My social worker was convinced that this was the family for me. I was not convinced. I grabbed my book bag slung it over my shoulder and slid in next to him.
He was okay as far social workers go, but still just a social worker, jaded and tired. I wasn't much better. I was jaded and tired too; tired of families who just want you for the money that they get from the state, tired of the idiot kids I had to live with, just tired. I was ready to get out on my own and I would be able to in two months. I would turn 18 in two months and I was very ready to go out on my own, get a job go to school and make my own family.
I watch the houses pass as we drove not too far from the center of town. I heard it was a nice neighborhood, what they called gentrified. I bet it would be interesting to see something gentrified.
I watch the houses pass as we drove not too far from the center of town. I heard it was a nice neighborhood, what they called gentrified. I bet it would be interesting to see something gentrified.
I knew the neighborhood it was new money and by that I mean a lot of money but new. Young professionals have moved into the neighborhood. They wanted to make it their own; to reclaim it from the ghetto. That was fine with me for I had lived in the ghetto, the country, the suburbs and the city. I was ready for something new.
One thing I had going for me was that I was tall I was six foot two at 17 years old so at least the other foster kids wouldn't mess with me. What they didn't know was that I also knew several of the martial arts. I had learned them from books sure, but I still knew what to do if someone approached or attacked. I would be okay.
We stopped in front of Victorian-style home and it was beautifully restored. It was white with the tan trim and forest green accents. I was interested to see what it will look like inside.
We were met by a young couple. They couldn't have been over thirty. I was so close to their ages it was almost uncomfortable. I towered over the man and the woman but they seemed quite comfortable and took my bag, opened the door and ushered me inside.
The woman spoke first. "Simon would you like something to eat and maybe some tea or soda or would you like to get settled?"
"Tea would be wonderful. Do you have herbal tea?"
She tilted her head to the side. I knew she had cupboards of herbal tea. She looked the type. She opened double cupboards with every brand of herbal tea possible.
"What is your favorite Simon? I have almost anything you might like."
I was going to make this easy. I wasn't going to play the elitist. I would settle for most anything right now. "Do you have an orange spice tea?"
"Yes! And it will go great with the oatmeal cookies that just came out of the oven. How about you, Mr. Johnson?" He nodded.
We sat and sipped tea and munched on cookies. I looked around. Everything was pristine and recently restored. I was glad that they didn't have the typical HGTV list with the stainless steel appliances, the granite counter tops, the hardwood floors, and of course the open concept. It was so boring. Theirs was a different style more from the past.
After tea, Mr. Johnston left and the wife, Grace showed me upstairs while her husband Todd carried the bags. The room was decorated in a tan with dark brown accents and a great plaid. The room looked like it had never been used.
"You're the first one to use this room. Do you like it?" Grace asked and I knew then that she had decorated it herself.
"Yes ma'am, this is grand. How many fosters do you have here?"
"You're our first Simon. I hope you will be happy here and we really want to help you with anything you need; schooling, questions, anything at all. Our bedroom is right down the hall and you can just knock."
I sat on the bed. What on earth were they going to do with me? I wasn't some little kid they could nurture and love and read bedtime stories to, but maybe they didn't want that maybe they wanted someone to talk to about the world and growing up and things like that. I certainly would give them a chance.
Todd drove me to school the next day in his Volvo. Another new school for me was no big deal. He had told me the styles of clothes the kids were wearing and then opened the closet in my new room and showed me that they had purchased items for me. I had never worn new clothes to school before, especially new clothes that looks like the other kids clothes. I just may fit in.
I stopped in the office to get my courses and my schedule. My homeroom was with Mr. Brown who would also be teaching English. I looked around to make sure I didn't see any familiar faces and so far I hadn't. Some kids even smiled, well they were all girls, but I was used to that.
The end of the school day came pretty quickly and I had never had a peaceful first day of school. I guess I fit in. It was unusual to fit in I almost felt like I wasn't there. I wondered if I rather enjoyed being different and standing out. It was something for me to think about.
I took the school bus home and got off in front of the house. Grace heard me knock on the door and let me in.
"Simon you don't need to knock! You just walk right in. This is your home now.'
"I think it would be safer if you gave me a key. I don't think you should just leave the door unlocked, if you don't mind my saying so."
"Simon you don't need to knock! You just walk right in. This is your home now.'
"I think it would be safer if you gave me a key. I don't think you should just leave the door unlocked, if you don't mind my saying so."
"Good idea! I will get you a key and also wanted to ask if you have ID or drivers license. We could help you get all of those while you're here."
