Hopsin blasted through my earphones as I turned it up louder. I don't care that it is disrespectful to have earphones in during funerals, if I didn't have the music then I wouldn't be able to cope.
I watched as families poured out of cars, wearing dreadful black clothes.
Why should we wear black to funerals? It only makes things more realistic. Perhaps, if we were to wear bright colors, we could then direct our attention away from our friends and relatives laying in a wood casket.
Lauren, some child worker or some crap -I didn't bother to listen- pushed me towards the cold casket with an even colder body inside of it.
My great aunt, Linda, had passed away from kidney failure after spending a couple weeks in the hospital. She was my current guardian, yet I didn't care for her.
I only cared for the fact that she was my last living relative. That sounds selfish of me, but she only kept me to use my inheritance. I could only hope to get emanicapted instead of put in an orphanage.
Several people came up to me to give their condolances, but I just casually turned away.
After the cold box was buried, Lauren managed to get me back in her car so we can go to the agency.
* * *
I waited in some type of waiting room thing for Lauren or one of her co-workers to call me back.
Turned on my music again, -it hadn't been off for more then ten minutes- and tried to look for one of my favorites. That's Deep - Chantelle Castello.
The first lines were just bursting in my ears whenever some blonde sophisticated woman said something, and looked around the room.
I took one of my earphones out, "Did you call someone?"
"Yes, I am looking for Catalina Wilson," she said hesitantly after looking me up and down.
I gave her a nice eye roll, "That's me. But I go by Cat."
"Well come on back," she gave me a fake smile.
Psshhh. Snobby bitches these days.
She led me into a empty room with a wood table, and a fold up chair on each side.
"Please, take a seat," I heard a deep voice behind me.
I took a seat while looking this man up and down. He seemed like the nice neighbor type. White balding hair, and everything. I gave him a kinda grim smile.
"So .. Catalina. It seems that you have no legal guardian at this point, nor any eligible guardians. With this, it has given us one of two options, both depending on you. Option one is, we can give you to an orphanage for two years, or we can choose to emancipate you.
"We obviously will try for the second option, but we will need your cooperation. One of our agents will have to check up on you once a month for three months. Afterwards, you are free to do whatever you wish. Of course, what is left of your inheritance will pay for your house, and supplies," he finished by looking me straight in the eyes.
I took a few moments to look in his eyes. I couldn't read any type of emotion, but the serious buissness manner he talked in.
"I don't need agents checking in on me. Even while living with Linda, I took care of myself."
"It is the policy to have every child looked in on."
"I'm not a child."
He look at me, then sat back. "The most I could do is get you checked on once. After a year, we could check on you."
I also paused, considoring the deal.
"Fine."
He open a minala folder I had yet to notice, and pulled out a paper. He turned it towards me and pointed at a single line.
"Sign here."
I skimmed over the contract and saw that I couldn't leave state.
"Why can't I leave state? I am getting emaciated, I'm not a drug dealer!"
"Its part of the rules," he said with a shrug.
I rolled my eyes, and signed.
"Wait. Linda didn't leave me her house?" I said. Surely I had to be the one she left it to .. there is no other living family.
"She saved it for a local buissness man, who was looking to buy it before she passed."
"How is that even possible?! I am her only-"
"Miss Wilson, we are done here."
"Fine," I said.
He escorted me to the front of the building, where Lauren was waiting with her peppy smile. She always reminded me of one of those camp moms who always thought positive. Ugh.
"I am going to help you pick out an apartment and a car!" she said overexcititly.
"I already have a car," I said in monotone.
"That was in Linda's name," butted in the old man.
"Oh my fucking god. Okay."
Lauren's smile faltered before her saying, "Its not very polite or ladylike to swear. Espeacially in the great Lord's name."
"Oh, cool," I said with a sarcastic smile.
"Well, lets go, and see what we can get you!" she said in that same annoying voice.
This is gonna be a long day.
