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***Sophie’s Condo*** 9:40am
Lying on her stomach in bed Sophie could not help the smile that came across her face as she woke up. Sophie Moore had everything she’d ever wanted. Her mom accepted her and was putting forth an effort to rebuild their relationship. Jordan had and would probably always be Sophie’s biggest cheerleader. And then there was Ryan Wilder. The sneaky bat lady who’d snuck up and stolen her heart, while also causing her to reevaluate her professional goals and morals.
Said lady bat Sophie felt burrowing under the covers at the foot of the bed. She was leaving wet kisses up the back of Sophie’s legs until she got to her upturned butt. As Ryan’s 2 fingers gingerly stroked her outer lips Sophie raised her head, “Aht! What are you doing back there?”
Ryan pulled the covers off Sophie and herself revealing her bright smile and tossed about hair. She smirked with her brown skin radiating in the dim room, dragging her fingers lazily down Sophie’s thighs, “I was hoping we could have a redo of last night, but from the back.” Ryan quirked her eyebrows at the last word.
Looking over her shoulder Sophie smirked, “You do know I can tell when you’re trying to avoid something, right?” Ryan tilted her head at Sophie as her enthusiasm dimmed.
With that dazzling smile Sophie loved she replied, “Yes and I also know you don’t like me to get distracted when I’m on a mission, which I happen to be on at the moment.” As Sophie still in her bonnet did not look convinced Ryan frowned, “We may not get a chance to later.”
As the words left her lips Sophie’s phone chirped with a text message. She picked up her phone and frowned, “Aunt Bertha wants to meet.” Sophie rolled onto her side and said, “Come and meet my Aunt Bertha.”
When Sophie got home Ryan was seated on the couch with the TV on, but she was staring at the floor. Sophie sat and pulled Ryan into her arms. The pools of tears being held in place by her long lashes overflowed as she felt Sophie’s warm touch. After their short conversation Sophie had gone to visit her mom with Jordan and Aunt Bertha. During that time and the time it took Sophie to drive home Ryan had been replaying her time in Oak Hills Group Home. A dank, dirty building in the Financial District where parentless kids went and usually didn’t make it out. The week Ryan had been placed in the home she met the scumbag who ran it; Matt Accardo. He was a 5’7” Caucasian man with a slightly protruded abdomen. His hair was thinning a bit on the top of his head, but always maintained a smooth shave on his face. He was the parent figure for the wards. The children ranged in age from 10 to 15. Ryan was 12 and a half with her birthday coming up. Accardo led Ryan as she dragged her suitcase to the first room on the right of the hallway. “Tina will help you get settled in,” Accardo mumbled and pointed at the girl sitting on a bed.
It had been 2 days since that day and Ryan had only told her as much. Looking online Sophie saw that Matt was still the guardian over the group home. On the website the group home was described as ‘a nurturing, co-ed living space that served children in need.’ It showed pictures of smiling children who were predominantly Black and Brown. The website touted that the children who lived there worked together to create strong bonds, problem solve, and live healthy lives.
***
*** The Cafe *** 10:30am
As Sophie & Ryan step into The Cafe they see Bertha seated at a booth in the back. Sophie & Ryan turn to the female barrister talking with another woman at the counter. As the woman takes her coffee to-go the barrister smiles at the couple. “Karina” as her name tag reads is a young Black woman with a bleached curly mane that billows over her visor. She’s in the standard black polo shirt and khaki pants. Ryan has on a button-up with vertical blue lines and dark navy jeans. Sophie is wearing a satin white blouse underneath her navy blue blazer, accompanied by black dress pants. Both opted for black leather heeled boots today. Ryan can’t stop staring up at Sophie’s additional accessory, her bat choker.
As she smiles both women notice her multicolored braces. “How may I help you?” Her full pink lips are shining from the lip gloss. Her eyes are also wide and alert. Her skin is as pale as Marquis’.
Ryan raises her hand and replies with a nod, “May I please have a tall chai tea with almond milk?” She turns to her girlfriend. “And she’ll have- -”
Sophie interrupts. “Grande dark roast coffee, black.”
Karina types in on the cash register and announces, “That’ll be $10.64.” Sophie inserts her debit card into the scanner. When the machine beeps she removes it. Karina hands over the receipt and smiles, “I’ll have your tall chai tea with almond milk and grande dark roast coffee right out.”
