Chanté
Started: February 25, 2010
Finished: January 2, 2011
For: robin1961, S is for Sad/Scared. (Adam/Kris)
Summary: Adam adopts a little girl from Haiti.
It was all Kris's fault.
But that wasn't a bad thing. In a way, Kris was responsible for the most beautiful thing that ever happened to Adam. And right now, Adam was staring into the most amazing dark brown eyes of his new little girl.
Kris had been the one to go to Haiti and help with the relief. Kris had been the one to come back with the stories of how many Haitian children were available for adoption before the quake, and how that number had risen to a staggering amount in the coming years. He hadn't just gone once, but multiple times, doing what he could to get actually help the country in their recovery. Kris had been the one to adopt 9-year-old Jesse, adding to his little family with wife, Katy and biological son, 3-year-old Kaleb.
Adam hadn't ever expected to adopt as a single man, but the more he thought about it, the more it seemed right. He knew that he wouldn't be raising the kid alone, really. He had a huge support system. Not the least of which were Kris and Katy, Allison, and many other friends he had come to rely on.
Chanté. It was an appropriate name if there ever was one. It was Creole for "to sing", and honest-to-God, it was the name she came with. Adam had no plans to change it. Chanté was five, but small for her age - at least Adam thought so. He hadn't really been around that many kids. But he had done everything required of him to be able to take home his little girl. He went to classes, meetings, waded through endless paperwork, and even studied up extra on things like trauma in small children, attachment disorders, and other unknowns and less-discussed aspects of adopting. He had visited Haiti every year since the earthquake. Now she was finally home, where she belonged.
On the slightly negative side (but only if you chose to look at it that way) was the fact that Chanté had to be physically attached to Adam at every minute. Also, that Adam was stuck trying to understand Creole, her beautiful island language (which struck him as a strange combination of French, Spanish and African.) Those were things that made Adam's life a bit more difficult.
But the positives far outweighed the negatives. Like, the fact that he wasn't just Adam anymore. Now, he was Daddy to the most amazing little girl, with eyes like a midnight sky and skin the color of fresh coffee. She was captivating to stare at and adorable to listen to, as he talked about her poupe - the doll that Adam had given her.
Adam had done his best to keep things low key for the first, on advice from Kris and Katy. He let her explore the house the first few days, made sure she felt comfortable. He helped her get used to new food.
But the first time he heard her screaming at night, and didn't know how to comfort her, it was too awful for words. He knew about as much Creole as she knew English. He heard her desperate words and translated them slowly.
"Prese prese! Atansyon! Souple! Anmwe!"
Hurry.
Watch out.
Please.
Help.
He was out of bed in time to see her unlock the front door deftly in her sleep and dart out into the yard. Adam chased her, hoping she didn't run into the street. He was stunned when instead, she dropped to the ground in her Princess and the Frog pajamas, big enough for a 3-year-old and covered her head.
"Chanté? It's okay..." he reassured softly, but she screamed and shuddered, wrenching away from his touch. Adam rocked back on his heels. He had no idea how she still remembered the terror she experienced as a toddler. She had only been with him a few weeks. She had screamed in her sleep before, but had never gotten up like this.
Adam wracked his brain for the appropriate question in Creole. "Sa k'genyen? What's the matter?"
But she didn't respond. Only screamed and called for her mother until Adam was sure his heart would break.
As a final effort, Adam tried to pick Chanté up and carry her inside, but she came alive fighting and screaming - she even bit him - sounding terrified enough to raise the hair up on Adam's arms.
--
"Kris?"
In a second, Kris was awake. The sound of a screaming child had that effect on him. "What is it?"
"I don't know what to do..." Adam said, sounding a little hoarse. "She just got up and started screaming. She's out in my front yard, and won't let me take her back inside. She's totally in Creole mode and I don't know how to help her... God, Kris, she unlocked my door and everything!"
"Sounds like it's time to get a higher lock..." Kris mused, despite the fact that his own heart was racing. Jesse had endured nightmares, too, and still did. Kaleb's last nightmare was about a snake that lived under his dresser and came out to bite people. But neither of his sons had been through a natural disaster.
"Kris..." Adam said again as Chanté dissolved into sobs.
"Put the phone up to her ear."
