The Delacours

one.

I was at the park by the high school, watching families with small children playing, young couples on first dates, and older couples sitting on benches, talking about life, and feeding birds. My cell phone began to ring; it was Odette.

"Hey, Mom. How's everything?"

"Fine. Listen, I need you home in about two hours. We're expecting a new girl – she's seventeen, and I think you'll be able to help her adjust well. Okay?"

"Alright. I mean, I didn't really have anything planned, so it's fine." I hung up the phone and went to find Chris and Ray. They were down by the work out equipment and they both stood up and turned to leave after I told them. "Where are you two going?"

"We need to eat if there's a new girl coming around," Ray said. They disappeared into the woods.

"Ugh, what am I gonna do, then?" I went to my car. I lowered the window and pulled out a pack of cigarettes. I grabbed the lighter from my purse and raised the cigarette to my lips when my cell phone rang. It was Odette again – probably reminding me to eat something before coming home. I denied the phone call, and leaned back into my seat as I took a drag from the cigarette. I had smoked three cigarettes by the time I realized what time it was.

Students began to pour out of the building; I turned my car on, getting ready to leave. Suddenly, my throat felt dry, and I felt an insatiable thirst overcome me. The sweet smell of something delicious filled my nostrils. A small girl with black hair, brown eyes and a big backpack walked by my window and stopped to look at me.

"Smoking is bad for you, you know." I pulled out of my parking space, annoyed that some teenager was trying to tell me, of all people,  and began to drive home.

*****

                I parked my car in the driveway, and walked through the front door. Odette grabbed my hand.

                "Good, you're home!" she said to me.

                "Let me guess, Chris and Ray are downstairs?"

                "I think so. Just go get cleaned up, she should be here any minute." I nodded to her as I turned to walk upstairs to my room. "I thought you said you were going to quit smoking," she said quietly.

                "I'm trying. But it curbs the cravings."After changing my clothes, I walked outside to go through the cellar doors to go get the guys. "So, what's with this massive workout?"

                "Well, we didn't really get to feed. Stupid kids snooping around where they shouldn't be. You know how it is," Ray said as he benched a bar over his chest.

                "Well, sort of. Listen, that new girl is going to be here soon. So I would go get changed. Odette wants us all upstairs when she gets here."

                We walked back inside to the living room, waiting for the new girl to arrive.

                "What's taking her so long? These people are usually on time, aren't they?"I said.

                "Well, she's not coming through state services. She called me yesterday and asked if she could meet me."

                "So, wait. She's not an orphan?" Chris asked. Ray jabbed him in the ribs.

                "You don't have to be one to be here, Christopher. You know that. She didn't really tell me too much on the phone. Just that she needed a place to stay and heard that I ran a foster home."