As the couple moves to the back of the café Bertha stands up and Ryan sees long legs must run in the Moore family. She’s definitely glad she followed Sophie’s lead and wore the heeled boots. “Good morning, Sophie. I see you brought a date.” Bertha leans in and hugs Sophie.
Ryan timidly waves her hand and smiles, “Hi, Mrs. Bertha. I’m Ryan, Sophie’s girlfriend.”
Like the loving woman she is, Bertha wraps Ryan up in a tight embrace. “Nonsense, I’m Aunt Bertha,” she smiles, pulling back from Ryan. She turns to Sophie and smiles, “I see you get your good taste in women from me, obviously.”
Before they could grab a seat Karina brings over the 2 drinks. Ryan & Sophie sat facing the door. Both subconsciously pick up their drinks and take a few cautious sips. Bertha smiles brightly and abruptly says, “DiDi has asked me to host a dinner in a few days and I’m going to tell her I want to foster Terrence.”
Sophie blinks a few times and does that lip twitch (that Ryan loves ) and leans forward. Ryan grabs Sophie’s hand and Sophie looks to her. “Terrence, the artist who you bought that beautiful portrait from?” Sophie nods. “He’s living in Oak Hills?”
Bertha nods and her grey afro bobs. “There’s no way a child can reach their full potential in a place like that. When Theresa and I adopted Angelah it was from a similar facility.” Bertha leans forward, “Angelah will be coming to the dinner as well.”
With her eyes shining Ryan reaches across the table and touches Bertha’s hand. She could only imagine what little Angelah went through, but to be adopted, she knew was her turning point. “Thank you, so much. Amazing people like you are so rare these days…” Sophie cups Ryan’s other hand, gives it a little squeeze and the couple meet eyes. Ryan gives Sophie a faint smile before continuing, “At 14, I was fostered and adopted by my Mama. She showed me love like I never thought possible… I’m sure Terrence is going to blossom under your care.”
Bertha withdrew her hand and grabbed her cup. Peering down she grimaces, “But that’s where the problem lies…” She looked up at Sophie and then to Ryan, “Theresa and I were 55 when we began fostering Angelah. I’m still strong as an ox, but I’ll be 72 next year. I want to bring this up at dinner with DiDi and see what she thinks. Do you think she’ll support me?”
Ryan doesn’t even take a breath, “We’ll be there to support you. We’re family and we’ll figure it out.”
Sophie’s eyes go wide as Ryan also takes in the words she’s just spoken. They both look in Bertha’s eyes and see admiration. Sophie nods, “We’ll follow your lead.”
***
***BatCave*** 10:45am
Luke and Mary are seated at the monitor as Ryan & Sophie come down the walkway. Luke turns away from the monitor and gives the ladies a smile. “What have you 2 been up to this morning?” Luke gave them the over the glasses look.
“Nunya, just saving Gotham’s future, 1 foster kid at a time,” Ryan smiles.
At that Mary jumps up, “We haven’t even discussed wedding plans yet. Are you 2 looking into adopting? I know they say lesbians move fast, but that’s like lightspeed.”
Sophie shakes her head, “Well thanks to Flash we know a guy who moves that fast, but my aunt is the 1 who is looking into adopting a young man named Terrence.”
Mary steps forward flailing her hands, “Ooh, the artist who drew that amazing picture of you 2 at your swearing in?” Mary interjects. Sophie furrows her brow. At this reaction Mary eases back into her seat, “What? Ryan sent me a pic.”
Typing away at the monitor Luke searches Wayne surveillance satellites and pulls up an image of the young man. “Well, it seems like Terrence is a good kid, who keeps his nose clean…”
Stepping forward Sophie looks up at the overview, “Well, he said he’s living in a group home. Did he finish high school?”
Typing away Luke smiles, “Terrence Allen seems to be a kid with great potential. He graduated high school at 17, with straight A’s in Drawing, English, Trigonometry, & Economics. B’s in Biology, Spanish, & Culinary Arts. His transcript shows him as an A, B student all 4 years.”
Mary frowns, “He sounds like the perfect candidate for a full scholarship to college.”
