Unbreakable Faith - 6. Chapter 6

Unbreakable Faith

Chapter 6

The ride to the group home was short and mostly silent. Betty had gotten his clothes and what few belongings he owned from his house and they were packed in a duffel bag in the back seat.

Ian looked over the two story house as they pulled up into the driveway. It looked to be about twice the size of the rectory. It was white with green shutters; it had a wrap around porch and a small front yard. Betty grabbed his bag from the backseat as they got out of the car and he followed her up the steps. They stopped in front of the door where she rang the doorbell.

A few seconds later the door opened and a dark haired middle aged woman smiled out at them. She stepped back out of the doorway holding the door open and motioned them in. After closing the door behind them she stepped in front of Ian. “My name is Kelly dear; I’m the house mother here. I’m very glad you’ve come to stay with us for a while.”

Ian smiled at her and shook her hand. “Thank you ma’am. Thanks for letting me stay here.” His eyes wandered around the large room they’d walked into. It wasn’t wide but pretty long. Stairs led upwards about halfway down its length and two wide doorways stood on either side of him. Through the one on the right was a very large dining room table surrounded by ten chairs. The doorway to his left showed a room that was filled with couches and chairs, all facing a large TV against the far wall.

He stood taking in his surroundings as Betty handed Kelly the bag from the doctor’s and his duffel bag. Turning back to her Ian reached out for the duffel. “I got that ma’am.”

“No hon, I’ll take it up to your room. You don’t need to be straining yourself.”

He nodded though he was confused. He didn’t understand why everyone was treating him like he was fragile. It was so unlike what he was accustomed to but he was too confused to even come up with a question to hopefully get an explanation.

Betty left telling him to call her anytime he needed to. He nodded to her and thanked her as she opened the door. He turned back to Kelly as the door closed behind Betty. “Well why don’t I show you to your room.”

He nodded to her as well then followed her up the wooden staircase that had a blue and green carpet going up its center. The house he realized was certainly a lot better decorated than the rectory. At the top of the stairs a hallway spread out on either side of him. He counted six doors three on one side and three on the other. She walked down the right side and opened the second door on the left. He followed her into the room which was very large. It had three beds in it, three bureaus, and each bed had its own nightstand.

The bedspreads were different colors, one blue, one red and one green. There was one large window in the room that was adorned with green curtains that were tied back with a blue tie. He couldn’t get over how nice the room was.

“This bed here is yours.” She said walking up to the one that was on the same wall as the door. Its side was flush against the wall and the headboard was in the right side corner of the room. It had the green bed spread on it which he was pleased with as green was his favorite color. The other two beds were perpendicular to it coming off the back wall and out into the room from either side of the window.

She walked up to the bureau that was closest to his bed on the right wall. “And this is your bureau. I’ll give you some time to unpack then meet me back in the dining room so I can go over the rules and regulations of the house.”

“Okay ma’am.” He said from where he was still standing just inside the door. He didn’t move until she had left the room. He spent an hour re folding all his clothes so they were just so then placing them in the drawers of his bureau. It had two smaller upper drawers, one he put his socks in the other he put his underwear. In the first of the bigger drawers he put his shirts, the next he put his pants and in the bottom one he put his sweaters.

He then folded up the duffel bag and tucked it under the bed where he also put his extra pair of shoes. At just after eleven o’clock he walked back down the stairs where he found her in the dining room with a calculator and some kind of leather bound book with numbers scrawled over the page that it was open to. She smiled up at him as he walked in.

“Have a seat.” She motioned to the chair kitty corner to where she was sitting at the far end of the table. He walked over pulled out the chair and quietly sat down. Making sure to lift the chair as he pushed himself back to the table so it wouldn’t scrape on the floor.

“As you probably guessed you share a room with two other boys.”

He nodded, putting his hands up on the table resting one hand on top of the one in the cast.

“There are seven other boys that live here, so the most important rule is to be respectful. Keep your part of the room neat, don’t insult any of the other kids, if someone tells you they need space then just leave them alone. It happens sometimes. With a house so full sometimes you guys just need some time to yourselves. Everyone has the understanding that if you request to be alone that you will be left alone.”

Ian nodded understanding where that would come in handy.

