• Even at the beginning, she knew it would be pointless. Her moss green suitcase lay in front of her and she had no intention of opening it. It would be pointless. She would have to put everything back in, like the 7 times before. There was no end to it. House after House. Week after Week. She didn’t expect an end, but she truly longed for it. The feeling of having a family to love and being able to fit in. Anne walked in with a smile on her face that Alice knew all too well. It was the “I-Hope-This-Works” smile. Don’t get Alice wrong. Anne would have made a great sister but as a foster child’s social worker, Alice didn’t find her very pleasurable.
    “Ok, everything’s set! Mr.& Mrs. Shamp are willing to take you in, so be nice! I admit they are a bit odd, so if you need anything call me.” , Alice said with a sigh.
    Alice nodded her head in agreement and went back to having a staring contest with her suitcase.
    Anne scanned Alice’s eyes.
    “You didn’t unpack yet?”
    “Why bother? Sooner or later, there is gonna be some kinda dilemma or they won’t like me or something, and then I have to pack up again!” Alice replied with a pleading look in her eyes.
    “Come on you got to be Positive! Just like your mother! You know when I first meet your mother, in high school-”
    Alice interjected.
    “Yeah, I know. You were an outcast from society but Mom came up to you with a smile on her face and asked to be friends. Yeah I heard it like 7 times.” Her heart ached as she thought about her mother’s lost smile.
    “I was not a Social Outcast! Anyway perk up. I know your parent would have wanted you to live happily”
    Fine. Alice slowly walked toward the living room to great the 7th family in a row. As she walked in she collided into a wall. After taking a better look she realized the wall was moving and rushing to give her a hug.
    “Hello Sweetums!! Aren’t you a cutie! You have your mothers smile and your fathers eyes but you unfortunately inherited Jimbo’s ears!”, the wall shrieked.
    My ears? What a lovely 1st impression, Alice thought to herself.
    A tall man come from behind her, supposedly Uncle Jimbo.
    “Move over honey! Let me see my new daughter! Ah, she’s right! You definitely have my ears, there is no mistaking it. But you seem to be lacking muscle, don’t worry I can fix that, I’m a Gym trainer.”, Jimbo said with pride.
    Anne’s strained voice grew louder to be heard. “Ok, now that everyone is introduced and settled, I’m going to take my leave.”
    Jimbo replied in haste. “No, it’s not everyone”
    Jimbo pulled a tiny frail looking boy from behind. He seemed so innocent but something about his eyes ticked Alice off.
    Alice held her hand out to him, “Hello!”
    The boy gingerly took her hand in his small frail hands. All of a sudden a wicked grin appeared on his face. He gave her hand a twist and ran off laughing hysterically.
    Talk about Doctor Jackal and Mr. Hyde, thought Alice.
    It gave her a second to take in that she would have to live in a strange house full of strange people living a strange life. This feeling overwhelmed her so much that her heart ached and moaned for her mother who she lost at age 12 and the father who left them for a Las Vegas show girl. That night she curled up in her covers listening to the echos of the house.
    Here and There. She was used to the moving, and changing places. But she was never used to the fact that someone else would tuck her into bed, give her a kiss and call her a little angel. It just seemed all wrong.
    All night she heard Mr. and Mrs. Shamp’s deafening snoring and the maniacal laughing of the evil little boy, next door, in his sleep. She couldn’t tolerate is anymore.
    She dialed Anne’s number.
    “Meet me at the Swings.”
    “What?...Mom? Did I forget the milk?”, mumbled Anne.
    “It’s Alice. Meet me at the Swings.”
    A half an hour later, Anne found Alice swinging on the playground. Anne gently pushed Alice and smiled a very motherly smile. A thought came to her head. We are enough. Just me and Alice. A family.
    Here, there.... and back again.