30 September 2026, Freewriters Community Daily Writing Prompt Day 3242: foster

“Hi, Mama Cynthia – I'm so glad you got the things I sent you.”

Capt. R.E. and Mrs. Thalia Ludlow were careful not to cut their grandchildren whom they had adopted off from the good foster parents they had known, and six-year-old Grayson Ludlow's good foster parent, Cynthia Stafford, had seen the little builder in him and gotten him lots of blocks. Grayson was deeply attached to her, and the Ludlow grandparents had received her as extended family. She called and got on Zoom quite often with Grayson, and the other Ludlow grandchildren had warmed up to her as well.

But to Grayson, Mama Cynthia was someone to whom he sent good white-crayon-on-blue-construction-paper blueprints and spoons he made as he was learning clay and pictures he drew of his friends the little Trents and Stepforths in addition to his own family. He always hand wrote a letter to go with all that, and she always called or Zoomed with him to let him know she got his package so they could talk about all the things.

“He actually talks to Mama Cynthia,” eleven-year-old Eleanor Ludlow said, “and if Grayson actually talks to you, you know he loves you.”

Every three months, Mama Cynthia sent Grayson pictures of the most interesting buildings she had seen, and sometimes stayed on the Zoom to watch Grayson create Lego versions of those buildings.

“She still sees me,” Grayson said, “and when I build a real building, I'm going to make one called the Cynthia Stafford Building where kids who build can be seen.”