night before, and as a courtesy the roommate would get first dibs. So I, too, would give away a few shirts and a couple of toys.
As I began to imagine the other foster children ransacking my old room, I heard Mrs Catanze ask, “Well, David, what do you think?”
Still holding my bag, I shook my head up and down before saying, “It’s a very nice house, ma’am.”
Mrs Catanze waved a finger in my face. “Now, we’ll have none of that. Everyone here calls me either Lilian’ or Mom.’ You may call me Mom.’”
I again nodded, but this time at both women. I didn’t feel comfortable calling Mrs Catanze, some lady I just met a few moments ago, Mom.
As the two ladies chatted for several minutes, Lilian leaned close to Ms Gold, hanging on her every word and shaking her head from side to side. “No contact? None at all?” she asked.
“Correct, ” Ms Gold replied. “David is to have no contact with his mother or his brothers, unless Mrs Pelzer makes the arrangements.”
“And the father?” Lilian asked.
“Not a problem. He has your number and should be calling you soon. David’s father did not make it to the court proceedings, but I’ve kept him informed of David’s status.”
Mrs Catanze leaned a little closer to Ms Gold. “Anything special I need to know?”
“Well, ” Ms Gold began, “David is still in the adjustment phase. He’s a bit hyper and into everything – and I mean everything. He’s a bit light fingered, if you know what I mean.”
Sitting on the couch, I acted as if I were not paying attention, but I could hear every word.
“David, ” Mrs Catanze said, “why don’t you wait in the kitchen, and I’ll be with you in just a few moments.”
As I followed Mrs Catanze into the kitchen, I still held on to my grocery bag. I sat by the table and drank a glass of water as Lilian closed the sliding door, separating the two rooms. I could hear Mrs Catanze sit back down, but the two women started whispering. I watched the numbers of a clock radio flip over every time a minute passed. Before I knew it, the sliding door opened.
Ms Gold smiled at me before giving me a hug. “I really think you’re going to like it here, ” she said. “There’s a play park nearby, and you’ll have lots of other foster children to play with. I’ll check in on you as soon as I can, so be extra good.”
I gave Ms Gold another quick hug, thinking I’d see her in a few days, and waved good-bye to her from the upstairs window. Before Ms Gold drove down the street, she waved a final good-bye, then blew me a kiss. I stared through the window, not knowing what to do next.
“Well, ” Mrs Catanze asked, “would you like to see your room?”
My eyes lit up as she took my hand. “Yes, ma’am.”
“Remember what I told you, ” Lilian warned.
I nodded my head. “I’m sorry. I forget things sometimes.”
Mrs Catanze led me into the first room down the hall. After putting my clothes away I joined her on the twin-sized bed. “I need to explain a few things to you – the home rules. You are responsible for keeping your room clean and helping out with the chores. You do not enter someone else’s room without their permission first. There is no lying or stealing in this home. If you want to go somewhere, you first ask me and tell me where and how long you’ll be away …”
“You mean I get to go anywhere I want to?” I asked, amazed that I suddenly had all of this unexpected freedom.
“Within reason, of course, ” Lilian responded. “This home is not a prison. As long as you act responsible, you’ll be treated as such. Do I make myself clear?”
“Yes, Mrs Catanze, ” I said in a soft, slow voice, still feeling awkward calling her Mom.
Mrs Catanze patted my leg before leaving the room and closing the door. I leaned back on the bed, smelling the fresh-scented pillowcase. I tried to focus on the sounds of cars rushing up and down the steep street, until I finally gave in to sleep. As my
As I began to imagine the other foster children ransacking my old room, I heard Mrs Catanze ask, “Well, David, what do you think?”
Still holding my bag, I shook my head up and down before saying, “It’s a very nice house, ma’am.”
Mrs Catanze waved a finger in my face. “Now, we’ll have none of that. Everyone here calls me either Lilian’ or Mom.’ You may call me Mom.’”
I again nodded, but this time at both women. I didn’t feel comfortable calling Mrs Catanze, some lady I just met a few moments ago, Mom.
As the two ladies chatted for several minutes, Lilian leaned close to Ms Gold, hanging on her every word and shaking her head from side to side. “No contact? None at all?” she asked.
“Correct, ” Ms Gold replied. “David is to have no contact with his mother or his brothers, unless Mrs Pelzer makes the arrangements.”
“And the father?” Lilian asked.
“Not a problem. He has your number and should be calling you soon. David’s father did not make it to the court proceedings, but I’ve kept him informed of David’s status.”
Mrs Catanze leaned a little closer to Ms Gold. “Anything special I need to know?”
“Well, ” Ms Gold began, “David is still in the adjustment phase. He’s a bit hyper and into everything – and I mean everything. He’s a bit light fingered, if you know what I mean.”
Sitting on the couch, I acted as if I were not paying attention, but I could hear every word.
“David, ” Mrs Catanze said, “why don’t you wait in the kitchen, and I’ll be with you in just a few moments.”
As I followed Mrs Catanze into the kitchen, I still held on to my grocery bag. I sat by the table and drank a glass of water as Lilian closed the sliding door, separating the two rooms. I could hear Mrs Catanze sit back down, but the two women started whispering. I watched the numbers of a clock radio flip over every time a minute passed. Before I knew it, the sliding door opened.
Ms Gold smiled at me before giving me a hug. “I really think you’re going to like it here, ” she said. “There’s a play park nearby, and you’ll have lots of other foster children to play with. I’ll check in on you as soon as I can, so be extra good.”
I gave Ms Gold another quick hug, thinking I’d see her in a few days, and waved good-bye to her from the upstairs window. Before Ms Gold drove down the street, she waved a final good-bye, then blew me a kiss. I stared through the window, not knowing what to do next.
“Well, ” Mrs Catanze asked, “would you like to see your room?”
My eyes lit up as she took my hand. “Yes, ma’am.”
“Remember what I told you, ” Lilian warned.
I nodded my head. “I’m sorry. I forget things sometimes.”
Mrs Catanze led me into the first room down the hall. After putting my clothes away I joined her on the twin-sized bed. “I need to explain a few things to you – the home rules. You are responsible for keeping your room clean and helping out with the chores. You do not enter someone else’s room without their permission first. There is no lying or stealing in this home. If you want to go somewhere, you first ask me and tell me where and how long you’ll be away …”
“You mean I get to go anywhere I want to?” I asked, amazed that I suddenly had all of this unexpected freedom.
“Within reason, of course, ” Lilian responded. “This home is not a prison. As long as you act responsible, you’ll be treated as such. Do I make myself clear?”
“Yes, Mrs Catanze, ” I said in a soft, slow voice, still feeling awkward calling her Mom.
Mrs Catanze patted my leg before leaving the room and closing the door. I leaned back on the bed, smelling the fresh-scented pillowcase. I tried to focus on the sounds of cars rushing up and down the steep street, until I finally gave in to sleep. As my
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