I Refuse

Forest Fire

"And this is your room" Mrs. Washington said opening the door to a huge room with a king sized bed. The walls were gold and the carpet on the floor was lavender. It seemed like they already knew a lot about me. Those were my favorite colors. There was also a painting of the Eiffel Tower on the wall behind my bed. I loved this room. I had a huge walk-in closet and my own personal bathroom. This was better than any other house I lived in. Most homes I stayed in, I slept on the couch,floor, or in the basement. Of course when social services came, they made my living arrangements seem better.

"Wow, thanks Mrs.W . I'm like speechless. This room is beautiful." I look around the room to take more in. There was something under the bed. It looked like fabric. I walked to the bed and gently tugged on it.

"Ahhhhhhhhh" I screamed. Feeling like a wuss. It was just their daughter, Sapphire. "Oh my God, you scared the crap out of me." She was laughing and so was Mrs.W.

"Hi, I'm Sapphire. But you can call me Fire. Hahaha." She laughed.

"What's so funny?" I thought it was cute she wanted to be called fire. She was a pretty little girl. She was light skin, hazel eyes, and had curly hair.

"Your name is Forest and my name is Fire. Forest just met Fire. Forest Fire." She threw herself into my bed and almost died laughing. I'll admit I laughed a little too. Mrs. W was still standing my the door with a grin on her face.

"What's so funny?" It was Mr.W. He came in the room smiling and walked over to the bed. He wrapped his arm around my shoulder and looked at Sapphire. "Well Fire," he was still waiting, but him calling her 'fire' sent her into another fit of giggles. "Someone tell me what's so funny." He looked at me. "Please Forest. Fire has never laughed this hard." I started laughing. He just said Forest Fire. He frowned at me, and I felt a pang of guilt.

"My name is Forest and her name is Fire. Forest just met Fire. Forest Fire." I blurted out all at once. He looked at me confused as I took in a deep breath. Then a smile crept across his face and he too started laughing.

"Did Sapphire come up with that?" I nodded my head slowly. "That's funny baby girl." He said picking her up off of my bed. "Let's go down stairs and tell your brother, while Forest gets settled in." They begin to walk out and I can't stop smiling. That felt like a true family moment and I refuse it let that feeling go away.

I walk into the closet and see that Mrs. W had went shopping for me. Surprisingly everything was new, in my style and in my size. Other homes I went to gave me hand me downs. Not that I'm complaining, clothes are clothes. But for once things were looking up. I had finally received an upgrade on life.

I picked out a simple outfit. It was a black baggy sweater, black beige and white Aztec leggings, black Uggs and a beige scarf. Anything was better than these too tight jeans and too loose shirt.

I took a hot shower and washed my hair. I tried to wash away all the pain I suffered the last couple of years in my life. After stepping out and applying the strawberry kiwi lotion I got dressed. I already felt so much better about myself. I walked downstairs to find everyone sitting at the table playing a game.

"Uno," Fire yelled, causing me to jump backwards and trip on a step. I ended up falling face forward. Smooth Forest, real smooth.

"Um you straight?" A raspy voice asked. I felt my cheeks turn red before I could even remove my face from the floor. "Aye, lil mama you good?"

"Yea," I said picking my head up ok the ground, rolling over, and getting up. I refused to look at him. "But, I ain't your lil mama." I dusted myself off and continued to walk to the table. Praying in my head that I don't trip again.

"Yea, whateva shawty."

"Umm excuse me, but by looking at this house, your parents and your sister I can't tell your not 'Hood' you ain't no 'thug' and you damn sho ain't no 'banger'. So could you stop frontin' like you are, cause I can see you clearly. Stop posing." I looked at him for the first time and regretting everything I said. Why couldn't I just shutup? Why? Being I'm freaking Forest Evergreen aka Forest Fire.