“Terrence didn’t apply to college…” Luke continues typing. “Because he has a younger sister Tiffany.” Quickly a profile for Tiffany Allen rolls up. “Tiffany is 15 and the two were separated last school term because of a mix up with their social worker. Tiffany was held back in 9th grade.”
Ryan’s scowl deepens, “Why is that?” She crosses her arms over her chest.
“It’s not that Tiffany isn’t smart,” Luke replies still typing, “It seems the young lady has truancy issues. She has high remarks from her teachers when present, but that wasn’t often last semester.”
“Pull up the home’s website,” Sophie’s scowl deepens as an image of happy children on a stoop appears. “That doesn’t look like Gotham.”
Opening another browser for picture identification Luke shakes his head. “It’s not, it’s a stock photo from an advertisement for an after school program in Portland.”
Walking furiously, Ryan rounds the dead tree and ascends the walkway. “Luke, look up the financial backing for the home and send it to my phone.”
“Where are you going?” Mary calls.
Ryan turned around and walked backwards. “Seeing this place in real time is our best bet at tackling the problem.”
Sophie jogs to catch up to Ryan as she approaches the elevator. Ryan looks up at Sophie as Sophie says, “You’re not going anywhere without me.” Ryan can’t help, but stare at the beauty mark on Sophie’s chin.
“Aye, aye, Commissioner Gorgeous,” Ryan smiles as she clasps her fingers with Sophie’s. Luke continued typing as the 2 ladies entered the elevator and began ascending the tower.
***
***Oak Hills Group Home*** 11:30am
Pulling up outside the group home, it appeared that the advertising online was somewhere between fiction and fantasy. The building that stood at the address given was not made of bright red bricks, windows gleaming from the sunshine, coupled with a porch where tenants sat and talked to their neighbors from across the way.
This was the same dank, slouching building Ryan remembered, only more so. The bricks were brown and more than half of them were chipped or cracked. The windows were foggy, the few they had. It appeared 3 of the 6 windows in the front had boards over them. The stoop was made of splintered wood that had been stomped to near splinters. 1 should have been versed in walking across a tightrope before ever taking on such a hurdle. Each step made its own unique groan which made the stepper immediately suspect a splinter had entered their foot.
The porch was bare and ashen from the cold weather in Gotham. Seated at the top of the stoop was a small child who couldn’t have been more than 15. The child had a black skull cap pulled down low over their face and a grey scarf was wrapped around their neck tightly. Their skin was the same complexion as Sophie’s. The navy blue coat that they had on was probably 2 years old and it showed that their arms had outgrown the sleeves by about an inch.
As Sophie & Ryan stepped out of the backseat of the black Ford Expedition another kid, maybe 2 years younger, rode past on a bike and shouted, “5 0.” The kid then cycled furiously down the street.
Ryan put on her friendliest smile, “Hi, what’s your name?” The child looked her up and down before turning their face away. Ryan didn’t hear even the smallest peep. “Well, my name is Ryan and I used to live in a place just like this.”
“Yeah, right, goody two shoes,” the child mumbled. The child turned their head back towards Ryan a little. “What you doing around here lookin’ like that? If you started here it ain’t where you ended up.”
Sophie stepped forward allowing the child to assess her presence. Moving her hand out of her pocket Sophie asks, “You know a lot about living around here?” This kid had been hardened from the hostility of their environment. Sophie had encountered a few such people in her days at Point Rock. Kids with no other options except enlisting in service to escape their bleak circumstances.
The child adjusted their seating position, so they were facing both ladies. Neither woman knew if it was to engage them or to have a better vantage point of their positions. Ryan knew scared little legs could run fast and with the child at the top of the 8 step stoop they wouldn’t be able to stop them from running into the building and leaving them with no one to speak with. “I know almost everything about living around here, but if you want info it’s going to cost.” Finally the child pulled 1 arm from their side and did a gesture with their hand to specify a monetary payment.
Ryan & Sophie both grinned at the child’s implication. Ryan patted her jeans pockets and smiled, “I think I have you covered.”
“You said you know almost everything about living around here. Why not everything?” Sophie questioned.
The kid shrugged, “Nobody can know everything about anything. That’s kinda self explanatory.” Ryan & Sophie both got a chuckle out of the child’s wit. “And where’s the loot? We not gon’ play 20 questions.”
Ryan nods, “How much do you want for the information you’ve already given?”
