The Lost Boy

the set of hills and didn’t stop until I slammed the front door to Jody’s home. I huffed behind the door for several seconds until I realized that Vera and Jody were screaming at each other in the kitchen. I cursed to myself, knowing that Mother must have just called. I sailed past the kitchen and into my room, knowing that Jody would soon yell for me. As I sat on my box-spring bed, I knew I had broken one of the most important rules Gordon Hutchenson had pounded into me – stay the heck away from Mother. Thoughts of Gordon driving me to juvenile hall filled my head.
    After a few minutes I leaned against the bedroom door to better hear what the commotion was all about. I discovered that Jody and Vera were not yelling about me, but about some girl. I opened the door and sneaked down the stairs to the older boys’ room. All at once every head snapped up in my direction. Their faces were long and withdrawn. They all seemed busy, their bodies bent over as they stuffed their clothes and other belongings into brown bags and pillowcases. I knew, but I had to ask. “What’s wrong? What’s going on?”
    The oldest kid, Bobby, stated, “They’re shutting down the house. You better pack whatever you got ‘cause tomorrow we’re outta here.”
    My mouth hung open. “Why? What’s wrong?”
    No one answered. I ran to the bottom of the stairs and tugged on Bobby’s shirt. As he looked down at me, I could tell by his eyes that he had been crying. I didn’t know that older kids did that. Bobby shook his head. “Jody’s been accused of statutory rape.”
    “Statue … what?” I asked.
    “Hey little dude, the word is that the Joneses took in this girl a few months back, and this chick now says she was raped, even though Jody was never alone in the house with her. If you ask me, I know it’s all a lie. That chick was
crazy, “
Bobby said. “Just go pack your stuff and don’t forget to check the laundry basket. Now scram!”
    It only took me a minute to repack my things. As I stuffed my grocery bag, I turned off any feelings of sorrow I had for the Joneses. They were nice people, and I felt sorry for Jody and Vera, but my worldly possessions came first. To me it was a matter of survival.
    The next morning a fleet of cars arrived, and one by one the other foster children and I said our good-byes. I kissed Vera on the cheek and hugged Jody’s jolly tummy. As the social worker drove me down the hills, then past my school, I took out my sheet of addresses and scratched the Joneses from my list. I had stayed at their home for just over two months – my third foster home in half a year.
    The social worker informed me that some of the other foster kids I had lived with would end up in juvenile hall because there were no homes available. He went on to explain that Gordon couldn’t pick me up because he had called in sick. But, the social worker smiled, Gordon had given him a lead to a foster home that might take me in for a few days.
    I slumped in my seat and nodded my head.
Yeah, yeah,
I said to myself.
How many times have I heard that before?
    A couple of hours later I burst from the county car and into Alice Turnbough’s living room. I hugged Alice with all my heart. Moments later the social worker knocked on the screen door before entering. “You two know each other?” he asked in a weary tone. My head rattled up and down like a puppy dog. “Mrs Turnbough, I, ah … I know it’s kind of short notice, but we had a situation … Can we place David here … for a while?” he pleaded.
    “Well, I really don’t have the room, and I can’t have him sharing a room with the girls. Is there any other … ?”
    My heart ached. I wanted to stay with Alice so badly. My eyes began to water as I looked up at the social worker, who hesitated for a moment. I then turned to Alice, who seemed to act the same.
    Alice shook her head. “I don’t think it’s right, for David, I mean …”
    A long stretch of silence followed. I let go of Alice and gazed at the carpet. “Well, ” Alice said in a defeated tone, “can you at least tell me how long you expect him to stay? I guess I can put him back on the couch. That is, if you don’t mind too much, David.”
    I clamped my eyes shut for the longest time. My head swam with a stream of endless thoughts. I didn’t care. I didn’t care whether I slept on a couch or a bed of nails. I just wanted to stay at a place that I could call
home.

9 – Coming Around
    My stay with the