Fosters: Blackhawk (30 page)

CJ

I'm at the house we picked for the group
home.  Danny's guys have it almost finished.  I can't
wait until our new houseparent moves in.  She is from right
here in town.  A couple of years ago she was in one of the
shelters, Kate recommended her.  She's older and can't have
kids, she volunteers at the Kids Center with Patches and
Tess.  Tess is so funny she said Rachel would do great here,
the kids love her but the very first kid is a handful.  She's
so matter of fact I laugh.  She's given me that warning
before.  

Rachel is in training this week at DSS, she's
had all the background checks because of volunteering so it was
just a matter of getting them current.  I've gotten the final
revisions on the contract done and I'm supposed to have it back
today.  This house will have five kids.  Danny suggested
opening another in the first house he showed us but I don't have a
parent and I'm not sure how much time the two houses will take out
of my day.  I'm not willing to sacrifice my kids’ time for
another house.  He smiled and nodded but said that gives him
time to get it ready. Friggin batshit crazy.

Sally comes in and I show her the rooms.
 "The age group is four through twelve." I say answering her
question while walking through the hallway while she looks in all
the rooms.  

"Doesn't that limit you?  How many kids are
going fit that criteria?"  She's so sweet, wanting this to
work well for me.  

"There are so many houses that only take younger
but not many good homes.  DSS is trying to weed out the homes
and parents that are only in it for the money.  They're
allowing more faith based and single parent homes; they find with
good homes they're caseworkers are spending less time running
doctor appointments and dealing with high maintenance kids.
 The group homes have appointments worked into the contract; I
guess bottom line is we fit well within their budget cuts.  I
would see the kids caseworkers every three months or so and they
didn't need an appointment, they would just show up.  They
like that too, when their running from one place to another they
could pop in and get their check in done."  I tell her as we
stop in the kitchen.  I get us coffee, the only thing to drink
in the house right now.

She nods.  "You would think this would be
the last thing to be cut on anyone's budget.  Our country is
crazy cutting education and child welfare over tax breaks."
 

She's right, I nod in agreement.  "So what
brings you here with all your questions?"

Her head snaps back, I watch her eyes.  "I
would just say I'm curious but you'd know it's a lie.  I can't
have kids; I've seen the need here and think fostering may be
something I'm interested in."  

"What about when the kids leave, you have one
that you love and they've been with you for two years.  Mom
and dad finally get their shit together and it's the day they
leave.  You have thirty minutes to get their things together
so they can go home to a parent that had neglected them or worse
beat them but they took classes so now they get them back.
 How do you think you'll feel watching them walk out the door
knowing a new kid will be in their place by the end of the day?"
 I ask gently.  Watching her eyes, I know, she couldn't
do it.

With tears in her eyes she shakes her head no.
 "You want a forever kid.  Look at the adoption website.
 The reason the kids stayed with us is because they were being
railroaded to the adoption website due to budget cuts.  I only
took special needs which are high maintenance to DSS.  They're
taking the parents that aren't working toward getting the kids back
to court, terminating rights and slating kids for adoption. 
My kids weren't the only ones on that list.  Take a look at
the site.  I know some of the homes, if you find a kid or
siblings that you're interested in, let me know, I can probably
tell you how they really are at home."  

"I think I might do that, thanks for talking to
me."  She has a sad smile.  

Smiling I tell her, "You could wait and see what
we get here.  I'm sure we'll have kids that are waiting to be
adopted out.  I had six of them."  

She visibly relaxes.  When she smiles, I
smile she's like Tess but more reserved.  I want her to be
happy.  "I like that idea much better.  I have time."
 She nods her head like that's settled and we're moving on.
 "What do you need here?"  She's the fixer of things
needing to be done.  I remember from our first meeting.
 

