what you said about the Holmans,” I said.
“You’ll be okay here for a week or two until I can find a better arrangement.”
“You said that and all.”
“Be good.” Louise smiled.
She opened the door but paused before leaving. She offered me another smile. I can’t lie. I was sorry to see her go. Why can’t she foster me? I would squeeze all kinda notes outta her. I picked up my meerkat and held it on my lap.
chapter three
Bathroom Issues
It was late-night o’clock. I sat on my bed with my pink towel draped over my shoulder. Colleen watched me from the doorway.
“He’s downstairs,” Colleen insisted. “You can check my room if you want.”
“He might be in Pablo’s room or Sharyna’s room,” I said. “Have you got an attic? He might’ve bounced up there.”
“Tone!” Colleen called. “Holler something so Naomi believes you’re downstairs.”
“I’M DOWNSTAIRS, Naomi!”
“See!” said Colleen. Impatience nibbled her cheeks.
Kim told me to get my prick-fiddler radar out on this issue.
“Unless my husband has learned a new trick of sending his voice to different parts of the house, he’s downstairs,” assured Colleen.
“Will he stay downstairs while I’m having my shower?” I wanted confirmation.
“Of course he will.”
“Promise.”
“I PROMISE, NAOMI!” Tony yelled. “With bells on wrapped in a pink envelope.”
That’s the living cheek! Using my own lyrics against me. At least he’s got jokes inside of him. Kim would’ve loved the way I insisted that Tony had to park his toes downstairs while I’m flinging off my BO. I picked up my meerkat and stood up. Without a word, I breezed past Colleen and into the hallway. I paused for a short second to glance down the staircase before stepping into the bathroom. Nerves spat and crackled inside of me as I opened the door. I closed my eyes as I took a step forward. It was okay. Just a standard bathroom. The tub was clean. I could sniff some kinda cleaning liquid. I let a long breath go and closed the door behind me.
I didn’t love baths but I needed to think. Sadness munched my heart. It had been the longest day. I placed my meerkat behind the shower hose so I didn’t have to look down. I wished it could smile. I closed my eyes and allowed the water to bounce off my head.
Two scrubbings later, someone slapped the door.
“You okay, Naomi?” Colleen asked.
“Is he still downstairs?” I responded.
“Yes, he is. Don’t worry. He won’t come up until you’re ready.”
After eleven I was in bed with my meerkat beside me. Tiredness licked me. Colleen watched me from the doorway once again. “If you want anything, don’t be shy to ask. And if you’re hungry or thirsty during the night just go down to the kitchen and help yourself.”
I nodded. “Leave the light on,” I insisted. “And leave the door open . . . but not too much.”
“You have a lamp beside your bed on the cabinet.”
“Not gonna use it. Leave the main light on.”
“Okay, good night then.”
“Can you do my hair in the morning like Alicia Keys or Solange—she’s Beyoncé’s liccle sis.”
“I’ll try.”
“And don’t forget the chocolate biscuits,” I said with a smile.
Louise forever told me to smile more.
“I won’t,” Colleen replied.
I think I’m gonna be all right. Colleen’s on point.
I turned to face the window and hugged my meerkat. I should really give it a name, but what name? It’s not like I’ve got anyone to name it after. I can’t call it Mum. I don’t think she’d like to be rechristened an animal. I closed my eyes but I couldn’t sleep.
Later on that night, Colleen checked on me. I pretended I was asleep. Half an hour later, I rolled outta bed and twinky-toed along the hallway to the Goldings’ bedroom. I made the same move at the Holmans’ on my first night there. I wanted to download what peeps said about me.
The door was half-cracked. The news was on a low volume. Colleen spoke, “. . . can’t complain we got a quiet one this time,” she said. “She’s a bit fiery.”
“You can say that again,” said Tony. “But I can’t relax the rules too much just because she’s here for a short time.”
“No, you can’t,” said Colleen. “But as you say, it’ll only be for a week or so till Louise sorts something out.”
“It can’t be for more than that anyway,” Tony said. “Remember Louise was telling us that we’d have to fill in all sorts of race-awareness forms for a longer stay.”
“It’s gonna be different,” said Colleen. “Are you sure you can handle it? And then there’s your dad.”
There was a long pause. Someone on TV was talking about issues in the Middle East. I wondered what the drama with Tony’s dad was all about.
“As long as she doesn’t harm herself,” Tony finally replied. “We’ll deal with my dad when we come to it. Might not need to.”
“I’m gonna get myself a nightcap,” said Colleen. “Do you want anything?”
I heard Tony laugh. “Don’t let Louise find out about your late-night drinking,” he said. “That’ll lead to a social services inquisition.”
I wondered what inquisition meant. I might have issues but I’m not cadazy enough to barb-wire my wrists. This Tony doesn’t rate me.
I soft-toed back to my room but I still couldn’t sleep.
chapter four
Morning Rush
I sat up in bed watching the comings and goings of my new foster family as they got ready for their nine-to-five. I laughed when Pablo pulled on different-colored socks in the hallway. I giggled when Tony waited impatiently outside the bathroom for Sharyna to finish showering. I was dressed in my Stormzy T-shirt and my pink jogging bottoms—my sleeping garms. I decided to get up and bounce downstairs. I took my meerkat with me. I wasn’t paying attention last night but I noticed framed pics hanging