“You are responsible for doing your own laundry. Your day will be Saturday; you share that day with Kevin so the two of you will need to decide who is going to do it in the morning and who will do it in the afternoon. Do you know how to do your laundry?”

Ian shook his head feeling embarrassed for perhaps the hundredth time in the last twenty four hours.

“Well that’s no problem. I can show you how, it’s not too hard. Once a month you’ll need to wash your bedding as well. Sheets get done every two weeks but your blankets get done once a month.” She adjusted herself in her chair then continued. “You also have a daily chore. Yours is cleaning the living room. Tonight when it’s time I’ll go over it with you so you know what you’ll need to do.”

“We get up at six, you take your showers, and you share a bathroom with the other boys in your room so you guys will have to arrange your shower schedule. We have breakfast at six thirty. After breakfast you go up and clean up your part of the room and by that time it’s time to head over to the school.”

“After school you have free time until dinner. Dinner is at six, after dinner we do chores then from seven thirty until eight thirty we study. After study hour you have more free time until you go to bed. On school nights you have to be in bed by ten thirty.”

“Do you have any questions?”

“No ma’am, I don’t think so.” He was sure some would come up but figured he’d ask as they did. Sitting here as shy and uncomfortable as he was his mind was a complete blank.

“Do you want some lunch?” She asked after going over a few more things, checking her watch and seeing it was nearly noon.

“Okay,” he wasn’t accustomed to being asked if he wanted to eat. He always ate before when his parents did. He found it odd but didn’t dare question it.

“What do you want to eat?”

“Whatever you’re having is fine.” This really threw him for a loop. He’d never been given any choice before. Had never even heard of such a thing.

“Well I’m going to have a bologna sandwich is that okay?”

“Yes ma’am sounds good. Do you want help making it?” he looked up at her and noted a look of confusion on her face as well. He blushed thinking he must have done something wrong. His eyes lowered to about her waist. “I’m sorry ma’am.”

“Why are you sorry hon?”

He shrugged. He didn’t know what he’d done wrong so couldn’t really explain why he was sorry.

“I’ll just make it and bring it out to you. It won’t take but a minute. What do you want to drink?”

“Water is fine.” He always had water with his meals. All except for breakfast when he got orange juice. That choice was not hard at all for him to make.

After lunch she sent him up to his room to take a nap. Not accustomed to sleeping during the day he spent the time lying on his new bed. A bed he found quite comfortable. He stared at the ceiling and thought all afternoon. Thought about what was happening with his parents. What was happening with Tony. He wondered if Tony was happy where ever he was and prayed he was not scared, that he was being treated okay. He also thought of Nathan. What Nathan had done for him and how it seemed as though the guy really, genuinely cared about him. That was absolutely new territory for him. The fact he’d helped him out, someone he barely knew made Ian feel indebted to him. A debt he promised that afternoon on the bed that he’d repay.

At nearly three o’clock the bedroom door opened and two guys both looking about his age walked in. One of them whom he recognized as Jeff Wheeler from school stopped and looked down at him. “Ian?” he said sounding genuinely shocked.

Ian slowly sat up and looked up at the other boy, a boy that was in his class, a boy he’d always thought was quite handsome. “Yeah,” He said shyly.

“What are you doing here?”

“Umm,” his eyes darted to the other boy then back to Jeff. “I live here now.”

Jeff eyed him up and down then nodded. “Everyone at school’s been talking about you today. They saw you leave in a cop car yesterday, Mrs. Weaver too. Everyone’s wondering what’s going on.”

Ian looked down at the floor and nodded feeling like the village idiot. He didn’t want people at school talking about him. Didn’t even want to think of what kind of conclusions his classmates would be coming up with.

Jeff, maybe sensing his discomfort said. “They’re all real happy Mrs. Weaver isn’t there any more though.”

Ian glanced up at him and smiled an embarrassed smile.

“Well this is Mike.” Jeff said gesturing to the other boy that had come into the room. “He doesn’t go to our school. He goes to the alternative school.”

“What’s that?” Ian asked never having heard of such a thing.

“It’s a school for nimrods.” Mike spoke up.

“Nimrod?”

Mike looked to Jeff his mouth gaping a bit and a confused look on his face.

