Sarah Finding a Home

By Donna Harrison

At 10 years old, Sarah Weston was brighter beyond her years and looked forward to dying more than most because it would mean no more pain. After the death of her parents when she was seven years old, she already experienced abuse and cruelty from her foster families. But the Quinns almost ended her life if she was not saved by her step-brother Marcus who was also abused by his parents, including his two little sisters. While Sarah was in comatose, Marcus and his sisters found a home filled with unconditional love in their new foster parentswhere they come to know God. In this book, readers can witness how Sarah recovers from her comatose state, becomes stronger by the traumatic experience, finds a new home, feels warmth of a family, and uncovers Gods plans for her life and submits herself to it to become what she should be.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Nov 4, 2011
• ISBN: 9781465388780

Donna Harrison

The story of Sarah is not just an adventure or what could possibly be. But it is about myself in a someways, by her learning what God's plans are for her life I am using those ways from my life. I am a recent Christian and learning everyday more and more what he has in store for me. In future books you will learn more about the ways that Sarah is learning from Jesus and also incorporating what he is teaching me. I think that it is a good way to learn not only in Hope and Dreams that we may have for our selves but more of what he has planned for us in the future.

Book preview

Chapter One

Little Sarah lay there feeling the rain falling upon her, and by the warmth of it, she felt like angels were crying over her to somehow heal her. She knew that this time it would not be long before she could meet her parents and be in heaven within their arms again. For a child of ten, she was brighter beyond her years and looked forward to dying more than most because it would mean no more pain. What she would not realize until later was that the comfort she was feeling were the angels that God was sending down to protect her.

Her long red hair had been cut off because none of the families she had stayed with wanted to deal with it being curly, and the fact that she was a redhead somehow made things worse in their opinion. Her foster families at least fed and clothed her most of the time, but the one she was at now did nothing for her. If she did not get free breakfast and lunch at school, she would never get anything to eat. She would save food from Thursdays and Fridays in order to have something to eat on the weekends.

The oldest child of the family would also share what he could sneak away from the table and bring to her at night. He had already been caught once by Mark, his father, and had beaten Marcus the fifteen-year-old son, with a whip that day. The only reason he did not leave was because of his two sisters and Sarah.

He was not able to protect them all the time and tried his hardest to do so. His sisters meant the world to him, and he knew that he had to protect all three of them. Even though Sarah was not his real sister, in his heart she would be his sister forever and his best friend.

Cara was only seven, and Lisa was only five years old; they had both learned early on to never cry or ask for anything. They talked very little to anyone at school or anywhere else and made sure that no one would ever suspect anything of the abuse at home.

Marcus had been told enough times that if he ever called the cops, Mark would kill them all before they ever got through the front door. His wife, Olive, sat around high most of the time; and even when the case worker came to check on Sarah, she would sit around with them getting drunk and high. So they all knew that no one would ever help them and that someday Marcus would get them all out of there.

Sarah could hear Lisa and Cara next to her and prayed that they were not hurt either. She never did know if God heard her prayers or not but figured that it would not hurt anyway to pray to Him. Even if God never heard her prayers, she knew that her parents would hear the prayers in heaven, and so she always believed that God did listen to her. It was just that her prayers were with a long list of other people, so it was taking longer for Him to hear, is what she always told herself.

Marcus laid Sarah down on the road in the alley and told his sisters to stay with her as he headed for the neighbor’s house. Please you have to call the police and tell them to come around in the alley. She is dying. Tell them no lights or sirens. He will find us if you do and kill all of us.

The woman stood looking at him and went to get her husband. She called the police and asked her husband to go out and protect the children. She handed him the shotgun as he walked out the door and told them get all of them into the house.

Sarah could feel the strong arms around her and, without opening her eyes, knew that someone was going to protect all of them. Without ever doubting, a peace swept through her, like she had never known before, and was convinced that an angel was taking her to heaven. She felt the warmth of blankets around her and heard a woman’s voice that sounded like music. No sound would come out as she fell into a deep sleep and still praying to hear the angel’s voice again that was soothing and comforting touch to her.

