Something Like Home

Laura checks off the list of tasks Sparrow has already accomplished effectively. He always accepts strangers on walks, can follow the commands for sit and come, and has a great appearance due to Laura’s grooming.

Benson returns to school. Laura and him eat lunch together, but he is quiet and moody. Laura asks if he’s still in pain, but Benson denies this. When she says he doesn’t have his usual spark, he replies that maybe she can’t see his “spark” because they aren’t really friends. Before she can react, Benson walks away.

Laura thinks that Benson is acting dramatic. She’s been the best friend possible, even visiting him with Sparrow and getting grounded for it. Benson is the only one who knows about her family situation. Laura decides she’d rather eat alone than deal with his drama.

When Laura gets home, she is still upset about Benson. Silvia asks her what is wrong, but Laura snaps that she doesn’t care and would normally be asleep anyway. Silvia explains that when Laura comments about her being uncaring, it hurts her feelings; she is doing her best.

She tells Silvia about her conflict with Benson. Through talking with Silvia, she realizes calling him a temporary friend hurt his feelings.

Laura apologizes for hurting Silvia’s feelings. With her many life changes lately, she doesn’t know how to act or how to accept change. Silvia comforts her.

Laura calls Benson via her laptop video chat. He doesn’t answer, so Laura records a message for him. She apologizes for hurting his feelings, complimenting him for being a great friend. She didn’t mean to hurt him, but she must keep hoping that her parents will return soon.

The next day at school, Benson thanks Laura for her message. He spoke with his mom, who told him to take their friendship slow. They resolve the conflict.

When Laura asks for his help with Sparrow’s training, Benson is enthusiastic. He also thinks Sparrow would be an awesome therapy dog. His dog, Zelda, already passed her Good Citizen Test for fun. He writes down his mom’s number, encouraging Laura to ask her aunt for a hangout with their dogs.

Laura writes another letter to her parents. She admits she misses them terribly. Silvia bought her pretty bird stationary, which she thinks her parents will like too. Laura writes about enjoying the process of writing to them, hoping they might try it too.

She reveals her plan to make Sparrow a therapy dog. With Benson’s help, they should be trained and ready to see her parents soon. Laura instructs them not to tell Janet about this plan.

Instead of Janet, a new woman named Brenda comes to the house. She is Laura’s Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA). Brenda works to ensure Laura’s thoughts, feelings, and needs are met.

Brenda asks Silvia about family therapy, but she hasn’t discussed it with Laura yet. Laura thinks therapy is pointless since she won’t be living with Silvia for much longer, but Brenda insists therapy is valuable. She recommends a therapist with a therapy dog.

Given Brenda’s therapist referral, Laura can tell Silvia snitched on her about Sparrow training for therapy. She asks about calling her mom, and Brenda explains they have a Family Partnership Meeting on Monday, where they’ll gather more insight. Laura’s anger increases. She demands to be included in the meeting, upset they didn’t think to even mention it.

Brenda will try to get Laura accepted to the meeting, since she’s probably old enough. Laura’s anger grows until Sparrow places his head on her lap. With Sparrow calming her down, she thanks Brenda.

Silvia doesn’t think it will be healthy for Laura to attend the meeting, but Brenda denies this. She is Laura’s advocate, so she speaks up for what is best for Laura, even if others disagree.

Laura and Silvia have a quiet dinner. She is still shocked and frustrated that Silvia wasn’t going to tell her about the meeting with her parents. Laura feels no control over her life.

Before going to her room, she asks Silvia about hanging out with Benson for a dog playdate. She should focus on her goal.

Benson’s house is nice. He has two kind parents, a sister, and a fenced-in yard for the dogs to play. Laura shows Benson the list of tasks for the therapy dog test. They practice the stay command with Sparrow, but he’s distracted by playing with Zelda.

