Home Sweet Home

Emily Mackenzie was having a really bad New Years Eve. She had hoped her New Year would be good, but as of right now, things weren’t looking that way. And it was all her foster parents fault.

That very morning, right after she had woken up, they told Emily to her face to get out, and that the was no longer welcome in their home. They made all sorts of claims, that they hated her, was good for nothing, and to leave in 20 minutes or they would call the police.

Emily thought they would at least wait until her graduation before kicking her out. She begged to let her stay, no mater how much she hated them in that moment, it was better than sleeping in the street in the middle of winter.

They did not budget, but did up their ultimatum to 30 minutes instead of 20. “How magnanimous of them,” Emily thought to herself.

She only had time to change out of her sleepwear, grabbing her phone, and stuff some of her clothes into her backpack before it was time to go. Her, now former, foster parents slammed the door behind her with a sense of finality.

Emily was now on her own.

She texted Rae to let her know the situation, and she asked her to meet her at the public library.

“What do you mean they just kicked you out!” Rae Tucker exclaimed in as loud of a voice as she could in a library.

“They said it was a new year, new them, and that I had no place in it.”

“But don’t they have a contract with the state or something?”

“Apparently my case worker is old friends with them. They claimed nothing official was ever signed and it was all a handshake agreement. They said legally I’m supposed to be in a group home.”

“That’s fucked up.”

“Your telling me. I even asked them to call my case worker to put me somewhere else. They just laughed in my face, and said no one wanted me.”

“What the hell is wrong with those people?”

“They are… special.”

Rae scoffed at this. “Evil more like it.” Her expression then softened. “Well it shouldn’t mater too much once we get all the money from that Delilah lady. For now, I’ll ask my Mom tonight when she gets back from her work party.”

“Speaking of parties, are we still going to the one Mark Donovan invited us to at his house?”

“I don’t think we have a choice. You really need the money right now.”

“Why just me?”

“You’re the one who has no home. Twenty grand should get you something decent.”

“Twenty? Since when is time twenty?” Emily asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Since I decided to give you my share,” Rae said with finality.

“You don’t have to do that,” Emily tried to argue, but was stopped by Rae, who held up a hand to stop her.

“Yes, I do. You are my best friend, and you need it. There is no argument there.”

Emily’s features softened. “Thank you.”

“Your welcome. Now let’s go to my house and get you some clothes for tonight.”