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The drive was quiet, the type of silence that fills every corner of the space it takes up. It makes your ears ring and the blood run into your ears. Tommy satin the back seat, wishing the women in the driver seat would just turn on the AC for the sound. His cheeks heated up as he kept his breathing as quiet as possible, since when was his heart so loud? The car moved along the road smoothly other than a few potholes which would pull a few silent cusses from the women in the driver seat.
Tommy had a unflatteringly large jumper, one that even though comfortable was a ridicules size. The jumper was black with a bold red and white mining company logo on the back; it wasn’t even Tommy jumper; it was his fathers Jason who was considerably larger than Tommy which explained the sizing. His jeans where a dark blue and a baggy style, the pockets were too small to hold anything of value which annoyed him to no end.
“Thomas, we’re almost there” The woman spoke from the driver seat , her eyes flicked to look at Tommy through the review mirror and Tommy met her eyes for a moment. He didn’t respond but angled his head, tilting his nose up at the name she chose to call him.
The woman, or Caroline as her silver name tag read. Had a professional and clinical look to her, a white shirt and a light brown cardigan that hangs to the side and these brown dress pants that Tommy thinks look stupid. Her hair was slicked back into a bun which she kept away from the driver seat headrest because pressure pushed the bobby pins into her scalp painfully.
Tommy kept her eyes on her through the review mirror, this is only temporary’ he reminds himself before looked out the car window thinking about the weeks that led to him sitting in the back of the car that smelled like a cherry candle and cleaning products. His father, Jason and his mother, Kasandra. The fights that had been escalating more and more the past few months. Tommy had already thought his mother was crazy , she was a political figure in the community who always had something to say. The fights had gotten out of hand and the police had been called by a neighbour which resulted in Tommy being placed in foster care until his parents could get custody sorted and the divorce finalized.
Caroline’s car slowed down in a picket fence suburb before pulling into the drive way of a house. Number 5b. the house was two stories with a point roof and large windows covered with shutters because it was night. There was a front garden with roses much like the ones a old person would take pride in. Tommy wanted to stay in the car, even with the silence that cut through his brain it was better than having to spend time and live with strangers. To be a ‘foster kid’. As if staying in the car made him any less of a foster kid. Caroline got out of the car and Tommy had no option but to follow suit, grabbing his backpack, the one he uses for school and picking up the black duffle bag that he used to pack up his room. Caroline and Tommy walked to the door, the large white door intimidated Tommy to no end, but Caroline just knocked like she paid rent, loud and clear. The sound too loud for the time of night. It took a moment, but the door opened, and a man stood in the doorway, he looked to be in his late 40’s with greys coming through his blond hair, stubble made its mark on the man’s chin; rough in contrast to the man’s eyes. A light blue or green mix that seamed soft like they naturally took pity on anyone they looked at.
“You must be Thomas, it’s nice to meet you kid. My name is Phill “the man said, holding a mug with some type of coffee in it, it lingered on the man’s breath making Tommy scrunch his nose.
“Tommy is fine.” He said shortly, he hated when people called him Thomas, it was so formal and made everything sound like he was getting in trouble.
Phill gave a small smile, not too bothered by the boys’ blunt words. Phil turned his attention to Caroline.
“Why don’t you two come in, it’s cold out there” Phil said as he opened the door further, Tommy felt the warm air brush passed his face when he stepped into the house. It smelled like those strange candles that they sell at hippy coffee shops and warm air. The floor was a mix of carpet in some rooms and tile that made loud sound as Phil walked on it with his shoes. Tommy found himself rolling his eyes knowing Phil couldn’t see, wearing shoes inside was idiotic in his mind. Especially because the floors looked spotless like they were freshly vacuumed and mopped and there Phil was wearing shoes that had been God knows where inside. Phil led Caroline and Tommy into the kitchen; it was a large space with a kitchen island and was equally clean as the floors. Caroline got a few stacks of paper.
“These are all the same forms you’ve filled out when it came to Alexander and William “Caroline said , her voice dropping a bit when she spoke about the last name making Tommy frown in confusion but Phil just nodded.
“of course, how long is Tommy supposed to be here?” Phil asked, as if Tommy wasn’t even there and in honesty, he was used to that. In his mind he liked to act as if he was a ghost; watching from the sidelines long passed dead without a voice or a way to communicate.
“Around three weeks if court goes as it should. It’ll be an easy case to sort out if the dad just stopped trying to fight the mom on custody “ Caroline said as if Tommy couldn’t hear, Phil gave her a strange look that Tommy couldn’t quite read.
“I don’t think that’s your place to comment on “Phil said as he looked through the papers and sighed a few. Caroline just nodded and didn’t say anything after that. Tommy watched back and forth for a while and took in as much as he could by their facial expressions. After almost 10 minuits of silence Caroline checked the paperwork and sighed some of it and then said her goodbyes and left. Just like that. A few forms and now Tommy was Phils ward. It was strange, as if Tommy was a car or a piece of furniture, it felt dehumanizing.
“so kid, is this the first time you’ve been in care?” Phil asked , looking over Tommy and his lanky frame that was covered by the large jumper and baggy jeans
“do I look like I’ve been in foster care before?” tommy said shortly , not liking what this Phil was insinuating with his words; did Tommy seem traumatized and like he didn’t have a family?
Phil let out a hearty chuckle “that’s not what I mean , its just most kids who are taken during custody battles often have been through the system before “He explained as a way to correct what he had meant. Tommy just hummed. The silence was thick for a few moments as they stood facing each other and waited for the other to make the first move.
“so, Um. Alright Tommy let me show you around. “Phil said with a short smile as he tried to get through the initial awkwardness of the situation that always happened with foster kids. Tommy just followed behind Phil as they walked around, going from room to room as if it’s the first time Tommy has been in a house. Phil went through some rules like ‘no barging in peoples rooms without knocking’, ‘no fighting’ ect..
“so how many other kids do you have in this house?” Tommy asked, wanting to get a image of how life was going to be for the next few weeks
“just one, Alex.” Phil said as they walked up the stairs
“but Caroline said that you had gone through the paperwork for William too” Tommy pressed and Phil stopped walked momentarily
“yeah, um I did. But he doesn’t live here anymore, he ... made some bad choices and I couldn’t continue to have him under my roof” Phil said before showing Tommy his room
“this is where you will be staying. We can add or change somethings tomorrow if you would like “Phill offered before leaving Tommy in the room to get settled in.
The room had white crisp walls with crowning and a king bed with grey sheets, four pillows with the second ones being white. A dark wood bedside table and dresser, a large window with white shutters like the rest of the house. The room had carpet, soft and grey but a lighter grey than the bed sheets. A lamp was on the bedside table that illuminated the room in a soft yellow hue.