Lee: At the coffeehouse

After the fifth and final case, the judge adjourned the court for the day. Outside the courthouse, Lee spoke briefly with Sarah and David, then walked two blocks north to a local coffeehouse. As she did every Thursday, Lee ordered a latte and a croissant, and settled into a corner table. For the few minutes it took for a server to bring her order to her table, Lee perused the day’s headlines on newspapers scattered around the coffeehouse. Once she received her order, she took one bite of her warm croissant, then pulled her tablet from her heavy leather bag and fired up her email. She checked first for messages from her supervisor, then her assistant. Today, she had three from Linda and four from Kerry. Three new cases, four requests for meetings.

One case stood out immediately. In most cases, she was assigned to one of the biological parents. But every now and then, Lee was given to a child. When that happened, Lee knew she was in for sleepless nights, extra time spent at the shooting range, and piles of legislation. No case in the foster system was ever pretty, but Lee was only assigned to children when the cases were particularly ugly.

Jazz Ward. Ten years old. Currently staying at Polinsky Children’s Center - a temporary situation, as Polinsky was meant to be an emergency shelter, and had hardly enough beds for the children currently under its protection. Scheduled to meet prospective foster parents on Wednesday. Father: Antonio Ward, contractor, alcoholic, suspected of domestic abuse. Mother: Desire Ward, unemployed. Photos attached of a young child’s back, lacerated with scars, open wounds oozing pus, and bruising.

This was why Lee always took that bite of croissant before checking her messages.

Subject: Jazz Ward

From: Lena Song (lsong@nmg.org)

To: Kerry Tate (ktate@nmg.org)

  

K,

Priorities:

- Schedule a group meeting with Jazz’s caseworkers no later than next Tuesday. Social worker and lawyers required.

- Schedule a meeting with Jazz before the group meeting. I’ll go to her. I can do Saturday morning and I’m free all day Sunday, if necessary.

- What time is Jazz’s meeting with the FPs? I’ll want to be there on Wednesday, and I don’t see a conflict except a dentist appt (I’ll reschedule it, if need be).

Going back to the courthouse now, to review her case file. I’ll be back in the office tomorrow.

Thanks,

L