Chapter 6
Jaina refused to go to school for two days. She stayed in her room. Everyone left her alone. They knew she needed space.
She would have stayed in the room longer if not for a small girl. Justice slammed the door open on the third day.
“You're supposed to knock,” Jaina informed the younger girl.
Justice had never spoken to Jaina. She didn't understand Justice’s selective mutism, but she knew it was very real.
Now, though, Justice spoke and she made it clear she was angry. “You are being a brat! Get dressed and go to school!"
Jaina gaped. For Justice that was a speech! “I CAN'T" Jaina cried. "It’s like you and talking. Every time I think about school, I can't move."
Justice tried to reply, but she'd used up her anger on what she'd already said. Frustrated, she left and returned with a pad of paper and a pen. She scribbled and handed the pad over. “GET MAD!” was written on it
“Is that how you managed to talk to me, you got mad?”
Justice nodded yes, then wrote: "GO! TO! SCHOOL!"
So Jaina went to school. Dr. Oliver was absent, which made it easier. She ate lunch with Clark and Lucas, and managed a smile when Lucas told a joke.
Technically, Jaina was still on half-days since she was supposed to return to Raven House for lessons in power control. She had been given permission, however, to attend advanced art after lunch. She has been sketching the figure from her nightmares. It wasn't going well.
She was staring at it gloomily when she was called to the office. Jaina went willingly. She needed a break. When she got to the office, she wasn't happy to see who was waiting
Tommy, Kat and JJ sat in chairs in the outer office. Mrs. Thunderstone was there along with a guy who was obviously a social worker. Jaina folded her arms. “Now what?"
Tommy handed her a card, which she opened slowly. "Will you Join our family?" Tears sprang to her eyes and she fling the card down. “Stop! Just stop!”
Tommy caught her arm before she could run. “I know you're scared and I don’t blame you for being scared. You’ve known nothing but unhappiness. Please let us change that! Give us a chance.”
Jaina looked at him with eyes glassy with unshed tears. “You say that NOW. You SAY you want me, but the moment there’s a fire you’re gonna get rid of me.” Now the tears came trailing down her cheeks. “Stop... just stop. Please.”
Tommy looked helplessly around the room and didn’t know what to say. Kat looked helpless as well. It was thirteen year old JJ who finally answered. “Our house is a mess cause Dad’s having sprinkler systems installed and we bought a ton of fire extinguishers, two for every room. Your room’s a mess right now cause its having stuff put in so you can’t start fires in it.” JJ stood and walked over to the crying girl.
JJ wrapped arms around Jaina and pulled her into a hug, and for a minute Jaina just froze. Tommy wondered silently how long it had been since she had been hugged. Slowly, he put his arms around his son and the girl he wanted for a daughter.
“We don’t have a lot. But we have our love,” Kat said softly. “There’s nothing else we can give you.”
Jaina looked at her. “Well, I suppose. As long as I can go back to Raven House when you throw me out. Just don’t throw me out on the streets.”
Tommy held her tighter. “No, no streets.”