𝑀𝑒𝒶𝓃 𝐼𝓉- Cole Walter

Chapter 1

"Pack up your stuff kid," was the first thing I heard when I opened my eyes this morning. It took me a while to register where I was but then it hit me, i seen the small 4 bright green walls with the door that looked like it had gotten into a fight with a wrestler and the glass on it which offered zero privacy, I was still in the foster home. Andrea my social worker was standing at the door, it took me a minute to register what she said but then it hit me, I was leaving once again. I'd only been here for 9 days usually it took a few weeks at least before another family wanted me for a while but honestly, I was glad to be getting out of this place I needed a change of scenery. I got out of bed and squeezed past Andrea making my way into the mouldy, tiny, shared  bathroom not saying anything to her, I was not in the mood to put up with her this morning once she started talking, she never stopped.

Maybe this was it, or maybe it would end up the way it always did. Back and forth from families  to foster homes I can't even remember how many different places I've lived in at this point. Its normal now- spend a month or two with a "loving" family until they get bored and decide that you're not the right edition to their picture-perfect family and dump you at the doors of the foster home. It started when I was 7 and someone finally realised that my mother couldn't take care if me properly, so I got placed into the first foster home and Andrea was my social worker. She was a pretty woman short, a little chubby but had long brown hair, brown eyes, full lips and was always happy, she wasn't married, and I'd never heard of her even having a boyfriend despite her being nearly 40, but she was always to worried about us kids to worry about her personal life. I know I was lucky to have her, but I wish she would stop worrying about me so much I'm nearly 17 and know how to look after myself. 

After making myself look half decent I started packing my things, I had learned how to pack up my belongings over the years, so it didn't take me very long, only 2 suitcases and a backpack and I was ready to go. I looked back taking in my empty room wondering how long I would be away for this time. I felt butterflies in my stomach, I was always nervous before I left, no matter how bad the foster home can feel some foster families can be a lot worse. I said a silent prayer hoping that it would be different this time and I wouldn't be treated like an accessory just to be dumped back here to this place and headed out to the kitchen.

Everyone was up getting breakfast and it was a Saturday so most of the boys were sitting in front of the TV playing video games. I was the only girl staying here this time which is why I was so happy to be leaving, a girl can only live with 6 teenage boys for so long without going insane. I felt everyone's eyes on me and my suitcases, "Why does she get to go again?" one of them said, "She'll be back in no time, no family wants her," "Joey!" squealed Andrea "How dare you say that to her." It was fine I knew they were just salty because I always got to leave and they had been stuck here for ages, I mean realistically who wants to adopt a bunch of teenagers its mostly just babies or young kids that people want, we were too 'troubled' according to most of the foster parents. I headed out to Andreas car ignoring all of them and shoved my cases in the trunk carrying my backpack into the front seat with me, this backpack was probably the only important thing in my life it held all of my most valuable possessions, while it wasn't worth much money and it wouldn't be worth anyone's time stealing it meant a lot to me. It carried all  my father's things that he had gave me before he died and some things that reminded me of my mother because while I don't fully love her, I think there will always be a part of me that still does. 

After what felt like ages she finally came out, "Sorry about that, you ready to go?" "Sure, where am I being sent to this time?" "You are going to a family farm, the Walters, I think you'll really like them, they have 10 kids, 9 of them live there so it's pretty hectic but they are really good people." Oh my God, 9 kids running about, just what I need. I looked out the window as the car started and watched as we left the foster house, hopefully for good this time. I mean it can't be so bad, it'll be easy for me to keep my head down and hopefully they can just forget I'm even there. I felt a lump in my throat the whole journey there, I was usually nervous, just not this badly. There was something different about this one, I just didn't know if that was going to be good or bad thing.