"Katie, you have aged out. You can go to the transition home 30 days, but after that, you will need to find a job and a place stay," Helen said. "For now, pack your things. You have to leave."
"B-but Ms. Helen, I don't have no wheres to go! I'm scared," Katie cried.
"Katie! Stop that baby talk right now! You are 18 years old. Put that bear down and pack your things. You LEAVE today. There is nothing more we can do. You are going to have to grow up."
Ms. Helen slammed the door and left Katie crying in her room. She was being kicked out of the only home she'd ever known. After every foster family brought her back saying she was too "immature, whiny, stupid, annoying," etc, she always ended up back here in the group home. Katie looked down at the only consistent bed in her life. Sitting her bear Mr. Snuggles down on the bed, Katie pulled out her small backpack. She packed her only coloring book, her broken box of crayons, her toothbrush and hair brush, as well as her 4 outfits and one extra pair of shoes. Her entire 18 years of life boiled down to one small backpack and a stuffed teddy bear.
Today, she would leave the group home and either travel alone to the transition home or take her chances out in the world. Katie had never traveled in the city alone. She'd never been on the subway alone. She's never been in a cab. She had no money and no one to depend on. She was terrified of what would come next. Would she end up on the streets? Would she find a place to live? She can't do adult things. She didn't understand how.
Eventually, she heard steps coming down the hallway. She knew Ms. Helen was coming. It was really happening. She was leaving and she didn't know what would come next. Katie started crying again and clutched Mr. Snuggles to her chest.
"Katie," Ms. Helen said, "let's go. Your cab is here and I've paid the fare to the transition home."
Katie just stood where she was frozen with fear. She didn't want to go to a new place. She didn't want to take the cab. She was so scared. When she didn't respond fast enough, Ms. Helen grabbed her arm and pinched it hard. She was always pinching her. It seemed that Katie could never act fast enough to please Ms. Helen.
"Let's go you brat!," Ms Helen shouted while grabbing her arm and dragging her to the stairs. "You need to grow up Katie. I can't tell you how glad I am that you'll finally be someone's problem other than mine."
As Ms. Helen pulled her through the door, Katie saw the cab sitting on the curb. Ms. Helen opened the door to the cab and shoved her in. She shouted an address at the driver and the cab pulled away. That's when Katie realized that her bag was still sitting on her bed. All she had was Mr. Snuggles.
"S-s-s-sir," Katie said quietly. "I l-l-left my bag."
The cabbie looked in the review and then back at the road. He didn't respond. Katie cried into Mr. Snuggles as they drove on. What little she had was now completely gone. She had the clothes on her back and Mr. Snuggles. She wouldn't even be able to color late at night when she couldn't go to sleep.
Eventually, the cabbie pulled to stop. Katie sat frozen. She didn't even know which one was the home. She had no idea where to go.
"Lady! Get out. I've got work to do." the cabbie yelled.
Katie slowly slid to the side and got out of the cab. She had barely shut the door when he sped off and pulled away. She stood numbly on the sidewalk staring at the buildings in front of her. She didn't know where to go. Her anxiety was building and she wasn't sure what to do next. Just then she saw some girls her age walking into a plain brown brick building. Katie watched as they spoke to a woman at a desk and then were buzzed in. She quickly followed.
YOU ARE READING
A Little Lost
AcakAll Katie ever wanted was love. She wanted someone who would love her and accept her for who she was. Her parents had given her away. Her foster parents had always grown bored with her or tired of her immaturity. In group homes, she was told sh...
