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A New Beginning

"We're sending you to a new foster home, Leo," my social services worker, Mr. Martin told me.

I looked at him as if to ask "Again?"

"They're nice people, don't worry, they'll take good care of you. And you won't be alone, they have four other foster children with them, all around your age so you'll have friends to hang out with and talk to," he insisted.

I didn't trust him or believe him. This was my fifth foster home and I had yet to land in a nice one. Some were better than others but none were perfect. I guess I was being unfair, looking for that 'perfect' foster home when in reality, the only thing I would consider to be perfect was a home with mi mamá, but she was gone so that wasn't happening. However, a decent one would suffice. Maybe one who acknowledged my existence AND treated me with love and respect and genuinely cared about me, although it seemed like a long shot.

I didn't have much of a choice so I reluctantly followed Mr. Martin into his black Cadillac and stared out the window solemnly as the scenes blurred past until we reached the new house. As we got out of the car I was able to get a good look at the house. It was fairly big with two stories and a nice sized back yard. The house was painted off-white with dark brown rims and had a colorful garden in front and all around the sides of the house.

I followed Mr. Martin up to the dark brown door that looked new and well-kept. With three orderly and swift knocks, the door swung wide open to reveal a tall man with a gruff yet well shaved brown beard and a shorter woman with small eyes, dark, straight hair, and a rounded face.

"Good afternoon, Mr. and Mrs. Kinsley, I'm Mr. Martin and this is Leo Valdez," he said putting his hand gently on my back and easing me forward.

"Ah, yes, Mr. Martin, so good to meet you," said the man shaking his hand. He then bent down to my eye level. "And you're little, Leo Valdez. It's nice to finally get to meet you. We've all been eagerly awaiting your arrival. Your bedroom is already made up and ready for you to sleep in," he said with a light tone and bright smile. He waited a couple seconds for me to say something back but I kept my mouth shut in slight fear. I knew better than to believe this happy acting. He was only acting this nice because Mr. Martin was here.

When I didn't reply back he gave a confused look at me and then up to Mr. Martin who answered him reassuringly. "Don't worry, it's not you, Leo just doesn't talk much when he first meets people. Once he gets to know you, he won't stop."

That wasn't necessarily true. Maybe at one point it was but I had found that the best way to stay out of trouble and keep others from getting angry was to just stay quiet and not say anything. If you don''t speak, they can't get agitated with your words. Lately, I had simply resorted to staying quiet at all times unless absolutely necessary.

"Please, come in, meet the children," Mrs. Kinsley said to me and Mr. Martin.

We walked into the house. Inside the house was clean and orderly, the same as the out. There was an open room with a white sofa and TV directly to the right and stairs leading upwards to the second floor on the left.

"Kids! Come down! Guess who's here!" Mrs. Kinsley shouted up the staircase. Within a couple of seconds, four other children came bounding down the steps, yelling and shoving each other in a race to reach the bottom first. As they reached the bottom the shouting didn't cease which resulted in a calm yet stern "Quiet, now" form Mrs. Kinsely. Once all the kids had settles down and stopped talking Mrs. Kinsley waved to Mr. Martin and I, gleaming happily. "Your new brother, Leo, is here!"

There was a round of happy shouts and whoops and one kid rushed forward and tackled me in a bone crushing hug. The shouting was okay, the quick lunge at me was not. I jumped and scooted back as I tried to wiggle out of his hold, panic seizing me. Ever since foster home #3 quick movements and lunging towards me set me on edge.