Fingering their chin the child pulled up their cap and loosened their scarf. Now the women could see they were talking to a little girl, probably small for her age. She was Black with a thin face, piercing eyes, and 2 dutch braids down her head. “20 dollars for that and if you want to continue your questionnaire I’ll need a different kind of compensation.”
Ryan stuck her hand in her pocket, but Sophie had already fished a bill from her wallet. “Thank you for your assistance. What are your new stipulations?” Sophie steps back after handing the child the bill.
Taking the bill the girl smiled brightly, shoving the bill into her pocket. “Nice doing business wit’ya.” After she stuck her thumb and pointer finger in her mouth and whistled. Soon the child on the bike that they’d seen a few minutes before came racing back. The little boy stopped on a dime and slowly approached the group. Walking down the stoop carefully the girl smiles, “It’s cool, Raheem.” Raheem pulled his bike onto the cracked sidewalk with wide eyes. The girl stopped on the last step. She leaned over and whispered something in Raheem’s ear. Stepping back she looks in the boy’s eyes. “You got me?”
Raheem nodded and dapped the girl up. It was clear the 2 children had a relationship built on trust and respect.
Turning her attention back to the adults, the girl smiled, “Let’s take a drive to the store.” The girl promptly hopped down and approached the car. After climbing in she looked back seeing Ryan & Sophie also pulling themselves into the vehicle. “Don’t lock the doors,” the girl said from her position behind the front passenger side.
Pulling her seatbelt across herself Ryan smiled, “We’re not going to lock the doors.” Sophie was quiet as she took in Ryan’s manner with the girl.
***
***WholeFoods Market*** 12:05pm
After settling in the backseat the girl became relatively quiet aside from single direction commands for the driver. She’d pressed the lock on her door and immediately unlocked it again. Sophie hadn’t asked where they were going, and Ryan was thankful for that. Ten minutes later their vehicle was outside of a Whole Foods Market. Ryan should’ve guessed that the girl would be food motivated. She’d spent many a day in the group home wishing she could go food shopping. The girl turned to the 2 women and explained, “This isn’t about just me. My community is starving. When I eat everybody eats.”
Ryan shook her head. She knew what it was to take care of others when she was in a group home. She and Angelique often made pacts that they would look out for each other when it came to chores and meals. How far she was from scrambling for table scraps. Ryan shook her head again, “We understand, we’ve got you covered.”
The girl reached out her scrawny hand. It was small and bony. Ryan grabbed her hand and shook it gently. “My name is Franchesca and I’ve got a list of requests.” Franchesca pulled a crumpled notebook page from the pocket of her coat. It seemed like she’d had it for a while.
“Let’s go shopping,” Sophie opened the car door and stepped out. Walking up to the door Ryan grabbed a cart and allowed Franchesca to walk ahead of it. Heading into the store Franchesca shoved her free hand into her coat and clasped the shopping list in the other as they walked past customer service. She hoped these women weren’t like others she’d shopped with before; getting to the front with bigger eyes than their wallets. “We need cereal.” Walking down Aisle 5, Franchesca immediately grabbed 2 boxes of Kix. Ryan stepped up and grabbed 2 more boxes and put them in the cart with Franchesca. “Alright, Fairy Aunties, what do y’all want to know?”
“Fairy Auntie?” Sophie questioned with a frown showing off her pristine eyebrow arch. She had a while before she thought anyone would be calling her auntie. Ryan gave Sophie a look. Sophie rolled her eyes, “She started it.”
Taking a deep breath Ryan grimaces moving down the aisle, “We’re looking into Matt Accardo. Is he a good director?”
Franchesca looked over her shoulder at Ryan, “He’s fine. We could have it worse. Accardo is never really around. I see his brother Mark more often, since he’s the security guard.” Franchesca carefully selected a few cylinders of oatmeal from the stocked shelf. Both women could see Franchesca was selective with her shopping and only chose the organic options. Ryan’s younger self completely understood Franchesca. Grabbing as much as she could before the world inevitably snatched her fortune away.
“When was the last time you saw Matt?” Sophie placed her hand on her hip. She was wondering what kind of kid thought about shopping at Whole Foods. The store wasn’t known for marketing to the younger generations. They’d pasted 2 more common supermarkets on their way.
