The next day, Scot and his girls left the farm and hurried home where Bev, Celeste and Sarah were. Kelly, Ann, and Angie could hardly wait for the car to stop before opening the door to run in and discover their home. They didn't care that it was a trailer and they didn't care what sort of condition the trailer was in. They just knew that it was a place to call home, where they can finally be at peace knowing they had each other. They no longer had to feel out of place or not wanted. They were, simply, a family once again.
Kelly was surprised to see Sarah not crying anymore but walking around. She picked Sarah up and hugged her. Sarah smiled and laughed. Celeste also wanted to be picked up. Ann took Sarah so Kelly could hug Celeste too. She smelled. "Eeew, Celeste, you need a change. Let's go get mom." Kelly carried Celeste around, trying to find her mom. Finally Kelly found Bev in her bedroom on the bed. "Mom, Celeste stinks. She needs change." Bev just laid there in bed and stared back as if she was being bothered. Kelly was made full aware of the message; nothing has changed except for the house they lived in now.
Kelly took Celeste to Scot and told him that Celeste needed changing. Right away, Scot changes Celeste and Sarah. He sees that neither Celeste or Sarah had been changed for a long time, were in need of baths, and a good meal. His heart sank as he knew he was back to square one and could very well end up with the same problems as before. Scot was determined that what his family went through for the last year would not happen again. He sent the little girls out to the back yard to play and told Kelly to watch her sisters.
The five sisters went outside to play ring around the rosy. Kelly could hear Scot and Bev inside arguing. She didn't quite understand everything that was said but then she heard loud and clear, Scot yelling at the top of his lungs, "You don't give a DAMN about anyone but yourself! I should have divorced you and kept the girls away from you!" Kelly wasn't so much as surprised that Scot would say such things to Bev but shocked that her dad was capable of raising his voice so loud. Kelly got closer to the window where she could hear the arguing. Bev gave a cool minute and replied, "You really think that there's a judge out there that will grant custody of five girls to a single man? And besides, you know that I have bought off lawyers and judges before, I can do it again and make sure that you pay so much in child support and alimony, you'll never have that music shop you ever dreamed of." Scot was so infuriated with Bev's words and how cold and callous they were. He could do no more but walk away and start on dinner in the kitchen.
Kelly cried quietly. She knew things were never going to change and certainly not get better. It would be the same as before. Dad would go to work at night, come home to get her and her sisters up, cleaned, dressed and ready for school. Dad would make breakfast and send her off on the bus for school. Then he'll get some little sleep during the day keeping one eye opened to watch after the other girls that were still home. Then after having restless sleep, he'll get up, shower, dress, fix supper for his family of 5 girls. He'll play games with his daughters, read books and tuck them into bed before having to leave for work again.
Kelly went back to her younger sisters. Ann and Angie saw Kelly's solemn face. Angie wanted to know what was wrong with Kelly and Kelly didn't want to say. Instead she smiled at Angie and Ann. "I us to make a promise to each other just like what dad does for us."
"What kind of promise," said Ann.
"You both know that we had been through a lot in the last year. We hadn't been together and I don't know what it was like for you guys but for me I couldn't think of anything more than to be home with my sisters."
Angie interrupted Kelly, "I liked the farm and the bunnies. It was fun, but Ann always cried to be back home every night." Angie's face turned red because she didn't want to admit that she missed being home too. Kelly went on, "I don't ever want that to happen again, so I want to make a promise with all of us, that we will never be separated again."
Ann and Angie nodded. The Angie spoke up, "We need a needle!" Kelly was perplexed, "A needle? What for?"
"You know. To make a promise like blood sisters."
Kelly laughed, "OK. we'll need a paper too." Ann ran quietly inside to grab a needle from the sewing kit while Kelly grabbed a piece of paper out of one of the boxes in her room.
"OK, we got everything here." Angie piped up, "What about Celeste and Sarah?" Ann answered, "They're too little, they wouldn't understand. We can tell them about it when they get older."
Kelly scribbled on the paper, I swear that I and my sisters will never be away from each other again. Kelly went first, pricked her finger as fast as possible while squinting her eyes. She placed her finger on the paper. Ann went next and finally Angie's turn came. Ann helped prick Angie's finger. "Ouch! That hurt." Angie placed her finger on the paper. There it was done with bloody fingerprints one next to the other starting with the oldest sister.
Kelly looked at the paper with pride for her and her young sisters. She knew this was important for them and for her. They were a family, all five of them.
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