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.

least knew some information about this lady before

much useless, I was going regardless of my

really blame Cassy

the past two years, she has been

the rare ones that actually listened when you tried to

she wouldn't purposefully try to put me in harm's

MacDymke (mac dim-kee), here

to hand over

"Don't you need this?"

I watched her confused.

we have copy's back at the

file for

if I do I thought

the people I'm

will be open for boarding in 20 minutes, A voice

worker was going to pick up from the airport, but Mrs.MacDymke insisted it be her that brought you to the house.There

go stand

Mia come back, I almost

Cassy rushed out.

and watched as she pulled out an

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

was a way

some of my

anymore.But I did find your journal

I forgot that Mrs.

night after she

it! I had just

quickly opened it, flipping through the pages for the only

dirty pages I finally saw

Tears flooded my vision.

photograph of my mother and I from when I was

was the last thing I had

"Thank you."

looked up Cassy, fighting the

"It's no problem, Mia."

wholeheartedly at

minutes until gate A18 to Colorado

the airport speakers, startling

"I better get going,"

my voice cracked

of

my head and

take care

my seat on the plane I'm pleased to see I

a nonstop flight from New York to Colorado takes about

I and this window are going to be