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Someplace New

by Diana Escarcega 

     Hi I would like to tell you about an event that was my “coming of age” moment. This is a very important event because I couldn't picture my life without this event occurring in it. Well I try to but it just doesn't work out for me.

     This event happened on September thirtieth of two-thousand nine (aka...the beginning of seventh grade). It was a pretty normal day for me at first. I woke up, brushed my hair, ate breakfast, etc. Then I went to school and almost had a fully normal day... Until about the last fifteen minutes of English. While I was taking a test the teacher got a note saying I needed to go to the office, she gave it to me and said I could go as soon as I finished my test. The kid next to me saw that I had a note to go to the principals office and was like “oooohhhh! You're gonna get in trouble”. I ignored him and finished my test as quickly as I could, then asked if I could leave. My teacher said yes, but to take my backpack, she said she "didn't know if the bell would ring by the time I got back or not". While I was walking up to the office I started to get nervous, "what if I really was getting in trouble?" I don't think I did anything. Finally, I made it to her office. It seemed like it took an hour to get there. I took a deep breath and walked in.

     When I walked in she told me to come to the small office with her. I was wondering what was going on, "am I really in trouble?" That's when she told me. “Diana, I got a call from your caseworker Doug, he has informed me about what is going on...”  That's when I burst into tears, I seemed to know even before she told me. “... you're being moved into a foster home”. I was so upset, she told me it was because my dad was in prison, and that I wasn't allowed to live with my mom (she is actually my step mom Barbara but I call her mom) because she had a felony for god knows what reason, she didn't actually say that, but I never really figured out why, or in better words I never understood why. After she explained the situation to me she said that Doug would be coming to pick me up after school ended. When the bell rang she gave me permission to sit in her office so people wouldn't stare at me crying. I forgot how much attention that would draw. After about fifteen minutes I had had enough time to let my sadness check out, and let the anger check in. Doug came with my sister and I was not happy. He signed me out and said that we needed to go, I looked him right in the eye and said “no!”. Now I was mad but crying at the same time, “you're not taking me anywhere, I don't have to go if I don't want to, you are not the boss of me!” Mind you we were in the general office and people were staring at me the whole time, but I didn't care. I was crying so hard I couldn't see, my sister Angie walked over and gave me a big hug and said it was going to be okay, and walked me to the car. Rebbecca, my other case manager was waiting for me.

     On our way to Mark and Kathy's house. They are the foster parents I was going to live with. We stopped at Eegees to get dinner. I refused to eat anything. I also did not talk the whole way there. I just stared out of the window and cried, I cried and thought about the family who would be coming home right about now, wondering where I was, and how my mom would be saying what happened and crying. How Matt and Amanda would be so mad and sad at the same time. Then I thought about my little brother Martin.  I thought about how he was in this position after we left the group home. How as soon as we got home he was taken to my Tata's house, and how after about six months living there he was moved to a foster home. I could just picture his face when he heard what was happening. He was only eight years old, he's been attached to so many people, lived in so many places, and has gotten torn from each and every one. I couldn't stop thinking about what Mark and Kathy would be like. Were they nice? Were they clean freaks? Did they have other children? Any pets? While I was thinking we pulled into Wal-Mart. Doug and Rebbecca said we needed to get some clothes for tomorrow since we didn't have any. I got a shirt and pajama pants.( I didn't really feel like wearing regular pants to school, I know it was a dress code violation, but I didn't really care anymore). Then we left Wal-mart and headed to Mark and Kathy's house again. Five minutes later we were in their house. It was a town home, and they had a flag hanging in front of their door. I scanned the porch and saw two people waiting there. I ignored them, and looked away,  then I realized it was them, and stared for what seemed like an hour, knowing i would live with them soon.

     Once I got into their house I sat on the couch which smelled a little bit like dogs. Well now I know they have dogs. After they were done talking to Doug and Rebbecca they all came inside and looked at me and Angie. And we looked back. I looked over Mark first.  He was also wearing plaid shorts and work boots. Then I looked over Kathy.  She was wearing a beige skirt and a pinkish red shirt. Mark was a little scary looking compared to Kathy. Finally Doug broke the silence and introduced us. “Mark, Kathy, this is Angie...” she smiled and shook their hands. “and this is Diana”. I looked away when they smiled at me. “I know it sounds rude, but how would you feel in my position?” Doug cleared his throat and whispered something to Rebbecca. She looked at me then walked to the front door and gestured me over. We walked onto the front porch and she asked me if I was okay. I looked at her for a long hard time, then started crying, I told her how I felt. How I didn't want to be there. She just smiled, and said "I'm sorry sweetie", then gave me a big hug and we walked inside together. Kathy and Mark showed us our room and let us put your backpack in it, Angie and I sat in there until Doug left. Kathy asked if we were hungry and we said "no". Then I went into into my new room, and sat on my new bed. After a while Kathy and Mark came in. I rolled over and pretended I was sleeping, then I heard them say goodnight to Angie. After that it was lights out.

     The next day at school was hard. I couldn't concentrate, and everyone was asking about what had happened. After a while I couldn't take it anymore and started crying in the middle of class. People were staring at me and it just made me feel that much worse. After I cried for a while I went to the bathroom, washed my face, and sat in the hall for the rest of class. I couldn't wait until lunch. I would get to see my brother Matt. When  I told him about them he got really mad. Especially when I said their names. I missed him so much. I missed my whole family, so, so, so much.

After a while I started to accept Mark and Kathy more and more. I even started to like them. They were nice people. I got along with our neighbors also. I got really attached to Mark and Kathy after about ten months. Our neighbors were like family to me now. I loved them so much. In August my dad got out of prison. He wanted Angie, Martin, and me back. Angie and I didn't know what to do. We started having visits with him. They were(and still are) going well. Then one day Doug came over for a home visit and asked me how I felt about being here, were they treating me okay, etc.

     Then he told me, “your dad wants you”, "but I know you like it here. Where do you want to stay, if you had to stay here until you're eighteen?" I thought about it for a bit. Then Doug said I could wait to tell him what I wanted, so I did. I thought about it for a few weeks and realized I knew what I wanted the day he asked me. I called Doug and told him my decision, "I want to be with Mark and Kathy", he said, "are you sure?" And I said, "definitely".

     It was the biggest decision of my life so far. it completely changed my life. . I knew it was a good decision though, because I knew that since they were good people and cared about me, they would help me get to where i was going in life, and be a better influence than my biological parents, because they cared. I still live with them (of course) and love them even more. 

The End