Though it made the sound of her sadness louder, Kris resolved to do this. He had been to Haiti many times. Knew that the way they coped with tragedy differed from Americans. They sang. They danced. They sought comfort from their ministers. Adam knew this, too, of course, but Adam was also personally involved. It was his daughter who had survived not only the earthquake but the consequent hunger, dehydration and outbreak of diseases. So, Kris got out of bed, found his guitar and started to sing softly.
It was a worship song he had heard done in Haiti - in Creole actually - but he recognized its English roots. He laid the phone on the table and sang.
"You are my strength when I am weak. You are the treasure that I seek. You are my all in all. Seeking you as a precious jewel. Lord, to give up, I'd be a fool. You are my all in all. Taking my sin, my cross, my shame. Rising again, I bless your name. You are my all in all. When I fall down, you pick me up. When I am dry, you fill my cup. You are my all in all."
Kris jumped, feeling the couch give a little beside him. Jesse leaned against him.
"Chanté?" he asked quietly and Kris nodded.
Wordlessly, Jesse picked up the phone and put it to his own ear, bravely listening to the sounds of another child's nightmare. Softly, he started to sing. His voice hoarse and low.
"Jesus. Lamb of God. Worthy is your name."
--
Adam watched, stunned as Chanté relaxed, and started searching blindly - not for her mother, but for him. He didn't care if it was a Christian song or Haitian that brought his daughter peace, he just wanted her to feel safe.
"Daddy?" she asked in a tiny voice, sounding lost, but not so afraid.
"I'm right here. Thanks, you guys," he said, hanging up the call.
--
"Thanks, Jess. That was cool of you. Sorry I woke you up," Kris apologized.
Jesse shrugged, seeming more and more like an Allen every day. "No problem. She's my cousin, practically. You have to help family, right?"
"Come on. Let's go to bed." Kris urged, picking up Jesse and carrying him to his room. "Goodnight. I love you."
"Daddy?" Jesse called, and Kris's heart skipped a beat. He still wasn't used to hearing that word come from those lips.
"Yeah?"
"Thanks for taking me in," Jesse said seriously.
"It was our pleasure," Kris answered.
--
"Come on, sweetie. You ready for bed?" Adam coaxed, picking up Chanté and carrying her inside.
"With you," she said, burying her face in his neck, still trembling.
"Absolutely. Always, with me," he promised, and gave her a kiss.
Finished: January 2, 2011
For: robin1961, S is for Sad/Scared. (Adam/Kris)
Summary: Adam adopts a little girl from Haiti.
It was all Kris's fault.
But that wasn't a bad thing. In a way, Kris was responsible for the most beautiful thing that ever happened to Adam. And right now, Adam was staring into the most amazing dark brown eyes of his new little girl.
Kris had been the one to go to Haiti and help with the relief. Kris had been the one to come back with the stories of how many Haitian children were available for adoption before the quake, and how that number had risen to a staggering amount in the coming years. He hadn't just gone once, but multiple times, doing what he could to get actually help the country in their recovery. Kris had been the one to adopt 9-year-old Jesse, adding to his little family with wife, Katy and biological son, 3-year-old Kaleb.
Adam hadn't ever expected to adopt as a single man, but the more he thought about it, the more it seemed right. He knew that he wouldn't be raising the kid alone, really. He had a huge support system. Not the least of which were Kris and Katy, Allison, and many other friends he had come to rely on.
Chanté. It was an appropriate name if there ever was one. It was Creole for "to sing", and honest-to-God, it was the name she came with. Adam had no plans to change it. Chanté was five, but small for her age - at least Adam thought so. He hadn't really been around that many kids. But he had done everything required of him to be able to take home his little girl. He went to classes, meetings, waded through endless paperwork, and even studied up extra on things like trauma in small children, attachment disorders, and other unknowns and less-discussed aspects of adopting. He had visited Haiti every year since the earthquake. Now she was finally home, where she belonged.
On the slightly negative side (but only if you chose to look at it that way) was the fact that Chanté had to be physically attached to Adam at every minute. Also, that Adam was stuck trying to understand Creole, her beautiful island language (which struck him as a strange combination of French, Spanish and African.) Those were things that made Adam's life a bit more difficult.
But the positives far outweighed the negatives. Like, the fact that he wasn't just Adam anymore. Now, he was Daddy to the most amazing little girl, with eyes like a midnight sky and skin the color of fresh coffee. She was captivating to stare at and adorable to listen to, as he talked about her poupe - the doll that Adam had given her.
