Ellen Foster Page #6

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Aunt Nadine?

This is Ellen.

She's passed.

Well, at least you didn't die

and lay up in the house

all alone

no one to hear you

stop breathing.

I think everyone should have

someone there

to know

when they stop being alive.

So here I am.

You'll look nice when they come,

pretty as a picture.

I don't want a soul to say

that I didn't do my part...

to the fullest.

Later on I reminded Jesus

that I did lots better

for my grandma

than I did for my mama.

I hoped

he'd give that some thought

and help me find somebody good

who could love me.

If you do

I'll run away!

Now calm down,

honeypie.

Calm yourself down.

How could you

do that to me?

Well, because

somebody has to.

I hate her!

Oh, now listen...

I'm not too crazy

about her myself.

Oh, but if there was

any other solution

I'd jump at it,

believe you me.

But the judge says

we have to take her...

and we're stuck

with it, baby.

I think that room's

going to do you fine...

don't you, Ellen?

Uh-huh.

Though I'm getting

real weary

of packing and unpacking

my stuff in so many places.

Is that bag everything you have?

All my worldly possessions.

Just stay out

of my room, is all.

Well, why shouldn't I?

We have to pick you up a few

more things... some clothes.

Would you

like that?

I'm growing out of stuff.

Maybe some of Dora's dresses

might fit you

that she doesn't

wear anymore.

She's not wearing my clothes.

Well, there's some things that

you don't wear

anymore, pumpkin.

I don't care if

I wear them or not.

She's not wearing

any of my clothes.

Well, who wants to wear

your old clothes anyways?

Girls, girls.

We'll go shopping

next week.

You'll need new things

for school anyway

which, need I remind you

starts again

the week after next.

Who wants to be reminded

of that?

Well, I kind of favor school.

You would.

Smarty-pants.

Well, you could turn me loose

in the store with some money

and I could get exactly

what I have to have.

We'll see.

Come and get it.

Is that my imagination

or are your hands shaking

the teensiest

little bit?

They've been doing that

now and again of late.

Wonder what that could be?

Are you feeling nervy?

Could you please

pass me the bread?

Stay out of my room.

How many doughnuts did it take?

You got new jeans.

They're cool.

Where you at now?

At my Aunt Nadine's.

She's Sora Banning's mother.

She stay there, too?

Certainly.

It's her house.

Poor you.

She told me to stay out

of her room...

so I went right in

the first chance I got

when they were gone.

I rambled through that room

top to bottom.

Romance books in the back

of her underwear drawer.

You name it.

She ain't got

a secret from me.

Her mama would be shocked

at the stuff I came across.

Hi.

Hi.

Isn't the first day

of school

just about

the worst day

of the year?

You can say

that again.

How you doing,

Starletta?

How are you,

Miss Hobbs?

I'm very well,

thank you.

Ellen, stay after class

for sec, okay?

Okay.

ll right.

So then what

did he say?

Honey, you don't

want to know.

We're talking nightmare.

Okay, everybody,

smocks in the basket.

Don't forget to bring in

autumn leaves tomorrow.

Ellen, I'll see you

after school, okay?

Bye.

So, Que pasa?

What?

It's Spanish.

It means

"What's happening?"

What's happening...

Que pasa?

Okay.

How's it going?

Well, Dora hates my guts.

What's your Aunt Nadine like?

She wouldn't be anyone's

first pick for a mama

if you had your pick.

She got me some new clothes.

This is new.

Cool.

Ugh.

Um...

I found the most

beautiful dress

I ever saw.

And it was just with

the ordinary dresses

and I said,

"This is the dress for me. "

And the price was right.

And it's like...

it's just the kind of dress

you catch someone's eye with.

And when

I put it on

and I looked

in the mirror

I just said

"Lord, I could just fall

right in love with myself. "

I have something

to tell you.

Roy and I

are going away.

Well, where to?

Atlanta, Georgia.

An old friend of ours

from college

has a terrific

job for Roy.

So, we're

going to go.

And we're going to have a baby.

You are?

Yeah.

Around next spring.

Well, if it's a girl baby,

Euglena's a good name.

We'll put it on the list.

I wish you weren't going.

We'll write to you.

Will you

write back?

Boy, are we going to miss you.

Thanks for wanting

to keep me that time.

You're a keeper.

Hello, Mrs. Abigail.

Hello, Reverend.

Do you know that lady?

What lady?

Her with

all the girls.

It's a foster family.

A foster family?

Mama says she'll

take in anything

from crippled orphans

to stray cats.

Oldest girl has a baby

out of wedlock.

Take them in where?

In her house, stupid.

You know where

she lives?

In a big blue house

by the school

the little kids go to.

Why?

Just wondering.

I'm trying

to figure out

how to get

a new mama.

Can't get a new mama.

Only got one mama

and your one's dead.

I think maybe

you can get a new one

if you figure it out right.

I was a bit confused.

Then I figured out the way

it must be.

It must be that

the foster family lived in it

but somebody named Montford

owned it.

And then I knew

I'd got it right.

Hi.

Are you looking

for somebody, darlin'?

No, ma'am.

Just riding around

hither and yon.

You see what I mean?

It's most curious.

When did

this start?

Last week sometime.

She does it on everything

she turns in.

Have you asked her

about it?

No. I try to be

careful about her.

She's had a hard time,

this child.

Her family dying off

right and left.

You know, I never once

seen her smile.

How has she progressed

socially

since last term,

would you say?

Same as ever,

as far as I can tell.

The only child she seems

at all close to

is that colored girl,

Starletta Douglas.

Emotionally isolated...

insecure as to her

social skills...

traumatic

home environment.

You're the doctor.

So how are you today, Ellen?

Fine.

I understand

from Mrs. Cudahy

and some of your other teachers

that you still don't seem

to be making any progress

in the social way.

I don't want to be social.

I might after I get

my own business straight.

What business is that?

Personal stuff.

I think he liked it

when I wasn't too friendly...

because if everyone was

friendly and sweet

he wouldn't have a job.

I understand from your teachers

that you've taken to signing

your papers differently.

Did you realize that?

Well, sure I realized it.

You've been signing "Foster"

as your last name.

You do realize that?

Well, I guess I know

my last name, all right.

Uh-huh, okay...

Then tell me your name.

Ellen Foster.

But that isn't your last name.

Your name

is Hammond.

Hmm?

Ellen Hammond.

Would you like

to talk about it?

About what?

About why you're

using that name.

You see, Ellen...

sometimes children

such as yourself

who've experienced

a high degree

of distress

tend to have

identity problems.

It's not uncommon

for such a child

to pretend he's...

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