“There has got to be someone out there that can take him.” Ms. Acorn pleaded. The large wooden bracelets around her wrist clicked together and she gestured in a pleading motion.

In front of her sat her boss, Mr. Talico, a large middle aged man with a deep receding hairline of salt and pepper. The director sighed heavily as he massaged his temple with his forefingers. “With his record I’m not sure there is anyone else who is even qualified to take him. Finding his last family was hard enough and that was before he was admitted to the hospital.”

The small woman stood to grab one of the folders that littered the director’s large mahogany desk, letting the director see more than just the woman’s face as she scanned through the papers. “You’re not going to find anyone, just give up.” The director said with a wave of the hand.

“I won’t give up on him!” She exclaimed with a stomp of the foot causing her fiery red curls to bounce into her face. “He has been through so much already and none of it was his fault!”

“Tell that to the Joher’s.” Mr. Talico grumbled.

Ms. Acorn slammed the file back onto the desk. “He loved that family! What happened hurt the boy just as much as that family, it is NOT his fault that their daughter-”

“Ms. Acorn!” Mr. Talico exclaimed, standing from his chair. “That boy is nothing but trouble!” He shook his head at the woman standing tall at five foot nothing to his daunting six foot four stature. “You have always been so stubborn about this boy, what do you even see in him?”

Ms. Acorn held his burning gaze. “I see something great. Someone who can change things for the better if he is just giving the opportunity to be more than just the child that no one has ever wanted.”

Mr. Talico sighed as he sat back down in his large black leather office chair. Straightening his checkered tie and white buttoned down dress shirt the director leaned back and looked over his desk. He waved his hand over the files that covered his deck. “These are all the files that are waiting for children, feel free to look for yourself. There can not be any other children residing in the home and the caretaker has to be experienced; this can’t be their first time.”

Ms. Acorn beamed with excitement. “Yes sir!”

Mr. Talico watched the woman search frantically through the piles of papers like a child told to pick out a new toy. He shook his head slightly before he went back to his work that was waiting for him on the screen of his computer.

Some time went by as the two worked silently together. For the most part Mr. Talico kept his eyes on his screen but the subtle movements of the younger women caught his attention from time to time. Her bright flower pattern dress would draw his gaze and he couldn't help but stare for a moment or two. She was the youngest agent he had working under him and the way she presented herself didn’t help her look any older. Talico had to admit that she was one of the best agents he had with how she connected with the children yet he still wished she would at least try to act or dress older. Though even with her young appearance and small stairs there was no hiding those curves of a full grown woman. “Mr. Talico?”

The director quickly averted his gaze to the desk and cleared his throat. “Yes?”

Ms. Acorn didn’t notice his stare as she was fixated on one of the open files in front of her. “Does the caretaker have to have a spouse or can it be someone who hasn’t even filed for a mate?”

Mr. Talico looked at the woman with a tilted head. “I don’t suppose so as long as he was given a problem child once before and there were no major complications. What have you found?” Ms. Acorn picked up a small packet worth from the mess of papers practically having to lay halfway across the desk to hand them over.

“Hm.” The director stroked his clean shaven chin. “He could possibly be the man to solve your problems. I’ll run this through with the committee and let you know for sure, but he can stay there until then.” Without looking up from the papers he waved his hand in dismissal. “Make sure to fill out the proper forms by tomorrow evening. Have a good day Ms. Acorn.”

* * * *

Ms. Acorn let out a deep sigh as she looked across the small parking lot. Filled with several nicer vehicles her’s was the little run down brown hatchback that always had to be parked furthest away from the agency’s main door. Even when she had to leave it running for the children she had to keep waiting while begging to keep them from going back to processing.

Today’s child was Greyson, a fourteen year old boy with brown hair, brown eyes and only reaching maybe five foot four. By looks he was very ordinary but he was definitely a special case at least Ms. Acorn believed so unlike everyone else in the agency, or anyone else in general.

“Great news!” The young woman exclaimed in a sing-songy voice as she opened the driver door. “I got you a new home!”

The boy in the passenger seat didn’t answer. He was slumped against the passenger window propping his head on his right hand.

Ms. Acorn fought off the frown that threatened her lips as she riffled through her brown leather side bag. She pulled out the envelope of base information she had copied before sitting down. She held it out to the boy but he didn’t acknowledge. Giving up she pulled out the papers for herself to look at. “Now it’s nothing like your previous families.” Her voice had lost a bit of it’s cheer but she carried on. “Greyson… This is your last chance. I know they won’t look for another place for you if this doesn’t work out. Please Greyson, I don’t want to see you left and forgotten in processing.”

Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.

“How is Alicka?” His voice came out as hoarse and lifeless.

Ms. Acorn turned away from the boy to keep him from seeing the sadness that took over her face. She took a deep shaky voice before looking back to the boy to answer. “Grey-”

He cut her off. “Ms. A it’s okay.” He finally looked to the woman he had known for most of his life. His eyes that were always shining with life were dull with grief, yet he smiled. “I’m sorry I asked, it's better that I don’t know for sure. Now let me see what you found please.”

Ms. Acorn bit the inside of her cheek to keep herself from breaking down when she handed over the papers. She watched as he read over the papers. All she wanted was to reach out and comfort this wonderful child that had seen far too much sorrow in the time she had known him. She wished she could take Greyson in and give him the life he deserved…

“When do I meet him?” Greyson’s voice tore Ms. Acorn from her thoughts.

