The Foster Child
Lizzy was an average girl, until she was adopted by Jane and David Palmer. They never let her go outside, use the phone or do anything else, she thinks it's all a way of hiding her from danger. But when Lizzy wakes up and finds a girl that had been kidnapped by her foster parents, she starts to think that danger isn't the only thing they're hiding.
EIGHT YEARS AGO
I stare out the window at Green Men Foster Care, only minutes before, I was informed that a young couple wanted to adopt me.
I’m a runaway, after my parents died in the car crash only months before, I ran away from the town and somehow ended up in foster care. I was one of the older ones in foster care, since most were about three or four and I was seven. I had only made a connection with my counselor, Mrs. Addax. She had helped me through my parent’s death and let me vent to her about the little problems I had.
“Lizzy, they’re ready for you.” Mrs. Addax says.
I tense up; I’ve been through this process before, the meeting. It never goes well. I either answer a question totally wrong, or hate the people I’m talking to.
I stay seated, afraid of what might happen.
Mrs. Addax walks over to me and sits in the seat across from me.
“You’re afraid.” She states.
“Terrified.” I say.
“There is no need to be, I saw the couple, maybe you will like these ones.”
“I doubt it…they’re not…”
“They’re not you’re parents, and I get that. But Lizzy, you have to move on with your life.”
“I know. It’s just difficult, I mean, they only died a few months ago.”
“Just put on a fake smile, walk in there, and then you’re done. We can give you some time to get used to your situation later.”
I nod, stand up and walk into the Conference room.
I sit down next to my social worker.
Across the table is a youngish looking couple, maybe their early thirties.
The woman has light brown hair, and happy looking blue eyes. The man has dark brown hair and empty looking grey eyes.
“Lizzy, I’m pleased to meet you, I’m Jane Palmer, and this is my husband David Palmer.” The woman says.
“Nice to meet you.” I smile in a fake way, but she obviously doesn’t notice.
“We were just discussing the business end of things.” My social worker explains.
“Business?”
“Like what their careers are and how they could support a child.”
“Well, David is a lawyer and makes a good living with that, and I’m just a stay at home wife.” Jane says.
“Would you be the one taking care of her the most?”
“We would both be a part of Lizzy’s life, and support her as she grows up.”
“Why adopt? Why not have a child of your own?” I ask.
“Lizzy, that’s ridiculous, don’t question why they want to adopt you!” My social worker says.
“No, it’s fine. David is infertile, and we really want a child together, but since we can’t have one on our own; we figured, why not adopt?” Jane tells me.
“Why not David talk?”
“I would talk, but I don’t have much to say.” David says in a friendly voice.
“No offense, but you want to adopt me, yet you won’t talk to me? Isn’t that kind of ridiculous?”
“Wow, you’re smart for a seven year old.”
“My parents were quite intelligent, and they taught me many varieties of things. Including psychological studies.”
David looks at his wife as if saying “This girl is what we need around our house.”
“I understand that you live out of area.” My social worker says.
“Yes, we live a few towns away, not too far away but far enough to make it a forty-five minute drive from here.” Jane says.
“I see. Well, I think we know enough about you. You two seem like you’ll make excellent parents. But it’s no longer up to us, it’s now up to Lizzy.”
Wow, I made it through an interview.
Jane and David nod, understanding.
“Now, Lizzy. Would you like to go home with Jane and David?” My social worker asks.
Leave Green Men Foster Care? Never see these people again?
“Let’s not put so much pressure on the poor girl. Let her make up her mind and you can call us when she figures it out.” David says.
“Well, I guess we can do that.” My social worker says.
“No. I’ve made up my mind.” I say.
All three of them direct their attention to me.
“I want to live with them.”
I stare out the window at Green Men Foster Care, only minutes before, I was informed that a young couple wanted to adopt me.
I’m a runaway, after my parents died in the car crash only months before, I ran away from the town and somehow ended up in foster care. I was one of the older ones in foster care, since most were about three or four and I was seven. I had only made a connection with my counselor, Mrs. Addax. She had helped me through my parent’s death and let me vent to her about the little problems I had.
“Lizzy, they’re ready for you.” Mrs. Addax says.
I tense up; I’ve been through this process before, the meeting. It never goes well. I either answer a question totally wrong, or hate the people I’m talking to.
I stay seated, afraid of what might happen.
Mrs. Addax walks over to me and sits in the seat across from me.
“You’re afraid.” She states.
“Terrified.” I say.
“There is no need to be, I saw the couple, maybe you will like these ones.”
“I doubt it…they’re not…”
“They’re not you’re parents, and I get that. But Lizzy, you have to move on with your life.”
“I know. It’s just difficult, I mean, they only died a few months ago.”
“Just put on a fake smile, walk in there, and then you’re done. We can give you some time to get used to your situation later.”
I nod, stand up and walk into the Conference room.
I sit down next to my social worker.
Across the table is a youngish looking couple, maybe their early thirties.
The woman has light brown hair, and happy looking blue eyes. The man has dark brown hair and empty looking grey eyes.
“Lizzy, I’m pleased to meet you, I’m Jane Palmer, and this is my husband David Palmer.” The woman says.
“Nice to meet you.” I smile in a fake way, but she obviously doesn’t notice.
“We were just discussing the business end of things.” My social worker explains.
“Business?”
“Like what their careers are and how they could support a child.”
“Well, David is a lawyer and makes a good living with that, and I’m just a stay at home wife.” Jane says.
“Would you be the one taking care of her the most?”
“We would both be a part of Lizzy’s life, and support her as she grows up.”
“Why adopt? Why not have a child of your own?” I ask.
“Lizzy, that’s ridiculous, don’t question why they want to adopt you!” My social worker says.
“No, it’s fine. David is infertile, and we really want a child together, but since we can’t have one on our own; we figured, why not adopt?” Jane tells me.
“Why not David talk?”
“I would talk, but I don’t have much to say.” David says in a friendly voice.
“No offense, but you want to adopt me, yet you won’t talk to me? Isn’t that kind of ridiculous?”
“Wow, you’re smart for a seven year old.”
“My parents were quite intelligent, and they taught me many varieties of things. Including psychological studies.”
David looks at his wife as if saying “This girl is what we need around our house.”
“I understand that you live out of area.” My social worker says.
“Yes, we live a few towns away, not too far away but far enough to make it a forty-five minute drive from here.” Jane says.
“I see. Well, I think we know enough about you. You two seem like you’ll make excellent parents. But it’s no longer up to us, it’s now up to Lizzy.”
Wow, I made it through an interview.
Jane and David nod, understanding.
“Now, Lizzy. Would you like to go home with Jane and David?” My social worker asks.
Leave Green Men Foster Care? Never see these people again?
“Let’s not put so much pressure on the poor girl. Let her make up her mind and you can call us when she figures it out.” David says.
“Well, I guess we can do that.” My social worker says.
“No. I’ve made up my mind.” I say.
All three of them direct their attention to me.
“I want to live with them.”
0 Comments
No comments yet!