They told me I wouldn’t leave the city. But it felt like I did. They took me to the south side of town. “It will be good for you to spend some time away.” Miss Miller tried to smile at me from the driver’s seat. A trash bag with a few of my things was thrown in the back seat. She was young, maybe twenty-five. If I hadn’t been upset or angry, I would have thought Miss Miller was hot. But I didn’t care that her long, dark legs looked like they’d walked right out of one of the posters hanging in Kaden’s house. She had tight corn rows, and she tried to look older by wearing a suit jacket. The air conditioning was blasting to help keep that jacket on.
“Whatever,” I whispered and leaned my head against the window.
“TJ.” Miss Miller was really trying. “You won’t be at Miss Dixie’s forever. Once your mother takes some classes and gets the help she needs, she can get you back.”
I turned my head to stare at her. I gave her the coldest stare I had. “Just shut up. You don’t know me, and you don’t know my mom. She’ll leave me to rot.” I turned my head and leaned against the window again.
I think she said more things, but I didn’t listen. I let her voice drift away. I watched the tall buildings of downtown pass by. The people on the sidewalks looked like they were dancing around each other but never touching. Soon the busy downtown gave way to neighborhoods a lot like mine. After a few more blocks, we finally turned into Grant Park. The streets were lined with houses and some apartment buildings. But they were all facing a wide open green space in the middle. I found myself looking at a small pond with a bridge over it. A girl about my age was sitting on its edge. Her white legs and short red hair made her stand out against the wooden bridge. I couldn’t help but stare. I hadn’t seen many redheads.
“We’re here.” Miss Miller touched my shoulder. But I quickly jerked away from her touch.
“Don’t touch me,” I said as I looked away from the girl.
Miss Miller just nodded. “Isn’t this nice?”
Across from the pond there was a brick house, larger than Kaden’s, and it had a porch with a hanging swing.
I just sat in the car and watched Miss Miller go to the front door. It only took a minute before a huge black lady came to the door. Her hair was sticking out all over the place. She was patting it down with both her hands until it lay flat…sort of. Her smile was so big I swear I could see all her teeth. She waddled as she walked toward me. Miss Miller waved at me to get out. I didn’t at first. But something about the big woman’s smile made me slowly get out of the car. Once I slammed the door behind me, I just stood there. I put my hands in my pockets.
“This is Miss Dixie.” Miss Miller pointed at the woman like I couldn’t see her.
Before I knew it, the biggest arms pulled me into the biggest breasts I had ever seen. My hands were stuck in my pockets. But it didn’t matter. I was too shocked to push away.