Chapter 8
The door opened easily as Dean pushed it and hesitated before crossing the threshold. His home for nearly two years seemed foreign to him now. This was going to be his last time he would be in this house and he would miss it. He made his way to his room and pulled a pack out of his closet and began to pack clothes and a couple of books. He knew he couldn't take all his possessions and opted for the basic items he though he would need. The last thing he added to the pack was the blanket that was under his pillow. He pulled a couple of pictures of his foster parents and him off his mirror and tucked them into one of his books while looking one last time around the room before turning off the light and walking out.
Jenny was waiting for him in the living room as he made his way down the stairs. She watched him with compassionate eyes knowing this was very hard on him to have lost his foster parents this way. She didn't know his background, but knew he had been with the Masters for nearly two years. He walked to the couch and grabbed his book bag before continuing to the door, afraid to look back for fear of loosing his stoic stance.
"I've called ahead to the home and they're expecting you. You're lucky it's still in the same school district and you can continue in the same school. You'll be assigned a social worker who will work with you to help you get through this. I'll be sure they'll find out about the arrangements and let you attend the services." she talked not getting any response from Dean. He half listened to her as she continued to talk to break the silence in the car.
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Trevor rolled over in his bed and moaned softly as he dreamed of the older boy again. He seemed older than the last time he dreamed of him. He knew it was the same boy with the sandy blonde hair and those piercing green eyes that could bore into you. Trevor thought he looked three or four years older than him and there was something so familiar about him. A cloud of deep, deep sadness enveloped him as Trevor watched the boy sobbing silently. He seemed so alone and lost and he wanted to help him, to comfort him in his sorrow. All that he could do was look on at the scene and grieve with him. He was surprised as the boy looked up and right at him before he let his eyes roam as if searching for something or someone. Trevor wondered if the boy could sense him in some way that he couldn't explain.
"Sammy, I've not forgotten you." a soft whisper spoke catching Trevor off guard and the connection was lost.
Trevor didn't wake up as his dream faded and he drifted deeper into delta sleep, snoring softly. He slept the rest of the night without dreaming about the boy. He remembered all the dreams he had about him and kept detailed notes about them in a hidden journal kept specifically for that purpose. He never told his parents about any of the dreams because he didn't think they would understand. He had made notes of all the things that bothered him about his life. As he got older and was able to understand things better, he knew there was something not quite right about his life. His parents were nice and kind and loving, but he knew something was missing and for some reason he didn't like his name. It was as if it didn't belong to him, it didn't fit him. Trevor's mind was a never ending source of questions. If he latched on to a problem or question, he was not satisfied until he found the answer or solved it. His obsession at present was learning all about computers and how to use them, dissect them, and program them. There were several books spread out across his desk on the subject. He wanted to store as much knowledge as he could in his brain because one day, he didn't know how he knew, but he knew he was going to need it.
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Dean woke up with tears leaking out of his eyes and the vision of the young boy still in his mind. His Sammy was growing up, if only he could find him and reunite his family. Today was the funeral for his foster parents and Tessa was going to take him to the service. Tessa had been assigned as his social worker now that he was in the group home. There were eleven other boys of different ages at the home with him ranging from eight to fourteen. He roomed with a younger boy named Joey who was quiet and shy. He didn't mind since he really didn't want to socialize. Dean got up and went to get ready knowing Tessa wouldn't be late to take him. Mitch's brother and sister and Libby's parents had arranged everything per the instructions left by them. He knew other kids they had fostered were going to be there too since Tessa had told him that.
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The day was slightly overcast, reflecting the mood of the service as everyone gathered around the two coffins. A spray of flowers draped the top of each one and others sat around them. Even thought the day was not cold, Dean felt a chill deep down in his bones as he listened to the preacher but not hearing the words. He stood at the end of a row of five other guys who the Harper's had fostered. All their faces were a mask of sorrow and sadness. Dean followed them as one by one each laid a red rose on each coffin, pausing long enough to say their good-byes. Dean laid his roses on each coffin and blinked back the tears that blurred his vision. He swallowed hard, trying to be brave in front of all the others. Just when he thought he would lose it, a calming touch brushed across his soul giving him the strength to hold it together. He knew his brother had just touched his soul from wherever he was and it gave him some comfort.
