Get in Line

Preface

In the scheme of things, Josh was a great foster father to Amanda. He provided for her more than her biological father had, and most importantly he offered her a sense of security and cared for her deeply. At times, he wasn't always the best but that came from inexperience and a lack of understanding for Amanda and her situation.

Amanda's problematic behaviours had started when she was much younger, at around 11 or so years old. The lack of stability in her life had caused her to act out at school and at home, and once she had hit the teen years it had become a lot for Josh and his girlfriend Megan to handle. Josh's father had a friend, Cliff, who was much older but had had a very strict and consistent lifestyle for many years since he had left the army, and Josh and Megan had agreed it would be best to send Amanda there over the summer as they were moving houses and districts and with her it would've been too complicated. 

Amanda was used to relocating on short notice ~ 6 years in the foster system will do that to you ~ and it came as no surprise to her that Josh and Megan were making her stay elsewhere as they played family and moved, ready for the new baby in February. They were lovely people, but definitely put their needs above those of Amanda, which was understanding and frustrating all at the same time.

Amanda had met Cliff only about 3 times and she thought he was a little strange but his forthright nature and take-no-shit approach was slightly enthralling to Amanda, who had lacked direction and structure for a lot of her life. For the most part Amanda was unbothered by the plans for the summer, she just wanted to hang out with friends and get up to no good in her own time and that's all that mattered to her. She was sure she could get away with a lot with Cliff, he seemed strict but stupid and Amanda had learnt to lie really well since being in the system (it was a necessary survival skill it seemed) so she was hoping she could lie her way out of a lot and just get through it.

Obviously, Cliff had been informed of Amanda's problematic behaviours by Josh and Megan, who were eager to keep her in their home for her sake, but since finding out they were starting their own family, it was super important for Amanda to be straightened out and get herself under control. Cliff knew exactly the approach he would take, he knew the type of girl Amanda was and he was going to use that to his advantage when it came to his methods of discipline.

It's safe to say that Cliff couldn't wait for the summer to arrive...