Moving In (Don)

[Deleted]

Jeff was still trying to process what was happening.

It had been several weeks since the bombing. And he’d been put right back in foster care, as well as adjusting to getting around in a wheelchair until his prosthetic came in. Today though, his social worker, Martin was taking him to his pre-adoptive home, Don’s home.

He was... Trying to still grasp the fact that Don intended to adopt him to say the least.

The man had been kind to him in ways he hadn’t expected on their first meeting. Starting with the meals, and then his rushing to the hospital... And now he was inviting him into his home. Him, a one-legged, homeless kid who had mental and physical scars, and a host of problems. What was more was he didn’t want it to be temporary - Don wanted him to be a part of his family.

He clutched the two white garbage bags of his possessions carefully against his lap, twisting them as Martin rolled him up from behind toward the front steps of Don’s town house. The man was trying to be calm and placid, this not being his first go around. He’d been Jeff’s case worker since he was a little kid and they’d seen a lot of placements come and go over the years.

”Remember, Jeff you have a good thing going with this guy,” The tall, kind eyed African American man told him, a smile on his face. ”Try not to scare this one off?”

Jeff shrugged. “No promises, but I like Don. He’s cool,” Jeff explained. Chewing his lip, he looked back. “Just wish he got me while I was still in one piece. I’d feel like less of a burden...”

”Hopefully this one works on your self—esteem,” Martin noted as he stopped him at the front door, pressing the doorbell. ”You’re a cool kid, Jeff. Don’t put yourself down. One leg or not. And once that prosthetic we ordered comes in, you’ll hardly know the difference. After you get used to it I mean.”

“I just can’t wait to get out of this damn chair.” Jeff murmured as he waited for Don to answer - now or never he guessed.

@don

[Deleted]

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THE ONLY EASY DAY

was yesterday

Several weeks has passed and all Don wanted to do was get Jeff out of the foster care system. No he deserved better than that and after weeks of meals, rushing to a hospital to find out that he was missing a leg. Today was the day that he actually could stay with him, a home. One that Don hadn’t thought twice about opening up for the kid, he had the space and the time and really if he wanted to help him. Something a little more stable than meals or a hospital visit was on the cards.

Don just hoped he could pass muster for the system and that Jeff was okay with it, he knew if the kid said no or didnt want to stay with him he wouldnt stop trying to help. It would just be at more of a distance than moving in but today was that day. Don had spent the last few days trying to work out what he needed to do or get for the place to make it feel like home. The ground floor worked for the wheel chair sure, all of that was fine though it was more of what Jeff would like around the place.

Then again considering he had cleaned the place from top to bottom for the fifth time in as many days he figured it would pass for a sterile lab rather than a home. He had changed his clothes for the third time that day too, was a tshirt and combat pants too casual or did he look like a serial killer. Then jeans and a shirt, was it too casual as if he wasnt about to take any of this seriously which couldnt be further from the truth. Last but not least he decided on the shirt and suit pants, slightly official and trying to not look like he was trying.

Don wasnt used to this or wondering what Jeff would think about it all. He had even gone to get pastries that morning, the coffee was on and he had cupboards and the fridge stocked with everything he figured that Jeff might want. Don was sat nervously watching the clock tick, maybe the kid had decided he didnt like him or want to be part of his family. He didnt really have a family as such, it was him, his parents and his sister. There was no wife or siblings for him and maybe that was wrong he wondered.

It wasn’t like he could just pluck a wife out of nowhere but then he had been pretty open about the fact it was just him. Hearing the doorbell he jumped, feeling a little nervous as he pulled the door open and smiled. “Hey Jeff.” Don said relieved that he was there as he stood back and held open for Jeff and the man that was with him. “Welcome to our house, well your house if you want it to be that is and Hi I’m Don.” Don added holding out his hand to both of them, not wanting to say too much on the matter though yeah this was a little more nerve wracking than a meal or a trip out or even a hospital visit as he looked at the white garbage backs.

Surely that wasnt his stuff in there Don thought as he knew the first thing he wanted to do was give Jeff a case to unpack from, he had one sure but then maybe that was over doing it. “I can get you a case for your stuff if you want? I mean you can put it in your room too but you know, I’ve got a case for you to use too.” Don rambled a little as he held the door feeling odd for being a little nervous about all of this.

Tag: @yugioh

SWANSKI

[Deleted]

Jeff easily relaxed when Don answered the door.

