Bonnie Murdock (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
is_the_motion) wrote2015-05-16 09:30 pm
is_the_motion) wrote2015-05-16 09:30 pm
(no subject)
It was just meant to be a quick social call, just to check whether Terry was okay, to reassure John that the child he left behind was safe.
Bonnie and Lucy know they have to tread carefully. Terry apparently has a long term placement lined up; and Bonnie, knowing the system, knows that's a really big chance. The chances of being permanently adopted drop significantly with age, and once the kids get to middle school age, their chances are very poor indeed.
She recognises the property when she arrives; a large group home run by an ex-military couple, who have been in fostering even longer than she has. This is temporary care, for kids who can't be kept in the orphanage she usually goes to for one reason or another. On this occasion, it seems Terry is being kept with the Evans Brothers, as a last chance for them all to be together.
On the way to the office, they round a corner, and discover two boys, of very similar appearance, blocking their path.
"Mrs and Miss Murdock, I assume." the marginally taller of the two boys says, inspecting the two ladies.
"Sure are." Bonnie grins at the boy. "And you're too old to be Terry, so I'm guessin' yer the Evans brothers." she glances between the two of them. "And you're not twins, and it annoys you when people assume you are?"
"She's good." the taller boy smiles slightly.
"And he's the older one." Bonnie adds, nodding at the shorter of the two. "Bet you two get mixed up all the time though. What can we do for you fine gentlemen?"
The two boys sidetrack Bonnie and Lucy into a sitting room.
"He's Ted, I'm Stuart, and yes, I'm the younger one." Stuart says. "How did you know?"
"Lucky guess." Bonnie grins.
"Anyhow, we know you aren't acquainted with Terry." Stuart says. "So what is the purpose of your endeavours?"
"Terry's dad, John, is one of my boys." Bonnie says. "I was a foster carer many years ago, and John and his brother Alvin lived with me after their folks were killed in the war. John is in trouble now, he's lookin' at a long prison sentence. He asked me to check he was okay."
"You're Aunt Bonnie? You're still a foster carer?" Ted asks.
"I used to be." Bonnie says. "I'm not cleared to go back yet, so I'm not goin' to interfere with Terry."
"Look, let me come to the point." Stuart says. "Terry isn't the one facing an existential crisis, we are. We are the ones in purgatory, on the proverbial scrapheap."
Bonnie bites her lip to stop herself asking whether Stuart always talks that way, or whether he's simply trying to impress them with his vocabulary. Too soon to tease.
"Just hear us out." Ted closes the door.
Stuart, as is customary in their world*, bursts into song.
"Please hear me, oh Aunt Bonnie
We've no opportunities
Rumours abound but we're really quite sound
What awesome sons we'd be!"
"I admit we robbed a few." Ted cuts in.
We did what we got to do,
When you've no food you have got to be rude,
And you'd have done it too!"
"We won't drink, or swear."
"Much."
"We won't shave our hair."
"Much."
"We won't even nab cigarettes."
"We must finish high school so we need not be cruel.
We're a choice you won't never regret!"
As they are about to go back into their chorus, the door bursts open, and a small girl with scruffy blonde hair marches into the room and starts to pummel Stuart.
"You fuckin' meanies!" she yells. "You cain't have Murdock without me!"
She turns round to the startled Bonnie and Lucy.
"Cut my hair, or shorts for me,
I'll be the best boy I can be,
Just give me a chance, I won't lead you a dance,
Come on, great Aunt Bonnie!"
Bonnie blinks at the angry little girl, then grins.
"You must be Terry. It's nice to meet you." then her grin fades somewhat. "But we cain't promise anyone a home yet, I'm on probation."
"Why?" Terry asks, tilting her head at them.
"Well... I lost my husband, and I didn't tell the social when I took my youngest." Bonnie says.
"How can you lose a husband, cain't he read maps?" Terry asks.
"She means he died, stupid." Ted says.
"Oh. Well did you tell them now?" Terry asks.
"I did indeed." Bonnie says.
"Well there you go then." Terry says. "We can all go home with you."
"Terry, you are not ruining this for us!" Ted says. "You have a placement, they're not going to take all three of us. Nobody takes threes."
"Terry, you're going to be inhabiting a mansion with a swimming pool and your own equestrian activities." Stuart says. "They're nice people, even if they do want you to stop swearing before you go there."
"They're goin' ter send me to posh school." Terry wails. "Can you see me learnin' electrocution and deportation?"
"Elocution and deportment." Stuart corrects.
"Okay." Bonnie holds up her hands. "Firstly, I cain't take anyone until I'm off probation. Secondly, Terry, I definitely cain't take you, because you have a placement. Thirdly, even if I am cleared, I ain't taking anyone without a proper interview and a look at yer files, and a discussion with Lucy. I got to make sure I'm actually the right person fer you. Ain't like bringin' home a puppy..."
The boys nod, with the sage look of conviction that she will be won over.
"I heard you thought I was a boy. Terry's a girl's name too, you know." Terry scolds, slipping her hand through Bonnie's, and taking Lucy's with her other hand.
"Yer father didn't specify." Bonnie says, apologetically. "And I assumed, I'm sorry."