Jeff shook his head and gave a wave of his hand. “He’s a bit sheltered. He’s not stupid just sheltered.”

Ian blushed not sure if he was being complimented or insulted. Jeff turned back to him. “A nimrod is kinda like an idiot. Mike’s not an idiot but he doesn’t like his school so he says that.”

Mike let out a laugh and smacked Jeff in the shoulder. “Mr. Congeniality is at it again.” He said shaking his head as he walked over to his bed and flopped down. Jeff turned and walked to his bed, he sat down on the end of it so he was still facing Ian.

“So what happened Ian? Why are you here?”

Ian picked at his cast trying to find the right words to use. After a minute Jeff sighed. “Its okay man, if you don’t wanna talk about it you don’t have to. But just so’s you know we got a confidentiality thing going here. So if you decide you want to talk about it you don’t have to worry about me blabbing it to the whole school. It’s the rules I can’t say a word. And if I tell you something you can’t say a word either, okay?”

Ian looked up at him and smiled. He never realized Jeff was such a nice guy. Of course he’d never actually talked to him. Only looked at him an awful lot. “How long have you lived here?”

“About three months. None of us have been here that long. Longest is Kevin. He comes and goes. Doesn’t work out too well with the foster families but he does okay here. I think they decided just to keep him around here. It’s easier on him ya know?”

Ian nodded though he didn’t really understand it.

“Things are good here though Ian. I think you’ll like it. The Harvey’s are very nice.”

He met all of the other boys before dinner. A few seemed pretty nice while a few didn’t seem to care to meet him. Jeff by far though was the nicest of them all. There was only one other boy that he recognized from school, Paul Thomas. The others he figured were either too young for high school or went to the same school that Mike did.

They were all called down to dinner at six sharp. The table was filled with dishes of food; he saw baked chicken in one plate. A big bowl of mashed potatoes, sliced cucumbers and tomatoes and another bowl filled with broccoli. He stood awkwardly just inside the doorway having no idea of where to sit. A man he’d not met yet suddenly came up behind him, causing him to jump a bit as he caught his movements out of the corner of his eyes.

“I’m Kyle Harvey son,” the man said walking around and sticking out his hand which Ian shook. “How do you like it here so far?”

“Fine sir, thank you.”

Kyle nodded then turned back to the table. “Why don’t you sit right here.” He said patting the chair that was closest to where he’d sat at the head of the table. It was across from Jeff and beside Kevin. Ian walked over picked the chair up and pulled it out then sat in it and pushed himself back in.

Soon as everyone was seated the food started to be passed around. Ian was handed the bowl of potatoes and looked at it not sure of what to do. As the seconds ticked by with him still staring at the bowl Kyle Harvey looked over at him. “What’s the matter son?”

Ian looked up at him; in his mind he was thinking this was some kind of trick. A trick to see if he remembered his manners. A trick that if he failed he could be punished for. “I’m not supposed to serve myself sir.” He blushed as the man let out a laugh.

“Well son, in a house like this if you don’t take it when it’s going by you could miss out.”

A few of the other kids snickered and Ian blushed even more. He looked around the table and saw the other kids had all served themselves. Though he was still very fearful his actions would result in punishment he slowly spooned himself out some potato. The same amount his mother always gave him. Gluttony he’d always been told was a tool of the devil. He didn’t need to be gluttonous to add to his list of sins.

He handed the bowl off to Mr. Harvey not looking up at the man, not wanting to see if he looked angry or even worse still amused at Ian’s apparent idiocy. Once he had a moderate portion of everything on his plate he lowered his head, closed his eyes and clasped his hands together. “Dear Lord...”

He was quickly cut off as several other snickers filled the table and Mr. Harvey’s voice rang out again. “Son we don’t pray at the table here. If you want to pray that’s fine but do it silently okay?”

Ian looked up his face hot and his mind terribly confused. The other kids continued to snicker and Ian looked over at Jeff as he spoke up. “You guys leave him alone.” He snapped giving an evil look to everyone else at the table. When the snickers died down Ian lowered his head again. Though he’d never heard of anything as crazy as not praying at the dinner table he knew he couldn’t ever not do it himself. The Lord needed to be thanked for nourishment. If he had to he’d do it silently. He knew he should probably inform these people about the error of their ways, but was too new to this place, too shy and too nervous to say anything. He figured it didn’t matter how mad his father would be at his cowardice, his father was not there to punish him.

