Mated With Five Boys

"When you can no longer think of a reason to continue, you must think of a reason to start over." - Linda Poindexter

”Okay, here's your plane ticket.It's a one way, nonstop flight."

Cassy, my social worker, said handing me the ticket.

"Wait, I'm traveling by myself? Is that even legal?" l asked confused.

"You're 17 Mia, in a few months, you'll be 18.It's not illegal for you to ride ona plane by yourself"

She explained to me.

"Where am I going exactly?"

I asked her, looking down at the piece of paper.

I've been in and out fosters homes for the past ten years and never had I have to fly on a plane before.

"Colorado."She smiled lightly.

"COLORADO?"I practically yelled, shocked.

That's halfway across the country! "Why am I being shipped off to Colorado?"

I continue, looking up at Cassy.

Silently praying she'll reconsider.

"There are plenty of foster homes here, in Manhattan,’ I argued, not giving her a chance to speak.

"You'll be going to a great home Mia,’ She looked down at me sadly.

What am I? Some kind of homeless dog? I don't care about going to a "great home’ I just wanted to go somewhere I wouldn't get beat for breaking some impossible rule that a foster person had set.

"Yeah, that's what you said the day before you put me in the Rockwell's house."

I laughed sarcastically.

The sad expression on her face instantly made me regret what I said.

I might not be able to control how people treat me, but I could control the way I treat them.

And honestly, if I set out just to hurt others, how does that make me any better than the Rockwells' or any other crude person? "Look, Mia, I'm sorry.

I don't have very much say as to where you're placed, however, all things considered, the house you're going to is for kids your age.

The woman you're going to has never been in jail, nor have any of the kids been reported with cuts or bruises."

She said trying to convince me that this family would be different from all the rest.

"What's her name?"

I sighed in defeat.

information about this lady before I

I was going

can't really blame Cassy

past two years,

was one of the rare ones that actually listened when you tried to explain what was happening in the foster

try to put me

MacDymke (mac dim-kee),

to

"Don't you need this?"

I watched her confused.

have copy's back

file for me to

mind if I do I thought

couldn't hurt knowing about the people I'm

Springs will be open for boarding in

pick up from the airport, but Mrs.MacDymke insisted it

stand in the line for the Colorado flight when Cassy called

come back,

Cassy rushed out.

and watched as she pulled out an old brown, leathered journal,

in it after my mom died, and I was placed in

way to cope I

small book held some of my deepest and darkest feeling

I did

I forgot that Mrs.

from me one night after she caught me writing

had just thought she had thrown it

flipping through the pages for

dirty pages I

Tears flooded my vision.

photograph of my mother and I from when

last thing I had

"Thank you."

looked up Cassy, fighting the

"It's no problem, Mia."

wholeheartedly

until gate A18

through the

"I better get going,"

whispered, my voice

of yourself,

nodded my head and walked

care

I'm pleased

to Colorado takes about

and this window are going to be well