"Should I call you Great Auntie Bonnie or Grandma?"
"Aunt Bonnie is fine."
[*And should, in the mun's opinion, be customary in every world]
Bonnie and Lucy know they have to tread carefully. Terry apparently has a long term placement lined up; and Bonnie, knowing the system, knows that's a really big chance. The chances of being permanently adopted drop significantly with age, and once the kids get to middle school age, their chances are very poor indeed.
She recognises the property when she arrives; a large group home run by an ex-military couple, who have been in fostering even longer than she has. This is temporary care, for kids who can't be kept in the orphanage she usually goes to for one reason or another. On this occasion, it seems Terry is being kept with the Evans Brothers, as a last chance for them all to be together.
On the way to the office, they round a corner, and discover two boys, of very similar appearance, blocking their path.
"Mrs and Miss Murdock, I assume." the marginally taller of the two boys says, inspecting the two ladies.
"Sure are." Bonnie grins at the boy. "And you're too old to be Terry, so I'm guessin' yer the Evans brothers." she glances between the two of them. "And you're not twins, and it annoys you when people assume you are?"
"She's good." the taller boy smiles slightly.
"And he's the older one." Bonnie adds, nodding at the shorter of the two. "Bet you two get mixed up all the time though. What can we do for you fine gentlemen?"
The two boys sidetrack Bonnie and Lucy into a sitting room.
"He's Ted, I'm Stuart, and yes, I'm the younger one." Stuart says. "How did you know?"
"Lucky guess." Bonnie grins.
"Anyhow, we know you aren't acquainted with Terry." Stuart says. "So what is the purpose of your endeavours?"
"Terry's dad, John, is one of my boys." Bonnie says. "I was a foster carer many years ago, and John and his brother Alvin lived with me after their folks were killed in the war. John is in trouble now, he's lookin' at a long prison sentence. He asked me to check he was okay."
"You're Aunt Bonnie? You're still a foster carer?" Ted asks.
"I used to be." Bonnie says. "I'm not cleared to go back yet, so I'm not goin' to interfere with Terry."
"Look, let me come to the point." Stuart says. "Terry isn't the one facing an existential crisis, we are. We are the ones in purgatory, on the proverbial scrapheap."
Bonnie bites her lip to stop herself asking whether Stuart always talks that way, or whether he's simply trying to impress them with his vocabulary. Too soon to tease.
"Just hear us out." Ted closes the door.
Stuart, as is customary in their world*, bursts into song.
"Please hear me, oh Aunt Bonnie
We've no opportunities
Rumours abound but we're really quite sound
What awesome sons we'd be!"
"I admit we robbed a few." Ted cuts in.
We did what we got to do,
When you've no food you have got to be rude,
And you'd have done it too!"
"We won't drink, or swear."
"Much."
"We won't shave our hair."
"Much."
"We won't even nab cigarettes."
"We must finish high school so we need not be cruel.
We're a choice you won't never regret!"
As they are about to go back into their chorus, the door bursts open, and a small girl with scruffy blonde hair marches into the room and starts to pummel Stuart.
"You fuckin' meanies!" she yells. "You cain't have Murdock without me!"
She turns round to the startled Bonnie and Lucy.
"Cut my hair, or shorts for me,
I'll be the best boy I can be,
Just give me a chance, I won't lead you a dance,
Come on, great Aunt Bonnie!"
Bonnie blinks at the angry little girl, then grins.
"You must be Terry. It's nice to meet you." then her grin fades somewhat. "But we cain't promise anyone a home yet, I'm on probation."
"Why?" Terry asks, tilting her head at them.
"Well... I lost my husband, and I didn't tell the social when I took my youngest." Bonnie says.
"How can you lose a husband, cain't he read maps?" Terry asks.
"She means he died, stupid." Ted says.
"Oh. Well did you tell them now?" Terry asks.
"I did indeed." Bonnie says.
"Well there you go then." Terry says. "We can all go home with you."
"Terry, you are not ruining this for us!" Ted says. "You have a placement, they're not going to take all three of us. Nobody takes threes."
"Terry, you're going to be inhabiting a mansion with a swimming pool and your own equestrian activities." Stuart says. "They're nice people, even if they do want you to stop swearing before you go there."
"They're goin' ter send me to posh school." Terry wails. "Can you see me learnin' electrocution and deportation?"
"Elocution and deportment." Stuart corrects.
"Okay." Bonnie holds up her hands. "Firstly, I cain't take anyone until I'm off probation. Secondly, Terry, I definitely cain't take you, because you have a placement. Thirdly, even if I am cleared, I ain't taking anyone without a proper interview and a look at yer files, and a discussion with Lucy. I got to make sure I'm actually the right person fer you. Ain't like bringin' home a puppy..."
The boys nod, with the sage look of conviction that she will be won over.
"I heard you thought I was a boy. Terry's a girl's name too, you know." Terry scolds, slipping her hand through Bonnie's, and taking Lucy's with her other hand.
"Yer father didn't specify." Bonnie says, apologetically. "And I assumed, I'm sorry."
"Should I call you Great Auntie Bonnie or Grandma?"
"Aunt Bonnie is fine."
[*And should, in the mun's opinion, be customary in every world]