Ok that was one nerve wracking moment down. He was there with all smiles and this was really happening. He of course wouldn’t tell Don, but he had worried for a moment there would be no answer. The thought of going back to the “special needs” group home he’d been in had made his stomach twist. He would find it hard to admit but he’d always wanted to be adopted. For him, coming to a home where in a few months he’d probably be there permanently... It made his heart leap a little.

Calm down, he reminded himself. Don hasn’t signed adoption papers, and they hadn’t been in court. He could still change his mind, especially after living with him and seeing he was tough. He had to be on his best behavior, he knew that. But sometimes he had trouble with it. ”Hey! Good to finally meet you. Martin. Sorry you had to deal with a temporary case worker. Idiots at my job thought I had enough on my plate. I say screw that, Jeff was my first case and if he’s getting adopted I wanted to see it for myself,” Martin explained as he shook Don’s hand. ”I heard good things from the home visit though, and the visits he’s had with you. Sorry we couldn’t arrange an overnight before he actually moved in. But y’know - with what happened and all we needed him near a hospital for a while just in case.” 

There Martin went, rambling as he got all the papers together and set them on a table. It was true though, he hadn’t had an overnight stay for that reason. But he’d seen Don plenty since the hospital, and they’d declared it a good match, probably because they wanted him out of their hair, but either way. “Good to see you, Don,” Jeff managed as Martin wheeled him in. He looked down at the trash bags embarassed a little. “It’s ok. I’ll uh... We can get one if we ever go anywhere. That’s just CPS for you, man. Hand you a trash bag or two and tell you it’s time to go.”

Martin himself looked embarassed. ”Not if it were up to me. Pretty crappy if you ask me. These kids deserve better,” he added honestly. ”Alright, Mr. McCarthy. He’s yours after you sign these papers. Nothing big - just stuff about the monthly stipend and some custodial agreements. Acknowledging that if at any time you decide to terminate the placement you will no longer be compensated... As well as outlining that all that stipend money you get until his formal adoption will go to his care.” he explained.

“Not that it helps much,” Jeff made an attempt to crack a joke. “One of my foster mothers used it on beauty products.”

Martin nodded sadly. ”Yeah, well if what I heard is true you won’t have to worry about it this time, kiddo.” he added.

@don

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THE ONLY EASY DAY

was yesterday

“Nice to finally meet you too Martin.” Don said smiling glad to meet the man who had been looking after Jeff in way. “It’s all worth it and yeah we all have those sorts at work but I’m glad I’m getting the chance to do this.” Don added relieved that the man had heard good things about the home visit. At least he hadn’t done anything wrong or there want a major issue because he was sure he would have heard about that one by now. “Hey I get it and whatever is best for Jeff works for me. Besides it gave us a chance to get to know each other a little and as long as he’s okay, a little travel is fine with me.”

Don didnt care how far it was, the kid had lost a leg so he wasnt about to let him go through that one on his own. In fact he wasnt about to let him go back to some group home or facility that could deal with it, no he deserved a good home. A home that could let Jeff he himself and let him have the time he needed to recover from the leg and any other issues he had to deal with along the way. Don stared at the papers, finally today was that day he thought as he smiled at Jeff. “Good to see you too Jeff and trust me we’ll go places. Wherever you want to go on holiday but just so you know. You’ve got a bag here a real one because this is your home as much as mine.” Don said nodding.

He had lived in a lot of places, he had lived out of a military bag or two but never trash bags. No that was heart breaking as he glanced at Martin and smiled. “They do but you know one step at a time right, trash bags today. Real bag tomorrow.” He added as he nodded to the information Martin was talking about. There wasnt any hesitation when he reached for a pen and started to sign the papers, no Jeff deserved a good home and hopefully he could give him that. “It’s not about money and any money that is there goes straight to Jeff nowhere else.” Don said firmly.

Don had his own money, he worked and had a pretty good monthly wage for his body guard job. There wasnt any chance he was going to do anything to any money that was for Jeff. Don raised his brow and smirked at Jeff for a moment. “Yeah I know I could use some more hair gel but think I’ll get that on my own.” Don joked as he nodded. “No you’ve got nothing to worry about Jeff, what money is yours is for you nothing else okay. I’ll make sure you have your own bank account and access to it and if you want we can sort you out an allowance too from me. But anything you want or need just ask and I’ll see what can be done.” Don explained as he made sure he had signed the papers correctly before passing them back to Martin.

