Changed For The Better

Back on the sofa of shame

After being in my room for ages, Mai Lee had called me down into the office. I'm sat, quite comfortably, on the sofa of shame. Mai Lee is sat in her usual spot and Luke is sitting on Mikes chair in front of the desk, with a towel round his neck and a stain on his shirt and trousers. His hair still hasn't recovered either. I was trying hard not to laugh.

"What do you have to say to Luke?" Mai Lee asked angrily.

"Yeah. You've got a little something" I said, pointing at his shirt. "Right, there"

"Marie come on now that's enough. Apologise to Luke"

"No!"

"Why not?"

"Don't want to"

"And why not?"

"I just don't ok?"

"I'm going to guess this is Marie?" Luke asked.

Mai Lee was about to answer but I decided to butt in. "Yep. That's me. I would say nice to meet you but we both know that's not how I feel"

"Mai Lee, do you mind if I have a few minutes to talk to Marie on my own?"

I was confused, and so was Mai Lee but she got up and left us to talk. Suddenly this room feels a lot bigger.

"Right" Luke started once she was gone. "I don't want you to apologise for what you did. But I don't expect it to happen again"

"You're new to this whole head care worker thing aren't you?"

"Actually, no. I've been head care worker at two homes before here, so don't think I haven't seen every trick in the book"

"It's not me you should be worried about. The others are trying to get you to give them foods and later bedtimes and stuff"

"Oh really?"

"I mean...no!" I sighed. "Ok they are. But don't tell them I snitched"

"I wouldn't dream of it. I know you've heard this before, but I am actually on your side. I know what it's like to be in your shoes and I get where you're coming from"

"What do you mean?"

"I grew up in care. And I know that the reason you ketchup bombed me wasn't because you don't like me, it's because you're hurt about your other worker who left. So you decided to hurt me before I could hurt you. I'm right aren't I?"

"If that's the excuse to keep me out of trouble then sure"

"Anyway, I wanted to talk to you about your future. You see, I've read your file, and you know you can leave in a year, if you want to..."

"Which I don't"

"Right. Well, I think you should maybe consider it. I won't rush you into anything, and I won't make you if you don't want to. But from what I've seen and read on your file, you don't spend much time with anyone here"

"That's only since Ryan left"

"So maybe, you might be better off among another crowd? Just think about it"

"Ok...no"

"Look you might not like it now but I'll leave it with you. Let me know if you change your mind"

"But I'm not even old enough to leave yet"

"Yeah, but you will be soon"

"A year doesn't count as soon"

"But I bet it will come faster than you expect"

There was an awkward silence. "Can I go now?"

"Yes you can. But any more practical jokes and I won't be as nice"