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She pushed me forward.
"No," I dug my feet into the soil. "No, no, no, no. I am not going into that house. Never."
"C'mon honey, just go. Do you need me to tie a rope around you and pull you forward by my truck?"
I thought about that for one moment, and tried to picture myself being dragged up to the porch.
Even that won't make me budge.
Okay, so I wasn't that strong, but I'm still not going into that house.
Never.

Patty's hands pushed me closer. Her nails dug into my back but I didn't cry out. My eyes narrowed as I stared at the purple door. Who has a purple door these days anyway? At least it goes with the flower boxes--but who has purple flower boxes with red poppies inside them? Are they trying to clash?
"Lilly! Get your butt up those steps!"
I bet the whole neighborhood is watching me, all the families pointing out their big picture windows and saying, "Oh honey, come over here there's this insane girl next door!"
When I was sure I wasn't going to move for the next ten years the purple door opened and it revved me out of my facade.
Patty sighed with great relief behind me. "Oh Caitlyn, hello." Her hands disappeared from my back and I almost fell over when she didn't support me.
Great. Now I was sure that I would have to go in this house.
"Hello, Patricia," the woman at the purple door smiled and jogged down the steps. Her hair was reddish-brown and it flowed down her shoulders like a waterfall. She was thin and was wearing a cotton shirt over a leather black top and jeans with holes in them. How old does she think she is? Seventeen?
"Please call me Patty," my social worker reached for Caitlyn's hand. On the other side, Patty was overweight and was wearing a green jogging outfit. She looked like a huge lima bean.
Caitlyn turned her eyes on me and they pierced my heart like daggers. Oh, God, I do not want to be here. Why do I have to be here?
"You must be Lilly. I'm so excited you're here!" Her full lips curled into a smile.
I didn't say anything--one thing I do best. Don't say anything, and you won't
cause trouble.
Caitlyn glanced at Patty. Patty shrugged, "She's a little...reserved. But she'll open up like a sunflower in the sun, I promise."
I'll open up like a sunflower in the sun. Sure thing, Patty. Yeah right.
There was an awkward silence that left the bluebirds singing high in the willow tree by the house. Their singing was so loud against the wall of quiet.
"Well..." Patty broke the silence, "I got to go. Bye, Lilly, goodbye, Caitlyn. You'll have a wonderful time here, sweetie." Her car engine roared as she sped off. I liked Patty okay, but as far as she liking me? Not so much. I was like a stitch in her side she can't get rid of after she climbs a flight of stairs.
The yard was big. The houses in this neighborhood were spread out, which was good, I guess. The willow tree's leaves reached out towards me like spindly green fingers.
The house was two stories and white and had a big wrap around porch. Rocking chairs were by the purple door and the flower boxes were right by the steps. A purple cross was hanging by one of the big front windows.
I straightened when I saw the cross. "You're Christian?" I whispered.
"Yes," Caitlyn said cheerfully, like she was excited to get me to talk. "We're all Christian. Are you?"
I didn’t have to look up to her much; I was almost as tall as her. "No. I don't believe in God."
Her dagger eyes deflated. "Oh," was all she said.
I picked up my suitcase with all 57 belongings I have to my name. "Well, here goes nothing."
I walked up to the purple door and opened it.

*CONTINUED*