I always believed that my sisters Faith, Hope and I would be together forever since we had a loving foster mother named Ms. Frankenstein. Once cold winter day, mother received a call that my sisters and I will always remember. Mother picked up the phone on the first ring as if she was expecting some news and said, “Hello.” The voice on the other end was that of a gentleman. “Yes, Ms. Frankenstein, this is Mr. Godfrey and I am the manager over the apartments.” Mother looked at the phone and put the phone closer to her ears. “Well Ms. Frankenstein, I know that we are approaching the holidays and it is rather cold outside, but we are going to have to give you your eviction notice effective today.” Mother swallowed hard and looked at all three of us as we could clearly hear the conversation between the two.

“Well, I have three kids and it is going to be hard for us to find a place to stay considering that we are from New York and this is North Carolina. “Look Ms. Frankenstein, I have three children of my own and I am just doing my job!” The gentleman then lowered his voice on the phone and told my mother that she may want to consider giving us back to the state. Mother hung up the phone and put her head in her hands and wept.

Hope, who is the eldest of the three, went over to mother and patted her on the back. Faith who is only 8 looked at mother and told her that she had an idea if we had to move out of the apartment. Mother knew to just ignore some of Faith’s suggestions because she had big ideas like living in trees and throwing a tent outside and using natural light. I looked at mother and asked with a worried look, “What are we going to do?” Mother looked at me and assured me that she would think of something to salvage this bad situation. All of a sudden, mother jumped to her feet and said, “I am going to talk to Pastor Money about our problem. Faith and Hope were not in view because they went to bed after the news. Mother and I walked two blocks in the snow to go see Pastor Money. “Pastor, Pastor!” I know mother called his name about 10 times and finally he said, “What a pleasant surprise children, you caught me while I was praying.” Pastor Money was sound asleep, but we did not say anything different because we needed help.

Pastor Money asked mother what brings her to the sanctuary on a Monday. Mother began to cry and Pastor Money handed her a Whataburger napkin before her first tear fell. The Pastor looked at mother and said, I would love to sit her all day and hear another sad story, but Pastor Money has to attend a workshop in Memphis.” My mother’s tears were uncontrollable at this time and the pastor handed her a dozen more napkins. “Pastor Money, I don’t have a husband and I lost the apartment and now my family is homeless.” Pastor Money looked at mother and patted her on the back and said, “Jesus is your children’s daddy, call him up and tell him what you want. Here is my last $50, go buy your children some food and pray to God.”

We left and walked back home in 3ft of snow. When we arrived at the house, Faith and Hope were sound asleep. Mother walked to her bedroom and rehearsed what she was going to say to her Pastor as to the reason why she needed to move in with him and first lady. Faith and Hope heard the noise coming out of mother’s room and stood in despair as I critiqued mother’s facial expressions during the rehearsal. Mother wiped a million tears away and said, “Girls, we are going to have to move out of this apartment.” My sister Hope who is in the 6rh grade grew angry and told us that she was going to run away. Mother reminded Hope that if she ran away, she would have to walk everywhere, which my sisters does not like any type of fitness. Faith who is in the 3rd grade looked at mother and patted her on the back and assured her that we would survive. Faith told mother that a man from the military came and spoke to her class about a career in the military on yesterday. Faith sat in mother’s lap and looked into her eyes and asked, “Have you considered entering the military?” Mother’s face turned into a smile and she said, “Well Faith, I have not considered entering the military, but that is a wonderful idea. I can join the military and then we can have a place to live.”

We all bundled up and walked about 20 minutes form our two bedroom apartment to make it to the recruiting office before closing. Finally, we made it to the recruiting office where a tall African American man was standing waiting. “Hello sir.” The man looked into my mother’s eyes and told her to call him Sgt. Moore. Mother smiled and began to tell the SSgt our sad story. Sgt. Moore looked at us and invited us in the recruiting office. “Please take a seat and tell me what brings you here and your names.” Mother looked as if she was going to cry and I said, “Her name is mother.” Sgt. Moore asked my mother if she was interested in joining the military. My mother looked at the Sgt. and said, “I am only interested in joining the military because I want to support my family.” The Sgt. looked at mother and spoke of the many offerings available to soldiers and mother’s face was bright as a Christmas tree.

“Ms. Frankenstein, you will need to make a tough decision.” Mother glared at the Sgt. and asked what was meant by the phrase just stated. Sgt. Moore leaned towards mother and grabbed her hand and said, “You will have to sign those children over to another dependable adult sweetheart, you can’t take the children with you to basic training. Mother removed her hand and told the Sgt. That she understood that she would have to leave her children behind, but that she did not have any family in the area who could care for the three of us. I began to feel sad at this point because this meant that my sisters and I would have to go to another foster family.

