7-16-97, 10:26 PM

I was sitting in my room writing in my journal when Kourtnee walked into my room. She laid down on my bed.

(Kourtnee and LaDawnya)

Kourtnee: What are you writing?

LaDawnya: I am writing in my journal.

Kourtnee: Are you saying some rotten things about me?

LaDawnya: Maybe.

Kourtnee: Come sit over here with me.

LaDawnya: For what?

Kourtnee: Because I asked you to.

LaDawnya: That was not a complete sentence.

Kourtnee: I would like you to come sit over here because I asked you to.

LaDawnya: That’s much better.

Kourtnee: Get over here.

I walked over the bed and sat down beside Kourtnee. She sat up.

Kourtnee: Are you still upset with me?

LaDawnya: No mame.

Kourtnee: Awe, I am forgiven then?

LaDawnya: Yes mame.

Kourtnee: Thanks.

She put her hand around my shoulders.

Kourtnee: So, do you still love me?

LaDawnya: Yes. I think so.

Kourtnee: Do you love me more than you love Colt?

LaDawnya: I don’t know about that.

Kourtnee: Ouch.

LaDawnya: I love you a little bit more than Colt I do Colt. You let me live in your house and you feed me. That gets you a few love points.

Kourtnee: Thanks. I want you to hang around here a long time. Is that ok with you?

LaDawnya: Yes mame. I could get use to living here for a while.

Kourtnee: That’s so wonderful. This is for you.

She handed me a small box. I opened it. It was the butterfly that she had bought at Stakarski. I looked at her.

LaDawnya: I thought you bought this for you.

Kourtnee: No, I bought it for you.

LaDawnya: But you let me get the wind chime.

Kourtnee: I saw that you liked the butterfly. You just assumed that I was getting the butterfly for myself.

LaDawnya: Ooh, I got you in trouble with your mother. Are you sure you want me to have the butterfly?

Kourtnee: I gave it to you, didn’t I?

LaDawnya: Yes, mame. Thank you.

Kourtnee: You are welcomed.

I hugged Kourtnee. When she hugged me, it felt like the hugs that I use to get from Mrs. Johnson. I hadn’t felt like that since the last time Mrs. Johnson had hugged me. I started crying. Kourtnee looked at me.

Kourtnee: Are you going to cry every time I give you a gift?

LaDawnya: I don’t know.

She wiped the tears from my eyes with her hands.

Kourtnee: Do you want to sleep in my room?

LaDawnya: You must really feel bad. No mame, I don’t want to sleep in your room.

Kourtnee: You must be feeling bad. You are always trying to sleep in my room.

LaDawnya: I wasn’t finished. I don’t want to sleep in your room. Can you sleep in here with me?

Kourtnee: Yes, I can do that. I’ll be back in here in a few minutes.

She left the room. She came back in the room about 20 minutes later. I was half asleep when she laid down in the bed.