Jess' Life In Care

We Need to Talk

"Jess we need to have a talk in my office." Mike says coming into the living room where I'm sat talking to Carmen, Tee and Lily whilst Henry plays on the computer.

"Keep an eye on him, yeah" I ask the girls and they all nod in agreement.

I follow mike out of the living room and over to the office, he sits down at his desk and I sit on a chair opposite him.

"How are you all finding it here?" He asks.

"Yeah it's alright I suppose." I say, The dumping ground was better than anywhere else I had been but I wasn't about to let them know that.

"How long has it been since Henry's spoken to you?" Mike asks me.

"Not that long, I told you it's just because it's a new place." I lie.

"Accept I don't think that's true is it. Henry's school say he hasn't spoken since he's been there. That's 2 years Jess" Mike tells me.

"Well growing up in care isn't exactly easy on a kid especially not one that's shy and won't stick up for himself. Besides he hates school that's why." I say which isn't exactly true either.

"Jess they think he has Autism." Mike informs me.

"So he's a little different, what's the problem." I reply.

"If Henry has got Autism then he will have to move to another care home. He has an assessment tomorrow at school.." Mike tells me.

"Your chucking him out? He goes all three of us go." I say angrily.

"It doesn't work like that Jess, you and summer don't have additional needs." Mike replies.

"You know everyone tried to tell me that you were different that you didn't give up on anyone but your just like the rest, you don't give a S**T about us." I shout at him before running out of the office and up to my room slamming the door behind me.

A few minutes later there's a knock at my door.

"Go away Mike." I shout.

"It's me Tee" a voice comes from the other side of the door and I get up to go and see her.

"Are you ok?" She asks after realising I've been crying.

"Yeah, I just need a minute. Is Henry ok?" I reply.

"Yeah, he's still playing on the computer. What did Mike want?" She questions.

"They want to move Henry, Promise me you'll keep on eye on him and come get me if Mike tries to take him anywhere." I plead.

"Yeah of course." She says as Tracy stops outside my door.

"Tee Give us a minute yeah." Tracy says and Tee walks away as Tracy comes into my room.

"He's not moving out without us." I say stubbornly.

"Jess he needs someone who understands him." She tells me.

"I understand him. It's not fair why do Gus and Frank get to stay but Henry can't?" I question angrily.

"Gus and Frank can cope on there own for the most part but Henry is worse." She replies

"He doesn't mean to be naughty." I say in tears a little.

"Oh that's not what I meant, he struggles here a lot more than the others." She says hugging me a little.

"You can't split us up, he won't cope." I sniffle.

"Right well he won't be moving for at least a weeks so how about we try helping him and I'll talk to Mike." Tracy tells me.

"Thanks Tracy." I say hugging her a little.

I don't hold out much hope since no one seems to want us here but at least she's trying to help us.

I return to the living room and Henry's still sat at the computer and Summer is sat doing makeovers with Carmen and Lily.

"Everything OK?" Tee asks.

"I'm not sure they still want to move Henry but Tracy's trying to sort it." I tell her.

"She said that about Poppy and Rosie." Lily sighs.

"Yeah well this is different." I say getting defensive.

"Yeah I know, Tracy will try her hardest but in the end you might just have to let him go." Lily tells me.

"Nope, never." I reply confidently.

"What? Where's Henry going?" Summer questions a little confused.

"I don't know yet, he's not going for a while, Ok" I reply.

"Ok." She says turning her attention back to Carmen.  

A/N - I'm not trying to make fun of Autism but to higlight how it can affect life. Please comment and vote.