Marcus stood back and watched as Sarah was loaded into the ambulance and prayed that he would not lose her. Getting them all out of the house tonight was what had to be done. His father had abused them all, but he knew that tonight if his father had his way, Sarah would be dead.

Marcus turned and watched from the alley as they put both parents in the back of the car, while his father continued to threaten that he would come back and kill them all for this.

Chapter Two

The last thing that he and sisters heard was that it was all their fault for everything and would burn in hell for it, just as he would for what they made him do.

The detective stood back and watched the look on the kids’ faces and did not understand how it was not noticed before and how they got away with it. He walked toward the boy, knowing that he was the one who finally blew the whistle on his own parents.

Hey, guys, why don’t we walk over here out of the way so that I can talk to you for a few minutes? The detective was concerned on how to ask the questions and the details from the older child without the younger children being around.

Marcus walked both his sisters back into the backyard of their home and led them over to the play set, to swing. Now you two stay here while I speak to the police. You will be able to see me at all times. The rain had stopped for awhile now, but the children were still cold even with the blankets that the police had given them.

My name is Detective Eric Hunter, and I will be the one filing the charges on your parents. I need to ask some questions though so that we can make sure that they get the maximum sentencing that is available for them. Eric handed the boy one of his cards.

My name is Marcus Quinn, and it was my parents that hurt Sarah. This time around, it was both of them. She had saved food from school and brought it home. They found her stash and accused her of stealing. When she explained where it came from, they accused her of hiding things from them. Marcus looked down at his tennis shoes, ashamed that he did not do more.

Eric looked at him and knew that this was not new to the kid and saw the bruise on the back of his neck. You do understand that they might come after all of you now if they get you back? It is very important that I get as much information and proof as possible to keep them from all of you.

Marcus kicked a small pebble in front of him out toward the alley. They have beaten all of us and threatened to kill all of us if we ever told. You will find where they have beaten and bruised all of us. The only thing that I worry about now is them separating us. The lady from social services will make sure that we are all separated. She stated so when Sarah told her the first time about it.

Eric raised his eyebrow; he had heard about things like this happening but never had proof until now. He knew that several of the social service people he worked with were really great people and would make sure to call one of them for the kids. Can you give me her name?

Marcus shook his head yes but hesitated, knowing if he told that, she would carry through on her threat of making sure no one would believe him. I won’t say because I cannot risk losing my sisters, but just do me a favor, make sure that the person you get for us is a man, so we don’t have to worry, or at least a woman that is under the age of thirty and does not have dark hair. He looked up at him, hoping that he would understand all of the lead he was going to give him.

Eric let a deep breath and caught everything that the kid was telling him so that it would help his investigations. Is there anything else that you can give me?

You might want to check my parents’ bank records because I know that besides the check from the state, she personally brought a check to them each month that was supposed to be used on Sarah. I saw it once, and it was more than five thousand dollars, but I don’t know where it came from. Marcus left and walked over to his sisters to check on them.

Eric made notes on his pad and watched the three kids as they held on to one another. He also looked down the alley to see a car drive by slowly and looked to see what was going on. He could tell that

Marcus was not lying to him and that they had all been hurt badly by their parents, not just physically but also emotionally. It would take a long time before these kids would trust anyone ever again, and he needed help in making sure that they would stay together.

Eric stood back and waited for social services to show up and saw that is was good old Arnie that had come. He was a good man and always kept a close eye on his kids no matter the number of cases that he had.

Eric walked up to him. These are good kids in a seriously bad situation. They no longer trust any of us and have a right to be afraid. They have been threatened by a social services employee, but we don’t know who or why. So we need to tread lightly here.

Arnold looked over at the kids. I have a good home to take all three of them to tonight. They will get to stay together. The pastor of our church has recently been approved for foster care, and I called them tonight to make sure that they could take three of them in. Is the older brother hostile, or just in protective mode?

