Chapter Three

Upheaval

Denise DeMarco has been a social worker for over twelve years and in that time; she has met all sorts of children and their parents. She thinks quickly on her feet. She sees before her a very independent young man who, if she forcibly removes him from his home it will only result in his total lack of trust for her and she foresees him running away.

"Bobby I'm sure Officer Collins has explained to you that we can not leave you here alone."

He sounds confident but he looks down at the floor and shuffles from one foot to the other, "Well I told him and now I'm telling you that I am quite capable of taking care of myself."

"I can see that," Denise exhales; this is not going to be easy. She notices that every step she takes toward him, he takes a step back, which puts him closer to the back door. As she begins her questioning, she keeps her distance.

"Bobby, where's your Dad? I can call him for you."

He lifts up his head and says boldly, "Don't waste your time. If he wanted me around he wouldn't have left me here in the first place."

"Do you have an older brother or sister you could stay with?"

He looks down at the floor once again, and exhales, "My brother lives with friends."

"How about your Grandparents?"

"My grandparents?" he says cynically, "Well they live in Maryland, maybe if you call them they'll drive up, no wait," he puts his hands in his pockets, "they haven't called me or seen me in almost six years, I doubt very much if they'd want me to stay with them."

He studies the woman's face; "Running out of people aren't you?" the expression on his face is sad but the comment sounds cold. She is not quite sure how to respond to his statement. "My family has not been involved in my life in years, I don't need them and they don't want anything to do with me or my Mom. So why don't you just leave me alone, I'll be perfectly fine."

"I...we can't do that."

"You're like a broken record," he says as he scratches the back of his head, "I thought I gave a pretty good argument."

She catches his eye and winks at him a slight smile crosses his face, "Yes you did," she pauses, "Bobby is there a family friend that you could stay with?"

He crosses his arms, "You don't give up easily, do you?"

"No I don't," Denise says sternly, "Is there?"

He nods his head, "Yeah I guess so."

"Alright give them a call and I'll talk to them."

He picks up the receiver and dials the number, as soon as he hears it ring he hands the phone to Denise. "What is the family name?"

"Reilly," he says.

After three rings, a young man answers the phone. "Hello."

"Good evening, my name is Denise DeMarco. May I please speak with Mister or Misses Reilly?"

"Sure." Andy covers the mouthpiece with his hand, "Mom, there's a Denise DeMarco on the phone. She wants to talk to you." He hands the phone to his mother, "Hello, this is Lisa Reilly how may I help you?"

"Are you Lisa Reilly, the ER nurse at Saint Joe's?"

"Yes, how are you Denise?"

"I'm fine this evening, how are you?"

"I'm fine thank you."

"I am presently at the home of Robert Goren, you are acquainted with him?"

"Yes I am, is he alright?"

"He's fine, his mother was taken to the hospital tonight and she has since been admitted. Her length of stay is not known at this time. The police officers that responded to the call telephoned me and I need to find him a place to stay until she comes home. Would it be possible for him to stay with you for a few days?"

"Of course he can stay here, as long as need be."

"Thank you Lisa,………Bobby." Denise says as she covers the mouthpiece, "I want you to pack a few things, clothes for school tomorrow, toothbrush, that sort of thing. I will then take you to the Reilly's."

He rolls his eyes and then nods his head, "Yeah, yeah." He slowly ascends the stairs and walks into his bedroom.

She watches him as he goes up the stairs; she continues her conversation, "Lisa how long have you known him?"

"Since he and my son, Andy were in the second grade, they are the best of friends," Lisa starts to chuckle.

"Why are you laughing?"

"He gave you an argument didn't he?"

"An argument, he was debating with me, for a second I thought I was speaking to a 30 year old. I was inquiring about family members that I could call for him. He had a reason why I shouldn't bother and then he says as coldly as can be, running out of people aren't you? I didn't know what to say at first. But when I looked at his face, I could see how hurt he really was."

"He tries to convince people that he doesn't care, like he's made out of steel, but on the inside his heart is aching, he misses his father so much and now he feels abandoned by his brother."

"I have been doing this job for close to thirteen years and not to brag but I know kids pretty well, I place him in a home with strangers he will run away the first chance he gets."

"I agree with you."

"I sent him upstairs to pack some things and we will be leaving soon. Do you live far?"

"Yes actually we do………….. Three houses down on the right."

Denise laughs, "Thanks again Lisa, see you soon."

"Bye Denise."

The Reilly Home

Lisa hangs up the phone and calls to her husband Tom and her two children to come into the living room. "Lisa, what's up? Who's Denise DeMarco?"

"She works with Child Services."

Brenda the youngest asks. "What is Child Services?"

"When children have a family problem Denise helps them. Bobby's Mom was taken to the hospital tonight and she will be hospitalized for awhile and Denise asked me if he could stay here with us."

"What's the big deal Mom, Bobby's always here," Brenda says,

Her parents and brother smile, "I know that Brenda, but this is slightly different, he won't be going home tomorrow, and he may be here for a week maybe more."

Andy says as he looks at his younger sister. "Don't ask him any stupid questions when you see him." She gives her brother a dirty look. "I mean it Brenda."

"Ok, you big grouch," Tom grabs hold of his daughter's hand, "Come on Brenda it's time for bed."

"Brenda I'll be up in a minute," Lisa says.

"Ok, Mommy."

Tom puts his daughter to bed and joins his wife in the kitchen who has just put a fresh pot of coffee on the stove. "Lisa you read my mind, I could use a cup. Did this woman tell you when Frances was taken to the hospital, we didn't hear any sirens, this evening."

"It must have happened before you got home from work and while I was picking up my Mom." The phone rings, "I'll get it," Lisa says, "Hello…Yes Lenny, he's here, one moment please………Tom it's Lenny."

"I'll take it in the den."

Andy has since come into the kitchen and opens the frig, he stares at the contents inside, "You're letting all the cold air out, Andy." He closes the door, "Sorry, I want something to eat but I don't know what."

"There's cake left over……….Would you like a piece?"

"Yeah that sounds good," he sits down at the table while his mother slices two pieces of cake, "It looks good," she says as she places the cake in front of him, "Mom?"

"Yes Andy what is it?"

"I feel weird."

She sits down across from her son, "Then you can imagine how he feels."

"What do I say to him?"

"What do you usually say when you see him?" Andy looks up at his Mom and smiles.

TBC

If any of you are wondering why I didn't make Lewis the best friend well I have my reasons. We know for a fact that Bobby has many friends from all walks of life. To me Lewis seemed younger than him and wouldn't have been a childhood friend.

Just in case you were wondering………….