If you didn't already guess, I'm stil here. Like the Deuff predicted, alot of people came in, suddenly really wanting kids. What's up with that? I suppose it would be like the animal shelter closing. Mine as well adopt now before it closes. After that, you might have to go out of city. God forbid!

Like an animal shelter, all the little kiddes were snatched up like little coffee cakes at a beatnick gathering. As for we older chilluns, we just sit and wait to see which member of the community is unfortunate enough to get stuck with us. It wouldn be a shock if there were almost no volenteers. Ther are families who are thrilled with their little 'angels', but too many people nowadays loathe us. It's our fault. It always is. Sorry we didn't raise ourselves to your standards folks. Alot of those child loathing snoots don't realize it's how we are raised that shapes us, but we get the blame. Oh the fun.

So anyway, here we are, awaiting our doom. Ther are already three of us who are going right to the Heubourns if they aren't snatched up. The Heubourns are supposedly so wonderful, that they got to hand pick their youth. The rest of the good semaritans just get a youth tossed at them. Fresh from the markets, still has that homeless kid smell!

It wa a little releiving, but also a little dissapointing to find out I wasn't one of the 'chosen ones'. It was the younger kiddies. One of them got adopted, so was replaced with another, slighter older kid. By tonight, who ever is still around, we get distributed around the city folks like Chiclets. Licorice Chiclets.

Chiclorice.

So I was laying on the bare bed, listening to what was left of sound around here, when Lizzy burst in a scared half the crap out of me.

"Lizzy! Chillax, will ya?"

Lizzy squeeled and climbed onto the bed in front of me, "Gretchen! I got 'dopted!" she announced.

"That's great!" It really was. How the hell Lizzy didn't get adopted before astounds me. How could you pass up a little curly blond five year old in a sunflower dress? You creeps.

"So, when are you heading out?"

"In five-teen minutes!" She said, holding up seven fingers. Gotta love that. "I wanted to say goodbye." she wrapped her arms around me, almost squeezing my throught shut.

"O.K., let's not choke Gretchen, okay?" I said, lightly hugging her back. Affection come to me like swimming to a rock.

She slid off of the bed, waving, "Bye-bye!" she said, rushing out without shutting the door. Fine. I should probably keep it open incase somebody else wants to leap at me with the same news. Hopefully, not one of the bigger kids.

Later that night, dinner came and passed, and there were only seven of us left, including the three 'chosen ones'. Ther was also me, of course, Randy, Nick, and Justin. If it weren't for the fact that the three 'chosen ones' were heading off to the freak'n Heubourns, they'd probably be sobbing. Af for the four os us unworthy boxcar children, we just sat and said nothing. For a little while anyway.

"This sucks! I feel like a left over at a garage sale!" Just said, throwing his hands up.

He was only 17, so he had something to complain about. I was turning 18 next October, so after that, I'm gonna be pushed out of the nest and expected to sprout wings and fly.

"Yeah, really. I'm gonna have such a compex." Randy agreed, hands behind his head.

Nick came into the room, hearing our conversation and wanting to join in, obviously. He lept over the back of the couch next to Randy. "Who wants to go through life knowing they're unwanted?"

"On, nice. Rub it in, Nick! Just rub it!" I said harmlessly.

That's what she said.

He shrugged, "Well, the first step to recovery is admittance."

"Thanks Dr. Clocken, that was deep. I think I'm gonna go call my mom and tell her I love her. Oh wait!" was Ranys reply.

"So like, we going to teachers and socers and crap? What's the deal?"

They shrugged or commented with, "Beats the shit out of me' or, 'Fuck if I know."

Such colourful vocabulary. Make Trix cereal look like Cheerios.

Frosted and Honey nut are the dig-shits.

Mr. Deuffry came in, holding a few papers. He sat on the easy chair, facing us. "Well, I know know," he said, setting them on the armrest. We all looked to him and in record time, he was speaking. That's what happens when your crowd goes from 24 to 4. The 'chosen ones' already left via the side door a few minutes ago. "Okay. So I have the list here. Randy and Nick, you two are off with the Gattersons. They run that charity fest every summer. Randy looked pleased, Nick was examining something he extracted from his ear. Suave Nick. Real suave. Actually, you could use some.

"Justin and Gretchen, you guys are off with Mr. Dwicky, the eleventh grade counselor." I don't know what Justins reaction was since I was busy not letting my face explode.

"Gretchen? You okay?" he asked, a little alarmed.

I snapped out of in in time to spew some kind of super slick reply, OH, yeah yeah. I just had a super bad cramp, you know? Righ tdown under my kidney, like a-"

"Okay Gretchen, I get it."

Hah, Win. Kind of. I'm still headed off to live with a school counselor that makes my face ignite in flames. Weee.