Flight of Freedom

It's a warm summers evening, the sky is blue and the sun shines down on the people of Langly as I watch them scurry around in the heat. Mrs Plife carrying her shopping to her house with the help of her son Sean and Mr Clifford wrestling with his prehistoric lawnmower that sounds rather more like a dying animal than an electronic device used to cut grass.

I’ve always thought it was humorous how just a glimmer of sunshine can change the atmosphere so remarkably. When the sun appears, the general public become instantly more animated.

This comes in handy considering the path life has thrown me onto: Foster care.

The foster home I live in becomes calmer when the nights become lighter and the younger ones are able to stay out a little longer. It gives both Joshua (My best friend) and I a little more time without a load of kids running around, screaming their lungs out. Joshua and I are both 18 soon, that makes us the oldest in the house. Outwith the Foster home my other best friend is Hayley. We have been in the same classes since I moved here, she's a little more high class than Joshua and I, her parents are stinking rich (Lawyers). But as fun as it is to have money she also has parent issues of her own.

I sit in the park letting the warmth from the sun soak my skin as Joshua and Hayley play cards. “Do you ever feel like maybe Langly isn’t enough for you?”  Joshua asks, dropping his cards onto the growing pile between Hayley and himself.

“I don't undertsand what you mean.” His eyes flicker up to meet my confused expression.

“Don't you just want to see the world, see what’s beyond this town?”

“Of course. I’ve never been outside of this town before.” Hayley replies. I can’t say I blame them. It would be good to see different scenery. Langly isn’t exactly the town of ones dreams. It has a swimming pool and a gym but other than that it’s pretty dull. My thoughts are cut short as Joshua breaks the silence with a question I definitely was not expecting.

Leave? I look over at Hayley, who seems just as confused. Joshua stares at us with a hopeful expression lighting up his face, his eyebrows raised in suspense. Run away? This is reality, not some cliché Disney film were you runaway and live happily ever after.

I manage to choke out a nervous laugh. “What? You really want to leave?” I receive a blank expression as he lowers his eyes to the plumb grass below. He’s serious.

“What about Joe?” Joe is our carer. The closest thing either of us have to a parent.

“She will be fine. We’ll leave her a note; she’ll get over it eventually.”  I’m so confused, where is this coming from? This isn't like him.

“Look Arianna, I know you’re a little shocked but there’s nothing for us here, be spontaneous for once. Have some fun! Call it a road trip.”

“I am spontaneous, I practically ooze spontaneity!” He rolls his eyes as I cross my arms over my crimpled chequered shirt leaving it to gather more creases along my arms.

“No you don’t. And deciding last minute you’re going to walk to school instead of take the bus doesn’t count.” I bow my head as a red tint forms over my cheeks.

OK, so I’m not a rebel or spontaneous. I just like things to be organized. Anyway, usually Joshua’s idea of being ‘spontaneous’ or having ‘fun’ get’s you grounded for two weeks. He’s always breaking stuff.

“I’m in!” Hayley’s outburst catches me off guard. She’s never agrees to anything crazy! Ever!

“What?” I choke out. Dumbfounded, I stare straight into her eyes, trying to find something, anything to understand where this is coming from.