This was The Harvey’s home. If there were new rules to learn he’d learn them, as he’d also always been taught to respect his elders. He said his prayer then slowly ate his food. Long after everyone was done, even after they’d started clearing the table Ian was still eating. “Why’s he eating so slow?” He heard Kevin ask Jeff and looked up.

Jeff narrowed his eyes and looked from Ian to Kevin. “I’m not his spokesperson man, if you wanna know ask him.” He looked back to Ian with an amused look on his face and rolled his eyes which Ian couldn’t help but smile at. When he was finally through eating he put his silverware on his plate, stood up and carried that, his glass and his napkin into the kitchen where two of the boys were doing up the dishes. He threw the napkin in the trash and walked over to where they were at the sink doing the dishes.

“Where do you want this?” he asked not wanting to just set it down and take a chance on ticking one of them off.

Paul whom he knew from school and was washing took a step back. “Just dump it in Ian.” Ian did as he was told and Paul half smiled at him. “Thanks.”

Ian nodded not sure why he was being thanked as all he’d done was give the guy more work to do. He turned as Kelly poked her head into the kitchen. “You ready to learn your chore now?”

“Yes ma’am.”

As he was leaving the kitchen he heard the boy drying the dishes say, “What is he a Stepford kid?”

He heard Paul chuckle but didn’t hear an answer as he followed Kelly through the dining room. He had no idea what a Stepford kid was but didn’t figure from the tone of the kid’s voice that it was anything good. On the way to the living room he saw Jeff, vacuum cleaner in hand, halfway up the stairs as he vacuumed with one hand while he dusted the banister with the other.

Kelly turned to him once they were in the living room. “Basically what you have to do is vacuum and dust. Straighten the pillows on the furniture and just pick up the general clutter.” She pointed to a stack of books on the coffee table. “Those books need to go back in the book case. These shoes need to be given to their rightful owner.” She said pointing to a pair in front of the couch. “I believe they are Kevin’s, I’ll talk to him again about not leaving his stuff out. The stuff to dust with is in this cupboard here.” She opened a cabinet just inside the door, pulled out a can of spray and a rag. “Think you got it?”

He nodded. “Yes ma’am.”

“Well if you have any questions just let me know. Okay hon?”

“Yes ma’am.” He wasn’t sure exactly why but he loved it when she called him hon. He guessed it was because it made it sound like she actually liked him. He imagined it had to be a term of endearment. When she left the room he put all the books back on their shelves making sure all the books that were already there were in order according to size and pressed back flush against the back side of the case. He took the shoes and set them near the door figuring he’d give them to Kevin when his chore was done. He dusted all the furniture, including the lamps and TV. About half an hour had passed when Jeff walked into the room.

“Here man, you’re gonna need this.” He said wheeling the vacuum cleaner up to him. Ian thanked him as he took the machine. Before vacuuming he fluffed all the cushions, seeing crumbs and stuff under them he took the vacuum and sucked up all the debris then returned the cushions to their places and vacuumed them. He was so into his work he didn’t notice a few of the other boys enter the room.

After vacuuming the curtains, the registers, the lamp shades, the ceiling fan and the corners of the room he turned around to do the floor. The vacuum suddenly stopped. He looked down at it and pressed the power button off and on a few times. He looked into the nozzle then started to bend down for a closer examination when some more snickering stopped him. He straightened himself out, the nozzle still in his hand and looked over to see Kevin, Keith and Jason looking back at him with big grins on their faces.

Kevin was holding the plug to the vacuum, the reason apparently it had stopped working. “DUUDDEEE,” Kevin said dramatically. “We want to catch our show before study hour. You need to quit cleaning now, you freak.”

The other two chuckled while Ian lowered the nozzle of the vacuum cleaner to his side. “But I’m not done.”

Keith shook his head and laughed. “Man this room is cleaner than any of us have ever seen it. You’re done believe me.”

“But I didn’t do the floor. I’ll get in trouble.”

“You’ll get in trouble if you don’t stop.” Kevin said making a fist and holding it up. Ian looked at his face then at his fist.

