Tina and Bette are at home with Angelica preparing for the visit from the social worker.

            “Baby, you have to calm down. The house is clean and baby proofed. There is a fence around the gate. We have done all we can do. You have to relax.”

            “It is hard to relax. Tina, what if they don’t let it go through?”

            “Then we move to a place that will, Bette. I think it is simple. We will beat the system.”

            “Have I told you today that I love you?”

            “It is always nice to hear. I love you, too, Bette.”

            “Oh Jesus, here she is. Do I look okay? Let me hold Angelica. I am so nervous.”

            “Baby, we will be okay, no matter what right?”

            “Yes, we will be. Okay let’s go.”

Tina greets Joyce McVeigh at the door.

            “Good morning Ms. McVeigh, please come in.”

            “Good morning Ms. Kennard, Ms. Porter. I just need a moment to look through the house to see if the changes requested were made.”

            “Yes we have made them. Bette has removed the art work and replaced them with pictures of our daughter. You will notice the fence around the pool.”

            “Very nice indeed. I see you went for a specialty fence. Keep up appearances isn’t that right, Ms. Porter.”

            “Ms. McVeigh, I find it very stimulating to be surrounded by beautiful things. I read an article that it also is very good for young children to be surrounded by culture at this age. If you notice, I had the fence painted a nice black and white with a little red. I also read that infants see black and white as their first colors.”

            “I am impressed, Ms. Porter, you are doing research. Would it be okay if I were to look in the baby’s room?”

            “Absolutely, right this way. We chose to do Angelica room Geddes style. I have some of the more favorite pieces in frames and an artist friend of ours painted the mural of Angelica as a bumble bee, using the style of Geddes. Angelica loves to see herself on the wall. We also put up this plexi glass mirror on her level so when she is on the floor she can watch herself and use the rails to pull herself up. Most of her toys are based on the methods created by Dr. Maria Montessori. She learns as she plays. She has a little reading nook over in the corner.”