This choice: Jonas Wright, a 15 year old kid from the foster system. • Go Back...Chapter #4Jonas Wright, a 15 year old kid from the foster... by: fantaghiro   "... Jonas, from my school. He's just a kid," you stuttered in shock.
Pam clasped your hands tightly. "I know, Steve, I can still hardly believe it's true. He was only 15. They said he fell skateboarding and hit his head pretty hard. He came in complaining of a headache and just collapsed - an aneurysm, I guess. The timing was perfect for you, though - a healthy body suddenly becoming available."
"But I've never heard of anything like this," you protested. "How is it even possible?"
Pam frowned slightly. "Well, from what I understand, this 'Doctor Kerry' went a little far. He'd been experimenting with but didn't have approval for this kind of surgery. It put the hospital - and us - in a complictated position."
You blinked in confusion. "Complicated? What's going on, Pam?" you asked.
"You're fine!" she rushed to assure you. "Physically you're doing great. The doctors don't plan to keep you here long. It's all the other stuff." She looked away for a momment and closed her eyes, then turned back to face you. "You see, the hospital declared Steve Meadows dead. All the records show that you're Jonas Wright." Her face reddened in shame. "And I let them convince me to go along with it."
"What?" you almost shouted. "Why? How could you do that?"
She stiffened. "Honestly Steve, I didn't have much choice. You were supposedly dead. I could have tried to raise a stink - but the only way to do that would have brought ALOT of attention. Would you want to spend the rest of our lives as tabloid news? Or even worse, as some kind of 'lab rat' for medical study?" She shook her head. "I didn't like it but they were right. The safest option was to agree that Steve died but Jonas lived."
Her explanation only mollified you a little - but the more you thought about it, the more you could see her point.
"And Steve, I did pressure them some. They agreed to a settlement - almost 2 million dollars! Supposedly it's for some questions regarding your treatment."
You laugh bitterly and turned away. "Well, that's actually true, I guess."
She gently grabbed your head and turned it back to face her. "Steve, this is alot to take in. But you're alive! And believe me, that's a miracle. I saw you when they brought you in. I ...I just knew that I had lost you," she said, breaking into sobs.
Her tears immediately calmed you. You pulled her into an embrace, saying "Shh....I'm okay now, it's fine. You're right, I'm alive and healthy and that's what's important. Everything else will sort itself out."
The two of you held each other for a long time until you were interrupted by Doctor Saunders. He introduced himself and gave you a once over. Seemingly satisified with your condition, he gave you a chance to ask him questions. Basically he just reiterated what your wife had already told you, adding in more medical jargon.
He paused when you finished your questions. "Uh, I assume your wife has explained the legal circumstances?" he asked hesitatingly.
"Yes," you sighed in resignation. "Apparently 'I' am dead, right? So what's supposed to happen now? Who am I? Jonas? What about his family?"
His eyes nervously shift back and forth between you and Pam. "Well, legally you ARE Jonas Wright. Fortunately, in this case, there is no 'family' to speak of. Jonas was in foster care but he had some trouble with his last family, so he's been at the County Boys Home for awhile."
You stared at him. "Surely you don't expect me to go there?" you asked in a rising tone.
"No, no, of course not," he hastened to add. "The hospital does have some contacts in social services. I've 'explained' that Mrs. Meadows was a friend of your parents and that she is more than willing to take you in. We pulled a few strings to get her into the system and you should be able to go home with her as your new foster mom."
You looked over at your wife, stunned. "Foster mom?" you said in disbelief.
"It's just a cover," she assured you. "A way for you to come back home without raising any questions."
They both stood quietly while you digested this. "Okay..." you finally responded, "I guess that makes sense in a weird way."
Doctor Saunders let forth a sigh of relief. "I hoped you'd see it that way. There is one slight complication, however..."
"What, Doctor?" you asked. "What else is there?"
He looked at the both of you. "Well, I'm afraid that Mrs. Meadows will have to put up with the typical interviews and inspections, just like any foster parent. So you'll need to make sure to behave appropriately and answer any questions accordingly. You should also setup a room at your home for 'Jonas'. Social Services WILL verify living conditions."
"Seriously?" you asked. "We have to put on some sort of charade?"
Pam interrupted softly, "Steve, he's right. I gave this a little thought myself. If you are supposed to be 'Jonas', you'll have to go back to school. And we'll have to convince our friends and neighbors." She motioned at Doctor Saunders. "Could you give us a few mintues?" she asked.
He nodded and stepped from the room.
Pam continued. "This won't be easy, and will often be strange or awkward. But we're together, dear, and that's what's important."
You talked for awhile longer, with Pam calming you into acceptance. She gave you another lingering hug. You stared into each other's eyes - her visible love for you making you feel that all would work out eventually. As always, her eyes drew you in, so you leaned closer for a kiss. At the last second, she shifted so that your lips touched her cheek. She responded with a kiss to your forehead.
You raised an eyebrow. "Pam?"
She blushed again. "Honey, it's going to take me a little while to get used to you like this, okay. And anyway, we need to work on our story for social services. I imagine they'll want to talk to us before you're discharged. The boys home was kind enough to send Jonas' stuff over - there's not that much - so we can look through it to see if there's anything helpful."
The two of you plan out your cover story and behavior to pass social services' questions. Jonas had some clothes, music, a skateboard, and a few other things. The only 'useful' item you found was a beat-up, old laptop containing his email and logins for facebook and twitter. That gave you a little more insight into his life and personality.
You had the next two days to prepare while the hospital monitored you. A woman from social services was schedule to come by the day of your release - just to 'rubber-stamp' things, according to Doctor Saunders, but you couldn't help but be nervous.
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