“But...”

“I mean it man; you take your little cleaning supplies and go elsewhere.”

Ian wheeled the vacuum over to him and reached out for the rest of the cord. Kevin smirked as he put it in his hand. “Try to learn in the future that kissing ass will get you no where.”

Ian shook his head. “What do you mean?” He decided to ignore the swear word.

“That being little Mr. Perfect ain’t gonna make them like you anymore. Don’t bust your ass cause it won’t get you nothing.”

The first time he could ignore but the second time he couldn’t. “You shouldn’t curse.” All it brought for a reaction was loud laughter from all three of them. He blushed miserably as he wrapped up the cord and placed it on the vacuum. He wheeled it out of the room while the TV came on and their laughter stopped.

Jeff was just coming down the stairs and he looked up at him. “Where does this go?”

“Oh, right over here.” Jeff walked to a door halfway down the hall and opened it up. Ian pushed it into the closet then closed the door back up.

“You wanna watch TV?” Jeff asked.

Ian shook his head. “I’m not allowed to watch TV.”

Jeff looked at him, a definite look of confusion on his face. “You’re not at home anymore Ian. You don’t follow the same rules. If you want to watch TV you are allowed to here.”

Ian quickly shook his head. His father had preached endlessly about the sins of TV and it was not something he was going to view anytime soon. He was about to head up the stairs when Kelly walked out of yet another door in the hallway carrying his back pack. “Your principal dropped this off for you today, as well as a list of assignments from your teachers.” She said handing the bag over to him as well as a list she produced from her pocket.

Ian took it and thanked her. Now having work to do he decided to forego going up the stairs and just head to the dining room to do his homework. Kyle Harvey was already in there sitting where he’d sat at dinner, drinking a cup of what smelled like coffee and reading a paper.

Ian sat where he’d sat at dinner and pulled his books out of his bag. He set them in a neat pile in front of him, the biggest on the bottom and the smallest on the top. He didn’t notice the man studying him as he situated his things just so. Didn’t notice he was looking at all until he looked up at the man and slowly held his list of assignments out to him.

Kyle lowered his paper and took the list looking at the boy and the list in confusion. “What are you giving me this for?”

“For you to tell me what to do.” Ian answered feeling just as confused as the man looked.

“What do you mean?”

A little scared to answer at this point Ian answered very slowly and quite quietly. “You tell me what you want me to do first. And if there’s any papers to be written you tell me what to do them on.”

Kyle nodded and set the paper back down in front of Ian. “Son things just don’t work that way here.” He felt terribly sorry for the boy at that moment, getting an indication as to what his life had been like. He’d been filled in on what was already known but this was something new. “You are allowed to have your own mind. To decide what you want to do first. To even decide what to write in your papers.”

Ian looked at him blankly thinking back to Mr. Bell’s admonition of him after reading his ‘gay rights’ speech. Of him asking him if he’d ever think for himself. “So what do I do?” The man’s look only increased in confusion.

“Well for tonight, why don’t you just go in the order they are written. Maybe tomorrow night you can try just picking one in any random order.”

Ian’s eyes narrowed as he looked down at the paper. He was sure he was being picked on and didn’t like it one bit. He stayed at the table doing his work, while the others joined him then long after they’d all gone back in to watch TV. He didn’t make it upstairs to his room until about ten minutes before bedtime. He hung his book bag from the bottom post of his bed then slipped off his shoes and put them under the bed.

He went to his dresser and pulled out his pair of navy blue pajamas. “Where’s the bathroom?” He asked turning to Jeff, remembering Kelly had told him that the three of them shared one.

Jeff, who’d been eyeing him without Ian’s knowledge, pointed at a door between two of the bureaus. “Right there.”

Ian looked at it his mouth falling open. “You mean we have a bathroom right off the bedroom?” His parents had had one and he’d always wished he had one of his own. Being out in the hallways at night back home had always made him nervous, he knew his father could come up with any reason for an attack especially any sound he may make at night on a trip to the bathroom.

Jeff chuckled at his excitement and nodded. “Regular old palace here man.”

