GoT Work of the unbroken

Uplifting Story Prompt for House of Black & White/1752 words

Uplifting story!
A social worker attends a home only to find the young girl caring for her care giver. She in under fed and dirty with emotional issues. The social worker tries to find her a way out. Events bring her back.

Abigail

Samantha Thorn gathered her notes on her next case. As she read about Abigail Csontos she already had palpitations. This poor little thing was left with no parents after a car accident and placed in the system. After absorbing the sadness she knew this was her job and there was nothing she could do but keep an eye on her. A deep sigh, Sam reached for her car keys and grabbed her brief case.

It was so hot and the air conditioning in her car wasn't working. Samantha turned on the radio and with the windows down, she drove down the dirt roads, an unbeaten path to the residence of Mrs. Florence Beets. Now this woman was no lovey dove of a lady. She did what she needed to do for the children she took in but nothing above that. Samantha didn't have great expectations as she drove into the drive way but she didn't expect to see what she did. This wasn't even a house! It was a run down trailer! How could the system place these children is such places?

She turned off the ignition and sat, finishing her cigarette. She watched a little girl no taller than four feet, under weight as the shirt she wore looked more like a dress. Her hair wasn't combed and she looked so sad. Great this was not going to be an easy day.

“Hello? You must be Abigail. My name is Samantha. It's pretty hot out here isn't it?”

“Yeah, it hot.” Abigail didn't even lift her head. She was twining string into a ball.

“What do you have there?”

“It's just string. I can have string can't I?” She looked up and squinted against the hot sun.

“Of course you can have string sweetheart. I just thought maybe you were making something with it.”

“No, Beets is in bed and told me to be quiet.”

“Mrs. Beets you mean.”

“She told me to call her that. She doesn't like the Mrs. Because there is no Mr.. That's what she said.”

“Is she sick?”

“I think so. I dunno.”

“Okay. Listen why don't you go and play in the shade. I will go in and see if she is okay.”

Samantha walked into the trailer and had to hold her breath. The stench of garbage mixed with the heat was gut wrenching. Fly tapes hanging from the ceiling which she batted away so she could get through.

“Hello? Mrs. Beets? It's Social Services. Here for a monthly check in.”

Before she could go into her bedroom space, the older worn out woman came out to meet her.

“Sorry I wasn't outside. It is just way too hot for someone like me.”

“Yes, well I have to say it is hot. No air conditioner?”

“Sure you want to buy me one? Do I look like I have money for that? You people don't give us much and I have to feed the kids?”

“How many kids do you have, because I only have Abigail in my reports.”

“Yeah sorry. I meant that. She is a big eater that little one.”

Samantha started to look around and noticed there had to be other children. Between the dishes and clothes and toys, she had made up her mind that Abigail was probably giving her share of things to other children.

“How is Abigail doing Mrs. Beets?”

“Oh well, she is a handful, but I think she is going to be fine. Tragic what happened to her parents. I keep her busy.”

I bet you do! “Listen why don't we call her in and we can sit and talk.”
“Sure if that's what you want.”
Beets walked to the door,” ABIGAIL git in here!”

Abigail sauntered into the trailer, sweating. “Can I have a drink please?”

Samantha looked over at Beets and saw she was irritated. “Of course you can. Mrs. Beets would you mind getting Abigail a drink of juice?”

“We can only have water Miss. There is no juice. Beets needs the juice cause she is sick. Right Beets?”

Beets stared at Abigail as though she would swat her one, but she forced a smile, “That's okay little one. You can have the juice. I'm okay now.”

“What's wrong with you if you don't mind me asking?”

“Oh-diabetic, you know. I get right tired and sickly. Sometimes I need more juice than usual.”

Once the meeting was done and Samantha was satisfied that Abigail wasn't in great danger, she had Beets sign her statement and said her good-byes. Abigail didn't seem distraught, she was more going with the flow of things. Could be how she is coping, but Samantha knew in her heart that this child would not thrive in this home. She would have to work fast.

