Part 7

Part 7

I was so excited I thought I was going to cry. Walking slowly up the stairs to this large wrap around porch, the door opens before my case worker had a chance to knock. Three children walked out on the porch followed by a man and a woman I assume to be their parents. She introduced me to them with a smile. These people, children included didn’t look happy about my arrival. They actually looked really sad.

“I love your home.” I said, trying to break the ice.

“You are a child, you speak when you’re spoken too.” The gentleman said, stepping into my personal space.

I stepped back off of the porch, tugging at my case worker’s dress. When she turned and looked at me, I gestured that I wanted to leave. I don’t think she understood how I was truly feeling, or maybe she didn’t know the, “Let’s get the hell out of here” look. The people reminded me of the characters in Children of the corn. I don’t know about this case worker or what she considers nice and caring but if she left me, I wasn’t going to stay. Not here I wasn’t, I have to take care of myself and I’m okay with that but this right here. They look like they eat people; nope, I’m not staying. The case worker finished talking to them and tells me to walk her to the car, I was hoping she was going to push me in and make a mad dash for it but she didn’t. Instead she told me,

“Just give it some time. I know they seem strict, and they are but this is a good fit for you. They will protect you.”

“Who’s going to protect me from them? You’re just going to leave me here? Wait, you’re right. This is a good fit for me but I don’t have any clothes, can you take me to the local store to get at least one outfit so I don’t dirty up the clothes they put me in, please? I don’t want to make them mad.”

“You know what, I can do that. Let me tell them that I need to get you a few things, it slipped my mind on the ride up here.”

I walked behind her, but didn’t look up. She told them that she forgot to get me some things with the stipend the State offers and will bring me back after we go to the store. They agreed and told her that dinner is at six o’clock so she has two hours to get me back or I don’t eat. The case worker agreed, grabbed my hand, and escorted me back to the car. She opened the door, I got in, and buckled my safety belt. I don’ t know who she thinks she’s fooling. I’m not coming back here. I plan to take off as soon as I get a chance, I’ll figure everything else out later.

She started telling me that these people are really nice and caring despite our first interaction. I didn’t really care what she had to say I just wanted out and since I have no clue where I am, I needed her to drive me back out to a higher traffic area so I can get the hell away from these people. My safety is no concern of theirs, the case worker just wants to ditch me off on anyone, and the fosters just want the money.

“I think I’m old enough to choose my own foster parents, don’t you think?” I said, just to a drop hint that I don’t plan on going back.

“I do, but the system doesn’t work that way. See, we place you with a family and we pay for you to be there. This way it doesn’t take too much money from their home and you have a safe place to be.”

“In that case, can I live on my own and get the money you would offer them? That way I can work, pay my bills, and finish school.”

“No, it doesn’t work that way. Would you rather live on your own?”

“I would rather live with a real family that cares and that’s nice. Not those people, they look like they hurt people for the fun of it.”

“I wouldn’t put you somewhere to get hurt.”

“How well do you know those people?”

“I know them very well. We have had children placed with them before.”

“Yeah, well why did the woman have a dog collar around her neck and the man was holding a leash behind her?”

“Wha-What?!”

“Look, you seem like you want to do well by me and I appreciate that, but if I noticed that and you didn’t, one of two things took place. Either you saw it and didn’t want to acknowledge what was going on, or you didn’t see it which causes me to worry about where you will send me next. I don’t understand how this works but I’m going to ask you instead of just doing what I want to do. The stipend, is that really for me? If it is, can you give me the cash so I can disappear? Just tell them I stole it or something? Otherwise, I’ll be running with nothing but either way, I’m not going back to that house to be tortured.”

“So you’re going to be a runner?”

“I don’t know what you mean, but if you’re asking if I’m going to run if you take me back to that house, yes.”

She continues to drive, looking back at me in the rear view mirror from time to time, without saying a word. I guess she was thinking of what to do but I knew better. I knew that if she took too many turns she was taking me back to the children of the corn, and I’d be damned if I’m stuck in the middle of nowhere with those people.