Ian walked to the door slowly opened it then stepped inside. It was a good sized room. There was a toilet, a sink, and a tub shower combo. He peeled off his clothes and pulled on the pajamas. After carefully folding the clothes he walked back out into the bedroom. “Where do I put dirty clothes?”

Jeff pointed again this time to three baskets that were by the door. “Yours is the green one.”

Ian nodded then walked over and placed his folded clothes neatly in the bottom. Mike started to snicker and Ian straightened himself out and looked over at him. Mike shook his head. “Sorry man, I just ain’t never seen anyone fold their clothes to put ‘em in the hamper.”

Not responding to him Ian looked back at Jeff. “We are supposed to coordinate shower time. What time do you guys take yours?”

“First come first serve man.”

Ian scrunched up his face. “Huh?”

“First up gets the first shower.”

Nodding Ian walked over to his night stand where he’d tucked his tooth brush earlier not having had any idea at the time that the bathroom was right there. “There’s toothpaste in there.” He said pointing the brush out at the bathroom door. “Is it for all of us to use?”

“Sure is.” Jeff said smiling as he adjusted the pillow under his head.

After brushing his teeth he put the tooth brush in the holder that was on the sink. He took a good long pee then flushed the toilet and put the seat and cover that had been left up down. He left the bathroom shutting out the light as he left. He folded back the blankets on the bed then got on his knees beside it. Not daring to pray out loud again he bowed his head, put his hands up to his face and prayed silently.

“Why’s he do that man?” he heard Mike ask Jeff partway into his prayer.

“I think it’s rude to talk when someone’s praying man,” was Jeff’s only response.

Ian prayed for nearly ten minutes. Prayed that he’d figure things out in this new place, thanked God profusely for saving him from his home and giving him this new place to live. Prayed for Tony and his happiness and safety and thanked him for Nathan, someone Ian couldn’t wait to see again.

He didn’t get to see Nathan the next day however. Not until after he was up, showered and dressed and had gone downstairs did he receive the bad news. He’d just walked into the dining room when Mrs. Harvey looked up at him surprise registering all over her face.

“Oh honey,” she said standing up from her chair. “I’m sorry, I guess I figured you already knew but you aren’t going to school today.”

He looked at her, his good mood faltering, as he’d really wanted to see Nathan. “Why?”

“Your doctor wants you to stay out today. After today you have two days anyway. He wants you to rest.”

“But I feel fine.”

“Well you may feel fine but you still don’t want to over do it. Just one more day resting is not going to do you any harm. You’ll go again Monday okay?”

He nodded sadly knowing better than to push the argument. He started to turn and go back upstairs when her voice stopped him. “Well you can still have some breakfast hon.”

“Oh,” he walked another step into the dining room stopping short when he heard his name.

“Ian,” Mike said angrily walking up so he was in front of Ian as he turned back around. “Why in the heck did you put the toilet seat down last night? I stumbled in there in the dark and just assumed it was up. I splashed piss all over the damn bathroom.”

Ian looked at Kelly in amazement as the woman just started to laugh. He could not believe she was letting him get away with all that swearing. He looked back at Mike who was still glaring at him. “You’re supposed to keep the seat down.”

“Not when it’s only guys that use it man. That’s a woman’s rule. No women use our bathroom. So keep it up, got it?”

Ian nodded while Kelly continued to laugh. Mike turned to her, a grin coming to his own face. “It’s not funny Kelly.” As he let out a little chuckle himself. “It was gross and I had to spend five minutes cleaning it up.”

Ian looked at her as well. “I’m sorry, I didn’t know.”

Kelly shook her head, walked over and put her hand on his shoulder. “Its okay sweetie, what you did is proper manners. Just our rules here are a little different sometimes. Don’t worry, you’ll get the hang of things. No one comes in here and doesn’t have some adjusting to do.”

While he was putting his breakfast dishes in the kitchen he heard the doorbell ringing. Knowing it wasn’t his place to answer the door he ignored it and left the kitchen intent on going up to his bedroom. He stopped in surprise when he got to the front hallway and saw two police officers standing there talking to Kelly, one of which he recognized from two days earlier.

Jane Godwin caught sight of him over Kelly’s shoulder and smiled as she walked around Kelly and up to Ian.

“How are you doing hon? You certainly look good.”

