Princess

     I watched the cars line up in front of my neighbor friend's house....2 police cars, 3-4 shiny civilian cars with ladies driving them and also watched as they got out and went inside.  And when they all filed out.  I wasn't sure if I should get involved but the catch in my heart beat meant that they were there to "apprehend" her children.  All 6 of them.  I wrestled with talking to the lady standing by her car, but wanted them (CFS) to know that "that lady" had a friend that cared to know what was going on.  So I went up to her..."Hi, I'm a friend of the woman that lives in the place you just went into, is everything alright?"  She looked at me and smiled but said in an incredulous voice, "That place there?" and she pointed to the house.  "Yes, I know her and her kids and wondered if everything was ok."  She gave me a look of wonder (like who would ever be THAT ladies friend?) and said, "Oh we are looking for her grand-child".  Ok, like Marge has 2 grandbabies and one on the way, not living in her house, something doesn't fit here....and what about all the cars?
    I let that slide and went home and phoned Marge.  She was out driving 5 kids around and didn't know the bustling entourage in front of her house was there.  After she came home, she asked me to stick around while her native CFS worker came by, to explain what was going on.  As I sat on the step with her 8 year old daughter Natasha and her new kitten Princess, I wondered if I'd be seeing her kids gathered up in the next few days and taken to various homes or hotels.  Her house had slowly become a pit, with letting in the wrong crowd of kids hang out there, her landlady doesn't care to do repairs and cockroaches, bed bugs and mice were entrenching themselves in walls, cupboards and the basement.  We have helped her many times, but because of the neglect and overwhelming circumstances, CFS had been called to investigate.
     Natasha's kitty was becoming anxious to explore and she held on to it tightly.  "Do you think they will take us away today?"  Natasha asked me.  "No, it doesn't look like it will be today", I wondered how I would handle this awful subject.  "Well, if they do..." she looked at me with clear, beautiful brown eyes, "what will happen to Princess?"  "I don't know, she might wonder around and get lost." I said.  Letting the conversation unfold, she said, "Oh, I don't want Princess to  get lost".  "How about if when you have to leave, you bring her to me and I'll care for her till you get back", I said.  She looked at me with a smile, "Ok!  I'll pick her up when we get back."
     The conversation inside with the CFS worker was ending and the man stepped outside on the porch.  As I got up to get out of the way, Natasha shoved Princess into my arms and looked sternly at me.  I held the kitty as Marge, the CFS worker and I chatted a bit and he left.  No kids in tow, not the day of reckoning that we all thought.  I gave Princess back to Natasha and said, "I'll bring you some kitty food.  It looks like that's it for the day and I have to make my boys some supper."  She bundled the little kitten back in her arms and we looked at each other, like sharing a secret but not a very happy one.
     Going home, it took me awhile to detox from that little episode.  Praying, thinking, wondering how it will all go for these kids and their mom, trying to keep things together.  Her confidence in me was reassuring, that she does have someone in this crazy scene that will take care of what is hers, while she faces the unknown.
I now throw what is mine, into the lap of the One I've trusted and know He is faithful till the end for both Natasha and me.