White Oleander
...ately removed and placed in a second home, the home of Ed and Marble Turlock. At this home, she was treated like a slave. She was forced to clean and baby-sit, and was never shown any affection, and was never introduced to anyone. This is a prime example of emotional neglect. Wallace describes neglect as “the negligent treatment of child by a parent or caretaker under circumstances indicating harm or threatened harm to the child’s health or welfare.” Astrid makes friends with a black neighbor, Olivia Johnston, Marble condemns as a hooker. When Marble finds that Astrid is friends with her, Marble beats her up, and she once again gets moved. Astrid finds out at school that her bags are already packed for her. She didn’t have a chance to say any goodbyes. The next house was a big house. Amelia, the foster mother took in girls as slaves, and when she would leave, she would lock the refrigerator, and there was only one phone which no one could use. She had no money or means of getting food or help. There was only one phone in the house and it was inaccessible to Astrid. At school she would rummage through garbage cans to find food, and was humiliated by other school kids, so she stopped going to school. This is a form of neglect. Astrid begged change out in front of a liquor store and got enough money to call her social worker and she was removed from the home. Astrid continued to visit her mother in prison. Ingrid was not happy about other people having control over her daughter; what she wears, how she thinks, etc. Ingrid tried to keep control over Astrid through letters she would write to Astrid. Astrid was then sent to McKinney Hall, which is the equivalent of the Bay Area’s Children’s Shelter. Astrid’s social worker said there were too many children to find homes at the moment, so Astrid would have to stay there till something opened up. Astrid got in a fight her first day there because a girl claimed Astrid was staring at her boyfriend. Astrid, in retaliation, threatened to kill the girl at knife point if she touched her again. After this incident, Astrid cut off all her hair. She most likely did this because she felt her beauty was the problem in her last two homes, or because she wanted to separate herself from her mother. Many rape victims have the same response to an event. They figure if they make themselves undesirable nothing else will happen to them. It is here at the Hall that Astrid met her future boyfriend Paul. Astrid was sent to the home of Claire and Mark. Claire couldn't have children and loved Astrid as her own. She was behind Astrid all the way with her goals, like drawing and painting. Claire is an actress who has a history of depression, and Mark is away on business for long periods of time. Claire genuinely loved Astrid and she was happy with Claire and Mark. This had been the longest time Astrid had been in a home. It was Mark’s idea to adopt a child to keep Claire company, and from becoming depressed, while he was on his business trips. Claire and Ingrid start writing each other and soon after decide to meet. Astrid is not happy about this because she knows that her mother is jealous of the relationship Claire and Astrid have. During the meeting of Ingrid and Claire, Ingrid, being her manipulative self, convinces Claire to be outspoken to her husband Mark about her suspicions of an affair. Later that evening Claire and Mark got in a fight and Mark threatened to leave her if she didn’t send Astrid back. Astrid heard this and refused to talk to Claire out of anger. Astrid goes to check on Claire because Mark decides to divorce her. Claire is lying in bed drinking. Astrid jumps into bed with Claire to keep her company and they fall asleep. When Astrid wakes up, she finds Claire unconscious and not breathing. Beside the bed were pills Claire had taken. Astrid was angry at her mother because she felt Ingrid had a hand in Claire’s death. When Claire killed herself, Ron couldn't take care of her. Astrid felt distant from everyone and made it a point to be so. She felt that everyone she gets close to gets hurt. Astrid was sent back to McKinney Hall. Here Paul befriends her again and is happy to see her. Astrid refuses to talk to him. She went to prison to visit her mother and tell her that she is never coming back. Astrid is angry at her mother for trying to ruin everything good that she has. Ingrid said that she’d rather see her in foster hell than living with Claire, because it would make her a better person, and more independent. While in the Hall Astrid rejects all nice families that come to adopt her, and opts for the worst person there. She gets adopted by a woman named Rina where there are ...