Eric looked over at Marcus. He is a good kid from what I can see but seriously scared that someone will take his sisters from him. The other little girl Sarah is in the hospital in a coma, and although not related to them, he called her his sister.

I am not sure if we can get all four of them together, but I will put her in my care and make sure that she is taken care of also. Let’s go and get me introduced. Arnold and Eric walked over to them and reassured all of them that they would be staying together, that Eric would watch the two sisters while he helped Marcus go in the house and pack bags for them.

Marcus was scared to leave them outside, not sure if the cop would take off with them. So they agreed to wait in the living room for him. I will only be a couple of minutes. You sit here, and if anyone tries to make you leave before I come back down, you scream really loud.

Marcus walked upstairs with Arnold to pack up the girls’ things and then his. What about Sarah, what do I do with her stuff? Can I take it with me? So it does not get lost, and I will hold it for her. I know that she probably won’t stay with us, but let me just make sure that nothing happens to it. He knew that his voice sounded like a little child, but he could not lose what is hers; she was his sister too whether they wanted her to be or not.

Arnold looked at the kid and shook his head yes. He had not been told that Sarah would probably never wake up from the coma because she had been beaten so badly. As soon as we find out which home she goes to, I will bring her by for you to say good-bye, and you can give Sara her stuff. I am going to see if we can keep all four of you together, but that is a lot harder than it seems paperwork-wise.

Arnold walked back downstairs and loaded the kids and bags into his car and drove them over to the pastor’s house. He had already explained part of the situation of what had happened and let them know that it was not temporary situation that these kids need stability. When the pastor called back and told him to bring them, that they would keep them for as long as they allowed them to, he prayed a prayer of protect on all of them.

Marcus sat in the front seat of the car and watched as they drove into the middle-class part of town. He kept watching Arnold waiting for him to turn off and go down a few blocks over that would lead them back into the poor side of town, but they stopped in front of a two-story home.

The house was an old colonial home that someone had redone and added onto it. It was huge was all that Marcus could think. He turned and looked at Arnold. Is this temporary?

Arnold smiled back at him. Not as long as you want to stay here. The people that are taking you all three in want you to stay for as long as you want to. He got out of the car and took their bags out of the trunk of the car.

Marcus, Lisa, and Cara walked up to the front of the house. They had driven by places like this and seen them in magazines but never been inside one. He was now even more scared—what if his sisters liked it here, and they kept them but not him? He was even more afraid than ever that he would lose them. Both of them are cute and adorable, but he was just a guy and a teenager; no one would want him at this age.

Michelle was the one that opened the door and had all of them come into the kitchen, where she had food waiting on them. The first thing she noticed was the fear in the boy’s eyes and knew that he would need this more than anyone. Dear Lord, give him peace in the name of Jesus was all that she could think of praying when she saw his face.

Greg got up from the table and walked over to introduce himself to the kids. He did not reach out to them, knowing that his size was enough to scare most people when they saw him. Instead, he got down on one knee and asked the girls about the dolls that they were holding. They all took a step back from him and clung to Marcus as he spoke to him.

I realize that I look like a giant to most people, but I am a good giant. You see, God gave me this great gift of being tall and strong so that I can help Him protect those that need it here on earth. I am six foot seven and weigh about three hundred and fifty pounds. I work out a lot so that I can have good muscles that will work hard for God. He squeezed his muscles to show them and showed them that he was a teddy bear above all else.

Lisa and Cara looked up the woman and could not help but notice that she was not afraid of this man. Cara was the one that spoke up first. Does he ever get mean and hit you?

Michelle’s heart just about broke right then and there but had to clear her throat before answering the child. No, and he has never had to hit anyone in his life. You see, God made him that way so that a look can be intimidating enough so that they do not mess with him. Those that have tried to fight him just because he is bigger than them, well, he just turns and smiles at them and then walks away.

All three kids looked at her in disbelief that he would never hurt them. They then looked at the table and saw the food, realizing that none of them had eaten since breakfast, and realized that they were really hungry.