The Sgt. must have read my mind because he immediately told my mother that he knew a lady who may be interested in temporarily caring for us and her name is Ms. Prissy. The Sgt. picked up the phone and dialed a number. Sgt. Moore was on the phone explaining what happened to my mother and then turned away from us and began to whisper. Mother decided that if the plan of this lady keeping us failed, she would not be going to the military and the streets would be our new home. Sgt. Moore turned around and smiled at Faith and Hope. He once again went over to our mother and put his hand on her back and informed us that Ms. Prissy would keep us while mother completed basic training. Mother smiled and thanked the Sgt. as he began giving us information concerning Ms. Prissy and where she lived. Mother thanked the Sgt. for everything and told him that we were getting ready to leave. The Sgt. looked at mother and asked, “How do you know where Ms. Prissy lives and besides how are you going to get there?” Mother looked into the SSgt’s hazel eyes and said, “I have two legs.” The Sgt. laughed and told mother that he would be by our apartment around 5 to pick us up. My mother looked once more at the Sgt. and smiled and out the door we went in 3ft of snow.

Sgt. Moore drove us to this beautiful mansion located in the city. He escorted us through some gates to the front door and a well-dressed lady greeted us with a smile. “Come on in and have a seat and make yourselves at home.” Mother introduced the three of us and once again retold our story to Ms. Prissy. Sgt. Moore added another part to the story in order to make it even worse, but mother just looked in great anticipation that things would get better. Ms. Prissy looked at mother and told her that we were in good hands and that she would allow us to keep in touch with her. Ms. Prissy looked at the Sgt. and commanded that he too keep in touch with her because they had some unfinished business. Sgt. Moore waved at us and left out the door. Ms. Prissy showed us our room and told my sisters and me to get ready for bed and we would talk in the morning. As my sisters and I were in bed, we heard the phone. Ms. Prissy answered the phone and all I could hear were Child Protective Services and Ms. Prissy asking why. Later on in the conversation, I heard them refer to my mother as Ms. Frankenstein which that was her name and I ran in the room and asked were they talking about our mother. Ms. Prissy looked at me and told me to go back to bed. I ran back to the room and crawled in the bed, but was wide awake to because I wanted to know our fate. Ms. Prissy told the other person on the phone to come over to the house on tomorrow and I was glad that she made that decision because I wanted to meet this person who was trying to control our lives.

The sun glistened outside of our window and Ms. Prissy brought us breakfast in bed. I was surprised because we were being treated with royalty. After we ate, Ms. Prissy told us that we were to remain in the room because she was going to have company. Hope asked, “Is your boyfriend coming over and you don’t want us to see who it is?” Ms. Prissy laughed and told us that a lady was coming over by the name of Ms. Plum to give some information about us. I told Ms. Prissy that if she wanted to know anything about our family, she could ask us. Ms. Prissy hugged us and said, “I am afraid that Ms. Plum has the information that I need to help all three of you.” I looked at Ms. Prissy and she closed the door and said, “I will be back after my company leaves.”

The doorbell rang and I peeped out of the window. I saw this lady in a purple dress with purple lipstick and her hair looked purple as well. I could see why she was named Ms. Plum. “Hello Ms. Plum, please come on in.” As I stood in the corner looking, Ms. Plum pulled out a folder and sat on the coach next to Ms. Prissy. Ms. Plum told Ms. Prissy that we were being considered for adoption and that several families would be coming to visit us. I thought to myself, several families visiting me would confuse us on how to love and live, but I did not say a word because this conversation did not belong to me. I looked at Ms. Prissy expecting her to take up for the three of us and all of a sudden she spoke. “The children’s mother and Sgt. Moore gave me permission to keep the girls and their mother signed over her rights.” I could see the heat on Ms. Plum’s face as Ms. Prissy made that statement. “Look Ms. Prissy, those children’s mom has no rights as far as the state is concerned. She had to find something quickly to dodge our system. You are required by law to allow foster parents over to your home where these children reside.” “Ms. Prissy owns this house and do not have to let anyone over to see us.” “Love, I thought I told all of you to remain in the room until my company leaves.” I stood in total amazement as I had spoken loud enough for the two to hear me and was now visible. Now I can’t get the down low on our fate and I will feel like I am in the dark again. Hope and Faith seemed to not be bothered as I entered the room with my head down in defeat. I looked out the window hoping the sun that was shining had a clue to what would happen to my sisters and me.

