Help Me God

The Past

Im sitting on a metal bench. Waiting for a family called the Dodgers to come pick me up. My head is killing me. Im not entirely sure why Im being transferred i was probably high last night. I sure can feel it. Well that's about the trillionenth foster home i had to leave. Im now in Kentucky. A good 8 hours from Arkansas where my last foster family lived. I lean back in the bench. It will probably be a bit until the Dodgers get here.
I look out the window. I wonder where my father is. Does he know my mother killed herself? Probably not. It wasnt all over the news like the dog that rescued a cat from a fire. Does he regret walking out on his family. His little four year old daughter. His wife. Sure we had our problems but didn't all families? Well it doesn't matter he left and mother shot herself right in front of me. She shot me too but it didn't kill me. No i lived. Guess God decided I should've show pity on the little girl. I scoff at that. A brown hand waves in front of my face. I snap back to reality.
"Oh hi Mrs.Johnson. Are the Dodgers here?" Mrs.Johnson is a social security worker. She is put in charge of putting me into a good safe home.
She looks down at me. Clicking her tongue she says, "Girl what are we goin to do with you? Try not to get in trouble the first week. Ok? This is a good family. And a good city. Try to make some friends that won't give you 'feel good stuff.' Got it?"
She looks at me expectantly. One eye brow raised and her lips pursed.
"Yes ma'am." I reply after a few moments.
She gives me a slight smile. "Ok now come on. We don't want to keep them waiting. They are right outside. They live in a small country town and they have horses and a nice house."
I've never rode a horse. Or been in the country. As soon as I ease open the front door to the outside the difference is obvious. A blue Chevy pickup runs in an almost empty lot. Trees surround everywhere. Just across the street there are cows. Mrs.Johnson leads me towards the blue truck. She talks to the driver. I expect a man in a cowboy hat or something but this guy has on a ball cap. Only its camouflaging. And his shirt is blue. Only it has ink on it. All over it. Mrs.Johnson turns to me.
"Scarlet. This is Mr.Dodger."
Mr.Dodger holds up a hand. "Oh please call me David. And its a pleasure to finally meet you Scarlet."
Thinking to myself I ponder if country accents are fake in tve.I thought they were just stereotypes. But this man has the thickest one ever. Like Duck Dynasty. Or something.
"Scarlet."
Mrs.Johnson waves a hand in front of me again. I snap back to reality.
"Oh uhh sure."
David motions for me to get in.Opening the back door I notice someone sitting in the passenger seat. She is an older woman. Somewhere in her middle thirties. Her auburn curls fall delicately on her shoulders.
"Hello Miss.Winchester it is a pleasure to have you staying at our house for the time being. This is my son Austin. He will be in your classes. He can tell you more about the place if you like. Im Mrs.Dodger but you can call me Caroline." She turns to Mrs.Johnsan. As they talk I direct my attention to Austin.
He looks like the stereotypical country boy. He has blond short hair. A country boy genuine smile. You know the one that every country boy on the magazines have? Yea its a real smile. The sun reflects off his green eyes. He has tan skin. But not too tan like the perfect tan.
I look past him out into the huge tobacco fields. Lots of tobacco. I don't smoke tobacco. I used to but i soon moved up to weed.
A honey filled voice breaks my trance.
"Hey. Uhh we have horses. Have you ever rode a horse?"
I shake my head no. As I look at him I notice I probably look like crap.
"Are we going to the house?" I ask.
He shakes his head. "Yes and tomorrow is your first day at Tempton High. If you want when we get there and you unpack you can ride one of the horses."
"Yea that sounds fun."
Looking out the windows. I stare at trees and cows. Soon I doze off. Just the soothing bumpy road to rock me asleep.