In the car, I attempt to understand what it was, exactly, that was happening to me, but now that it was only the two of us, her cheerfulness had disappeared as quickly as we left.
“Where the heck are we going?” I ask the social services lady, not so politely. When you are being driven to your new home without knowing where you are headed, manners are not the first thing on your mind.
“Eldersburg.” Yeah, I definitely keep a map of the U.S. in my head, just in case I have to move without warning.
“And where is that?” I struggle to use civilized language, but I’m telling you, I was getting… EXTREMLY impatient, to put it lightly.
“Maryland.”
At this second vague answer, I snapped. “What is with the one word responses?? Don’t you understand that I am in your car, going to AFRICA for all I know, where I’m supposed to live with a grandmother I am not even sure I HAVE? Does this mean ANYTHING to you?”
Perhaps this outburst was a bit over-reactive of me, but at the time I didn’t care. Have you ever had one of those days when you want to cry at the most ordinary thing, or you start screaming at the slightest disturbance? Well, today was one of those days for me. Maybe it was the stress, or just the pent-up emotions I refused to let out. Whatever the reason, there was no stopping me now. I was on a roll with my yelling.
“What is WRONG with you, lady? Are you so above me that you can’t even tell me WHERE we’re going? Or do you think I don’t really care where I’m moving to?”
When she ignores me, purposely, I suspect, I shout even louder, “You think you’re so good with your fake smile and ‘help the little children’ job. Well, you know what you really are? A big, useless WH-“
“You want to know where we’re going??” Ms. Fake-smile Kline stomps on the brake and pulls over, the car lurching to a stop. She turns in her seat, eyes flashing. “We are going to 5947 Avalon Drive Elkridge, MD 21075, where you will live with your grandmother from your mother’s side until you are old enough to move out. And you watch your language around me, Rainie. Frankly, I don’t CARE if you like me or not. My job is to get you to your grandmother safely, that’s all. Is your question answered or was I not specific enough?”
This shuts me up. I’m stunned by her whole speech, which made a lot more sense than mine did, I must admit. I was just saying the same thing over and over again, basically. I’m also guessing that her last sentence was a rhetorical question.
I stay silent for the rest of the car ride.
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