Looking back, Franchesca shrugged her face twisted in thought, “2 days ago. He’s a busy guy, I guess. He gets a few packages a week. After 1 gets delivered he’s sure to come get it. My job is to bring the packages in once they’re delivered, but they never come at the same time.”
“Is that what you were doing today?” Ryan asked as they walked around the corner to the refrigerated Aisle 4. “You don’t have to go to school?”
Franchesca quickly reached her hands out and grabbed 2 gallons of whole milk. Looking down she answered, “No time for books, it’s better to know what’s going on in the streets in Gotham.” With pleading eyes she looked up at Ryan. “You know what I’m talking about.”
Ryan shook her head, “I get that, but you need an education, because I know you’re going to make it through this stage of your life.”
“Like Queen said in Set It Off, ‘I’m just tryin’ make it through the day’,” Franchesca admitted. Her statement was followed by a long, loud growl from her stomach. Franchesca looked away as her eyes teared up. She had been hoping her body would not show how weak she felt, but hope was a dumb thing for an orphan to have. She should just run back to Oak Hills and forget this whole stupid plan.
“Hey,” Ryan stepped around the cart and came to Franchesca’s side. She didn’t want the child to hide her pain. Ryan had felt her own stomach pains as a kid. “Did you know this store serves freshly made pizza by the slice?”
Franchesca turned unsure if she could stand to see the pity in Ryan’s eyes. She knew it would be there. Wiping her nose with her sleeve Franchesca looked to Ryan and shook her head ‘no’. “We could go get some. I haven’t had lunch either. Sophie could take–” Ryan reached for the paper and Franchesca flinched. She steps away, retreating back into her shell. The child obviously had trust issues. Probably more so with people who she saw as having authority.
Sophie smiled wide, “How about I just grab all the items I think you’ll want? Once I’m ready to go to the register you can tell me to put back anything you don’t want. Does that sound good to you?”
Again the girl shook her head okaying the suggestion. Ryan and Franchesca slowly walked out of the aisle and to the front of the store. Taking a right the ladies saw a few aisles away there was a sitting area placed beside a blocked off window area where they could see a woman kneading dough on a counter. To the woman’s left there were trays of pizza under heat lights. There was a cheese pizza with 3 slices left, a pepperoni pizza minus 1 slice, and a single slice of vegetable pizza.
Ryan grabbed a tray placing 2 self serve pizza boxes on it. At the end of the counter in the sitting area there was also a soda machine and cups. Franchesca stayed glued to Ryan’s side as they approached the pizza. Ryan smiled at the girl who she just noticed stood over her a bit. Not as much as Sophie, but maybe 2 inches. “Get as many as you want,” Ryan smiles.
“As hungry as I am, the slices won’t fit in those boxes,” Franchesca said.
Ryan continues to smile. “How about you grab a few slices to eat now and we’ll grab a few pies to go?”
“Dead ass?” Franchesca’s mouth hung open. Her true colors were beginning to show.
Ryan shrugged, “Everybody eats.”
***
Meanwhile… Sophie’s grabbing whatever she thinks kids like to eat. She’s been to Sheldon Park enough times to help Jordan with events where the kids were served lunch. Breakfast was already in the cart, so she looked for snacks. Airing on the side of caution she stuck with organic products. No need to walk the store twice having to return items to shelves.
Exhaling loudly, Sophie grabbed 3 party size bags of sea salt rippled potato chips. Thinking better she grabbed another 2 bags. Once the bag was opened she figured the kids would inhale and it would probably leave many who didn’t taste a chip. A few steps away she saw party size bags of kettle chips that were BBQ. Oh, in her youth Sophie loved to eat tangy BBQ chips on a hot day as she looked after Jordan. 5 bags of those would have to do as well. Looking into the cart Sophie saw space was scarce. She’d need reinforcements. She pulled out her phone and called the driver.
***
Ryan and Franchesca were seated by a window and the younger was cackling like she’d known Ryan her whole life and they were 2 friends catching up. Franchesca had already torn through the 2 slices of pepperoni pizza she’d grabbed. Her lips were glistening with oil. The slice of cheese waited anxiously to be devoured. She also slurped down her medium fruit punch. “Are you allergic to milk? That is the only way you could ever convince me of an orphan turning down pizza,” Franchesca grinned, picking up the slice of cheese pizza. The oil of the pizza felt good on her fingertips. She’d not had freshly made pizza in years.
