Louise gave me her top-ranking really look. “Not all men are like the ones in the news,” she said. “And Kim doesn’t know everyone. She’s not the oracle on everything.”
“Oracle? Stop talking foreign. If he tries game on me I’ll stab him in his prick. I’m not playing!”
Louise patted me on the shoulder. “I don’t think that’ll be necessary. You must stop thinking that everything Kim says is true. She sometimes . . . stretches the truth.”
“So do social wankers.”
Louise shook her head.
“Don’t blame me if you get a 9-9-9 later tonight,” I added.
“Stop worrying. Mr. Golding’s one of the good guys.”
“There ain’t no good men who foster kids. They’ve all got . . . what d’you call it . . . an agenda.”
Louise placed her hands on her hips. “You think I’d put you with someone inappropriate?”
“You put me with the Holmans. He was the ultimate prick fiddler and I could tell on my first day with them that she was all wrong by her purple leggings and pink plimsolls.”
“Hmmm.”
“Don’t hmmm me,” I said. “I know that means you think I’m talking shit.”
Louise couldn’t help busting out a smile.
“When are you coming again?” I wanted to know.
“Let me see. It’s Wednesday today. I’ll see how you are on Friday morning.”
“Don’t I get pocket money?” I asked. “These Golding peeps might not give me squiddly jack. Look how he munched his boxers about the telly.”
“I’m sure they will.”
I held out my hand. “Say they don’t? I don’t wanna be part of no Austria program.”
“Austerity program,” Louise corrected me. “They’ll give you what they think is appropriate.”
“Say they don’t?” I repeated. “And your appropriate is not on the same level as my appropriate.”
Louise gave me another really look, shook her head, and took out her purse. It had nuff cards in it. I wonder how much they pay social wankers. She handed me a ten-pound note. “Don’t spend it on cigarettes,” she said. “Some of this can go toward the chocolate biscuits you want.”
I placed the note in a zip compartment of my backpack.
“The Goldings are good people,” Louise went on. “They’ve been fostering for the council for years.”
Monkey on skis. Doesn’t she realize she’s repeating herself? She’s going senile already.
“That’s what you said about the Holmans,” I said.
“You’ll be okay here for a week or two until I can find a better arrangement.”
“You said that and all.”
“Be good.” Louise smiled.
She opened the door but paused before leaving. She offered me another smile. I can’t lie. I was sorry to see her go. Why can’t she foster me? I would squeeze all kinda notes outta her. I picked up my meerkat and held it on my lap.
chapter three
Bathroom Issues
It was late-night o’clock. I sat on my bed with my pink towel draped over my shoulder. Colleen watched me from the doorway.
“He’s downstairs,” Colleen insisted. “You can check my room if you want.”
“He might be in Pablo’s room or Sharyna’s room,” I said. “Have you got an attic? He might’ve bounced up there.”
“Tone!” Colleen called. “Holler something so Naomi believes you’re downstairs.”
“I’M DOWNSTAIRS, Naomi!”
“See!” said Colleen. Impatience nibbled her cheeks.
Kim told me to get my prick-fiddler radar out on this issue.
“Unless my husband has learned a new trick of sending his voice to different parts of the house, he’s downstairs,” assured Colleen.
“Will he stay downstairs while I’m having my shower?” I wanted confirmation.
“Of course he will.”
“Promise.”
“I PROMISE, NAOMI!” Tony yelled. “With bells on wrapped in a pink envelope.”
That’s the living cheek! Using my own lyrics against me. At least he’s got jokes inside of him. Kim would’ve loved the way I insisted that Tony had to park his toes downstairs while I’m flinging off my BO. I picked up my meerkat and stood up. Without a word, I breezed past Colleen and into the hallway. I paused for a short second to glance down the staircase before stepping into the bathroom. Nerves spat and crackled inside of me as I opened the door. I closed my eyes as I took a step forward. It was okay. Just a standard bathroom. The tub was clean. I could sniff some kinda cleaning liquid. I let a long breath go and closed the door behind me.
I didn’t love baths but I needed to think. Sadness munched my heart. It had been the longest day. I placed my meerkat behind the shower hose so I didn’t have to look down. I wished it could smile. I closed my eyes and allowed the water to bounce off my head.
Two scrubbings later, someone slapped the door.
“You okay, Naomi?” Colleen asked.
“Is he still downstairs?” I responded.
“Yes, he is. Don’t worry. He won’t come up until you’re ready.”
After eleven I was in bed with my meerkat beside me. Tiredness licked me. Colleen watched me from the doorway once again. “If you want anything, don’t be shy to ask. And if you’re hungry or thirsty during the night just go down to the kitchen and help yourself.”
I nodded. “Leave the light on,” I insisted. “And leave the door open . . . but not too much.”
“You have a lamp beside your bed on the cabinet.”
“Not gonna use it. Leave the main light on.”
“Okay, good night then.”
“Can you do my hair in the morning like Alicia Keys or Solange—she’s Beyoncé’s liccle sis.”
“I’ll try.”
“And don’t forget the chocolate biscuits,” I said with a smile.
Louise forever told me to smile more.
“I won’t,” Colleen replied.
I think I’m gonna be all right. Colleen’s on point.
I turned to face the window and hugged my meerkat. I should really give it a name, but what name? It’s not like I’ve got anyone to name it after. I can’t call it Mum. I don’t think she’d like to be rechristened an animal. I closed my eyes but I couldn’t sleep.
Later on that night, Colleen checked on me. I pretended I was asleep. Half an hour later, I rolled outta bed and twinky-toed along the hallway to the Goldings’ bedroom. I made the same move at the Holmans’ on my first night there. I wanted to download what peeps said about me.
The door was half-cracked. The news was on a low volume. Colleen spoke, “. . . can’t complain we got a quiet one this time,” she said. “She’s a bit fiery.”
“You