“Oh!” Ms. Acorn took the papers back from the confused Greyson. “The Director said you can start staying there tonight but I need to notify him…” She trailed off as she scanned the sheet for a name and number. “Ah, Mr. Baginski.” She fished out a small handheld phone and dial the number on the paper.

"Normally we have to give notice you know," She stated as the phone rang. "Luckily this Mr. Baginski fellow is under a short notice order by the agency, those are so rare I've never-Oh hello!" Her lecture to the boy was cut short as the other side of the line answered.

After a few minutes of back and forth on the phone the car roared to life with a turn of the key. Ms. Acorn smiled brightly at Greyson as she maneuvered her way out of the maze of a parking lot to the main road. Greyson admired her graceful movements. It was almost as if he could see the pure happiness that radiated from her as he reminisced on the first time he could remember her. He was only six at the time but he could see it as if it were only yesterday....

Sitting in that hard uncomfortable chair in the small waiting room. His head was still swimming from the major car accident he had survived only two weeks ago. The doctors said he would get his memories back soon but they were still hazy. He was told that his foster family couldn’t take care of him anymore so he was going to stay with someone new. He could tell they were keeping something from him but it hurt too much to think about.

Lost in thought Greyson didn’t hear the woman enter and jumped when he felt a gentle touch on his shoulder. He was awestruck by the sight. The woman before him was small and petite with the face of an angel that was framed by fiery red hair. She wore a flower printed dress of blues and whites with a black half sweater that helped hide the extra room in the upper part of her dress. “Hello Greyson.”

Her gentle voice sent shivers up his spine, it was the most soothing sound he’d ever heard, and her smile was so warm with love.

“I’m Ms. Acorn, I’m going to be your new case worker.”

Greyson was taken aback a little at her statement. She was much younger than anyone else he had seen from the agency and it confused him for a moment before a sharp pain shot through his head.

“Do you have everything you need?” Ms. Acorn’s words pulled Greyson back to reality.

He glanced over to her. She had that soft smile that Greyson saw too much of recently. The one that was meant to hide the sadness in her eyes for him. He couldn’t stand that smile anymore; he just wanted the warmth back. It was too cold...

“All I own is in this bag.” He said half heartedly motioning to the worn out backpack between his feet that was swollen to the point it seemed the zippers would burst. “Can’t get much more ready than this.”

Ms. Acorn sighed slightly at the boy’s words. “Well that’s good then. We’re about an hour's drive away from anywhere I know so I want to make sure you’re ready for this.”

“Don’t worry Ms. A, I’ve been through the process a time or two.” Greyson responded, a hint of a smile pulled at the edge of his lips, “I specialize in first impressions.”

Ms. Acorn smiled warmly at his attempt to keep serious. It gave her hope that he would recover from this trauma just like he always had since the day she met the young boy.

The remainder of the car ride was rather silent, a few comments back and forth to help the hour and a half drive go by faster. As they approached the older apartment complex however the silence grew thick with excitement. Was it the excitement of a new home or just the anticipaction? One thing was for certain, this would be Greyson's last hope to have any chance of a future in this society. They both understood fully well how important the next few minutes would be, but little did they know just how much this chance encounter would really change their lives.

The pair hurriedly made their way to the apartment where a tall man was standing expectly waiting. Dressed in a long sleeve button up dress shirt, khaki dress pants with a plain blue tie to tie it all together he was the definition of a square. He blonde hair slicked back with a heavy amount of gel finishing with the square black glasses that rested on his nose. The only characteristic that would question that conclusion was the fact that he looked jacked even with his shirt fitting abit loose.

Ms. Acorn approached him with an outreached hand to greet the much taller man. Greyson had to stiffen a smile as Ms. A looked nearly straight up to meet the man's gaze and her little wooden bracelets slid down to her forearm, they probably would have rolled down all the way to her elbows if they were any bigger. It made her look like a little kid in high heels, but that's not saying much considering standing next to just about anyone, or really anything, made her look like a kid. Regardless, it was the little things Greyson found joy in.

"...and this is Greyson." Ms. Acorn finished her introductions with a wave toward the spaced out boy behind her.

"Tytus," the man offered as he held out a hand.

Greyson quickly shifted his backpack strap to grasp his hand in greeting. For a moment he was stunned with surprise, first for how rough and calloused the square looking man's hand was but most by a strange and sudden rush of what Greyson could only decribe as a heavy pressure.

"Are you ready to take a look around?" Tytus suggested as he let go.

Greyson was lost for a second as he tried to regroup his thoughts. Luckily Ms. A was on her game and took over the conversation, "Of course, what are we waiting for?" Ms. A answered with a sweet hint of excitment to her voice.

The two adults walked inside leaving Greyson staring after them. Something was up with this guy, he didn't know what it was but he wasn't about to say anything to Ms. A. He could be imagining things after all. Yeah, that was it. He was just being paranoid because of everything that happened with his previous host families. No one was going to get hurt this time it was only Greyson and this Tytus guy, and he looked like he could take care of himself well enough alone. Greyson shrugged off his uneasiness. Don't think about the past, it's gone and there's nothing you can do to change it. Greyson assured himself as he passed the threshold of what he would soon call his home.