“I became a vegan after I was placed in a home with my Mama Cora.” Ryan looked out the window and thought back to that time. A cloud moved away from the sun and her face warmed. Franchesca stared at Ryan’s highlighted features. “My mama was extremely supportive of whatever I wanted to eat. She could cook anything, but after a while I noticed she wasn’t eating the same foods.” Looking back at Franchesca, Ryan continued, “So, I decided that I only wanted to eat the foods she was eating.”
“Your mama sounds like an incredible woman,” Franchesca thought out loud. “But if I ever get fostered I won’t be giving up cheese, chicken, or beef.” Franchesca shook her head. Blinking in realization of what she’d said, her smile faded. That was a big if to say the least.
“Hey,” Ryan tapped the table in Franchesca’s line of sight. “Your time is coming. Let’s go order those pies before Sophie finds us.”
Franchesca’s smile returns, just not as bright. “Okay.”
The woman behind the counter had large pizza shaped doughs lined up on it ready to be topped with sauce, cheese, and toppings. Franchesca looked back to Ryan. “Anything?”
Ryan smiles, “Whatever you want.”
Franchesca looked back, “Okay, may I have 3 pizzas with sausage, 3 cheese pizzas, and 2 with pepperoni?”
The woman smiles back at her, “Will that be all?”
Franchesca looked back to Ryan and Ryan stepped forward, “Make it 3 of each, please.”
“Thank you so much, Ms. Ryan,” Franchesca looks as if she was about to cry. Ryan pointed back to the counter and Franchesca watched with big eyes as the woman expertly covered 9 pizzas with marinara sauce, sprinkled cheese, topped 3 with pepperoni circles, and 3 with sausage crumbles. Systematically the woman slid each pie into the oven 1 at a time until all 9 were traveling down the line getting cooked evenly all around.
While the girl marveled at the process, Ryan went over to the register by the pizza counter, entered in the order, and inserted her credit card. To see the wonder in the child’s eyes was remarkable. She felt a little like she’d granted 1 of her younger self’s wishes. She and Angelique used to have the craziest ideas about what they wished for pertaining to food. A mountain of ice cream with all the toppings, 5 or 6 meat lover’s pizzas, and an overflowing fountain of black cherry soda. They never did get these things, but after Ryan was fostered by Cora she was as close to that goal as she ever could have dreamed.
With her golden locks bouncing and her dominance ever present Sophie strutted towards the pizza counter and Ryan. Ryan instinctively turns and her eyes light up instantly when Sophie comes into view. Franchesca suspected the 2 women were probably a couple. Stopping a step back from Ryan, Sophie turns to Franchesca. “I think I’m about ready to get in line. Do you think I could borrow you for a sec?”
Franchesca smiles at Sophie without hesitance. Before answering she turns back to face Ryan. She extended her fist toward Ryan. Realizing the young woman was extending her hand as she had done with Raheem, Ryan dapped Franchesca back. “I gotta handle this.” Ryan nodded her understanding. Turning back to Sophie she smiles and follows Sophie’s lead. What Franchesca doesn’t expect to see is 3 carts stacked high with food. Standing with the carts was Frank the driver. The carts were organized into meal groups and this gave Franchesca a puzzled expression. She hadn’t exactly told Sophie & Ryan what she intended to do with half. Grabbing a stray cart, Franchesca began unpacking half of all the items that she saw. Sophie grabbed another cart and began doing the same. In no time at all the 2 had 3 carts with both breakfast items, lunch ingredients, and dinner options. Moving into a line with 2 people ahead of them Sophie asked, “How many kids live in the home?”
Franchesca looks nervous again. She wrung her fingers as she answered, “There are 12 of us.”
Sophie noticed the girl’s nervousness. She placed a hand on Franchesca’s shoulder. “Everything is going to be fine.” Sophie tried to use her direct eye contact to reassure the girl. Franchesca was still just a child, taking on the responsibilities of a mother. She couldn’t pay the bill, but she’d put forethought into looking out for more than just herself. “Are the baskets organized how you need them now?”
Franchesca looked at Sophie again with her serious eyes. “Yeah.”
