This story was published under my old username.
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She was the one, I just didn't know it at the time.
When I first met Caron Jackson I didn't realise the impact she would have on my life. I grew up in a loving household. My Mum, Helen Brooks, worked as a cook at the local high school. My Dad, Steve, worked as a plumber. I had an older brother Gary. Gary was a pain in the arse towards me. He was five years older than I am, we had our own groups of friends and very little in common.
My Mum was a registered foster carer. Sometimes we had kids stay with us for a few days, some stayed for a few weeks. One kid, James, stayed with us for almost a month. His Dad was overseas in the military, his Mum had a major operation. James and I, Mike by the way, became good friends. Mum used to take James to see his Mum in the hospital, when he returned home we kept in touch.
My parents were a loving couple, Mum had fostered kids for as long as I could remember. Mum was a short, slim woman, she was 5' 4" tall. Her dark brown hair hung just below her shoulders. My Dad was taller at 5' 8", he was of average build with short light brown hair. My brother and I got our height genes from our Dad.
I liked the idea of having other kids around, my brother Gary took very little notice of them. He would occasionally grunt a hello, that was his idea of being involved.
I was thirteen when I first met Caron, Mum told me Mrs Winters, the social worker was bringing someone over to stay. When Mrs Winters brought Caron to the house I felt sorry for her, she was dressed in a tatty old t-shirt and shorts, the plimsolls on her feet were fit for the bin. Mrs Winters introduced us to Caron, Mum and I said hello, Caron nodded and looked at the floor.
"Mike, take Caron through to the lounge please. I need to talk to Mrs Winters." Mum asked.
Caron followed me into the lounge, I turned the TV on to watch cartoons.
"You want to watch cartoons?" I asked. Caron just shrugged and stared at the TV. I wasn't upset by her silence, it sometimes happened with foster kids so Mum said. Caron was of mixed race, her skin had that dark tint. She had big dark brown eyes and a mass of long black curly hair. She had that look of innocence, but there was something that told me she had been through a lot, probably seen more hurt than I ever would.
We sat there watching the TV, Mum and Mrs Winters were talking in the kitchen. Mrs Winters came in and spoke to Caron, she told her she would be back to see her in a few days. Caron nodded, she didn't say a word.
Mum came in and spoke to Caron. "Would you like something to eat?" Caron just shrugged her shoulders. "I'll make a start on dinner, Mike keep an eye on Caron please."
I tried talking to Caron, she didn't seem interested. It was the same as we ate dinner, apart from saying thank you to Mum, she stayed silent. I noticed Dad watching Caron and looking at Mum, Gary ate his dinner and went to his room, this was normal behaviour for him.
Mum bathed Caron and dressed her in a baggy t-shirt. She joined me and Dad watching TV. Mum said she had to go to the supermarket, Dad just smiled and said okay. When Mum arrived home Caron had fallen asleep, she carried her upstairs to bed.
"Is she okay?" Dad asked.
"It's hard to tell, Steve. Her Mum has a lot of problems, mostly drink and substance related. Her Dad is nowhere to be found, I have a feeling she will be with us for a while. She's been through a lot for a ten year old." That was whenMum told us that she thought Caron could be here longer than usual.
Mum had gone out to get Caron some clothes, she kept the receipts so that social services would pay her back. Mum said that the clothes Caron arrived in were the best of a bad bunch. I could see Dad wasn't impressed, like Mum he hated to see kids neglected. I went upstairs to bed, Mum and Dad were talking.
There were only three days left before the school summer holidays, almost six weeks with no school. Caron missed the last few days of school when she was taken into care, when school started again she would be attending the same school that I went to. Mum said she would go uniform shopping near the end of the holidays.
Two things happened over the summer holidays, my brother left home to join the army. Mrs Winter asked Mum if Caron could stay with us long term.
"What did Mrs Winter mean by long term, Mum?"
"It means Caron will be with us until she is eighteen years old. Her Mum is in no fit state to look after a child, she can barely look after herself. I was thinking of decorating Gary's room, Caron can have that. If Gary comes home he can use the small bedroom.
We sat down at the table for dinner, it was strange without Gary. When we finished eating Mum spoke to us.
"Caron, I spoke to Mrs. Winter this afternoon. She has asked if you can stay with us until you are eighteen years old, is that okay? Do you want to stay here?"
Caron nodded. "Can I still see my Mum?" She asked.
"Of course you can. If your Mum is well enough, you can see her. Now, as you will be here for a long time we are going to decorate Gary's room, you can have it now he's not here."
Dad grabbed some colour charts from the counter. "Let's pick a colour, Caron. You can choose whatever colour you like, within reason."
Caron started to cry, Mum rushed to comfort her. "What's wrong Caron?"
Caron took a minute to settle down. "Nothing's wrong. It's just you are all being so nice to me. I get to stay here with you, and I get my own room." Caron dried her eyes.
"You're part of this family now, you will get treated the same as Mike." Dad assured her. Caron shuffled around and looked at the colour charts, Mum looked at me and smiled, I smiled back.
"What colour was the bedroom in your Mum's house?" I asked.
"Yellow, and it was horrible." Caron replied. "It's much nicer here." Caron eventually picked Apple White, a white with a hint of green. I looked after Caron while Mum and Dad decorated her room, by now she was over her initial shyness and smiling a lot. She had a lovely smile and beautiful white teeth.
We were sitting in my bedroom talking, Caron was looking at my books and CD's.
"Are these all yours?" Caron asked.
"Yeah. Most of the CD's are presents, you know birthday and Christmas."
"Can I put some music on?"
I let Caron choose a CD, most of my stuff was rock music. We sat listening and talking, Mum came in to say Caron's room was ready. I don't think I'll ever forget the look on her face when she walked into her bedroom, it was freshly decorated, the curtains and bedding were new so they blended with the room colour.
