Chapter 2: A Difficult Case

Social worker Amara Kumar looked at the six orphans seated with her at their kitchen table. Unhappily, she was tasked by the judge with perhaps the most difficult case of her career. The children (she couldn’t bring herself to use the word “clients”) ranged from age 8 to 17, both boys and girls. On their faces, she saw their emotions were all over the map, and she understood.

“Whatever I tell them, someone will be unhappy. This is awful.”

Carla and Oliver were the recently deceased parents of these children. Years ago, Carla was widowed when her husband died of sepsis, leaving her to raise their three children on her own. Oliver’s history was also one of single parenthood. He had been abandoned by his wife, Deanne, after she delivered their third child. Her only explanation: “I can’t do this anymore!” After that, Oliver had only very intermittent contact with her as (apparently) she flitted from state to state working odd jobs. At no point did she make any more than cursory inquiries about her children.

Amara knew what she was going to tell the six orphans.

“I’m going to level with you. The judge said he will abide by whatever I tell him. He’ll put through the orders and paperwork for your family. I REFUSE to break you up and put you younger kids into the system, into foster homes.

“Andrew and Leah, you’re going to be legally emancipated, that means you move from being minors to full adult status. The judge will make that happen even though you are both now only 17 years old.

“You two are going to be appointed as joint legal and physical guardians of your four siblings. Functionally, you’ll be like a mom and dad. I don’t see any better way. It’s a huge responsibility to put on your shoulders. I won’t ask if you’re ready; that’s a foolish question.

“I can only ask, Leah and Andrew, are you willing?”

“It’s necessary, I can see that. Yes.”

Leah was in, so the focus moved to her brother.

“I’ve been left in charge before, like when Mom and Dad...”

Grief overcame him then, he put his head in his hands. Leah put her hand on his shoulder.

“It’s OK. Look, Andrew, you can ... I will help you. Count on me, we’ll work together. Say yes.”

With obvious effort he gained control of himself and looked the social worker in the eye.

“Yes.”

Relieved, Amara blew out her breath and went on to the next subject.

“Now I need to explain some practical matters with just the two of you. Your parents were both working and made decent money, so you will all receive a survivor’s insurance monthly benefit from Social Security. This will be hundreds of dollars directly deposited each month into your bank account. That will end for each of you as you reach 18.

“So, you will have some income to live on. But one of you two will have to get a job. And you have to keep up the mortgage payments so you all can stay in this house...”