Sophie’s phone buzzed and she looked at the text from Ryan. “Frank,” Sophie says, placing her phone back in its case. The driver looks at Sophie and she says, “Ryan needs your help at the pizza counter. You should get another cart.”
Frank asks if Sophie needs anything, then departs swiftly with a “Yes, Ma’am.”
Franchesca looks at Frank departing and turns, “Dang, you have some power to make men move like that?”
Sophie bit her lip and smiled, “Actually Frank works for Ryan at Wayne Tower. Do you know where that is?”
“Who doesn’t? It’s the tallest building in Gotham,” Franchesca shrugs. “I’ve been past it a few times. So, what does Ryan do at Wayne?”
“She’s the CEO of the company, so she serves as the face of the company, meets with investors, and helps the company to grow…”
Bringing her bottom lip up Franchesca smiles, “Sounds pretty boring.” She rolls her eyes for good measure. Sophie usually didn’t have a problem with kids, but this girl was sassy. “Thought she’d be doing more fun stuff like traveling and going on vacations.”
Switching her footing Sophie smiles, “She does take business trips, not any vacations yet, but hopefully soon.”
“Y’all be going on vacations together?” Franchesca looked up at Sophie with a knowing look. Looking at the girl Sophie could see she was testing her. After some seconds, Franchesca shrugged, “Y’all keep giving each other looks like…”
Pushing the carts forward Sophie cleared her throat, “And that’s where this line of questioning stops.” Grabbing the cart behind her Sophie smiles, “You really know how to push some buttons.”
Pulling their last cart forward, Franchesca shrugs, “Y’all have been giving me the third degree all day. I don’t get to ask any questions?” She raised her eyebrows for emphasis.
“3 carts of food in exchange for your assistance. You set the price,” Sophie shrugged. The girl seemed like she wasn’t really convinced it was a fair exchange. Looking away Sophie could see Ryan pushing an extra large cart with pizzas stacked inside. Frank was walking beside her as she tried to steer the vehicle. With 3 long strides Sophie grabbed the front of the cart before it rolled into a set up of assorted factory baked cookies of different vibrant colors. Sophie pointed over her shoulder, “We’re at the check out.”
Hastily, Ryan walks over handing Sophie the receipt for the pizzas. Ryan’s eyes glow at the prospect of providing food for children in need, but most importantly to the young girl in front of her. She smiles up at Franchesca and says, “Let’s watch your groceries get bagged.” Pulling Franchesca by the hand they walked to the end of the check out.
Franchesca watched with misty eyes as the female cashier swipes each item across her scanner. She hadn’t even noticed a good portion of the items were stuff Sophie had just added: frozen organic chicken tenders, frozen all-breast organic chicken nuggets, sweet potato fries, regular potato crinkle-cut fries, frozen pancakes, & maple syrup. Then there were chips galore. “I need half of the food, including the pizza, to go to Raheem,” Franchesca says, still watching the endless scanning. Ryan’s gaze went to the girl. Her eyes showed confusion. Franchesca looks at Ryan. “Raheem doesn’t live in the same home. He has it way worse and I promised to look out for him. That’s why I was grabbing so much.”
Ryan’s confusion transforms to a smile, “I get it, after we drop you off we’ll take Raheem back.” This girl was full of surprises. “Is he your boyfriend?” Ryan’s smile grows.
Franchesca nudges Ryan with her shoulder, “ No , he’s just like a friend.” Making full eye contact she goes on, “I lived in the same home last year and the director over there is why I said Accardo could be worse .”
Ryan made a mental note. Reaching out her arm Ryan began grabbing bags and filling up the empty carts. Franchesca followed suit and began filling up a cart. As the 2 started their work the cashier muttered, “This is quite a big bill.”
Franchesca’s eyes darted to Ryan’s face where she saw no discomfort come to her features. Ryan stared at the cashier’s name tag. It read Karen. Ryan could have laughed her face off at the thought of this stereotype in mainstream judging her in real life. The woman was Caucasian and appeared to be middle-age. Her hair was blonde at the ends but grey at the roots. She possessed tiny piercing blue eyes behind thin-framed glasses, a broad nose, and pink lines for lips. Ryan didn’t want to create a scene and possibly bring bad publicity to Wayne. With her just getting shareholders back in her good graces, she breathed in deeply and exhaled. “We’ve got an army to feed. Thanks for ringing up our stuff, Karen,” Ryan said in a low voice. She looks up into Karen’s eyes and smiles.