Ms. Prissy came into the room and looked at each one of us after her company left. I felt like she was glaring at me, but once I made eye contact she smiled at me as if she understood my desperation for knowing what was going to happen next. “Look girls, Ms. Plum who is a case worker just informed me that I would have to allow foster parents into my home to visit with you. At this point, the state would like for you to have a good home. I looked at Ms. Prissy and reminded her that she told my mother that we were in good hands. “You are in good hands, but right now, I have no control over a decision your mother made before I received you.” Ms. Prissy looked at all of us and told us to put on some decent clothes and prepare because our foster parents were getting ready to visit us. Ms. Prissy looked over at Hope and Faith who seemed unbothered by the drastic changes came over and whispered to me that everything would be alright.

We all gathered in the living room looking and wishing that the foster parents would forget to drop by Ms. Prissy’s house, but all of a sudden, we heard the door bell and a man’s voice saying, “Is anyone home, we are here!” Ms. Prissy slowly walked to the door and put on her pretentious smile and greeted the couple as they announced that they were the one and only Whitherspoons. Before Ms. Prissy could invite them into the house, they barged in and made themselves comfortable. Mrs. Whitherspoon told Ms. Prissy that due to the economy and low pay, they would only be able to take me and Hope and provide care for us. I looked at Faith’s face as her heart slowly melted before our eyes. Mr. Whitherspoon looked at Hope and me and asked if we were ready to go and have fun at the Whitherspoons. I immediately gave my opinion since it was asked and informed the Whitherspoons that my sisters and I were hoping to remain together. Mr. Whitherspoon once again explained that due to the economy and having to feed several other people, that they would not be able to accommodate three children.

Mrs. Witherspoon bent down to speak with Faith and informed her that her that should would be able to see us on a daily basis and that we were only two blocks away. Faith cheered up some and Mr. Witherspoon took our bags and Hope said goodbye to Ms. Prissy and I remained behind and whispered to Faith, “I will be back sooner than you know! “Well Faith, it will just be you and I since your sisters are gone.” It is almost 10pm, go to your room and I will tuck you in bed.

As night became the early morning, I awaken my sister Hope and walked into the Whitherspoons room, zapped the keys and there we were cruising down the street in a Benz. We finally made it to Ms. Prissy’s house and almost parked the car in the front door. As we got out of the car, we heard a wailing noise coming from inside the living room and peeped inside. Faith was standing in the center of the living room prancing in a circle looking up saying, “Lord, I want to be with my sisters.” This girl has some fashion because she is standing before an imaginary audience with her hands on her hips asking if she had done something wrong. Since no one answered her question, Faith began to shrug her should and asked God if he liked her. At this point, I felt as if my sister and I were part of the secret service because this was going far and we needed to bust in and interrupt her despair.

I tapped on the window several times and Faith asked, “Is that you God?” I answered loudly, “No silly, this is your sister open up the door.” Faith looked at me and opened the door for Hope and me and asked how we got to the house. “I told her that we took the bus,” but we actually took one of the 5 cars parked at the Whitherspoons. My sister was impressed and called us her brave sisters. We all laughed and Ms. Prissy asked, “You are not talking to God again are you?” Faith answered, “Oh no mother, I am not speaking to God, and I am only speaking to God’s angels.” Ms. Prissy told Faith to turn off the lights and go to bed.

A knock was heard on the door and we hid under the bed as Ms. Prissy stumbled to the door half awake. “Who is it?” Ms. Prissy was not scared at all as I heard her open the door. “Do you see the heat on my face?” Ms. Prissy said, “Mr. Whitherspoon I don’t see the heat on your face, but you are about to see the fire in mine.” Mr. Whitherspoon calmly changed his tone and asked Ms. Prissy if she knows why he was at her house this time of morning. Ms. Prissy answered, “I am not sure why you are at my house Mr. Whitherspoon, please enlighten me!” On last night, those two girls, Hope and Love took my car and drove it over here.” Ms. Prissy ran into the room and summoned all three of us. I knew at this point that I would surely see the fire on Ms. Prissy’s face. “Why would you girls take this man’s car?”

I looked at Ms. Prissy and asked, “Would you rather for us to have walked over here to see our sister. You always tell us that this is an evil world.” “Enough child, you two know better.” Mr. Witherspoon was looking as each person spoke and politely said, “Here are the two girl’s bags and they are already with you. My wife and I cannot handle two more children who run away from home. Thank you so much for allowing us to be a part of the two girls’ lives for 5 hours, but I am going back to the Whitherspoon estate kid-free, good day!

Ms. Prissy looked at all three of us and then put me on the spot by asking why we ran away. I looked at Ms. Prissy and walked far away from her and explained to her that the love my sisters and I have is unconditional, meaning we will risk everything to be together. Our mother works hard to keep us happy and we may not have the mansion or the Benz, but we all have love for one another and that is all we have. I said lastly, love is an emotion that cannot die or cost anything and we have to save our love.” Ms. Prissy looked at all three of us and hugged us and told us that if love was what we were living for and fighting for, she would do everything in her power to keep us in her home until mother made a better life for us in the army!