“Are you sure about this Jeff?” Don asked him not wanting the kid to feel like he had to do anything he didnt want to. “The choice is yours if you want to stay with me or not, no papers can decide that for you okay. It’s entirely up to you.” He added smiling though he didnt want it to just be his choice in the matter. No it was two people so both had to be of the same choice.

Tag:@yugioh

SWANSKI

[Deleted]

Jeff listened to the exchange silently.

Martin seemed to be saying the right things at least, Jeff noticed. Don seemed to like him and that did matter to him. Martin had been the one constant in his life for so long that it seemed weird to think that the guy who was supposed to be adopting him didn’t like his social worker. He listened to what Don had to say about going on vacation - something which made him excited. He’d never gone on actual vacations before! He wondered what he meant by that. Though he didn’t want to bring that up quickly, he’d rather not overwhelm him.

His social worker spoke next, nodding his head at Don. ”Yeah, some places have people who volunteer to give foster kids regular bags. They should institute that everywhere honestly,” he explained. ”I can’t tell you how glad I am to hear about the money though... I have to remove six kids a month at least because they’re in such bad conditions. Their foster parents blow them on everything from house additions to beauty products. Disgusting if you ask me.”

Jeff nodded his head slowly - control over the money? That was different and so was the allowance. But he did like the sound of them both. He needed more help in money handling in ways that didn’t involve stealing. Even he had to admit that. “Yeah, and I promise not to blow any of that either. I may need help managing money though. I’ve hardly ever had cash of my own,” he admitted timidly.

Then Don asked if he was ok with this. That... No one had really asked him before. Did he really have much of a say? Even though the answer was yes - a part of him did have to think about it. Could he really convince himself to stay in one place? He was very nervous - and he didn’t want to screw this up or disappoint Don in any way... “Yeah, I want to... But are you sure you want to?” Jeff asked a bit timidly in response. “I mean this can’t be easy taking a kid with one leg and other issues. I’d get it, I don’t want you to sign those papers because you feel like you have to.”

@don

[Deleted]

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THE ONLY EASY DAY

was yesterday

Don had managed to see a lot of places in his lifetime, a few bad and a lot of good and he wanted to share that with someone. Taking Jeff seemed to be a logical thing to do though he knew it wasnt something to just jump right in at. He had to be comfortable about going and he hadn’t a clue if he had ever been on holiday before. “Yeah I’d hope they do and if you need any help with that then I’ll do anything I can to help.” Don offered not wanting more kids to go without a bag of their belongings.

Even in the Navy he had a bad, it wasnt much and carried usually the life essentials but it was his bag. Something that held his life and he still had his gear stored away in his room. It was as much a part of him as anything. Don stared at Martin when he said he had to remove kids because their money went elsewhere, that to him was mindboggling. “Yeah rightly disgusting and you don’t have to worry about that with Jeff, his money is his to do with what he wants. To a point, no bad stuff with it like running a crime ring or anything but yeah it’s his no one elses.” Don stated.

He would make sure that Jeff had everything he could want but then any money he got was Jeff’s. It wasnt to go on a house or beauty products. Yeah there wasnt enough beauty products in the world that could do him much good but still, Jeff’s cash was his own. Don listened to Jeff as he smiled and nodded to him, “Good promise to make but sure I can help you out with that but the end choice is yours Jeff. We’ll start small and we’ll get you into the big leagues of handling cash.” Don said grinning, “In a good way though.” He added not wanting to give Jeff any ideas of heading down a wrong path there.

Asking Jeff if he wanted to go ahead Don stayed silent waiting for the answer as he held his breath. What if the kid said no? What if he didnt like him or thought he was weird. It was likely because it wasnt like he had practice at the whole parent thing. Don crouched down to Jeff’s level when he turned the question back on him. “Yeah I am sure about wanting to.” Don said as he smiled. “I don’t feel like I have to at all and I’d still take you in if you had no legs and one arm. It doesn’t matter to me at all. You’re a good kid and whatever other issues there are we can work through it all together.”

Don didnt want him to think he was out on his own with anything. “Listen if you think I’m bothered about your leg, I’ve friends that don’t have them. I’ll take you to meet them too if you want but if you’re okay with this, then sure. I want you to be part of my family too so if you want, you’ve a house, a warm place to stay. Food by the tonne and i’d be honoured to have you stay with me.” Don added not sure if he was over doing it but then he wanted him to know he had a place if he wanted it.

Tag: @yugioh

SWANSKI