Simon nodded and followed her into the kitchen hoping for a snack. He was always hungry and knew he needed to put on some weight.
"Have a seat! I am sure you are starving!" She opened a door off the kitchen and it was another kitchen. "I am a caterer, by the way. This kitchen is just for food prep for clients, so off limits." She laughed.
"Yes, Ma'am." He smiled. He actually had taken some culinary courses and new some of the heath laws too.
She carried out two trays, partially filled with small items.
"First, you have tea sandwiches and then pastries. Eat all you like, for they won't freeze well and they will just be tossed away tomorrow."
He slid the sandwich tray in front of him, barely noticing the Coca Cola she set next to him. The sandwiches were delicious, assorted bite sized morsels and it was no problem to finish the tray in just a few minutes. His bites were much larger than ladies at tea.
Grace beamed! "Oh! You liked them! Excellent! Would you also like to be my tester?" He nodded, reaching for the pastry tray. He didn't quite finish all the desserts, but asked if he could save them for tomorrow. She nodded.
Grace sat with a steaming mug of coffee. "Would you like a cup, Simon?"
"Yes, Ma'am and it smells fresh ground."
"Yes, yes it is. Tell me how you like it."
It was perfect after pastries and smooth. but nutty. He shared his opinion.
"I have a feeling we have many things in common, Simon." They both smiled.
Their smiles disappeared quickly when they heard the front door slam and Todd screaming for Grace. Simon looked down at the coffee so as not to embarrass her.
"In the Kitchen with Simon, Todd." She called sheepishly.
He stormed in. "I lost the case! My first big case and I lost it!"
"Coffee, honey?" Grace asked him.
He brushed off her hand roughly and said, "How is coffee going to help?" He acted like a petulant child. Simon lost all respect for him.
"Thank you for the food, Ma'am. Sir." He walked out of the kitchen, but lingered in the hall, knowing how things could escalate quickly. It was silent and he figured Todd knew he was listening.
In his room and completed all his homework and waited for the supper call. It never came. He was very happy he had so much food earlier. He slept fitfully and was worried about Grace. He hadn't heard anything, but he knew the routine.
Grace was in the kitchen with her glasses on. She usually just wore them for reading, so he wondered why, but said nothing.
"Good morning, Ma'am."
"Good morning, Simon. I set out some cereal and toast on the sideboard and there's a coffee thermos for the ride to school. I will be driving you today, since Todd had to leave early."
"Thank you." She was upset and not her bubbly self at all.
The drive was silent and I knew she wanted to talk, but was scared to. I thanked her for the ride and went to class.
The day was uneventful, as was the bus ride to the house. No cars were in the driveway and I hadn't received my key yet, but I tried the knob. It was locked. I sat in the porch swing and drank the rest of my coffee from breakfast.
Grace came squealing to a stop in front of the house just five minutes later. She jumped out and ran to the door like hell hounds were on her trail. She dropped the keys and I picked them up and unlocked the door.
She rushed us inside and locked the door again and leaned against it.
"Whew! What a day!" She tried to smile, but it didn't work. She was scared.
"What happened?"
"Happened? Nothing! Just a busy, crazy day." She ran to the kitchen and turned to me. "I bet you are starving even more than the day before. I never even fixed your supper last night."
"I was still full from the sandwiches." He lied.
"Well, let's start supper. Do you know how to cook?"
He nodded. "Yes, Ma'am and have worked in some greasy spoons and as a grill cook as well."
"Marvelous! That is uncanny! What shall we cook?" She hummed, but kept listening for Todd's car, i assumed.
"Anything you want." She had bruising on her left cheekbone and a red eye on the same side. Todd was an abuser.
We cooked and I planned how to protect her. I wasn't worried about myself, for I could pick up and toss Todd across the house if need be.
We ate, but neither of us was at full appetite. We did the dishes and I pretended I needed help with homework and stayed in the kitchen. I could tell she was happy about that. I formulated a plan for later in the evening and decided I would say I needed to use the computer.
Todd was late and drunk when he arrived home. He stumbled into the kitchen and threw his brief case in the middle of the kitchen table.
"Get me some food!" He slouched down in a chair and stared at me.
"So, you courting my wife, huh?"
"No. sir. She is helping me with my homework." I was civil and polite. "May I use the computer over there, sir?" I gestured to the kitchen office desk unit.
"Yeah, yeah! Use whatever you want!"
Grace served his meal with shaky hands and Todd just shoved it in his mouth. He belched and pushed away, heading for the liquor cabinet. He took a pint of Jack and went into his office, slamming the door.
Grace exhaled and slumped into the chair. She didn't cry.