"The Club already has everything taken care of;
until the kids get here I'm twiddling my thumbs.  This week
Rachel will finish class, hopefully it's the same time the
construction workers finish so she can move right in.  I don't
expect we'll be waiting long once she's in.  We'll have forty
eight hours to get the kids to the doctor and enrolled in
school.  I'll need help with that especially with five at
once."  

She nods with a smile.  "I can do
that.  Let me know when you need me.  Doc can see the
kids; I'll fit them in at the clinic.  I want to be involved
here so keep me in mind when something needs to be done."  She
lifts her purse and hugs me then walks out.  I'm smiling
looking at the closed door.  I want to ask Tess if she finds
her kid but I think I'd like to watch it play out more.  

I go back to the room I was in and finish making
the beds.  Danny has the beds in the walls, they look like
beds on a train with curtains for privacy; the drawers are under
them.  The walls are painted with a beach scene.  The
only furniture is a table and bench seats like a round picnic
table.  The toy bins are in the wall, I love it. 

Finishing the beds I carry the supplies to the
bathrooms.  There's central laundry bins in the hallway closet
with push doors like fast food trash bins; one for whites, one
for colors.  I think this is genius.  He put the same
locker room style bathrooms in, one for boys and one for
girls.  These are two stall, two showers, bright and
airy.  I get the caddies filled with basic hygiene supplies
and bring the rest to the supply room.  

I'm done.  I let the foreman know I'm
leaving and call Christian.  He comes running with Hawk and a
guard, I think his name is Cal.  This guard doesn't talk to
me, he nods or answers monosyllabic.  I've only spent time
with him and Chase.  Chase talks when we're driving but not
when he's with the boys.  I think that's as it should be, he's
focused on the kids.  Cal drives us to Security and Christian
meets with Janelle.  He follows me while I take Hawk for a
walk.  When I get back Christian is done and takes Hawk for
training.  He should get his new vest next week.  I meet
with Janelle and learn more about blocking these friggin kids and
guys from my head.  I'm doing good and get excited when she
says so.  

Feeling like I'm powerful we leave Security and
I block Christian all the way home.  He finds me funny but I
friggin blocked him so he can laugh all he wants.  DSS calls
and has my contract ready to be picked up.  This is becoming a
great day!  A Prospect picks it up for me so we don't have to
leave town.  Brenda comes in to pick up Christian and Hawk for
the Kids Center and I get Rachel's laptop loaded with the sheets
she'll need for her boards.  I already put up the first set so
she only needs to print and replace them at the end of the month.
 

Feeling like I've accomplished a lot today, I
hit the patio to work out and relax before the kids get home.

Cloud

I fly through town and make it to the Kids
Center for my class.  Our kids were instructed to swim during
class so I pull two of the best kids and have them help me keep the
kids in form.  They're taking the position seriously and I use
each one to demonstrate positions.  Without our kids I notice
the class is relaxed.  I ask my helpers what's up with that
and they surprise the fuck out of me; the 'Club kids’ do everything
perfect.  According to my helpers they don't have a chance
with even the little kids being better than them.  I tell them
they're my and Danny's kids and they're surprised.  Hoping to
ease their minds I tell them we workout at home so they have an
edge.  I'm going to have to talk to Pres about this.  I
don't like them being grouped then singled out as the 'Club
kids'.  I ask my helpers to work the next class with me, they
leave standing tall.  

I'm done for the day, I call into Security to
locate Pres, he's in Surveillance.  I ride over at a leisurely
fifty and find him at Digs' station following HS home.  When
he sees me he tells Digs' to stay until every bike is in the
building.  He walks to the back table and sits waiting for me
to start talking.  "The kids at the Center are grouping our
kids together calling them the 'Club kids'.  They were more
relaxed without them in class.  They feel they have no chance
with them in there.  I told two older about them being me and
Danny's and getting time to work with us at home.  I saw it
threw relief but they said even the little ones were better than
them."  

