Castle On The Hill

Chapter Three

There was a break in traffic, so the black minivan holding Josh and his two suitcases made the left turn to go back up to DSS. I tried to hold back the tears. I can't believe Josh and I got forced to be apart simply because we kissed in the yard. This sucks more than anything that has ever sucked before.

Josh and I had a wonderful time last night. We walked to the burger diner, bribed someone to buy us food, came back to the motel and had sex. This morning we were able to shower together and have sex one final time before the two case managers who dropped us off last night showed up for us. I'm going to miss Josh like hell. We're still going to text, but it won't be anything close to the same.

"Are you ready to go?" my case manager asked.

"No." I pouted. "Is there any way I could still go to Mount Morris?"

"I'm sorry, but no."

I sighed and loaded my bags in the back of her car. She went to return the key to the front desk and I got in the passenger's seat. She came back to the car, got in and started the engine.

"I have to make a stop in Geneseo on our way out, then I'll take you to Dansville." She announced as she pulled onto State Road 36. I sighed as my response.

"What do you have to go to Geneseo for?" I asked as she drove us past the salt mines.

"I have to drop off paperwork at the courthouse."

"Okay."

"Was that the first time he came after you with a bat?"

I sighed. "Yes, but Josh told me that he was hit before."

"Why didn't he report it?"

"Fear of moving I guess."

I admired the SUNY (State University of New York) Geneseo campus as we passed it. I would love to be able to go to college there, but kids like me don't get to have dreams like that. We don't get the luxury of parents who will support you during those years. Instead, we get thrown on the streets like dogs when we turn eighteen and we have to learn how to fend for ourselves.

We drove through downtown over to the courthouse. I opted to sit in the cat, but she told me I ccouldn't. I ended up sitting in the lobby waiting on her.

I checked my phone and my only message was from Josh saying how bored he is waiting on his new case manager to show up. No texts from people who call themselves my friends asking where I'm at after the uproar we caused yesterday. Nobody cares.

After about half an hour, she came back outside and we got back into her car.

"The lawyer needed to go over a few things."

"I'm in no rush. What can you tell me about the family? Why does she only take girls?"

"Because the two children of hers that still live at home are girls."

"Will I have to share a room with them?"

"No, you have your own room, but share a bathroom."

I nodded. I'm just glad I get my own room! Going from sharing a room with a six year old and ten tear old to having a room that's only mine is going to be great.

She pulled away from the courthouse and started driving through Geneseo. Geneseo is the big city of our rural county, it has the University and also holds the only Wal-Mart in the county. Dansville holds the only hospital.

During the ride we occasionally talked, but I focused on admiring the sights of Stare Road 256. My favorite stretch of this road is when it runs along the lake.
As we were coming down the hill into Dansville, I noticed a big brick building standing on top of a lonely hill.