Chapter Two

We were driving for close to an hour before Amelia, the social worker assigned to me, turned off of the main street that we were traveling of to turn onto a gravel road. Ten minutes later and there was a huge white, georgian looking building in front of us.

It was huge. It was three stories tall, a grand entrance and windows were everywhere. It looked like a hotel. My first thought was that it had to be another group home. So much for a happy birthday.

Amelia and I got out of the car and were instantly greeted by dogs and the scent of fresh country air, the kind that they always advertise in laundry commercials. Looking around I saw a lot of people working hard in the hot spring sun. I found it quite odd that the house was so gorgeous yet it was surrounded by horses, cows and any other farm life. The part that I loved though was that you could look in any direction and you did not see the city. When you looked in one direction you saw rows of trees that lined the driveway and the three other directions you could see fields.

When I was snapped back into reality by Amelia gently shaking my shoulder we walked to the door, knocked and waited. A few moments later a large black woman opened the door and smiled. Amelia explained that we were there to see David and Jessica Cannizaro, the woman smiled, open the door wider and walked us to a large sitting room.

We weren't there for even two minutes before we were greeted again, this time by David and Jessica Cannizaro.

"Hello," Jessica said extending her hand forward.

"Hi," I said shaking her hand. "I'm Kimberly."

"So I have heard," Jessica said looking so happy. "I've heard so much about you."

"Jessica," David said placing a hand on her arm, "why don't you offer our guest a seat and we can all talk."

Jessica smiled, slightly embarrassed, and motioned to the couches.

"Can I get anyone anything to drink?" An African American woman asked from the doorway.

"Kim, Amelia, would either of you like something to drink?" David asked.

"Do you have coke?" I asked.

"Yes, we do," the woman replied.

"I'm fine, thank you," Amelia said.

"If you wouldn't mind putting on a pot of instant coffee that would be great Nellie," David said.

"That sounds lovely," Jessica said.

The woman named Nellie left the room and it was back to the four of us. I always hated these meetings, they are always so awkward. This one was different too. They usually take place at the group home, not at the people's house.

We spent about two hours at the huge house before Amelia said that we should get going and give Mr. And Mrs. Cannizaro some time to talk things over. I didn't want to leave but I knew better than to make a scene in public.

A few days after the meetings with the Cannizaro's I was working on some homework in my room when my roommate Kelly strutted into the room.

"I know something you don't know," she sang and laid down on her bed.

"What is it?" I asked.

"I'm not telling you," Kelly said.

Kelly was probably the worst person I had ever lived with, she was always looking for a way to start a fight.

"Tell me what you know," I said looking at her with pleading eyes. "Is someone leaving?"

"Someone is always leaving around this place."

"Does it have to do with me?"

"Yes it does, and I'm not supposed to know so I just might not tell you."

"Please Kelly! I need to know!"

"If you promise not to tell anyone what you hear," she said.

"I won't tell anyone."

"Okay," she said sitting on the edge of the bed. "Amelia was in Norma's office just now and she said that she heard back from the Can-something people that you went to go see."

"And!" I urged her loudly.

"Shh!" Kelly hissed. "Someone will hear!"

"Sorry," I said lowering my voice. "Please tell me what else they said."

"They're going to opt out and not adopt. They haven't liked a single child that they have seen so far."

My heart fell so fast and I swore I felt it break.

"That's all I have for you, I have to go find Alicia and tell her her good news."

"Alicia got good news?" I asked wiping my eyes with the side of my hand.

"Yeah, her originals came back for her."

Originals are what we call biological parents. Sometimes they come back. Very, very rarely.

"Good for her," I said turning back to my desk to do my homework.

Kelly left the room quickly as Norma entered.

"Mind if I come in Kimberly?" She asked at the doorway.

"Come in, but I already heard."

"How did you hear?" Norma asked as she sat down on my bed.

"The newspaper just walked out of the room," I said pointing to the door with my pencil, not facing Norma.

"I'll speak with her later," Norma said. "You don't seem very happy?"

"I don't have a reason to be," I said trying as hard as I could to hold in the tears.

Norma's face was scrunched in confusion. "I would think that you would take that as great news."

"I guess if you don't like moving."

This time Norma had to give her head a shake. "What exactly did Kelly tell you?"

"That the Cannizaro's don't want me or any other kid that this group home has to offer."

"Oh no no no," Norma said placing a hand on my shoulder making me turn around. "Mr. And Mrs. Cannizaro got back to Amelia and said that if you would like they would love to offer you a permanent place in their home and in their hearts. Kimberly, my girl, they want to know if you want to be adopted."

~*~*~*~*~*~