Tessa walked beside Dean as he slowly made his way back toward the car. He had not said anything to anyone at the grave site, even the other foster kids. He seemed to shrink into himself as he got into the passenger side of the car. She was going to take him back to the group home and let him have some time to process everything. She decided school could wait one more day.
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Trevor brushed tears from his face wondering why he was crying. He could feel a deep sorrow down in his soul and reached out knowing he was feeling another's pain. He knew it was the boy he saw in his dreams. This boy felt a terrible loss, he wasn't sure what but it saddened him greatly. Trevor looked up when his parents called to him.
"Trevor, we have some wonder news." his Mom said.
"What?" he asked.
"You're going to have a little brother or sister." his Dad explained.
"We didn't think this could happen, it's a miracle."
"I'm gonna be a big brother?"
"Yes, isn't it exciting?"
It didn't get past Trevor what his parents said about this being a miracle. He wondered if he was a miracle too. They never really talked about his birth, where he was born, nothing related at all. He didn't know why this bothered him, but it did.
"Let's go out to eat to celebrate."
"Go get ready Trevor, we'll leave in a few minutes." his Dad told him patting him on the back. Trevor got up and headed to his room to wash up and change his shirt. He was a very intuitive boy that analyzed everything around him. He was determined to figure out his life and why there was this hollow, empty feeling in his soul that would not go away. He knew there was a missing piece to his life and he was going to find it someday.
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Dean fell into a routine at the home, eating, going to school, chores, sleep and free time. He didn't socialize much with the others and they left him alone sensing he wasn't one to mess with. He caught a couple of the older boys teasing his roommate, Joey and put them in their place letting them know he was not to be messed with. After that, they were left alone by the others. The school year was almost over and Dean had made decent grades and was promoted to the next grade.
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A week into summer vacation, Dean was called to the office to meet with the supervisor. He walked slowly toward the office wondering what this meeting was about.
"Dean come in, have a seat." the supervisor told him. "I have good news for you; we've found a foster family willing to take you in. Their names are Tom and Mattie Spencer. They will be here tomorrow to pick you up so you need to pack your things and get ready."
Uneasiness settled over Dean with this news. He didn't have the best of luck with foster parents and wasn't sure if he wanted to try again.
"You should be happy about this, most kids your age don't get a chance at a foster home. They usually spend the rest of their time in a home or orphanage until they turn eighteen."
"Yes sir." Dean responded all emotions masked from him face.
"Dismissed."
With that final word, Dean got up and headed back to his room. He sat on the bed and thought about what he should do. He could run away, but that wouldn't really help him right now. Reluctantly, he got up and pulled his pack from the closet and began to empty the drawers of his dresser. Joey walked in and saw what he was doing.
"Dean what's happening?"
"Going to foster family tomorrow." he mumbled to him.
"Really? That's good right? At least you get out of here."
"I guess." he replied packing the last of his things being sure that Sammy's blanket was tucked away in the pack. He sat it to the side and looked over at the smaller boy. "You'll be ok, don't worry."
"What if the person they put in here is not nice?"
"Don't think like that, you'll be fine. I'll talk to Kyle, he'll watch out for you."
"Thanks, I hope everything works out for you."
"Come on, we need to go help with dinner." Dean told him squeezing his shoulder and guiding him toward the door. He had come to like Joey and felt like a big brother to him. He made a mental note to not forget about discussing Joey with Kyle and for him to look out for the kid.
"Thanks Dean, I'm gonna miss you." Joey told him hugging him around the waist.
"I'll miss you to squirt but don't worry, I'm sure there's a family out there for you too. You just have to have faith and believe."
"I will Dean. I'll pray everyday for one. I just hope the angels will hear me and bring me a family." he said going to the sink to wash his hands.
Dean looked down at him and wished the same thing. He was a kind, sweet, shy boy who deserved to be put in a foster home or adopted. He sort of reminded him of the boy in his dreams, his little brother.
