Chapter Text
My memories of that day are fuzzy. The day Quaritch got arrested. Sometimes the memories are crystal clear in my head, then suddenly it's like the day never existed.
He remembers calling Quaritch' Papa,' and Quaritch calling him 'Tiger.' Playing with his fuzzy hair, trying to teach him survival skills, or how nervous Quaritch was on his first day of school."Remember, Tiger, if anyone tries to push you, you push them back. Don't be too mouthy with your teacher. Stay safe, don't wander off. When the day's over, come straight here, no straggling, you hear me! God, maybe this was a bad, maybe- "!"Papa! I'm going to be fine," he said, laughing at Pa. "Okay, Miles, just be careful." Papa took deep breaths before grabbing him hard and kissing him goodbye on his forehead.
That was the worst day of my life.
Later that night, Papa woke me up.
It was the middle of the night when Papa woke me up. Papa was wearing his camo outfit, and I was in green dinosaur pajamas. "Pa-Papa? It's sleepy time." I said yoning.
He just ignored me and grabbed me with his wet hands. "Miles Quaritch, the house is surrounded." someone yelled. "Papa, Papa, what's happening?" I asked, confused. " Nothin, Nothin son, go back to sleep." Some bug must have pocked him because his arm hurt, and he felt sleepy; the rest of the night was hard to remember.
A warm feeling, the car, comforting words, the crash, and lots of screaming."It's cold out. It's-ky, e-rythi- gonna-ky. God!" There was a screeching sound, followed by a bang. "Miles ua-itch y- un- -rest!" " Fou- the -id! He -ve h- so-ng." "-or-in!" "-ll a- am-ce!"
"Prep---
The next thing I remember clearly is waking up to the sound of a heart monitor.
My Heart monitor? Why was he in the hospital? He looked around the room and saw Uncle Lyle and Auntie Z looking upset."Auntie, Uncle, why are you here? Where's Papa?"I asked nervously."Hey, kiddo," Uncle said, "how are you feeling? Sick, dizzy, nauseous." "Okay," I answered, taking the blanket off my legs."Uncle Lyle, where's Papa?" I asked again, getting scared." Mj," he started, looking ready to cry himself.
"Boss, slip up with something, and he's going to prison for a bit." he said. Prison?, I thought prison was a place for bad people; why was Papa there? Did Papa do something bad? I asked, starting to cry. "No, kid, no, "Auntie Z said, coming to hug me." he just made a mistake." Auntie, keep hugging and humming to him until a lady in a suit entered the room, saying she was my case worker.
Auntie and Uncle told her she shouldn't be there and wasn't needed, but she said that they shouldn't be there because they weren't my family. That made them mad. They clapped back, saying they were my godparents and they had the right to custody.
The woman gave a triumphant look and said that their rights of guardianship were abolished because they were close to Papa. She also said they could stay with me during my hospital stay, but she would return as soon as I was checked out.
After that, she left. Soon, Auntie was pulling me in for another hug and said. "It's okay, it's going to be okay, Miles." She was crying now.
The next two days were boring. Auntie seemed really sad or upset the whole time, and Uncle Lyle hardly cracked any jokes all day. On the third day, the nurse said I could leave. We were heading to the door when the lady came back. They told me I had to go with her. Uncle finally smiled and said, "Don't worry, Mj, we'll get your things from the house, raise hell for em, okay!" he ruffled my hair. He knew I hated that.
While I was trying to fix my hair, Auntie came to hug me and said," We're going now, be good to the nice woman. Love you, kid, be smart." Kissing me on the forehead. As they walked away, I started to cry.
I spent the next few days in a really bland room, eating oatmeal three times a day. Auntie and Uncle finally came to visit. I ran to hug them."Hey, Miles." Auntie said, "We missed you, kid." Uncle Lyle added. They walked down the corridor to the visiting room. The room had: the walls were colorful, there was a checkered carpet on the floor with pillows and toys on the floor."Miles, we brought your things from the house." Uncle said. He gave me a red backpack with my toothbrush, inhalers, sketchbook, and a stuffed tiger inside.
Auntie also gave me a garbage bag with my clothes. We spent the day in that room playing board games, and when they had to leave, I cried again."Please don't leave, I don't like it here." I pleaded, " Oh, Miles, don't worry. We'll come back." They left me again.
The next day, I was back in my room, being upset at them for leaving me behind, when the lady( Miss Lousie) entered the room. She said, I was getting a foster placement today. When I asked what that meant, she ignored me. Apparently, it means that 2 strangers take care of me from now on.
The Delgados were strange people. They always called him Michel and asked him if he remembered their life together constantly. Why would he? They've only known each other for a week? One night, when he overheard they wanted to change his face with surgery, he called Madam Lousie immediately.
The Freemans weren't much better. Their house didn't have any furniture or a TV. Just a shrine in the middle of the living room with the picture of some random man. They only wore long black robes and made him wear one too. Miss Lousie disapproved of them after a surprise visit, so he changed homes. Turns out they were part of a cult. Miss Lou and I saw them being arrested on the news. We had a good laugh about it, too. After that, she became much kinder to him, and he began to trust her more.
The next place I went was a group home run by Ms.Carlie and Mr.Tran. They were really nice. Unfortunately, some kid lost their family in a shooting and needed an emergency placement. The system was happy to throw a random kid into a crowded home, but Mr.Tran and Ms.Carlie refused to overcharge themselves. So, I asked them to give me back; that way, the girl could come here to a good home. At first, they hesitated, telling me it was hard to find a good placement in foster care. When I told them she needed this more than me. They were convinced by my conviction. And sent me back guilt clear in their eyes.