MINI-STORIES FOR THE YOUNG AND NOT SO YOUNG Cindy Wills, age six, lived in a foster home called Union House connected with a Nurturing Circle called Union Joy. When she came to Union House from the hospital, where she was treated for multiple fractures and cigarette burns, Cindy was badly traumatized. She spoke to no one, cowering in corners, and barely ate, even though she was all skin and bones. Cindy was not very pretty and she had a scar on her forehead. However, there were always people from the Nurturing Circle visiting Union House, playing with the children, bringing them small presents once a month, and bigger ones on special occasions, reading to or with them, singing and playing instruments. Adele and Roger Simpson, an especially pleasant elderly couple noticed Cindy and decided to “adopt” her. They spoke to her in quiet, friendly tones and for a first present brought her a beautiful little baby doll. Cindy looked at them, not saying a word, but tears started in her eyes and she began to cry. Adele gathered her to her bosom and rocked, whispering, “You are a sweet little girl and you will be starting to feel better soon. We love you very much, and we'll be coming back often. Next time we will read you a story and bring you some candy.” Then she put Cindy down for a nap, saying “You can call us “Grandma” and “Grandpa” Simpson if you like. Cindy held Adele's hand and fell asleep. The next time the Simpsons brought Cindy the promised candies. They were low-sugar jellies to protect her teeth. Roger read Cindy one of the Winnie-the-Pooh stories. She listened attentively but hardly spoke at all. Yet she cuddled to Adele and let herself be rocked. The Simpsons reminded her to call them “Grandma” and “Grandpa”. The bi-weekly visits continued and gradually, gradually Cindy showed some improvement. She began to cuddle her doll, and take interest in other toys at Union House. She greeted the Simpsons with obvious happiness. She loved to hear the stories they read to her. She was still reticent but she began to talk to another quiet girl named Ella. When she was read the Cinderella story she wept for Cinderella when she was mistreated by her step-mother and step-sisters, but got excited when she married the prince. To the Simpsons' amazement she asked them to call her Cinderella. Her contacts with other children increased. The Simpsons brought her a tablet of art paper and colored pencils and markers. The next time they saw her she was busy drawing and they found her work astonishing. They praised her and showed her pictures to others. From that time her appetite improved and she appeared more relaxed. She also became much more sociable. Grandpa and Grandma Simpson next gave her a notebook, pencils, a primer, and showed her the letter blocks in the playroom. Soon she and Ella were writing simple stories of their own. The staff and other Circle members were delighted with their progress. By the time her eighth birthday arrived, Cindy was busy, enterprising, and giving every indication of a positive adjustment to the Union House community and her schooling. But her attachment to the Simpsons was her mainstay and her strength. She loved them most of all the people she knew. It was evident that this would last into adulthood. Her dark days of traumatic pain were behind her. |