Chapter 5
Kallie
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Kallie walked to theedge of the porch and dumped the debris from the dustpan.She put the broom back in the corner and straightened the pillows on the swinging bench.Her new foster parents liked things tidy, which she didn't mind.But it always seemed like she was the only one doing chores.
She sat on a wooden bench because she wasn't allowed to disturb the cushions where visitors might sit on the good furniture.
This afternoon, Mrs.Peterson walked over from across the street and visited her foster mom.Kallie rocked on the bench and sighed loudly.There was no use going back inside only to be kicked out of the house again.
Imogen rode by the front of the house on her bicycle.Kallie narrowed her eyes and watched her classmate ride in circles, then stopped next to the curb.
"Are you going to the park?"Imogen let her bike fall onto the sidewalk but stayed behind the gate.
Imogen had never spoken to her at school.She was part of the popular group.All the girls who wore nice clothes and lived in the same neighborhood ignored Kallie because her clothes were hand-me-downs and she was in the foster care system.
"What's at the park?"she asked.
She'd only lived here for the last four months.The area and the school were new to her.
Imogen trailed her fingers along the iron spikes on the fence posts."Paisley's having a birthday party."
"Oh," she whispered."I wasn't invited."
Imogen smirked."Do you even have any friends?"
She bit the inside of her cheek, refusing to show how much the question hurt.It was hard to make friends when she was always the outsider.She couldn't invite kids over after school because she lived in a foster home.She couldn't get attached because she had no idea when the social worker would arrive to take her to a new family.
Not getting any response from Kallie, Imogen picked up her bicycle and rode away.She took a shaky breath.She wouldn't want to go to any stupid birthday party anyway.It sounded childish.
A dog barked.She scanned the neighbor's yard.Old Rufus, the yellow lab, dug a hole by the fence.
The autumn mugginess brought the black flies under the roof of the porch.She waved her hand, shooing them away from her.
The kitchen window opened behind her.She glanced up but couldn't see inside.The window was too high.
"I'll be glad when we get some rain," said her foster mother.
"I hear you.It's hard to sleep at night without having the windows open.When there's no breeze, it's downright miserable."
"Same.We need air conditioning."Her foster mother laughed."That'll be next summer's goal."
"Are you going to take in any more kids?"
Mrs.Peterson's question piqued Kallie's curiosity.She pressed her back against the house, straining to hear the conversation through the open window.
"Paul wants to."Her foster mom paused."If we take in a couple more, we'd be able to afford another car."
Kallie rolled her eyes.All they were after was more money from the state.
