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“I could tell them it’s for longer than a week, until you turn 18.”
“Dad won’t go for that,” Easton says.
“I didn’t say it was true,” Penelope says. “I said that’s what I would tell them.”
“You’d really do that?” Easton says. “You’d lie to them?”
“If it means Nova can stay in school, then yes.”
“I still can’t go,” I say. “I have to get a job. A full-time job, probably more than one, so I can save enough money to get an apartment.”
“We need to find you a place to stay,” Penelope says. “A place that’s free. You can’t drop out of school.”
“I appreciate you trying to help me, but I can’t risk it. I can’t risk someone finding out I’m alone and turning me in.”
“Even if they did find out,” Penelope says, “it’s highly unlikely the state would take action.”
“What do you mean?” Easton asks.
“That department is always understaffed. Remember my friend, Carol?”
Easton nods.
“She started out working with foster children. Her case list was so long that sometimes it would take her months, or even a year, to check on a child. And teens are less likely to get checked on than younger children who need more care. Teens tend to fall through the cracks.” Penelope turns to me. “Even if someone reported you, it’s highly unlikely that a caseworker would get to you before you turned 18.”
“Unlikely, but not impossible,” I say.
“I understand your concern, but dropping out of school isn’t the answer. It’ll be much harder to get a job without a high school diploma.”
“I’ll get my GED.”
“Or you’ll be too busy working and trying to support yourself to actually do it.”
She’s right. I say I’ll get my GED, but I’m not great at following through on stuff. It’s more likely I’ll put it off and never do it.
“Nova, I’m not telling you what to do,” Penelope says. “I realize it’s your decision. But you’re so close to graduating, I’d hate to see you quit now.”
“Mom, can I talk to her alone?”
She nods and gets up.
When she’s gone, Easton turns his chair so he’s facing me. “What do you think?”
“I can’t risk it. I’m not going back.”
“Even if my mom told them you’re staying with us?”
“How does that help me? I still don’t have a place to live or money to get a place. I have to work, like two or three jobs. How do I do that if I’m at school all day?”
“What if my mom found you a place to live?”
“You really think your mom knows someone who will let me live with them for free until I graduate?”
“Maybe. She knows a ton of people.”
“Yeah, rich people who would never let someone like me even walk in their house.”
“You don’t know that. You’re making assumptions without even giving her a chance to find someone.”
