I stare at him for a second before i repli. “It’s… Mason” New kid smiles then walks away.
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“Mason! Dinners ready!” My aunt yells from down stairs. I live with her and my two, twin cousins. I moved in with them a few years ago. The girls go running passed me as I go down stairs. I smile and then continue on. I go to the table and notice that there is three extra plates. “Is there somthing you forgot to mention Aunt Shay?” I look over at my aunt in the kitchen and she looks back at me sheepishly. “No why do you think that?...” I role my eyes. She always does this. She’ll invite random people and not tell anyone. Not that these people are bad people or anything, usually they are her friends or new people in town.
“Who is it this time?” I ask as she hands me a bowl of mashed potatoes she wants me to set on the table. “It’s just a new family in town. I saw them at the store today and I just had to invite them. They have two kids, actually I think that one of them is your age.” Aunt Shay says excitedly. Hmmm, maybe it will be new kid. We just about finish putting everything on the table when there is a nock on the door.
“Oh! They’re here, go open the door Mason.” I head to the door. “Ok, but don’t get mad at me if they run away after seeing me.” I state. “Oh shut up and open the door.” I laugh.
I open the door and smile. “Hi, ya’ll must be the people my aunt invited.” I move out of the way so they can come in. The first to step in is a woman about my aunt’s age. She has on a simple blue blouse and black pants. Then her husband, with a little boy in his arms, comes in next. He was matching his wife and the boy was a mess. He had what i hope is mud all over his clothes and face. Lastly, my shadow walks in. I close the door and turn around to faces them. They kinda just gawk at me untill my aunt walks in. Well at least they din’t run away.
“Well hello! It’s nice to see ya’ll again. I hope everyone likes grilled chiken.” Thank god for her and her ice breaking southern hospitality. They turn to look at my aunt. “Hello, it’s nice to see you too and yes, grilled chicken is fine.” Mr. Smith said. “Well I’m glad. Le’s go to the table, you guys are just in time.” We all sit down, my aunt between the twins, the little boy between Mayla, my cousin and his dad and I’m between Shara, my other cousin, and my shadow. The Smith's are both between Layla and Mayla.
We all start to pass around the food, the adults making conversation. “So, who are these two darlings.” My aunt asked. “This is my son Sammy, sorry about the way he looks. We didn’t hae time to wash him up before we came.” She poits to the boy as he eats his mashed potatos with is fingers. “Hi..” Sammy says to my aunt. “Hi sweety how old are you.” She asked. “I’m this many” He holds up three fingers. “He is just so adorable.” She almost squeals. “That’s kind of you.” The man says.
“And who is this?” Aunt Shay looks over at my shadow. He rubs his neck. “Oh. This is Layla, he’s our forster son.” Aunt Shay shakes her head and looks at him with simpathy. “We were in foster care before!” My cosin Mayla squeaks. “Right guys! She looks at me and her sister.” We both nod our heads. “Yeah we were Mayla but, you know where not suposed to talk about that.” Shara says trying to whisper to her sister. “Oh, right… sorry” She says to the Smiths. “It’s fine… So what do you do for work.” Mr. Smith asked changing the topic. My aunt and everyone eals starts to relax again, acting like what was just said never happend.
We soon finish eating and now I’m in the back yard with my shadow waching my cousins play with his brother and the adults are in the living room. I sit under the tree in my back yard and my shadow comes along with me. “Sorry about my aunt.” I say to new kid. “What do you mean?” I look over to him. “When she asked who you where and gave you that look…” “oh…” I contiue. “I hate that look.” “Same but it's ok I'm used to it by now.” We continue to watch the kids play the sun has almost compltly set.
His parents still haven’t told us to come in side so we are still sitting out here. The twins are a sleep on my lap and Sammy is still bouncing awake on Layla's lap playing with his fingers. How long have you been in foster care?" I asked. “Since I was a baby… why did you go.” I stare at him. Should I tell him the truth? I think to my self. “I was in foster care after my parents died untill they tracted down my aunt and uncle, that was when I was 8 and 9. Then I went in foster care again with the twins… it was just for a short time.” He nodds his head. I can tell he wants to ask me more about it but he holds back. No one has ever held back.
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