I watched as we drove past familiar houses and streets, and then past unfamiliar ones. This was it; a new start.
'So, um Jase, can I call you Jase?,' asked the social worker. I couldn't really be bothered to know what her name was. Why should I anyway? She's just some stupid social worker who only cares about kids because she's paid to do so. I didn't answer and put on my earphones but didn't put on the music. She turned around, raised her eyebrows a little and smiled. 'Aah, teens eh? Some get addicted to crack, others to Nicky Minaj.' She said to herself. Nicky Minaj? Seriously? I scoffed, loudly, and meaningfully. We pulled up in front of a huge house, like those posh estates you get on Escape To The Country. I got out of the car to see a little boy, around seven or eight years old with messy blond hair, bright blue eyes, holding a toy giraffe and peeking out of the window. He then gestured his hand to a little girl, the same age, with even messier short frizzy ginger hair. Soon they were both staring at me, intently too. I decided to ignore them and stood infront of the car boot, waiting for the social worker. She came and opened it. I got out my red Vans backpack and blue Adidas shoulder bag, slung them round my shoulder and got out my suitcase and walked towards the door. I rung the doorbell. No one answered. I rung it again. Same response. I tried a third time but was still left hanging. Impatiently, I kept ringing it again and again at a fast pace until finally I heard some jamaican woman shouting out that she was coming. Result. The social worker came and stood there beside me. The door opened.
'Hi, I'm Gina. And you must be Jason right?' Said the woman standing in the doorway. She was quite a big woman with vivid clothing, make up and fake hair braids. I muttered a yes and managed a semi smile. Boy, was I tired.
'Ok, well come in, come in,' she said gesturing me inside the house. I walked in and looked around. I looked down and saw the two little kids from before. 'Hi, what's your name? My name's Floss, and this is Harry, and our giraffe's called Jeff.' Said the little girl.
'Floss, how many times? Jeff's mine, you can play with him, but not keep him. Oh, hi, what's your name?' Said Harry.
'Harry, I already asked what his name was,' said Floss. She looked up at me again. 'What is it?'
'Jason.' I said.
'Oh. That's a nice name. Come on Harry, let's play jungles in my room again.' She said. The two of them ran up the stairs. I hoped most of rest of the kids around here were little like them. That way the staff won't expect me to make too many friends. Just then Gina placed a hand on my shoulder. 'Right then Jason. Let's get ya settald in yeah babes? Come and meet the others yeah.'
She said, steering me towards the living room. Unfortunately for me, most of the kids here were teenagers, or preteens. Except for a boy, around nine, ten years old, who was crafting a small, distictive looking rocket out of tin foil, a juice carton and pipe cleaners. Great, I thought, just great. Why Mum, WHY did you kick me out to live with a bunch of strangers? Every one except Gina then turned to look at me, or rather, study me, like I was kind of alien and they were the scientists, wondering whether if they should welcome me to Earth or dissect me. Well that's what it felt like anyway.
'Guys, this is Jason. This is his very first time in care so be nice.' Gina said. She then went out the living room door, leaving me on my own. I sat down on the sofa beside a teenage boy, about a couple of years older than me. He had a mop of brown hair and was listening to music. He caught me looking at him and took his earphones out. 'Hi, you must be the new boy, right? I'm Rick.' He said.
'Whatever.' I said, putting on a 'I couldn't care less' face.
'Geez, you could do with some manners.' He said, frowning.
'Like I said, whatever.' I said. There were some "ooohs" coming from behind. I turned around. Everyone was looking at me. One girl was smiling at me, impressed. She was the same age as Rick and had blue hair extensions. I sighed, got up and headed for the door.
'Running away from everyone? And on your first day too? Tut tut tut.' Someone said. I turned around and saw it was the girl with the blue hair.
'I know, I'm leaving the room. Shock! Horror! I'm just so bad aren't I?' I said to her. I left the room, feeling annoyed. I could hear even louder "oooh's" this time. Someone also said afterwards: oooh Elektra, I would be hate to be in your shoes right now. How embarrasing!'
'Shut up, Johnny!' She snapped in return. So her name was Elektra. What a stupid name.