I couldn't see Hope today because she had to be restrained two times last night. That's her anger rearing its ugly head again.

But the drama continues because Elia, my cleaning lady, came today. She walked in crying and told me that her 14-year-old daughter didn't show up for summer school one day last week and due to Elia's broken English, I'm not sure exactly what transpired, but this was the gist of it. The uncle, Elia's brother, learned that Joanna had been going off with a 25-year-old man who she described as her boyfriend. The police were called (still not sure what happened with that) but Elia asked Joanna if she'd had sex with him, and she answered yes. So they took her to the hospital for testing and I didn't really get how that went. But the bottom line was that Joanna was with her, still waiting in the car, and was it okay with me if she came in. Well, of course I said yes.

I needed to go to Target , so asked Joanna if she wanted to ride with me. She reluctantly agreed, but we chatted a bit in the car and after I finished my shopping, we stopped in Starbucks to get a drink. I tried to talk to her, but had to be very careful. Not surprisingly, she was very polite and answered my innocuous questions, but all I really got from her was that she can't talk to her mother and she's having boy problems. I decided not to push it because I really didn't blame her... she barely knows me. When we got back she helped her mother a bit, but Elia had told me she's very bored at home because her phone has been taken away as well as any other privileges she had. So I showed her my coloring books and she loved it! I gave her one book and the colored pencils to take home and told her that I hope she comes back next time. Elia hugged me hard with tears in her eyes and told me she loves me as they left. God, I wish I could save the world.