Lost and Found

Change

          I sat in the office chair for about twenty minutes, while the principal did god knows what in his private room! Mrs. Johnson had apparently called him, even when I specifically told her not to, because she could lose her job? I tried to explain to her that it might mess with my emancipation deed if I'm deemed "emotionally unstable" or whatever, but she said it was for my well being. (I'm rolling my eyes internally) I can clearly take care of myself. I have for the past 2 and a half years. What's any different now? I'm really starting to wonder if telling anyone was a good idea...
  
           I was shaken from my thoughts when Principal Stewart called me into his office. "Miss Marino?" I hesitantly stood up and walked to his office slowly. It seemed like I was in trouble. But I wasn't, was I? I mentally reminded myself to act confident and "emotionally stable", whatever that means. I straightened my posture and kept my chin up, as I walked through his office door. I suddenly stopped in my tracks. Who was that?

            A short, stocky lady with glasses and her hair in a bun, stood up and immediately reached out a hand. Oh no.... not a social worker! My literal worst fear...

            On another note; Why are social workers always so angry? I mean, doesn't that defeat the purpose of being a "social worker"??

          Sorry- Back to the point- She introduced herself as Bonnie Wood, but insisted I call her Bonnie. She was a different type of social worker than I'd ever met, she was refreshingly nice.

           I had to gently remind myself that I couldn't get sucked into the trap, because clearly if there was a social worker present, they were going to try to take me away from my home. I would never, ever let them. I wasn't about to go to some foster home. "So Lizzie...", Bonnie began, but she hesitated, which worried  me. "We talked to the lawyer that accepted your emancipation papers, and found a bit of a problem." What was she talking about? A problem? What could that be?

          "What problem?" I asked, maybe a little bit too quickly. Principal Stewart and Bonnie shared a glance. 'Ugh, my worst pet peeve! Just spit it out already, oh my god!' I guess my face must have conveyed how anxious I was starting to get. Or maybe it was my foot tapping rapidly and loudly against the cheap carpeted floor, because they shared another look- a look of concern.

          "Your mom appeared to have been on many heavy drugs during the time that she would have signed the papers...so the papers aren't actually legitimate. We did everything we could..." At this point my eyes started to fill with tears for the second time that day. "But we are going to have to remove you from the apartment you are currently staying..."

         I interrupted her and stood up from the stiff office chair I was sitting in. "No!" I yelled, louder than I meant to. My knees went weak at the thought of actually living with people who didn't want me, and I was absolutely terrified because I remembered stories of girls being molested by foster parents. It may have been an irrational fear, but it was scary to think about. I think I was actually afraid that no one would want me because I was truly broken inside, but I wouldn't have had the guts to say it. I refused to let anyone, even temporarily, try to replace my irreplaceable mother.

            Bonnie had to quickly correct me because I already had tears running down my face and was starting to jump to conclusions. "No, Lizzie, don't cry!" She took my hands from my face and put them between her own. She looked into my eyes. "You are not going into foster care!" I looked up at her in confusion.

          "Then where am I going?" I asked warily. She looked at me, then at the principal, before she said it.

         "You are going to live with your brothers, Lizzie." I think I just about threw up on the floor. "Your oldest brother Lorenzo has agreed that they will take you into their home!"

         "I'm sorry-they??" Suddenly, I heard a commotion in the main office outside the door. I saw a huge figure sit down in a chair and I silently pleaded with god that that wasn't Lorenzo.