Laura thinks this is the easiest, least-stressful hangout she’s ever experienced, just two kids and their dogs. She smiles a lot. Benson suggests that next time his mom can take them to the park to practice Sparrow’s work with strangers.

Laura admits to herself that she will miss Benson a lot. Since his past friends left him too, she thinks of how to get them back together. She believes that nothing is ever too broken to be fixed.

Though Laura wants to reunite Benson with past friends, she hasn’t spoken to her friends since moving out. Still, the idea of the conversation makes her stressed. She wonders if the girls would forgive her. She imagines Silvia driving her back to Crenwood so she can explain and apologize to them.

On Monday, Laura doesn’t attend school. Brenda got her into the Family Partnership Meeting. She’s extremely nervous for the meeting. Laura wonders if her parents haven’t written her back because they’re too upset and blame her for getting locked in rehab.

Laura and Silvia attend the meeting in a conference room. A team of other adults from social services and organizations are in attendance to support Laura and her family. A woman named Sophie, the mediator, will lead the call. She has a speakerphone in front of her.

When Sophie calls the rehab facility, the phone rings for a while. The staff member who answers asks to be taken off speakerphone for a discussion. The adults eye each other, and Laura’s anxiety increases. She can tell something is wrong.

After the call, Sophie explains that Laura’s parents won’t be attending. They checked out of rehab an hour prior to the call. Laura thinks they may come in person, but Silvia’s serious face communicates otherwise.

The adults talk about the next steps. Since Laura’s parents didn’t complete rehab, the team modifies the original plan to include an option where Laura stays with Silvia permanently.

Laura is overwhelmed. She dashes out of the room, not caring about anyone’s thoughts or reactions. Brenda joins her in the hall and hugs her. Laura sobs immediately.

Brenda holds Laura close and talks to her softly. She explains that optional plans are normal and are just “backup” in case her parents don’t complete rehab.

Laura tries to comprehend, but as she cries, she feels more guilt. The biggest decision of her life—calling 911 to save her parents—had dire consequences. She doubts she will ever trust herself to make decisions.

Once she calms down, Laura returns to the meeting with Brenda at her side. The adults discuss the new plan, though Laura is upset that they don’t believe in her parents. Maybe Mom and Dad had a good reason for leaving rehab. Maybe they’ll go back soon. Laura still has faith in her parents, so the other adults should too.

Laura writes a letter pleading with her parents to go back to rehab or tell Janet they’re better. If they didn’t need to be at Harmonic Way anymore, they could explain and come back to get Laura. She writes “please” many times, asking them not to abandon her. Since her parents left rehab, she doesn’t know the address to send a letter now.

At dinner one night, Silvia discusses family therapy. She thinks it would help her and Laura communicate better and become closer. Laura retorts that Silvia isn’t her mom and refuses to go to therapy. She thinks her parents left rehab because they missed her too much. She takes Sparrow to her room and locks the door.

In her room, Laura kicks her backpack, which scares Sparrow. He hides in her closet. She yells at him, thinking he hates her now too. Sparrow cowers, whimpers, and puts his tail between his legs. She scolds Sparrow that he was supposed to be the key to her parents, so now she doesn’t need him. Sparrow simply gives her his puppy eyes.

Laura kicks her backpack harder. She knows she should apologize to her dog, but she gets into bed alone.

When Laura wakes up at two o’clock in the morning. Sparrow sleeps by her bed. He normally sleeps with her, but she’s touched that he wants to be near her after her verbal attack. She apologizes to him and cries. Sparrow licks her tears.

The videos about rehab feature adults and look boring. Laura wants to know how some people like Benson can take pain pills and be fine, but her parents got addicted. She wishes someone could tell her when her parents will recover and come back.

In class, Laura is assigned to be Brayan’s math partner. She notices his shirt has baseball on it, Benson’s favorite sport, so she talks to him about Benson. Brayan gets uncomfortable, saying they used to play ball together and were friends in the past but don’t talk much anymore.