ME:Love u 2
I mentally cataloged what needed to happen. Despite Johnny being a royal dummy sometimes, I trusted him to handle this. He needed to go home and get our mom to wake up and look alive. She’d come home last night, but I had no idea if she washungover, coming down, or what. At least her being there made things easier. Thank god the park manager fixed the shower yesterday. Johnny also had to get the house picked up and rearrange things so it looked like he slept in the first bedroom and our mom used the pull-out in the living room. Rosa would give him extra food, something CPS always checked on during a home visit.
Johnny needed to take care of cleaning the trailer and getting our mom up and ready for questions. My goal was to convince CPS they didn’t even need to bother with a home visit.
The mid-forties woman who met me in the principal’s office, dressed in an ill-fitting suit jacket and sensible sneakers, appeared bored and tired. I could work with that. An overzealous do-gooder might dig too deep.
“I’m Michelle,” the woman said, shaking my hand as Principal Hardcastle stepped out. “Cori, I won’t drag this out any more than I need to. Since you’re fifteen, I’ll be honest and say that I’m here from Child Protective Services to make sure you’re okay. Someone called our office to let us know they suspected you might be having some difficulties at home?”
I stopped myself from rolling my eyes. Social workers were always deliberately vague. It was one of the voodoo mind tricks they used to get people they interviewed to fill in details. To tell them things they hadn’t meant to. Luckily, I’d played this game before.
Shrugging slightly, I scrunched my face in confusion. “I don’t know why someone would think that. Everything is fine.”
I kept my hands in my lap. Used a respectful tone. My jeans and sweater were clean. My shoes were newer. I assumed Principal Hardcastle had already told her both Johnny and I attended school regularly, and that I was an honor student. I hoped those things painted a solid enough picture of functionality to keep her off our backs.
“Everything in your house is in good working order? No issues there?”
“Nope.” I popped thepand attempted to smile.
Michelle looked down at the manila folder in her hand. “It says here that you’ve spoken with CPS before.”
“That’s true,” I answered slowly, straightening my posture. At least four times that I could remember, although it had been a minute since the last one. The caseworker stared at me as though I might say more, but I stayed quiet.
Principal Hardcastle knocked on the door before popping his head in. “Cori, it looks like your brother didn’t make it to first period?”
“Yeah. He wasn’t feeling well this morning when I saw him at the house. He probably stayed home sick.” My voice contained zero hesitation, although my heart hammered as the lie slid off my tongue. “I’m sure our mom just forgot to call and get it excused.”
“That’s too bad,” Michelle interjected, eyeing me carefully. “I’d like to speak with him too.” She looked at the principal. “He usually comes on time?”
“Yes, like I told you earlier. Johnny’s been here this whole week. Both Raney kids have good attendance records.”
I mentally patted myself on the back for all the times I’d insisted Johnny go to school for this exact reason. Even if he barely passed his classes, it was okay. Actual truancy would have had the state up our asses faster than anything.
“Hmm.” Michelle looked back down at her folder as Principal Hardcastle left again. “Alright, well, like I said, I know you’ve spoken with CPS before, so some of this might feel familiar, okay?”
“Okay.”
“Cori, do you feel safe at home?”
“Yes.”
“Are you left alone often?”
“No.”
“Really?”
“I mean, I’m fifteen, so it’s not like I’m not on my own sometimes. But it’s a pretty small trailer. I’d actually love to have some more alone time.” I hoped my gamble with levity softened her.
She smiled.Whew.“I understand. How about food? Do you have enough to eat?”
“Yes. Definitely.”
“Would you describe your home life as stable?”
“Well, I guess it isn’t perfect, but I think it’s as good as anyone else’s around here.”
Michelle flattened her folder on her lap and fixed her gaze on me. “Out of curiosity, Cori, even though CPS has never found anything significant, why do you think multiple adults have called us to check on you and your brother over the years?”
