Socs, west side people with too much money for their own good. Greasers, east side people with not enough money to survive. I've learned one thing through this year stuck in foster care, money never defines a person. People jump others because they want to. People steal because they see a reason to. Money never made anyone do a thing. Though if I were to share that thought people would disagree. They'd say that's just my opinion, and they are right about that but I'd say I have pretty good reasoning behind it.
I use to be a no good greaser girl, till I got caught stealing from the small grocery store two blocks away from home. Police took me in, sat me in front of the judge, and I was sentence to be put in foster care until they saw improvement. I never seen my brothers look more disappointed of me until that day. Since that day I've been stuck in a house full of girls who hate me, and I couldn't leave the house without my abusive boyfriend, Ray, noticing. When that judge said I'd be better on the other side, he lied.
So here I sat on this pink leather couch that belonged to a house that just screamed "the wife decorated me". Mickey Mouse whistling his little tune while steering his steamboat on the TV in front of me with my little sister Anna just staring at it. Though she wasn't the only person I knew who loved Mickey Mouse.
We call him Two-bit Mathews, but his real name was Keith. He was real funny, always making jokes and smarting off at someone. He always found a reason to be grinning even if it was over the silliest of things. I admired that about him. He often drank though, I guess when it was too hard to grin on his own he relied on that though you couldn't tell the difference between him sober and drunk. He was in love with Mickey Mouse, had a few shirts, and would watch it any chance he got. A young reckless boy trapped in an eighteen year old body. He was the second oldest out of my gang of friends. Boy, did I miss him.
"Kat, darling?" The concerning voice of my step-father Rick Roswell cut through the memories of sitting just like this with them, laughing and joking. I slowly looked up from the TV to meet his tired green eyes that had strands of his gray hair in front of them. It was around nine pm and he was already dressed in his black night robe and slippers causing a slight knot in my stomach to grow. Did I do something?
"Would you come outside with me?" He asked with no sort of emotion in his voice but I saw in his eyes that asking me was just a favor. It wasn't up for debate. I bit my lip, the lump in my stomach growing by the second as I tried to remember what all had I done today to bring this about.
"Yes, of course." I barely managed to get out in a whisper as I stood up coming only to five foot five. I heard a small giggle come from in front the TV. Anna liked to get in my business and tell Jazz the eldest of us girls. Rick shot her a look before smiling at me and walking towards the front door. I followed after him closing the large white wooden door behind me, shivering slightly as my bare feet met the cold blue wooden porch.
"Take a seat." Rick spoke with a gentle tone in his voice as his hand patted the empty spot next to him on the swing. I quickly moved next to him, pulling my legs to my chest. I laid my head on my knees, watching as Rick opened his mouth to speak only to close it again and think for a couple minutes.
"Judge Michael called me in today." He said with caution as his eyes met my icy blue eyes. I stared at him as though his words caused the earth to start shaking. I pulled out the switchblade my twin, Sodapop, had given me for my fifteenth birthday and started to twirl it. It kept my mind busy when I was nervous, a habit I picked up just a few weeks after getting the thing.
"Now put that thing down and listen to me." Rick demanded as he gestured to the small table next to the swing. I let out a nervous sigh as I closed the blade and sat it on the table. He knew how nervous I could get when it came to stuff like this. Maybe it wasn't bad, maybe it was nothing to worry about. Well I was hoping for some good news. I couldn't take any more bad.