"Thank you, Simon." I nodded. "I can't talk now, but later, okay?" I nodded again.
She left and I heard her walk slowly and heavily up the stairs.
I would stay below and listen for Todd. If he went up, I would go up too.
I dozed and started over and over again. His office was down the hall, so I decided to take a look. He was passed out in his chair, Jack leaking out onto the carpet. I left him and went up to sleep, but left my door open.
The screams came when the world was turning into day. I ran out and down to their bedroom. Todd was standing over Grace and he obviously had hit her at least once. She was on the floor next to the bed and protecting her head with her hands. She was bleeding.
"Get away from her, Todd!" I said firmly. Todd spun and glared at me. I could see Grace dial her cellphone as I distracted him.
"Protecting your woman, Simon?" He headed for me. I was ready.
I wasn't ready for the gun though. He fired one shot and it went wide, but the second caught me in the upper left arm. I tried to ignore it, but it was distracting.
My foot caught him under his chin and he went down. I gave him another to his soft belly and kicked the gun under the bed. It was good to be able to kick while holding an injured arm.
Grace ran out of the room with her phone and locked Todd in the bedroom. We ran down to the sirens we now heard.
The police filed in and we filed out to the porch. I was bleeding badly, but Grace had stopped.
"Call an ambulance, please!" She yelled to the police. I must have passed out, for I remember nothing until I awakened in the hospital with Grace and my social worker by the bedside.
"Am I okay?"
"Yep, you'll be fine, kid." Said Mr. Johnston. Grace smiled meekly.
"Thank you. Simon. He would have killed me this time." She hung her head.
A detective and a nurse walked into the room. "Will you press charges, young man?"
I nodded. "Yes, sir!" I smiled.
"Simon, it wouldn't be proper for us to return you to a home with just you and Grace." My smile faded. "But! Her mother has decided to move in as well, so it will work if that is okay with everyone."
I looked at Grace. "Simon has the beginnings of being a great chef and I sure could use the help with the business after he graduates. So, yes!" She smiled, but winced from the bruises covering her face.
"My mother has already agreed, saying, "Anyone who beat Todd's butt was good in her book."
It was settled. I would get to stay. Todd was going to prison. Grace would be safe. My life was suddenly opening up for the first time in my life.
Simon nodded and followed her into the kitchen hoping for a snack. He was always hungry and knew he needed to put on some weight.
"Have a seat! I am sure you are starving!" She opened a door off the kitchen and it was another kitchen. "I am a caterer, by the way. This kitchen is just for food prep for clients, so off limits." She laughed.
"Yes, Ma'am." He smiled. He actually had taken some culinary courses and new some of the heath laws too.
She carried out two trays, partially filled with small items.
"First, you have tea sandwiches and then pastries. Eat all you like, for they won't freeze well and they will just be tossed away tomorrow."
He slid the sandwich tray in front of him, barely noticing the Coca Cola she set next to him. The sandwiches were delicious, assorted bite sized morsels and it was no problem to finish the tray in just a few minutes. His bites were much larger than ladies at tea.
Grace beamed! "Oh! You liked them! Excellent! Would you also like to be my tester?" He nodded, reaching for the pastry tray. He didn't quite finish all the desserts, but asked if he could save them for tomorrow. She nodded.
Grace sat with a steaming mug of coffee. "Would you like a cup, Simon?"
"Yes, Ma'am and it smells fresh ground."
"Yes, yes it is. Tell me how you like it."
It was perfect after pastries and smooth. but nutty. He shared his opinion.
"I have a feeling we have many things in common, Simon." They both smiled.
Their smiles disappeared quickly when they heard the front door slam and Todd screaming for Grace. Simon looked down at the coffee so as not to embarrass her.
"In the Kitchen with Simon, Todd." She called sheepishly.
He stormed in. "I lost the case! My first big case and I lost it!"
"Coffee, honey?" Grace asked him.
He brushed off her hand roughly and said, "How is coffee going to help?" He acted like a petulant child. Simon lost all respect for him.
"Thank you for the food, Ma'am. Sir." He walked out of the kitchen, but lingered in the hall, knowing how things could escalate quickly. It was silent and he figured Todd knew he was listening.
In his room and completed all his homework and waited for the supper call. It never came. He was very happy he had so much food earlier. He slept fitfully and was worried about Grace. He hadn't heard anything, but he knew the routine.
Grace was in the kitchen with her glasses on. She usually just wore them for reading, so he wondered why, but said nothing.
"Good morning, Ma'am."