Adam had done his best to keep things low key for the first, on advice from Kris and Katy. He let her explore the house the first few days, made sure she felt comfortable. He helped her get used to new food.
But the first time he heard her screaming at night, and didn't know how to comfort her, it was too awful for words. He knew about as much Creole as she knew English. He heard her desperate words and translated them slowly.
"Prese prese! Atansyon! Souple! Anmwe!"
Hurry.
Watch out.
Please.
Help.
He was out of bed in time to see her unlock the front door deftly in her sleep and dart out into the yard. Adam chased her, hoping she didn't run into the street. He was stunned when instead, she dropped to the ground in her Princess and the Frog pajamas, big enough for a 3-year-old and covered her head.
"Chanté? It's okay..." he reassured softly, but she screamed and shuddered, wrenching away from his touch. Adam rocked back on his heels. He had no idea how she still remembered the terror she experienced as a toddler. She had only been with him a few weeks. She had screamed in her sleep before, but had never gotten up like this.
Adam wracked his brain for the appropriate question in Creole. "Sa k'genyen? What's the matter?"
But she didn't respond. Only screamed and called for her mother until Adam was sure his heart would break.
As a final effort, Adam tried to pick Chanté up and carry her inside, but she came alive fighting and screaming - she even bit him - sounding terrified enough to raise the hair up on Adam's arms.
--
"Kris?"
In a second, Kris was awake. The sound of a screaming child had that effect on him. "What is it?"
"I don't know what to do..." Adam said, sounding a little hoarse. "She just got up and started screaming. She's out in my front yard, and won't let me take her back inside. She's totally in Creole mode and I don't know how to help her... God, Kris, she unlocked my door and everything!"
"Sounds like it's time to get a higher lock..." Kris mused, despite the fact that his own heart was racing. Jesse had endured nightmares, too, and still did. Kaleb's last nightmare was about a snake that lived under his dresser and came out to bite people. But neither of his sons had been through a natural disaster.
"Kris..." Adam said again as Chanté dissolved into sobs.
"Put the phone up to her ear."
Though it made the sound of her sadness louder, Kris resolved to do this. He had been to Haiti many times. Knew that the way they coped with tragedy differed from Americans. They sang. They danced. They sought comfort from their ministers. Adam knew this, too, of course, but Adam was also personally involved. It was his daughter who had survived not only the earthquake but the consequent hunger, dehydration and outbreak of diseases. So, Kris got out of bed, found his guitar and started to sing softly.
It was a worship song he had heard done in Haiti - in Creole actually - but he recognized its English roots. He laid the phone on the table and sang.
"You are my strength when I am weak. You are the treasure that I seek. You are my all in all. Seeking you as a precious jewel. Lord, to give up, I'd be a fool. You are my all in all. Taking my sin, my cross, my shame. Rising again, I bless your name. You are my all in all. When I fall down, you pick me up. When I am dry, you fill my cup. You are my all in all."
Kris jumped, feeling the couch give a little beside him. Jesse leaned against him.
"Chanté?" he asked quietly and Kris nodded.
Wordlessly, Jesse picked up the phone and put it to his own ear, bravely listening to the sounds of another child's nightmare. Softly, he started to sing. His voice hoarse and low.
"Jesus. Lamb of God. Worthy is your name."
--
Adam watched, stunned as Chanté relaxed, and started searching blindly - not for her mother, but for him. He didn't care if it was a Christian song or Haitian that brought his daughter peace, he just wanted her to feel safe.
"Daddy?" she asked in a tiny voice, sounding lost, but not so afraid.
"I'm right here. Thanks, you guys," he said, hanging up the call.
--
"Thanks, Jess. That was cool of you. Sorry I woke you up," Kris apologized.
Jesse shrugged, seeming more and more like an Allen every day. "No problem. She's my cousin, practically. You have to help family, right?"
"Come on. Let's go to bed." Kris urged, picking up Jesse and carrying him to his room. "Goodnight. I love you."
"Daddy?" Jesse called, and Kris's heart skipped a beat. He still wasn't used to hearing that word come from those lips.
"Yeah?"
"Thanks for taking me in," Jesse said seriously.
"It was our pleasure," Kris answered.
--
"Come on, sweetie. You ready for bed?" Adam coaxed, picking up Chanté and carrying her inside.
"With you," she said, burying her face in his neck, still trembling.
"Absolutely. Always, with me," he promised, and gave her a kiss.