The register beeps and Ryan pulls out her golden Wayne credit card. Tapping the chip, the register beeps again, clearing the transaction. Snatching the receipt up Ryan looked at it. “545.75. That’s nothing.” With all 4 carts lined up Ryan grabbed the handle of the first and proceeded to walk out of the store. Sophie, Franchesca, and Frank followed behind her with the other 3 carts. As Ryan approached the curb Sophie saw a car entering the parking lot with some speed, so Sophie ran around her cart and grabbed Ryan by the waist of her jeans.
Sophie turns Ryan around and gives her bottom lip a bite. Ryan quickly covered her face with both hands and breathed in deeply. “Frank, could you excuse us for a second?”
Frank nods “Yes, ma’am.” He looks both ways and steps into the parking lot with his cart. He takes the cart to the Expedition and begins loading in the groceries.
Ryan slowly looks up at Sophie. She’s nervous about the look she’ll get from her girlfriend. Grabbing Sophie’s hands Ryan tilts her head back and sees concern. She exhales and questions, “What did I say to that cashier?”
Sophie rubs Ryan’s wrists and smiles, “I didn’t hear what you said, but Franchesca and the bagger at the end of the register did.”
Franchesca reaches her hand out and places it on Ryan’s shoulder. Ryan sees the giant smile on the girl’s face. She can probably count all 32 of her teeth. “You didn’t curse her out. Thank you for sticking up for me. I don’t–”
“No,” Ryan interjects. Her eyes filled with the same intensity as when she was staring at Karen. “Nothing, and I mean nothing gives that woman the right to say who can or can’t afford to shop there.”
Puffing out her chest Franchesca smiles, “That’s right, my dawg the CEO and ain’t takin’ no lip.”
Ryan’s scowl gradually recedes as she sees how her action excites Franchesca. Back in her group home days she didn’t have even the slightest notion that she could stand up for herself, let alone anyone else. She had been the scourge of society. “Let’s just get you and your groceries back.”
When all the groceries and the group had been packed in it didn’t take long for them to reach their destination. Franchesca happily leapt from the vehicle and sprinted to the trunk. Ryan & Sophie both chuckled at her antics. As the back hatch lifted Raheem came by Franchesca’s side. Raheem grabbed Franchesca’s coat sleeve and pulled lightly. “Aye, yo, you did it!” The portion that was for Oak Hills was quickly unpacked by Sophie, Ryan, Franchesca, & Frank. With still half a mountain of food remaining Raheem was puzzled. “What about the rest of it?” Whispering in his ear Franchesca told Raheem the deal she’d made with Ryan & Sophie. “Dead ass?” he questioned. The boy collapsed into Franchesca’s arms, almost bursting into tears. He quickly gave Ryan & Sophie hugs of appreciation.
With Raheem, his bike, and groceries all packed in the vehicle Ryan & Sophie said their goodbyes to Franchesca. Pulling a small fob from her pocket Ryan hands it to Franchesca. Franchesca looked at the small plastic button and then back to Ryan. Ryan points at the fob, “If you’re ever in trouble press that button,” Ryan says. “But it’s for emergencies only, okay?”
“Okay,” Franchesca smiles. She shoves the fob in her pocket as she sees a few kids with backpacks coming towards them. The group was made up of boys and girls likely to be high school students. “What’s up, y’all?”
A girl smiles back, “Just tryin’ to keep our heads above water out here at Oak Hills.”
“Life just got a little sweeter, Lisa. I need your help putting up groceries inside,” Franchesca smiles.
“Hell, yeah,” Lisa daps Franchesca before hopping up the stoop like she was playing hopscotch.
As the Expedition pulls away from the curb, Sophie whispers in Ryan’s ear. “Did you just give her the emergency locator button Luke just made for you?”
Ryan’s hair whips as she turns to face Sophie and her phone rings. With big eyes she sees Luke’s picture pop on her screen. “Damn, he heard his name.” Ryan presses accept and puts the phone to her ear. “Hey, Luke,” Ryan grins as Sophie begins speaking to Raheem.
“Jada is here looking for you,” Luke almost shouts. “When are you 2 coming back?”