7-12-02, 9:12 PM

Arlene Countaus had always told me that a good way to learn about a person was to walk a week in their shoes. I decided to do that with Kourtnee.

I talked to Kourtnee about it. She was a little hesitant when I told her my plan was to hang out with her and do everything with her. I wanted to hang out with her for a full week, Monday through Sunday. She said that she needed to think about it for a while.

In Kourtnee’s Room

Kourtnee thought about what LaDawnya had asked her. Having a foster child was a lot more work than she had expected. LaDawnya was a good child, so she was worth the effort. Kourtnee picked up the phone and called Paula.

Paula: Hello.

Kourtnee: Hey girl. Sorry to be calling so late.

Paula: Girl, please. I wasn’t doing anything. What do you want?

Kourtnee: For some strange reason LaDawnya wants to hang out with me all next week.

Paula: She what?!

Kourtnee: She wants to hang out with me all week.

Paula: That girl comes up with some stuff.

Kourtnee: Yes, she does.

Paula: You need to know what’s on your schedule for next week.

Kourtnee: Yes.

Paula: You act as if I am your secretary. (She laughs loudly.)

Kourtnee: You are my secretary. What’s on my schedule?

Paula: Let me go get your calendar.

Kourtnee: Where’s Rick?

Paula: He’s in Dallas with Evg. Treshon.

Kourtnee: Oh. How is Evg. Treshon doing?

Paula: He’s good. I found your calendar. On Monday, you meet with the VPs. You have a meeting with Charles Daymon. You are having lunch with Jamie Frasier. Is she still trying to get money from Shimmers?

Kourtnee: Yes, she is. I told her to call the foundation. Supposedly, this Monday, we are just supposed to have lunch.

Paula: Yea right. She always talks shop. You also have a meeting with the R&D Department. That’s gonna be interesting.

Kourtnee: Don’t start. The only problem I see is with Jamie, but having LaDawnya there might stop her from talking business. Monday is ok. What’s on Tuesday?

Paula: You got the budget meeting, the Department heads, the Marketing Department, and that product demonstration.

Kourtnee: Tuesday is fine. How about Wednesday?

Paula: The Board of directors meeting at the Foundation, Lunch with Martin. He’s in town again? I wonder what he wants.

Kourtnee: I don’t know.

Paula: There’s a meeting with Human Resources.

Kourtnee: Wednesday will be okay. Martin won’t mind LaDawnya being there. What about Thursday?

Paula: You just have that meeting with Eternal Spring Products. I am still unsure about their stuff. It’s watery. Their product is inferior to ours. I did hear that they are meeting with Zamaco Cosmetics, too.

Kourtnee: Who told you that?

Paula: I can’t reveal my sources.

Kourtnee: (Blowing a breathe of air.) I’ll have to see about that one. What do I have on Friday?

Paula: Bath Products Division. Lunch with Mama Adams and the Maddocha Women’s Society Board Meeting.

Kourtnee: Mama’s going to love that. The BPD meeting will be ok. I can call Alma and come up with something for the Society Board meeting. Friday is okay. Do I have anything on Saturday?

Paula: Uhm, you have your hair appointment, the prayer breakfast, and dinner with Ms. Shields.

Kourtnee: Saturday will be okay.

Paula: Are we still gonna hang out on Sunday?

Kourtnee: Yes, we are.

Paula: Does your shadow want to hang out with you on Sunday?

Kourtnee: I don’t know. I’ll talk to her.

Paula: Ok. Do you need anything else? Normal folk should be sleep now.

Kourtnee: Paula please. It’s only 9:45.

Paula: I am going to 8 AM service with Gabrielle at her church. She is singing a solo.

Kourtnee: Ok. I thought you said she didn’t sound too well the last time she sung.

Paula: She claimed that she had a cold that day. I don’t know. That’s my goddaughter, so I have to go hear her.

Kourtnee: Well, your other goddaughter will be singing and directing on the 27th.

Paula: My other goddaughter? Who is that?

Kourtnee: Ha ha. You know whom I am talking about.

Paula: Ok. Don’t get all mad. I’ll be there. I gotta go. Love you. Bye.

Kourtnee: Love you, too. Bye.

Kourtnee made two more phone calls, one to her grandmother, Mary Adams and to her mother, Anna Adams-Shields. As expected, Mrs. Adams was thrilled. Ms. Shields fussed for a moment then agreed to the change. Kourtnee left her room to go upstairs to tell LaDawnya that she could follow her around.

In LaDawnya’s Room

Kourtnee walked into my room. She sat in the love seat all the way on the other side of the bed. I asked her why she was sitting over there. She didn’t answer. Kourtnee looked around my room.

Kourtnee: You need some pictures around your room.

LaDawnya: Ms. Austin said that she was going to give me one.

Kourtnee: Oh really.

LaDawnya: Yes Mame. Can I hang out with you next week?

Kourtnee: I don’t know.

LaDawnya: Huh? Why don’t you know?

Kourtnee: You may not be able to keep up.

LaDawnya: I can keep up and I know how to act.

Kourtnee: Ok, you can, but you have to write a 50-page report on what I do.

LaDawnya: Fifty pages?

Kourtnee: Yes, 50 pages.

LaDawnya: Ok, I guess.

Kourtnee: I’m joking sweetie. You only have to write a 10-page report.

LaDawnya: I can do 10-pages.

Kourtnee: Have you written in your journal lately?

LaDawnya: No, mame.

Kourtnee: Why not?

LaDawnya: I don’t know.

Kourtnee: So, nothing has happened.

LaDawnya: I guess so. I just have felt like writing. Why do you always talk in complete sentences?

Kourtnee: Why are you trying to change the subject? I don’t know why I talk in complete sentences. Is there something wrong with talking in complete sentences?

LaDawnya: No, there is nothing wrong with talking in complete sentences.

Kourtnee: You are not funny.

LaDawnya: Why do you have your own house within your house?

Kourtnee: Huh?

LaDawnya: That is not a complete sentence.

Kourtnee: I know that. Why did you ask me that?

LaDawnya: Because I want to know why you have your office, room, and bathroom, isolated by a wall.

Kourtnee: I don’t know. Why do you ask me questions like that?

LaDawnya: I don’t know.

Kourtnee: You need to go to bed. We have church in the morning.

LaDawnya: Can I sleep in your room?

Kourtnee: No, you can’t.

LaDawnya: I don’t want to sleep up here by myself. Why can’t I sleep in you room?

Kourtnee: Didn’t I just tell you no?

LaDawnya: Yes, mame.

Kourtnee: You sleep wild.

LaDawnya: Can you stay up here until I go to sleep?

Kourtnee: Yes, I can do that.

Kourtnee walked over to the bed and tucked me in. She sat on the foot of the bed. I drifted off to sleep.

P.S. You’re never too old to sleep in you’re parent’s bed.