"Good morning, Simon. I set out some cereal and toast on the sideboard and there's a coffee thermos for the ride to school. I will be driving you today, since Todd had to leave early."
"Thank you." She was upset and not her bubbly self at all.
The drive was silent and I knew she wanted to talk, but was scared to. I thanked her for the ride and went to class.
The day was uneventful, as was the bus ride to the house. No cars were in the driveway and I hadn't received my key yet, but I tried the knob. It was locked. I sat in the porch swing and drank the rest of my coffee from breakfast.
Grace came squealing to a stop in front of the house just five minutes later. She jumped out and ran to the door like hell hounds were on her trail. She dropped the keys and I picked them up and unlocked the door.
She rushed us inside and locked the door again and leaned against it.
"Whew! What a day!" She tried to smile, but it didn't work. She was scared.
"What happened?"
"Happened? Nothing! Just a busy, crazy day." She ran to the kitchen and turned to me. "I bet you are starving even more than the day before. I never even fixed your supper last night."
"I was still full from the sandwiches." He lied.
"Well, let's start supper. Do you know how to cook?"
He nodded. "Yes, Ma'am and have worked in some greasy spoons and as a grill cook as well."
"Marvelous! That is uncanny! What shall we cook?" She hummed, but kept listening for Todd's car, i assumed.
"Anything you want." She had bruising on her left cheekbone and a red eye on the same side. Todd was an abuser.
We cooked and I planned how to protect her. I wasn't worried about myself, for I could pick up and toss Todd across the house if need be.
We ate, but neither of us was at full appetite. We did the dishes and I pretended I needed help with homework and stayed in the kitchen. I could tell she was happy about that. I formulated a plan for later in the evening and decided I would say I needed to use the computer.
Todd was late and drunk when he arrived home. He stumbled into the kitchen and threw his brief case in the middle of the kitchen table.
"Get me some food!" He slouched down in a chair and stared at me.
"So, you courting my wife, huh?"
"No. sir. She is helping me with my homework." I was civil and polite. "May I use the computer over there, sir?" I gestured to the kitchen office desk unit.
"Yeah, yeah! Use whatever you want!"
Grace served his meal with shaky hands and Todd just shoved it in his mouth. He belched and pushed away, heading for the liquor cabinet. He took a pint of Jack and went into his office, slamming the door.
Grace exhaled and slumped into the chair. She didn't cry.
"Thank you, Simon." I nodded. "I can't talk now, but later, okay?" I nodded again.
She left and I heard her walk slowly and heavily up the stairs.
I would stay below and listen for Todd. If he went up, I would go up too.
I dozed and started over and over again. His office was down the hall, so I decided to take a look. He was passed out in his chair, Jack leaking out onto the carpet. I left him and went up to sleep, but left my door open.
The screams came when the world was turning into day. I ran out and down to their bedroom. Todd was standing over Grace and he obviously had hit her at least once. She was on the floor next to the bed and protecting her head with her hands. She was bleeding.
"Get away from her, Todd!" I said firmly. Todd spun and glared at me. I could see Grace dial her cellphone as I distracted him.
"Protecting your woman, Simon?" He headed for me. I was ready.
I wasn't ready for the gun though. He fired one shot and it went wide, but the second caught me in the upper left arm. I tried to ignore it, but it was distracting.
My foot caught him under his chin and he went down. I gave him another to his soft belly and kicked the gun under the bed. It was good to be able to kick while holding an injured arm.
Grace ran out of the room with her phone and locked Todd in the bedroom. We ran down to the sirens we now heard.
The police filed in and we filed out to the porch. I was bleeding badly, but Grace had stopped.
"Call an ambulance, please!" She yelled to the police. I must have passed out, for I remember nothing until I awakened in the hospital with Grace and my social worker by the bedside.
"Am I okay?"
"Yep, you'll be fine, kid." Said Mr. Johnston. Grace smiled meekly.
"Thank you. Simon. He would have killed me this time." She hung her head.
A detective and a nurse walked into the room. "Will you press charges, young man?"
I nodded. "Yes, sir!" I smiled.
"Simon, it wouldn't be proper for us to return you to a home with just you and Grace." My smile faded. "But! Her mother has decided to move in as well, so it will work if that is okay with everyone."
I looked at Grace. "Simon has the beginnings of being a great chef and I sure could use the help with the business after he graduates. So, yes!" She smiled, but winced from the bruises covering her face.
"My mother has already agreed, saying, "Anyone who beat Todd's butt was good in her book."
It was settled. I would get to stay. Todd was going to prison. Grace would be safe. My life was suddenly opening up for the first time in my life.
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