Shirley wanted to minimize disrupting Kit’s life but her decision was made; she would follow her husband to San Jose, CA. Additionally, she’d been a virtual single parent for most of Kit’s life, and felt it was high time that Melvin took some responsibility for raising their child. She approached him and Maxine with a proposed compromise. She asked if Kit could live with them until she finished high school. The plan was for Kit to spend the school year in Pittsburg, and the school breaks in California.

Maxine was thrilled to have Kit live with them, especially since it meant that the sisters would not be separated for extended periods of time. Although Kit understood that Maxine was one of the reasons for her parent’s divorce there was no resentment towards the woman. She’d seen how much happier her mother was now with Joe and Maxine couldn’t have been a better step-mother. The adults were not exactly friends but Joe and Melvin got along, and Maxine and Shirley put any animosity aside for the well-being of their children. There were no aunts or uncles or grandparents or cousins so the six of them was really all the family they had.

***

The arrangement seemed to be going well for the first few months but Kit hadn’t counted on the emotional toll of being separated from her mother. They talked or did video-conferences every day when Kit got home from school. They shared pictures and made plans for Kit’s first visit. Shirley had waited to decorate Kit’s room so the teen could make it her own, and not feel like a guest. Her mother wanted to make sure Kit felt that she had a home in California especially when she complained about how strict Melvin was, and all the rules and disciplines he had imposed. Shirley left it entirely up to Kit should she change her mind about leaving her life in Pittsburgh and moving to California. Some days the teen was ready to pack her bags and other days she was having the best time of her life.

Kit was a natural born entertainer. She loved performing arts and had joined the drama club in her freshman year. She was a fine actor but her true talent was singing. In the tenth grade her music teacher encouraged her and a few of the other talented musicians to start a rock and roll band with Kit as their lead singer. They played in talent shows and as their popularity grew they even scored a few paying gigs around town. After getting that exposure Kit pretty much decided that she wanted to pursue a musical career.