To Romance a Kanker
Ch.1: Winds of Change
As the car steered down the exit to my new destiny, I could not help but think about how this had all come to be. How I had went from foster care to this. Before I get too ahead of myself, I should introduce myself.
My name is David Root. At the time, I was 12 years old (I'm 13 now). I have short light brown hair and blue eyes. I also wear black rimmed glasses. I'm a bit of a big guy height wise, but not so much on the weight side. Thank God for common sense on-.
Okay. Pause. Let's retrace the previous year. After five years of heartbreak, failing to connect with my father, favoritism, and seeing my parents hurt themselves, I had entered foster care for the second time in May 2008. Unlike the first time, this one would be akin to being with gruff but heavenly angels. To Barb and Sam Cadwell, I think you so much.
As the summer went by, in between all the fun making my own pumpkin garden, enjoying time with their adopted sons Nathan and Joe, and preparing for seventh grade, there was one prominent question that had remained: What would happen to me?
I feel the need to note that my parents had not been together in ten years, and that my 3 years in the custody of my father did not go well at all. I don't hate him by any means, but that does not remove the scars I must bear.
The thought by the authorities was to work me slowly back to being with my mom, but an incident in March 2008 put a stop to that. I choose to keep it private, but Mom was forced to sign off her rights to me in the aftermath. This meant she could not have custody of me again. I was devastated, but I calmed as it was told to me that I could still see her and my siblings. Anyone I wanted on my mom's family really.
And it's with my mom's family that the question of where I would end up would be answered. That summer, my Aunt Melody, who is my Grandma Sara's sister, and her husband, my eccentric but very loveable Uncle Steve, would come by often. I found this a bit strange. They lived several hours away in Grand Ledge downstate. A cover story of them being up for the summer would placate me for a time. Then in October, the bomb would be dropped.
Simply put, they wanted to adopt me.
I was stunned. But I also had tears in my eyes. It needs to be said here that I have a fantastic relationship with my mom and company. This was what I needed. Stability. As amazing as Barb and Sam were, that would not be granted in Foster Care. And so, it was. Over the next several months, investigations would happen into my Aunt and Uncle's backgrounds, and in April, there was a decree. My Guardian Angels had come.
The surprises did not end with that, however. To celebrate, we had gone to Applebee's for lunch, just the three of us. As I gazed at the televisions playing and displaying sports around us, my gaze returned to my Aunt Melody.
"What would you think about a move to Ohio?" she asked smiling.
She would tell me, with Uncle Steve filling in, that she had a nice job offer at a school district called Peach Creek. Peach Creek was a town of about 5,500 on I-74, 20 minutes off the interstate, and not too far away from Kentucky and Indiana. She told me then that they only wanted to make the move if I was okay with it.
"We want whatever's best for you, David" Uncle Steve smiled.
As we ate our appetizers, I would think about it. It was true that I had known Northern Michigan all my life. I had never lived anywhere else. And in Ohio, I did not know anyone. My eyes widened as an epiphany came to me. I knew no one. This could be the fresh start I needed!
I could only nod. "Yes... let's do it" I said softly.
Two months later, as I reflected as we turned on that exit, Our U-Haul behind us, we were making that move.
A move I have never regretted.
15 minutes later, we would step out of Aunt Melody's 2007 Toyota Prius, and smile as the U-Haul pulled up next to the car. A moving guy had been hired to help us. His name was Chris. Nice guy.
For a moment, I turned to look at the house. It was a simple two- story house, with a fair backyard. It had a green roof, a one car garage, and was a 2 bedroom, 2.5 bath. As I stared at it, I first heard the voice of someone who would become my best friend.
"So, you're the new kid here in the cul-de-sac, huh?"
I spun around to see a short and somewhat stocky kid my age. He wore a yellow shirt and blue jeans and seemed friendly enough. I smiled. "I am. My names David" I said. "Names Eddy" he smiled. "You guys want some help?" he asked. I looked over to my Aunt who was opening the house. "Go for it, young man" she told Eddy with a friendly smile.
The next 45 minutes were spent moving things in. His friend Ed, who I found silly but awesome, joined us to help shortly after we started. Good thing too, as the couches and China cabinet were heavy! I could only smile as I looked at my room. It was small but felt cozy. The two insisted on helping me unpack, but I waved them off, wanting my room set up a certain way. It did suck that I could not watch TV yet, as the Dish Network installer would not be there until the next day. But I had made some new friends. What more could I ask for?
As Eddy went to leave, Eddy poked his head back in. "Say, you like campfires?"
I nodded, having turned to set up my bookshelf. "I do. Why do you ask?"
He chuckled. "We're having a neighborhood wide campfire tomorrow night. Ya wanna come?"
I thought on it for a second, then nodded. "Sure! Hey Eddy? Shut the door for me, please?"
He nodded and gently closed it. Though the door was closed, I had found an opening to a new chapter of stability and friendships.
And truly, the next day would bring more. Much more.