new
n(y)o͞o/
adjective
1.
not existing before; made, introduced, or discovered recently or now for the first time.
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"And this is your bedroom!" His eager voice filled my ears, but the only thing I was processing was the fact that I might not get to see my mother again until I'm eighteen.
Her drug addiction has landed me in the foster program until she gets clean. Though she constantly promises that she will go to rehab and get better, she has yet to actually go through with it.
I followed the generous man around as he set my bags on the plush comforter of the queen sized bed. The room was quaint and unlike the apartment my mother and I shared in the city when I opened the window, the smell of freshly cut lumber and grass filled my nose instead of the usual stench of gasoline and cigarette smoke.
"Make yourself at home. My wife, Helen, will be here shortly."
I nodded my head and turned to unpack my bags when his voice interrupted my actions.
"Philip..... We are glad to have you here." Gabe's face lit up with a warm smile and it was all I could do to return the gesture.
He closed the door as he left, leaving me to unpack in silence, which I wasn't opposed to. My mother was usually away with some random guy so I was pretty used to the quiet. I checked the time on my phone and when I saw that it was only three in the afternoon I shoved my bags off the bed and decided that a quick nap wouldn't hurt.
~~~
The sound of a door slamming shut woke me up and a woman's voice was heard from the kitchen.
"Is he here?" The woman asked, lacking the anticipation I was hoping for.
Good to know 'they were glad to have me here'.
I quickly sat up, checking the time again and shoving my phone in my pocket as I left my new bedroom.
"Look who it is! We were just talking about you. Philip, this is Helen. Helen, this is Philip" Gabe's smile returned from earlier as he introduced me to the tired looking woman in uniform.
"Sorry that I'm late, Tony was taking his sweet time when I asked him to bring extra cones to the crash site. A tree fell in the middle of the road near the Waldenbeck's cabin. I swear being a Sheriff in such a small town shouldn't be this stressful" she laughs.
I rubbed the back of my neck as an awkward silence filled the room.
"I hate to say it, but I need to stop by store and ge-"
I quickly cut Helen off, "I'll go!"
Startled, both looked at me with curiosity.
Gabe, thankfully, broke the silence, "sure! I can't think of a better way for you to get used this town. I'll make you a list.... will you need a ride?"
"I can ride my bike, but thank you"
As he checked around the kitchen for the needed supplies, Helen sat down in a wooden chair in the dining room.
"Do you need directions to the store?" He asked while writing something down.
"I think I remember where it is. I'm sure I'll find it"
Gabe handed me a small list of items with some money and with that I went to go get my bike.
"That wasn't the most pleasant introduction, Helen. We want him to feel welcome" I briefly heard Gabe's calm tone as I continued out the front door.
