The file sits in front of them and Punz fiddles with the pages.
"It's only a page," he begins, his voice still scratchy from crying, "but it's also a lie."
Foolish is watching a film in the lounge, seemingly understanding that Punz and Puffy need to be alone.
Punz had been more open to talk about it once they got inside the house; almost like stepping through the door lifted a weight.
"How so?" Puffy asks. She read over the words again. The whole thing is about Eret and how their relationship with Punz began positively. Whoever wrote this seemed so sure that Eret was going to adopt Punz, until one day, out of nowhere, Punz snapped.
The description is almost...violent. Punz broke plates, ripped clothes, punched walls. The list goes on. It details how Eret was scared at the explosive behaviour and was forced to hide in their own home. According to the words on the page, Punz hit out, scratching Eret, punching Eret, threatening Eret. When Puffy first read it, she didn't feel scared. She felt wrong. Something felt wrong.
"Although we've known Sam since we were kids, he hasn't always been our social worker. At least not mine. Usually it's the social worker who writes up these reports. They can't be changed if a kid is supposedly this violent, unless there is a meeting and a few higher ups involved. Sam wasn't there for Eret."
"What does this mean?" Puffy asks confused, it is only now she notices that Luke is still in his arms and his fingers loop the antlers of the stuffed toy.
"None of that stuff happened. I have a reputation, but never have I acted out at random. The support worker before Sam was the one to write it. I think Eret gave her a hefty amount of money to keep her mouth shut."
"What really happened then?"
"I had a chain. One that I had for years and I wore it everyday. I was in Eret's care for about nine months which is a really long time for someone like me. Even though I was away from Dream and Purpled, I felt like I belonged there. They made me feel safe. However, Eret lost their job, I don't know the reasoning, but suddenly everything came to a halt. Money from fostering wasn't enough, and Eret seemingly spent money fast. One day, I noticed my chain was gone. I looked everywhere for it and I was convinced it broke and just fell somewhere around the house. Hours. I spent hours looking, only to find out, the next night, Eret had sold it online."
"Just like that?" She asks in disbelief.
"Just like that," Punz nods, "only, that wasn't the only thing. The chain felt like the icing on the cake, but it wasn't. Eret started to get money from somewhere. Cash. They would lock cash away in a safe in their room. Eret would convince me that we could no longer afford necessities like food and body wash. I knew we had loads of cash but I trusted them. I somehow made myself believe that selling my chain was the right thing to do, and I offered to sell other things like my laptop that I used for school, and even a pair of headphones and some clothes. It was all sold, and Eret got cash.
I was starving. I got skinny and I couldn't sleep because the house was so cold. I still went to school, and my friends at the time would give me food from their lunches, but whenever I mentioned it to Eret they made a face and told me to stop bothering people. I was forced to stop all contact with them. One day, though, I was so sick at school they sent me back. I walked home on my own, as Eret wasn't answering the phone, and I knew where the spare key was. I get to the house, and as I pass the window, I see Eret, and a few other people, making some dodgy deals. Money in hand type deals.
Long story short, I found out Eret told their boss that their bank account had been frozen so they requested cash. It was never questioned and Eret was never fired. They then found alternative ways to receive more money, such as the deals they were making at the house. I was manipulated for weeks, I was starved and cold and embarrassed to go to school in fear that I smelled bad. I lost sleep and I missed my brothers and stopped talking to my friends all for a bit of extra money. On top of losing my most prized possession I swore I would never trust anyone again."
YOU ARE READING
Reputation
Fanfiction"Dream legs it down the alleyway, bag gripped tightly in his hand. His cheeks are already red and angry from the bitter cold wind and his feet numb inside his shoes. He can hear rasped shouts from behind him, and forces his legs to move faster." Or:...
