Nora had lived a terrible life. Her father was in and out of jail and her mother was insane and left her for the bar that was a couple of blocks down their apartment. She often wondered how she got so damn lucky to get with parents like these jokes. She was 17 and thought her life with these people were over, she had six long grueling months of being with them until she could leave.
Until there was a hard knock on the door. She was writing an essay for her English class. She was surprised she was actually doing it, but she liked the topic the teacher had and decided to run with it. Getting up from the crappy, ripped up sofa, she walked over to the door slowly. The door was being pounded into so she rolled her eyes and muttered, "Hey, don't break my door down."
She opened the door and gasped and stepped back. "This has to be Nora Jacobs," a lady dressed in attire you could only see a social worker wear. She pulled on a friendly grin. "Hello, I know you must be confused," Nora could only nod, speechless as a couple of policemen filed in and started going through the doors of the small apartment. They would yell 'CLEAR!' after they searched a room.
"You see, we're loo-" Immediately she was cut off by Nora. "You're wondering where my parents are?" The teenager arched a brow, she wasn't stupid entirely. She wasn't going to play that. "Ye-yes. They've gotten into some trouble the past couple of weeks. Hot checks and even stealing a few credit cards to-" Nora shook her head, almost with a pathetic laugh at trying to ease herself. "Doesn't surprise me, they've barely came home and when they did, they had new stuff..." She sighed, pushing her hair back.
"Well, we talked to your school, they told us you're really quiet but a good kid and an excellent student" The friendly woman, dark and tall, continued to smile. It was no wonder why her occupation was of a social worker. She was a really nice lady, it made Nora feel comfortable.
The teenager gently bit down onto her lip. She was confused and was worried. The social worker saw this and as Nora turned back to her, said, "My name's Beth, by the way, I have a place where you can stay. Its an Uncle you probably never heard of, your own dad didn't even know about his brother."
It didn't exactly make Nora feel better. She had no idea how bad this brother of her dad's could be. "How do you know he's a good guy, Beth?" She asked, hesitant about it. She would rather just live on her own, or even a foster home. Would it even be better, who knows. "I checked him out yesterday, he has a wife, a kid, lives in nice neighborhood. You won't be harmed."
Nora shrugged her shoulders, what else could she do? She had no place to go. "Is it far?"
"Just about 90 miles away. The town is small. Ever heard of Arlen?" Beth asked, it was the type of town you passed through going to other cities.
"Yeah, been there a couple of times." Nora said, rubbing up and down her arm. She was really trying to tough out this part but she was going to have to leave everything she knows and go somewhere completely different. Life had just gotten worse for her. "I'll be with you the entire way, get all of your stuff together and we'll get you out of here. They're about to tear this place apart, I'd hurry before they get to your room."
Hank had been up most of the night. He had just found out, yesterday, that he had yet another long lost brother. But this time he wasn't Japanese. He was an American, but not a very good one. He was a bad guy and not only that, had a teenage daughter.
The daughter was going to come and stay with him and Peggy and Bobby. He had no idea how this kid was. The social worker had just mentioned she was very quiet and did well in school. Who knows if she was tormented in the head with all the things his "brother" done around here.
Not only that, but his den was once again gone. Peggy had insisted on taking on the poor girl. A girl they didn't even know. From a brother he didn't even know of until now. His father had done pretty horrible stuff and finding out about yet another brother made Hank's stomach turn. Only because of the back history of what had been going on with the guy.
Now he was with this man's kid. He was hoping he could get to the kid before it was too late. It might have already been. He had to find out. Of course, Peggy wanted this more than him. She always forced on her own benefits She pranced around the room. "Another niece! Oh boy, I hope she isn't exactly like Luanne, bless the girl, but you know she isn't the sharpest tool in the shed." She couldn't keep still on the couch.
"We'll see, you don't know, she may be into drugs... Or shoplifting. Or worse... graffiti." He shivered at the thought. He imagined the girl was from the big city and she would only do the worse of things around his house. He was worried about the influence she might have on Bobby he knew that boy didn't need anymore influence.
"I'm sure she's a great kid, remember what Beth said? Good grades, quiet, hardworking, aren't those your favorite traits in people?" Peggy smiled over at her husband, Hank only nodded, leaning over to pat Ladybird's head. "Maybe you're right, Peggy."
This gave a new outlook on Hank's part but he was still a little worried. After a few more moments of silent, or more of Peggy talking nonsense, there was a knock on the door. "That must be her!" Peggy jumped up from the couch, a grin on her face as she rushed over to the door. Hank sighed and got up.
He opened the door slowly, laying his eyes on the woman he had spoken to the other day. "Hi Ms. Bell, will ya please come in?" He pulled on a smile and as the social worker smiled back, she presented him his long lost niece.
"Bwahaha!"