing now?” Melinda asked.
“No. It will take a lot of time and my hand was starting to cramp. I’ll finish it some other time,” Skye told her, making sure that she flexed her right hand and not the left one.
“Do you need something for your hand?” Melinda asked in concern.
“No. No. It’s not actually hurting. Just. I had been drawing for over an hour so…”
“An hour? Wow. I never realised how much effort it took. Will you show it me after you work on it again?” Melinda asked. Skye nodded.
“In that case, goodnight kiddo.” Melinda got up and for a moment, Skye thought she was going to say something. Instead, Melinda gave her a gentle smile and opened the door. She waited for a few seconds before Phil come and stood in the doorway. He too wished her a good night and gave her a huge grin. They both walked out of the room after that. Skye got up from the bed and quickly went to the hall bathroom. She brushed her teeth and changed into her night clothes – a big t-shirt and shorts. She went back to her room immediately locked the door. She pulled the chair from the desk and put it under the knob. Better safe than sorry.
Skye climbed into her bed and closed her eyes. She listened for sounds outside her room but couldn’t hear anything. No footsteps approached her room; no one tried to enter the room. Soon the tiredness of the day caught up with her and before she realized, Skye was asleep.
When Skye woke up next morning, she found her room illuminated by the morning sun. She had slept well. Stretching out her limbs, she pushed aside the comforter and climbed out of the bed. She quickly pulled out fresh clothes from the dresser and walked out of her room. The hallway was silent. She could hear someone moving around downstairs. Hopefully, they wouldn’t mind her getting up this early.
Once she was dressed and her hairs were brushed, Skye tip-toed downstairs. She hoped she wasn’t breaking some unwritten rule of the house. Phil and Melinda had not mentioned anything about the time she was supposed to get up. She followed the noise and found herself standing outside the kitchen. Phil was inside and was involved in cooking. Skye paused for a bit. She didn’t want to be alone with him. But the smell that reached her nostrils was intoxicating. She was caught between her fear and curiosity but before she could decide, Phil noticed her. “Good morning, kiddo.” He gave her wide grin and Skye found herself smiling at him.
“Good morning,” she wished him back. “What are you making?”
“Pancakes,” he said with a grin. “Wanna help?” Skye hesitated. She didn’t mind helping in the kitchen but the idea of being close to Phil seemed scary. Phil must have noticed her predicament as he immediately found an easier task. “Why don’t you choose what drink you want with breakfast? There should be milk, orange juice and chocolate milk? Just check the fridge.” Skye entered the kitchen and opened the fridge. She quickly found the chocolate milk and pulled it out. “How did you sleep, kiddo?” Phil asked her.
“Fine. Thank you for the room.”
“You don’t have to thank us for that, Skye,” Phil said with a sad smile. Skye lowered her head. Why did she just make them sad all the time? “Do you mind setting the table, Skye? For three…,” he paused to look out of the kitchen, “For four. Bobbi’s up too. Morning Bobbi. Sleep well?”
“Morning Dad. And yes, I did,” Bobbi said, entering the room. She kissed her father on the cheek and Skye looked away. She pulled out four plates and started setting the table. Bobbi joined her with two glasses. She raised her hand and Skye high fived her. They grinned at each other. Phil carried pancakes to the table and Skye noticed they had chocolate chips in them. They looked delicious. “Morning short stuff,” Bobbi said, looking at the entrance. Skye followed her gaze and saw Melinda rolling her eyes. She was dressed in workout clothes.
“Morning Barbara,” Melinda smirked and Bobbi made a face. Skye laughed. Bobbi grinned at her while Melinda gave her warm smile. “Good morning, Skye.” Skye wished her back and nodded along with Bobbi when she asked if they had slept well. All four of them settled around the table. Skye sat next to Bobbi and across Melinda. Phil sat next to Melinda. Bobbi poured chocolate milk for both of them while Phil had opted for coffee. Melinda, Skye noticed, had chosen tea.
“What’s the plan for today, Mom?” Bobbi asked.
“Us girls are having a day out,” Melinda told her. “Shopping and then we’ll have lunch outside.”
“Brilliant,” Bobbi grinned.
“What about you, Phil? And Leo?” Skye asked.
“We’ll probably spend our time building Lego and stuff,” Phil smiled. “If he gets up before you people are back. That boy really loves his sleep.”
“Yeah,” Bobbi nodded. “You are a morning person, Skye?” Skye nodded. She liked getting up early in the morning. “Cool. Both Tasha and Leo enjoy sleeping till late. Now I will have company in the morning.”
Skye smiled.