"So Punky, do you know why you are at Horizon?" Peter asked. This wasn't generally the first thing he asked but the situation with her family and friends seemed so unreal that he felt compelled.
"Yeah. I messed up. I borrowed a car without asking." Punky answered, looking down, her loose curly hair falling around her face. Her eyes had the wet shine of unshed tears to them.
"And why did you do that?" Peter asked.
"I thought I saw my mom. I heard she was around and I haven't seen her in so long. I just want to catch up to her again. She got on a bus. I couldn't keep up on foot." Punky sadly explained.
"Okay. Well the rules at Horizon are simple. No sex, drugs, violence, or inappropriate touching. Everyone splits the chores. There is a chart that shows who is assigned to which chores. I'll have to search your bags before you can get them back. Any questions?" Peter asked.
"Yeah. Are those really all the rules? I mean I'm not complaining or anything, but they seem too easy. Like, if someone started a food fight would they get in trouble?" Punky asked.
"That would fall under violence Punky." Peter said.
"Oh." Punky replied, less enthusiastic sounding than she had been a moment before.
"You are assigned to a group called the cliffhangers. After you see the nurse, I'll introduce you to the rest of the group." Peter told her.
"The nurse? But I'm not sick. I just had a checkup a few weeks ago." Punky said.
"Every new student has to see the nurse." Peter said.
"Oh man, a new place and having a doctor's appointment on the same day. What a bummer." Punky commented. There was a knock on the door and Peter opened it.
"Penelope's family is ready to say their goodbyes." Sophie said.
"Excuse me ma'am but everyone calls me Punky." Punky stated.
"Oh, sorry Punky. Everyone calls me Sophie." Sophie responded before rushing back to Punky's family.
"Well, come on." Peter said leading Punky back to Henry, Cherie, and Mrs. Johnson.
"Now you take care of yourself. Anything goes wrong you call us." Mrs.' Johnson said giving Punky a big hug. "We'll take legal action if necessary." She continued, but the last part was said pointedly toward Peter and Sophie.
Oh Punky, I'm gonna miss you. But boy are you lucky. You should see the boys around here. What a bunch of hunks." Cherie whispered while hugging Punky. She slipped a note into Punky's jacket pocket.
"Oh Cherie." Punky said, seeming like she was about to laugh and about to cry at the same time. Last was Henry. She noticed his car was a lot emptier than it had been and the canoe was missing. This was really it.
"Bye, Henry." Punky said, feeling especially sad as previous goodbyes flooded her mind.
"Never goodbye Punky. Always see you later." Henry replied hugging her.
"See you later Henry." Punky said quietly. Peter had to gently prompt her to come back inside the main office. It seemed she would stay out there with her Dad and friends forever if he let her.
Peter was searching her things while Punky seen the nurse. She had a few unusual items. While it was true in the past that a few overzealous parents had packed tents and sleeping bags for their teens, as had Punky's dad apparently, this was the first time a parent had brought an entire canoe. He didn't see the harm in it though. It was properly marked with Punky's name and Henry signed the form clearing Horizon of damage costs without any objection.
The nurse led Punky into Peter's office and handed him a plastic bag with the items Punky had been carrying. Peter looked at it. A quarter, 3 small erasers in various shapes, and a note. The nurse left.
"What is this paper?" Peter asked.
"I don't know. Cherie must have slipped it into my pocket when she left. We pass notes that way sometimes." Punky said. Peter went to read it.
"Hey wait!" Punky objected. "That might be private. I don't even know what it says yet."
"If you want this note I have to read it first." Peter told her.
"I can't believe it. There should be a law against that. Wait hey isn't there?" Punky asked.
"Not at Horizon. When the judge put you into the care of Horizon, you lost that right." Peter explain.
"What?" Punky asked, her voice wavering. This wasn't about the note anymore. "You mean…but Henry's still my dad right? I'm not…an orphan?" Punky asked alarmed.
"No, of course not. It just means that for the time you are here that we are legally responsible for you. Once you get out you go back with your family." Peter said.
"My real family…Henry…right? I mean, no one is going to try to foster me out again right?" Punky asked worriedly.
"Right. I think you misunderstood, Punky." Peter said. And I think I need to read your file more thoroughly, Peter added silently. He had read the note during Punky's outburst and handed it to her now. Punky tucked it into her pocket to read later.