Lisa was the next one to speak up. Can I have a piece of bread please?

Michelle shook her head yes and watched as Lisa reached the table and took a piece of bread. You can have more than that if you want it. You see the dinner on the table is for all of you, and you can have as much of it as you like.

They all looked at each other. It was more food than they would usually see in just one day. The gallon of milk, juice, chicken nuggets, fruit, bread, french fries, and ketchup. Marcus was the one to lead them to the table and set them down.

He carefully put food on each of the girl’s plates, watching out of the corner of his eyes to make sure that no one was upset if he gave a lot of food to the girls. He reached for the milk to give them both a glass, and Lisa was the one to stop him. It’s not Saturday, and we are only allowed to have it in the morning with breakfast. Marcus looked over at Michelle, hoping that she would understand and help him.

Michelle walked over and took it from his hand and poured all three of them full glasses. In this house, you follow my rules. You can have up to three glasses of milk per day and all the juice that you want. Anytime that you are hungry, you just ask, and I will give you a snack or a full meal, if that is what you want. You will never want for food, clothes, or anything else that you want.

Marcus ate very little that night. He was more worried about Sarah and wish he knew how to check on her. But he was worried that somehow it would change things and hurt the new living conditions that they all had. He needed to know that she would be okay, but right now, he had to make sure his sisters here with him now were okay too.

Greg was the one to show them upstairs to the bedrooms and explained that they could all take showers or just go to bed, whatever

they wanted, because he knew it had been long night for all of them. He pulled Marcus aside first before he left the room. We don’t know everything, but we know enough of what you all have been put through. If the girls need you stay in the bedroom with them for a couple of weeks so that they feel safe, that is okay. I can get some extra blankets, and you can make a pallet on the floor for them.

Marcus was shocked that he would even understand it but never let his face show it. Thank you, sir. I think they would feel safer that way for a while at least. Is it all right that I give them baths in the morning? I can wash the sheets tomorrow so that they will be clean again.

Greg’s heart broke in two with the realization that this child was the one that was raising them all this time. That is fine for now, but if you can help them to trust Michelle so that she can give them the baths. Not that I think anything bad about you doing it, but they are getting older now and would be a little more proper if a girl were to do it.

Marcus shook his head yes, that he understood what he was saying. When I give them a bath now, they wash themselves, and I only wash their hair. Marcus went in the bedroom and helped the girls fold the clothes and put on their night clothes, although they were really only his old T-shirts that they used, and he wore shorts and a T-shirt. The girls fell asleep quickly that night after he tucked them in, while Marcus stayed awake, worried about Sarah.

Michelle and Greg stayed up for another hour, talking and praying together for God to lead them where they were to go to teach the children of Him and also show that they were protected. It would take a lot of patience and praying about everything for the children and also making plans for the next day.

Arnold had brought emergency credit cards with a thousand dollars on each one for the children so that they could go shopping the next day for whatever was needed. He would have their insurance rushed through so that doctor appointments could be made along with seeing a dentist. They would not be enrolled in school this week until they found out if the parents would be let out on bond. With it being Friday night, they would not even see a judge until Monday; so at least for a couple of days, no one would know where they were.

Saturday came bright and early for Marcus as the girls woke him up. Lisa was the one that he found tickling his feet to wake him up; he had always told them that it made him wake up in a good mood.

Okay, Lisa, I am awake. Marcus rolled over on his side to look at his two sisters. I suppose that you both want your baths and that you are hungry.

Both girls shook their heads yes, as they quietly headed for the bathroom that was connected with their bedroom and the one next door to them. They laughed and played quietly; he found shampoo and even bubble bath for them use.

They waited back in the bedroom as Marcus jumped in the shower himself very quickly. He was used to taking only about ten-minute showers, not leaving them alone for any reason when he could. After getting dressed, he stripped the beds and went downstairs to put them in the washer.

