Foster

Chapter 5

Robert took my suitcase inside and Elaine held my hand as we entered the house. "Everyone! Calling all Metts, report to the family room, I repeat, report to the family room!" she yelled. I heard footsteps from every direction. 10 pairs of eyes looked at me.

"This is Caelen Hicks, she's going to be living with us. Please make her feel welcome." Elaine said. The youngest boy came up to me. He had soft brown hair in a mohawk and clear blue eyes. "I'm Ricky! I'm fouwah!" He said smiling. "Hi Ricky! You're so cute," I said smiling. Then another boy came up to me, he had blond hair and brown eyes. "I'm Tyler, and I'm seven. Do you like dinosaurs? We have dinosaur shaped chicken nuggets and I like firetrucks." He said. "I love dinosaurs! Firetrucks are cool, my grandpa was a fireman." I said. Next came a tall lanky girl. She had soft brown hair and the same colored eyes as Ricky. They looked the same. "I'm Angel, and Ricky's my brother. I'm so glad I have someone my age to talk to! I hope we share a room!" she said smiling. Then Kobe came up and shook my hand. "Welcome!" he said smiling. Alyson, who looked just like Elaine rolled her eyes and crossed her arms over her chest. "Mom, don't you think we already have enough people in this house?" She asked. "Of course not honey, she can share a room with you!" Elaine said cheerily.

"MOM NO! I think she's better off with Angel.. plus I have a lot of stuff in my room." Alyson said. "Well sweet pea, let Caelen sleep in your room tonight, and if she prefers to be with Angel, she'll be with her." Robert said. "Or she can sleep with me." Kobe said. Elaine slapped the back of his head, and I giggled.

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That night, after dinner I brought my stuff to Alyson's room. "Look, don't speak to me, don't look at me, don't even breathe in my direction." She said shoving things under her bed. "There, space for you to sleep on the floor." She said. I hesitated. "..No blanket?" I asked. "Look kid, its nice enough I let you in my room. Now buzz off." she said groaning. I slowly got on the floor and closed my eyes, and fell asleep.

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The next morning, I woke up in pain. My back ached. Alyson was sound asleep cuddling with a worn teddy bear. I grabbed my suitcase & put it in Angel's room. I headed downstairs to the breakfast table. "Hey dear, you're up before 'em all." Robert said flipping a pancake. "Hello Mr. Metts, I guess I am." I said tapping my fingers on the table. "Well, don't be a stranger, could ya wake up the kids?" he asked. I nodded. I headed back upstairs and went into Ricky's room. I went over and shook him a bit. "Ricky, breakfast is ready." I said. He turned over and smiled. "Caelen... I had am accident." he said. "What do you mean?" I asked. Ricky got out of bed and flipped his covers off his bed. There was a big wet stain. "Uh oh!" I said. "Can you help?" he asked. "Oh sure!" I said smiling. I stripped the bed and threw the sheets into his hamper. I closed my eyes while Ricky changed and told him to go downstairs. The next room was Tyler's. He had dinosaur stickers and models every where. His wall was fire truck red and he had fire truck helmets on his blanket. "Tyler! Breakfast!" I said. He hopped up and pushed past me. "Sorry! I smelt bacon!" He said halfway down the stairs. I went into Angels room, Angel, breakfast is ready. She got up out of bed. "Oh hi Caelen, did you sleep well?" she asked. "Uh yes." I said lying. "Really, that's unbelievable, Alyson is....you know." Angel said. "Yeah." I said looking down. "Don't worry, I'm glad you're here!" she said hugging me. "KOBE! ALYSON, BREAKFAST!!" she yelled. Kobe & Alyson came out of their room. We all headed downstairs to eat.

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••After breakfast Elaine called everyone to the family room. "Ricky, go get dressed you got daycare today. Tyler, you're going with him. Angel, daddy's taking you to your flute recital. Kobe I'm taking you to football practice, and Alyson, you can stay here." Elaine said. "Thank God." Alyson said going to her room. "Oh, and Caelen, uh you can either ride with Robert & Angel or come along with me and Kobe, or stay with Alyson." she said. "Um, I'll go with you." I said. "Good, now go get dressed!" she said. I went upstairs in Angel's room and opened my suitcase. I put on my tight light blue jeans and my "Proud Texan sweater over top of my white long sleeve shirt. I slipped on my Uggs. Yea, pretty expensive but my grandmother gave them to me. I put my hair up into a ponytail. "Wow, you look great!" Angel said. She let her pretty brown hair down into waves and wore a sparkly pink dress that matched her flats. "You look great too, good luck!" I said smiling. She smiled back.

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