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Everybody hated Tommy and he didn’t know why. He knew he was annoying and he knew he wasn't particularly good at anything but that didn't mean he wasn't a good kid. At least that's what he thought before he got returned to the foster house for the hundredth time. It has happened so many times he lost count. He was simply a fuck up and he knew that all of his caretakers thought the same. He tried, He really did but nothing he ever does was enough. So he gets mad sometimes, Big deal, Why does it matter so much? Does that mean he isn't deserving of love? Tommy didn't know anymore but at the same time, he didn’t care. He stopped caring a long time ago, after all, everybody is the same. As long as he doesn’t care, he doesn’t get hurt. it’s been like that for the longest of time.
His caretaker Puffy looked at him with pitiful eyes as he opened his trashbags again to put his clothing away. Puffy knew he wasn't a bad kid, She took care of him for eight years and she grew quite fond of him. He was just a misunderstood little child and nobody took the time to sit down and actually understand him. Tommy was a bright kid when he was younger, and he still would be if he tried, pretty average at his studies but he had a lot of charisma. When he came to foster care he was about five years old, old enough to know what's happening but young enough to make him believe this was just temporary, his parents left him here with the excuse of having no money to take care of him which would've been fine if they wouldn't have taken the next flight to go to America and never come back.
At first, everyone loved him, He was quite the extroverted kid and he loved to help around a lot but the older he got the more he realized that his parents weren't coming back. he started to get angrier and angrier to the point that he would start unnecessary fights just to get the attention he wanted from at least his caretakers. Even if the attention wasn’t the good kind of attention.
It isn't uncommon for foster kids to go through a phase where they rebel and let their anger take its course but most parents who choose to adopt do not want a child with a short temper and, quite frankly, anger issues. Normally, the moment a foster child turns ten they start calming down because they realize being uncooperative doesn't really gain them anything but also most foster children don't remember their parents. He still remembered the warmth of his mother's hands as she stroke his hair after having a bad fight with his friends or the way his father would kiss his tears away after falling and scraping his knees. He thought his parents loved him and he was still hurt that they would leave him in foster care. The only way he could cope was by getting angry, He didn't want to be weak and cry but his anger was the root of most of his problems. It's quite obvious that he tried not to get angry on various occasions, to the point that he would dig his fingers into his skin, often hurting himself in the process just to not hurt or upset others. It's quite heartbreaking to see how hard he tries and yet nobody ever appreciated his efforts.
He was thirteen now and he tried hard to get along with others and to be obedient to his foster parents so that one day he might get adopted ( even though he rather have his parents comeback) but something always happens that makes him tick out. Puffy wants to help him but Tommy has lost trust in every adult. She could just hope that somebody will come one day and give him the love and validation that he so craves but until then it’s on Puffy to make sure he is at least comfortable at the foster house.
"You know, not every child and adult get along. That doesn't mean you are a bad child, it just means that you have a special personality and that you will one day find a family that loves you for who you are", Puffy said in an attempt to cheer Tommy up but Tommy showed no reaction.
It hurts Puffy to see him like this, so emotionless as if he was already tired of life. She knew he was and she tried to ignore it. You see, Puffy tried her best, she really did, but the fact that he tried so hard just to get rejected every single time hurt Puffy more than it hurt the child. She really just wanted the best for him and seeing him so dejected makes Puffy think it is her fault, that she should've tried harder. He just wanted his old family back but that seems practically impossible so he's got to settle for the next best thing.
"I want to sleep a little bit before dinner. Is that okay?" Tommy asked carefully.
Puffy knew that he just wants to be alone and she felt the disappointment settling in. But despite all that, she forced a smile and stood up.
"It's fine, Tommy. Go and rest for a while”, she said before walking out of the door and closing it. He knew she was trying but it wasn't enough for him. She always repeated the same words every single time after Tommy got send back. Maybe she should realize that Tommy didn't want to be special.
Tommy sighed knowing fully well that he is probably never going to get adopted. He is thirteen already, too old for most people. When he was younger he got tossed around from foster parent to foster parent, hoping to find a forever family (In his head he just wanted to be with his parents again. He misses them.) but his anger and non-caring attitude left him in solitude. It was fine, he told himself, they aren’t his real family anyways. That didn’t stop his desire to fit in with anyone. He only wanted to be accepted for who he is and not having to change his whole personality for a family he would spend his whole life with.
Little did he know that on his way, a friendly blonde man was waiting to add another addition to his small family.