I am not sure if anyone else is awake, so let’s be quiet so that we do not awake Michelle and Greg. He had already decided that when he turned sixteen, he would need to get a part-time job, so that when he was eighteen, he could get a lawyer and get custody of his sisters. Only two years would be all the time that he had to get enough money together for a car, a lawyer, and enough to support them all.

If they are still asleep, we can go outside in the backyard and play until they are up and ask for breakfast then, but we have to be quiet because it is still early. Marcus looked at the clock, and it was eight o’clock, which was early by his parents’ standards but not sure by the Sanders’ time if it was or not.

Chapter Three

Marcus took both downstairs and into the kitchen and found Michelle in there making pancakes on a stove. I stripped the girls’ beds, and if you can show me where the washer is, I can get them started. Then I can take them outside and play until you are ready for us?

Michelle turned and looked at them, smiling as she spoke. Actually this is the last of it. If all of you will sit down at the table, we can eat as soon as I finish this batch. If you open that door over there, you can just put them on top of the washer, and I will get them done after breakfast.

Marcus looked at her, unsure, figuring that last night’s eating at the table was just a one-time thing. He put the girls on either side of him at the table so that they would be close to him.

Both of the girls put napkins on their laps and laid their hand on them while waiting to be told that they could eat. They both kept waiting and looking at Marcus to let them know it was okay to eat.

Greg helped Michelle put the rest of the food on the table. They were not sure what the kids would eat or even like. So pancakes, fruit, and milk were the safest things that they could come up with.

Greg sat down at the head of the table. In this house, we pray before we eat and thank God for our food and all that he has provided us for. I am not sure if you have ever prayed, and that is okay if you have not. But if you just bow your heads while I do so, and when I say amen, then we can all eat. Greg waited to make sure that children understood. His voice was kind and soothing as he spoke to the children.

Michelle reached for Greg’s hand while he prayed and did not reach for the children’s so that she would not scare them with the close affection. Something told her that the only affection these children had ever known was from each other and never a loving adult.

Lord, thank you for the day you brought to us and for the children that you have brought to us. Thank you for the food that you have provided for all us and help us to know the needs of the children and what they want this day, and let it all be a blessing through you. Amen. Greg let go of Michelle’s hand, reached for the milk to give to the girls, and let Michelle ask each one what they wanted.

Greg noticed that Marcus was not reaching for anything on the table. Marcus, you can get what you want, and if you don’t want something on here, then that is okay too, eat what you want. Greg cut into his pancake as he watched Marcus finally take a couple of pancakes and fruit. Make sure that you guys eat as much as you want because we have to go shopping today and will eat lunch later on today.

After eating breakfast, Marcus took the girls outside to play on the swing set, while he went back in to clean the kitchen. He was not sure if he was supposed to or not but thought he might better just in case.

Marcus, would you mind going in and talking to Greg for a minute? He is going to need your help with something while I clean the kitchen. Michelle smiled and finished loading the dishwasher.

Marcus went into the living room where Greg was watching a football game on TV. Marcus, we need to take all of you shopping today for clothes and whatever else that you need or want. But you see I am afraid that the girls will not tell us if they like something or not, and I was wondering if you could make them understand that they will not get in trouble if they don’t like something, or if they really want something, then we will get it for them. You see, Arnold gave us these cards that have a thousand dollars each for all of you on them, and they are only good for thirty days, so we need to use them as much as possible.

Marcus stood looking at him as if there was some catch to all of this. Why would Arnold give them three thousand dollars to spend on them? I don’t understand. My parents don’t have that kind of money to spend, all of theirs was used on drugs. Including the money that the social worker brought specifically for Sarah each month.

Greg took a deep breath and needed to get this child to understand quickly that everything that he had learned in the past was useless because it was a new life for all of them. The state of California provides the money for you kids, and what they don’t cover, then Michelle and I will pay for. It does not matter what you need or even want anymore because one way or another, it will be taken care of, and you will not owe anyone anything.

Marcus looked at him with a questioning look. But when my parents take us back, all they will do is either sell it all or destroy it.

Michelle walked in the room behind them as she heard the comment. "Your parents are never