See No Evil

The Sage Continues: Simone

"Damn, Simmy, so you really outta here?"

I threw the little bit of clothes I had into my duffel bag and nodded. I had been going from foster home to foster home all my life. From what I was told, my father was killed in prison, and my mother was too strung out to care for herself, let alone me. Everything was unicorns and rainbows when I was younger. See, they treat the young ones nice 'cause they know they can't do anything crazy without getting shut down or either getting locked up themselves. As I got older, shit changed. It had all boiled down to nobody really wanting to adopt a teenager. Every foster parent I had claimed I was too bad. That I didn't have the house training I needed and they wasn't about to take care of my grown ass. Whatever the fuck that meant.

All I tried to tell them was that I wasn't with no bullshit. They could have that money they got for keeping me, just don't think they were about to tell me what to do. Then they would hit me with that I'm living in their house, so I have to abide by their rules speech. A speech that always got ignored. No one was ever sincere in this foster business, so I gave them my ass to kiss every chance I got. Hell, I was eighteen now, so what could they really say to me except for get the fuck out 'cause legally I can no longer stay there.

"What you gonna do out there?"

I stopped packing and made eye contact with this dumb broad. Essence and I came from the other foster home together. She was sort of automatically attached to me because of how our rooming arrangements were set up at the old house. Her bunk was right across from mine, and she would have nightmares a lot. It would always wake me up, and I would eventually get up and lay with her in her bed to calm her. Some say I cared about her, but I didn't care about anyone. I really just wanted her to shut up so I could get some damn sleep for once.

We came to that home about three years ago, and it seemed like the same routine. The nightmares stopped, but she never stopped following me around. She was only sixteen, so she had two more years left in this bullshit. I wouldn't be surprised if she got transferred again to another home. I'm not saying that the girl relies on me, but if the shoes fits, you better strut in that mother fucker.

"What can I do, Ess?"

"You don't know of any family you got out there?"

"Nancy gave me the number and address to an aunt I supposedly have, but I don't know how legit that is."

Nancy is our foster mother and the biggest bitch I've ever known. She couldn't wait to get rid of me just as much as I couldn't wait to get the fuck out. She was one of those evil types of women. The ones whose husbands left them for some better pussy, so now they're bitter. So, all she does is take it out on us. I tell her all the time that I wasn't the one who left her high and dry.

"At least you're getting out and can see the world. Imma still be stuck here."

"Stuck in a guaranteed house with food and hot water. I'm going out there blind."

"That case worker can't put you in a shelter or something?"

"I'm sure she's supposed to, but she's not."

"Why?"

I zipped up my bag and placed the strap over my shoulder. I walked to the other side of the bed and put both hands on her shoulders and shook her hard. She slapped my hands away and looked up at me like I was crazy.

"What the hell is wrong with you?"

"I thought maybe I could shake you out of the dream you are in."

"What dream?"

"That people actually give a fuck about us."

I shook my head then left the bedroom. It was starting to get late, and even though I didn't want to, I was too curious to not see this aunt of mine. Just to have some knowledge of who I am and where I come from. I never knew how to fill out any applications because I knew nothing about myself. All I knew was my name is Simone Barnes, but I guess that's all I needed to know.