Beets was a hard woman, but she meant well. She really wanted to love the children she had in her home but the truth was she needed them to care for her. She was an alcoholic and it was easy to hide from the authorities. They just didn't visit her enough. It had been some time and Samantha never came back. It could have been a year before anyone else would take upon themselves to check in.
Abigail had to toughen up and that is what she did. She became a ten year old that ruled the trailer.

“C'mon guys we have to help Beets. She's too tired and needs to sleep off her juice. Help me with the dishes and clean up. If you don't we could be taken from Beets and then what would she do?'

Even though Beets was grouchy and showed zero affection, Abigail seemed to have connected with her. She wanted to care for her. It was sad that a ten year old would want such a job but she nurtured even the other children. The other kids were a couple that neighbors would drop off to be babysat by Beets for extra money.

Time went on and soon enough Abigail was sixteen. She loved the trailer and made it as homey as she could. Beets was still on the booze but Abigail tries to keep the booze away. Even if it's a fight, Abigail is happy enough to argue to keep Beets sober if just for a day. It was coming time that Abigail would have to move in order to go to attend high school. The bigger part of her didn't want to leave she wanted to stay and care for the only person she knew. She tried to imagine her parents but her memories became foggy and soon left all together.

Once Abigail was settled in her new foster home and well into the first year of high school she started her life. New friends, a boyfriend, a new love for school. She didn't realize how much she missed people, dressing up, eating at the dinner table. It all seemed foreign at one time but it didn't take her long before she would fit in.

During the summer break, Abigail wanted to visit Beets. She felt a yearning to sit at the trailer. So her Foster Parents drove her to that horrid place. They were appalled to know that Abby spent a good part of her life in this deserted area of the Province. There were no children running around and the trailer was empty. Everything was still in it, right down to a couple of drawing Abby drew herself. She walked to the closest neighbour and asked if they knew of her where a bouts. They told her she was taken to the hospital shortly after Abby left and hasn't been back.

Abigail was persistent in finding out what happened to Beets. She checked hospitals and homeless shelters but there was nothing. Nothing to tell her she was dead or alive.

As time passes Abigail found herself just thinking about Beets every so often. Then the day she was sitting in a cafe she was staring out the window waiting for her boyfriend. That's where she saw her. Beets! She was sitting across the street, wrapped in a blanket on a bench.

“Beets! What on earth are you doing out here in the cold?”

Beets didn't answer. She stared at Abigail as though she were a stranger.
“Let's go. Come on we are going to get you inside.”

“I can't walk. My feet hurt.”

Abigail lifted the blanket off of her lap and peered at her boots. They had holes in them and she could see blood.

“Okay, we will wait for Thomas and get you somewhere warm.”

“Do I know you? I don't know you.” Beets looked worn out. Abigail couldn't help but tear up at the sight of her.

Once Thomas showed up they took Beets and brought her back to Abigail's foster home. Her parents were shocked. “Why on earth would you want her here Abby? After everything she put you through? She belongs out there.”

Abigail was shocked and realized that her foster parents needed to be taught what humanity was.

“You know something, I had it rough with Beets but she taught me to stand up for myself and become independent. Do you honestly think she chose this life? She brought me to you guys, the least you can do is give her some dignity. Help her out and get her on her feet. If you won't do that then I will on my own.”

Both parents looked at each other and were left speechless. They took her to a warm bath, changed her clothes and realized that she needed a doctor.

As sad as it was, Beets had to have both feet amputated and then placed in a home. She had no money, but Abby worked through school and started a fund for the woman. She became an advocate for the homeless and medical attention. Abigail became a social worker for the elderly. A job she cherished. Beets never did remember her. Her mind was gone due to alcohol. That was okay, Abby still went to sit with her and read to her. She knew this was how things should be. Gifts come in all sizes and sometimes we have to look through the haze to see the light.