Oh...Those Hot Lazy Days of Summer

From day one, Imari Rhodes had been abandoned at the hospital, father whereabouts unknown and the mother in Rehab. Foster parents had been caring for this baby girl since she was born and the mother had smoked crack through the first six months of the pregnancy causing the baby to be born weighing only two pounds. The delivery was performed by cesarean eight weeks early. Now she’s a healthy four years old. The father has re-appeared fighting for his rights to take the little girl back. His attorney, Kyle Schuller carried on and on about how his client had turned over a new leaf with his live-in girlfriend.

Sheila would repeat her argument over and over again in her mind, "Where was he four years ago when Imari was unable to suck or swallow and had to be fed through a tube threaded through her nose and esophagus into her stomach. He knew then that she was crack-exposed when he left her at the hospital in an incubator-ventilator, in premature condition, when her liver and lungs were not developed. Why did he leave her? You want to know why he left her? I’ll tell you why he left her. He knew that when he brought her home that he wouldn’t be able to deal with the monitor, feedings, medication and crying. Would he go so far as to rub cocaine on her gums, if she wouldn’t stop crying?"

"Objection!"

"Overruled."

"I would like to emphasize to this court that despite the father’s positive situation, this child, Imari Rhodes, should not be uprooted, all of a sudden, and put in the hands of a complete stranger."

"Objection!"

"I will allow it. One more outburst and I will hold you in contempt of court! Proceed Counselor," said Judge Trudy after hitting the gavel.

"I state again, Imari Rhodes, now four years of age is ready to embark upon pre-kindergarten which will be followed by those crucial grammar school years to come and let me make this clear," Sheila stated as she took on a hand-on-the-hip stance, "This would not have been made possible if it were not for the sacrifice of those two people sitting right over here," then pointed to her left. "Imari has developed very healthily with the despicable odds that were stacked up against her. Do you want to know why? I’ll tell you why, in case there’s any doubt in your mind, this was all due to having a safe atmosphere, happy home and stable environment! In many cases, once a child is abruptly moved from his or her normal condition and standard of living, they are plagued with innumerable psychological and behavioral problems. Children are either sexually abused, malnourished or both. Statistics confirm that thirty-three percent of foster children are awarded back to the biological parents only to become . . . "

"Objection, your Honor!"

"Sustained."

Sheila stood still with her eyes looking upward for a split second and sighed at Attorney Schuller, "Eighty-five percent of drug-exposed children remain living with the foster parents, because twelve-thousand babies were abandoned last year alone, ten thousand were left beyond the medical discharge time, two-thirds African-American! Jurors, hear me, not only did the county pay for the two-thousand dollars per day medical expense, you did and when this foster mother and father of Imari Rhodes asked me what will be the outcome, I had to respond, no one knows."

"Objection . . . She’s leading the . . . "

"Counsel, approach the bench."

After being briefed by Judge Trudy, she asked, "Are you finished Attorney Marvin?"

"Just a few more questions I’d like to leave with this court, your Honor. Sheila envisioned leaning over with one hand firm on the table and the other one on her hip, looking one male juror square in his face, without a blink. I’d like to see Attorney Schuller tell the court if his client is employed, if so, with whom and his tenure and last but not least why were the adoption proceedings never contested last year?"

Attorney Schuller shouted, "My client has been out of town!"

"Order in the court." Bang. Bang.

"Your Honor, a placement at this stage should be irrevocable."

"This is an outrage!"

Bang. Bang. "Order in the court."

" I rest my case."

Oh, what a battle, Sheila thought and a spooky one at that. She later dreamed that her mother abandoned her at the hospital and her father came back to claim her only to keep her hostage. She couldn’t escape. Perspiring when she was awakened by her coo-coo alarm clock, tasting the salty moisture that secreted her forehead and dripped to her nose, then to her mouth, she panted for breath, while the radio blared, "It’s six o’clock, coo-coo, it’s six o’clock!"

What’s today? Sheila wondered as she glanced at her poster calendar hanging on the wall. I sure could use that picnic, but I also need to stay home and relax. People don’t realize that these holidays are literally your days off and if you spend them running around, you’re tired all over again, defeating the whole purpose. I just want to finish my book, that Donna Hill is tough, one more chapter to go. I’ll call Leslie, she’ll understand. Or should I go and just leave early? Sheila plopped her head back down on the pillow as she questioned her own mind. I always forget to turn that alarm off on these long weekends. It sure would be nice if I had an escort . . .