Ian smiled at her, he considered her one of his saviors and was actually glad to see her again, an opportunity he hadn’t thought he’d get. “I’m good ma’am, thanks.”

“You are liking it here?”

He nodded and smiled at Kelly before looking back at Jane. “Yes ma’am.”

Jane looked back at Kelly herself, “Is there a good place we can talk with him?”

“Sure,” Kelly nodded then led the two officers and Ian into the living room where Ian sat in one of the chairs and the two officers sat across from him on the couch. “Do you want coffee or anything?” Kelly asked from the doorway.

Both officers declined the offer then focused their attention on Ian who sat nervously in his chair wondering what he was going to be ‘talked to’ about.

Jane apparently noticing his nervousness smiled warmly at him. “It’s okay Ian; we just want to ask a few more questions.”

Filling with relief that they weren’t there to say they made a mistake and send him back home he relaxed a little in his chair.

Jane leaned forward on the couch and smiled again. “This is an open and shut case Ian. There’s no way your adoptive parents are going to get away with what they’ve done to you. You probably won’t even have to go to court and testify. There’s enough evidence already to keep them behind bars for several years. You are never going to have to worry about them again.”

Ian smiled as a feeling of relief ran through his entire body. Her words were just what he needed to hear. He never wanted to see his parents again, that was one thing he was absolutely certain of. The fact they would be secure behind bars for a long long time was about the best news anyone could ever give him.

The two officers left about half an hour later after Ian had done his best to answer the additional questions. Though they both were very nice he had to admit he was glad to see them go, as the questions they were asking were hard for him to answer. Now that he didn’t live that life anymore he didn’t like having to relive it by talking about it.

After the officers left he returned to his room. Seeing Mike and Jeff’s bed weren’t exactly made correctly and not wanting them to get in trouble he decided to remake them. He pulled all the blankets off Jeff’s bed and put them on Mikes. With the bed being up against the wall he couldn’t get to two of the corners so he grabbed onto the bed post at the foot of the bed and pulled the bed out. Since the floor was carpeted he didn’t have to worry about scraping any floors.

He was about halfway through making the bed, his body pressed between the bed and the wall as he meticulously did his hospital corners when the door suddenly opened and Kelly walked in. He stood up quickly not having intended getting caught with what he was doing.

“What are you doing?” she asked walking further into the room.

He fidgeted as he looked from her down to the bed. “Umm,” he knew he couldn’t lie. “I was just making the beds.”

“Did the others ask you to?”

He quickly shook his head.

“Were they not made when you came back up here?”

He shook his head again.

She cocked her head to one side and studied him in such a way that it made him want to disappear. “Why are you doing it then?”

He rubbed his hand up and down his casted arm. There was a long pause before he finally spoke. “I just wanted to make them like I was taught.”

“Ian, you can’t go around changing things to the way you like them. These boys, as far as I’m concerned, make their beds just fine. You are only going to anger them if you follow them around and pick up after them. Do you understand?”

Her voice was kind but he knew when he was being admonished despite the tone it was delivered in. “I’m sorry.”

“Its okay hon, I’m just letting you know. It’s hard enough living with seven other boys; you don’t need them getting angry with you all the time. That will only make it harder.”

He nodded feeling very low. “I’ll just finish this one then okay?”

She nodded and smiled. “You can come down and watch TV if you want. You don’t have to stay up here all day.”

“No ma’am. I can’t watch TV.”

“Why not?”

“I’m not allowed.”

“You are allowed Ian; you’re not at home anymore. If you want to watch TV here you are not going to get into any trouble.”

He nodded though he knew he’d still not do it he just didn’t really want to talk about it anymore. She turned and left the room and he made up the bed. After it was made he walked over and lay down on his own bed. He had no idea of what to do with himself.

After lunch and helping Kelly clean up the mess he asked. “Is it okay if I clean the living room now?”

“If you want, but you may end up having to touch it up still this evening. Most of the mess occurs in there in the afternoon.”

He nodded. “Well I’ll just do the vacuuming and dusting and after supper I can just straighten it up.” He spent the entire afternoon in the living room, cleaning everything from the windows, to the walls, to the floors. When he was satisfied it was spotless he put his cleaning supplies away and returned to his room.