He sits back and thinks about this.  "Our
kids need to keep training; they need a way to defend themselves
against a threat bigger than them, now more than ever."  He
stops and mulls it over.  "I'll have Rich schedule you with
them once or twice a week here at Security.  We'll work it
into your regular MC schedule so it's not taking time from
home.  I'm not looking for an army of kids but I want them to
learn everything they can to keep them safe.  I watched the
video of cowboys and Indians this morning, even fuckin Devan is a
good shot making smart defensive moves with a focus and intensity
we don't see in everyday activities.  There's a reason they're
all equipped with that ability; I want to give them whatever they
need to build on that."  

I think about it.  "Yeah, that sounds
right.  I trained from as young as the J's, I don't see it
being a problem."  

"I'm going to talk to Little Ben, Darren and
Jessie about stepping up to more adult roles.  They could do
Patches job now but they're still young in age.  Luckily
they're the oldest among the kids at the Center.  The problem
lies with Little Brothers.  I'll ask Patches about kids their
age that are able to step up with them so they're not spot
lighted."  He's watching me for approval.  I nod.
 "We talked about the riding classes for your kids and the
little ones that were too young for the last class.  Tiny and
Danny will start on Saturday, the older kids will help."  I
nod.  "Joey won't be able to take the class but Jess has
something going with teaching the girls about money during that
time.  They'll be helping with budgets for the group homes and
shelters or some shit.  She says Joey and Lily are good with
numbers, we'll work to build that."  I nod, they think of
fuckin everything.  

"Is there anything I should be looking for?"
 I ask, they obviously talked about the kids last night or
this morning. 

"Until the charting is done we don't have
questions.  I want you to look at video feeds before you give
us the chart; the little ones are showing different traits away
from home.  I had Digs email them to you."  I nod, the
charts just about done, CJ has been adding to it as she sees more.
 

"On a totally different topic the Brothers are
looking at you for Officer.  With the chopper and the kids we
feel the need for two more positions.  One, Vehicle
Maintenance Super, the other the kids.  We don't have a title
yet.  We don't even know what the job would be but this is
getting too big to leave scattered among everyone like it is now.
 I know about the planning at Baxter's every month and you
obviously have ties to your tribe, but there isn't another Brother
confident in his take on the kids and their wellbeing.  We're
talking thirty minutes before church and on call when there's
trouble.  We can meet during your scheduled hours here."
 He finishes and I'm stunned.  I just had this talk
before I left work today.  Officer, fuck.  

"I'm stunned.  Partly by the Brothers
thinking I can do this and partly because I just had a conversation
with Baxter's flipping my schedule so I work two there and three
here.  They don't have the need for a full time missions pilot
so it works for them.  They can schedule the Ops around my two
days, they did ask for the same 'on call' for trouble and they're
already setting a central command station for the choppers."
 I smile because he's shocked.  "My tribe requires me to
attend the regional and national meetings, that's once a year for
each.  The local council uses email for those of us
away.  We don't have to attend their meetings in person. 
I am honored and accept the Officer position."  I say
smiling.

His mouth falls open.  "I thought I'd have
to convince you using the kids like a weapon to get you to do
it.  Danny's pissed at me for even thinking it but the kids
are more important than my moral compass at this point."  He
looks miserable with his head down and hand in his hair.  

I laugh making him look up.  "Pres, I said
yes and gave you another day.  My people groomed me to be the
warrior I am.  My purpose in life was set before I could
walk.  Women and children are the most important part of any
civilization, without them we can't go on, there is no
purpose.  Now I have my own kids, they were given to me to
protect and teach.  I don't take that lightly.  I had
planned to groom them into warriors and council members
anyway.  Now I get all the kids and you pay me." 

He cracks up.  "When you say it like that
I'm not so sure about the paying you part."  I laugh because I
wouldn't give a fuck.  "Seriously, your next MC day go see
Josh or Jake at HR, it takes a fuckin degree to get through it but
get it done right away.  Yeah?"  

"Yeah but I already did that."