“It wasn’t her. She’s my friend and not a violent person.” I pictured her with the bat when I was getting roughed up. She wasn’t violent unless she was helping someone.
Mrs. Josephine stood up. “Hey, I’ll be back tomorrow when I have more information. I have to go to court now, but here’s my card. I’m your guardian for the time being. Let me know if you need anything.”
I wanted to have her tell Pixie to come see me. Make her stay here and help me figure out what to do. We were always better together.
I wanted to close my eyes, but the therapist walked in right behind the social worker.
Chapter 29
GAZE
MIKE, RONNA, AUSTIN, Hamilton, and Teddi Burathon could not be more eager to let me set the pace of the foster life.
I knew what I was getting was not the way it usually was. I didn’t get to go back to the apartment because I’d been in the hospital and PT for so long the social worker told me the apartment was probably cleaned out and rented. She said she’d look into it, but she was on the phone when she agreed, and I was pretty sure she’d forget. When Mike and Ronna picked me up from the hospital, you would have thought they were looking at a newborn baby, instead of a teenage boy. I was in scrubs that the nurses had lent me, but Ronna had a suitcase full of clothes for me to try.
Some were hand-me-downs, but most had tags. I found jeans that were a little too long and a t-shirt. The sneakers were the right size, brand new and expensive.
“We’re really excited for you to come and stay with us. We have a room for you and the kids are so excited and wait until you meet Rocket. She will be so excited... Wait. Do you like dogs? Are you allergic to dogs? I forgot to ask if you were allergic to dogs.”
“I think dogs are cool. I mean, there are a few in our neighborhood who aren’t friendly, but most are and I like them. Never had one, though.” I held out my hand to Mike. “Nice to meet you, sir.” And then I did the same to Ronna. “And ma’am. This is really nice of you.”
I was wary about what their angle was. I was a complete stranger, and they could not be nicer. Mike gave me a firm shake and put his hand on my shoulder. “We’ve been looking forward to this. Really excited to have you with us.”
He had a coach vibe and reminded me of the feel-good ones from TV.
“Are there any meds or anything we need to know about?” Ronna spoke to the nurse that was in charge of discharge and me at the same time.
I scratched my head. No Pixie. Though I wasn’t sure how she would’ve found out about me leaving. I tried calling her from the hospital phone a bunch. Sometimes I was angry. Most of the time I was lonely for her. I didn’t realize how well I slept with her beside me. And that wasn’t something I could explain to any of the people in this room.
Her home phone was perpetually busy and her cell phone number was disconnected. And that happened from time to time. Our phones would be turned off for non-payment. Well, not mine anymore because the bill got paid.
While the nurse spoke to Ronna, Mike took the time to lean closer. “Hey, we’re really sorry about how you got in this situation.”
I nodded. I didn’t want to get into it. I knew that my father had accepted a plea deal. He was sentenced to four years in prison. Part of the reason he took that deal was the eyewitness who was willing to testify. Pixie.
I zipped up the suitcase.
“I heard you like basketball.” Mike looked so hopeful.
“Yeah. I’m sure I’m rusty now. I haven’t even tried to touch a ball yet.” I wiggled my fingers, suddenly aching to try it out.
Ronna clued back into the conversation. “Mike, are you talking to him about basketball already?”
He was sheepish and then grimaced.
“It’s totally okay. I love the game.” I gave Mike a man nod to let him know I had his back.
“Fine. But Gaze sets the pace.” She gave him a warning look.
Ronna seemed like everybody’s mother. She asked the nurse how she liked her job and smoothed the bedsheets on my now empty bed like it was second nature.
Once we had my papers and prescriptions, Ronna made sure that the hospital would send my records to a specific doctor they’d picked out already.
“Dr. Burken has been our pediatrician for years. He’s wonderful. We want to make sure he has access to Gaze’s records here.” Ronna went to take the suitcase from me, but Mike stepped in front.
The social worker, Mrs. Josephine, bustled in at the last moment, giving me a half-hug. “This is going to be good for you, kiddo. I’m going to see you once a month or so to check in. You’ll work with a different social worker closer to Poughkeepsie, but you can call me anytime.”
I knew that she meant it, but I’d never been around someone so incredibly overbooked on her time in my life. I doubted I would call.
She told Ronna that I needed to see a court-appointed therapist and a PT, and that the state would cover the cost. They would just have to use ones that were in the insurance program.
Ronna smiled, but her eyes stayed flat. “We’ll make sure he gets every appointment he needs.”
I felt trepidation in my chest. I was to go live with these people for at least a little while. As if sensing it, Mike started rambling, “So the kids are really into gaming and stuff. Except Austin. He’s interested in fashion and stuff.”
He pulled out his phone and showed me a picture of his kids. Unlike the posed picture in front of the house, this one was the three kids piled on a couch. The girl had long blonde hair and a blinding smile. She had her arms wrapped around the necks of both boys. One had a shirt with a symbol that I recognized from a first-person shooter game and his hair was a wild mop on his head. The other boy had black eyeliner expertly smudged under his eyes and black nail polish. His outfit was all black, but his grin was twice as cheesy as the girl’s.
“They’re great kids. I mean, no one’s perfect, but they really are a ton of fun.” Mike smiled at the picture.
Ronna finally had all the paperwork in order and she draped an arm around my shoulder like she was used to doing it.
“Ready to head home?”
Ronna was looking straight at me, not her husband.
I turned to the hospital phone, saying goodbye to Pixie in my head. The thought of her made me both angry and sad at the same time. “Okay.”
I was headed to another whole future, at least for a little while.
_______________
Officer Sam stopped by while I read a book. Mom let him in and I was grateful that Bic wasn’t here to give us the business.
“Hey, Pix.”
Officer Sam wasn’t a bad guy. And he certainly didn’t need to stop by my house to give me Gaze updates, but he did it anyway.
Especially when Bic wasn’t here.
“Hey. What’s up?”
Officer Sam came into my room and sat at my desk chair. “Just checking on you.”
“Did Gaze leave the hospital?”
“He did. And he looked great. At least that’s what Pam told me.” He tilted his head in a way that made me think he felt sorry for me. I waited to see what the news would be. “He left with his new foster parents.”
“Oh.” I felt the blow to my center. “They’re from around here?”