A Different Type of Family

Escape and Release

Lena Adams Foster sighed as she left her office to go to her monthly board meetings and sighed. Callie would be alone until she got home or one of the boys since it was Friday afternoon. XC was cancelled and Callie walked home.

Once home, Callie went to do her chores and her homework. She was feeling depressed and alone. Everyone was worried about AJ it seemed and she felt like an outcast when her mama was concerned. Callie needed an escape an a release and fast. 

She did her chores and homework and went to her room and watched The Fifth Wave on DVD and after the movie ended, she went to read the second book of the series and her mind traveled to the girl who she saw in the locker after gym class ended.

Callie's mind traveled to a few days previous, in the locker room. The girl seemed fine and she was doing something that seemed off and different to Callie. The girl was cutting herself and Callie wondered why. She spoke up. "Why are you hurting yourself?" Callie asked.

"It is called cutting and I need an escape and release," the girl added. She was a senior and looked so small. "I'm Tabitha Milton. I'm a foster kid."

"Callie Adams Foster," Callie added. Tabitha eyed her surprised.

"Principal Adams Foster's daughter?" the girl asked.

"Yes," Callie added. Tabitha tried not to be envious of the girl who seemed to have it all.

"You are one of the lucky ones," Tabitha added. "When did you get out?"

"Out of where?" Callie asked curious. 

"The system?" Tabitha asked. Callie had no clue.

"Foster care," Tabitha added. 

"I was never in foster care. My mommy met mama and they each adopted each others kids."

"So none of you came from foster care?" Tabitha asked.

"No," Callie added. "They used to foster some kids, but the sister hurt me and come to find out that she wasn't allowed to be in homes if the foster  parents had daughters," Callie replied.

"Oh. Do they still foster?" Tabitha asked.

"Only emergency cases, but not right now. My mommy is out of the country for a year or more and mama doesn't foster when mommy is gone," Callie added. "It is nine of us."

"Oh," Tabitha added. "Wait nine?"

"Yup. My mommy had five when she met mama. Mama had two and after they got married they adopted a set of twins, who were our cousins after their moms died," Callie replied.

"Sounds like a group home," Tabitha added. 

"What's what?" Callie asked. 

"For foster kids who can't go to foster homes anymore," Tabitha added. Callie nodded.

"Well I have to go," Callie added. Tabitha nodded. She cut more and Callie sighed.

"What does it do for you?" Callie asked.

"It takes the pain away and I feel free," Tabitha added. 

"Take care," Callie stated as she left.

Back to the present, Callie put the book down and went to her room and thought about what Tabitha was doing and knew she needed an outlet to vent her feelings, her pain, and her frustrations. She felt that her relationship with her mama was coming undone like a loose thread.

She found a new pack of razors and opened the package and took one out. She felt the cold of the razor in her hand and sighed. She sat on her bed and eyed the razor and stared at it for a long time.