Foster's Farm - (title may change)

    The hands on the big faced clock seemed as if they had stopped moving

forward. Sam began to drum her fingers nervously on the arm of the chair.

"What's taking them so long." She wondered out loud.

The secretary gave her a puzzled look. "Are you alright? Did you need something?"

"No thanks." Sam answered shyly.

She leaned back in the chair and played out the events in her mind that had landed

her in the principal's office. That boy shouldn't have said what he did. A frown crept

across her freckled face. They would probably make her apologize to the little

skunk and wash blackboards for a week.

    Samantha Ann Pelgray; case number V20641, foster family- number six. Why

couldn't she seem to find a place to fit in. Sam looked down at her feet and kicked

at the floor. Was she really an unruly, out of control child like so many of the foster

parents had called her? She wasn't trying to be. She had always kept her room

clean, made her bed and helped with the house chores. So many different schools,

so many anoying boys and girls.

    Samantha was a good student, however, fitting in with the other kids had proven

to be more then she could handle. Especially today. The boy with the big mouth

had it coming, she could take no more. For the past two weeks she had tried her

best to ingnore the coments and name calling, but today when his friends joined in

with him she had balled her fingers into a tight fist and let him have it. Right across

the chin as hard as she could. Sam looked down at her hand and wiggled her

fingers, they still ached a bit. The little sap had started crying and ran straight to

the lunchroom monitor and now she was waiting for the principal.

    Slowly the principal's office door opened. He thanked the lunchroom monitor and

bid her goodby than turned to Sam.

"Shall we have a little talk now?" He gestured for her to come in.

Sam stood up but kept her head down and walked into Mr. Gray's office. She wasn't

really nervous, this hadn't been the first time she'd been in a principal's office and

probably wouldn't be the last.

"Have a seat young lady." His tone was quiet and somewhat sympathetic. "Sam,

may I call you that."

She nodded and quickly glanced up as he sat down behind the desk.

"I realize that this office...", he swooped his hand through the air, "has become

somewhat of a regular visiting place for you."

Sam just nodded and stared at the floor.

"Now, I want you to know that I understand that Daniel has been a thorn in your

paw since you started here, and frankly he can be one in my paw too." he chuckled.

Sam looked up at Mr. Gray, puzzled. So far this was not the usual lecture from the

principal that she had recieved in her past ventures.

"However, I can not condone hitting someone; it's just not proper."

She stared back at the floor; it was a colorful carpet.

"Now you will have to spend some time in detention this week..." He got up and

came to sit in the chair next to her. "However, Im sure you'll be glad to know that

Daniel will also be serving some time."

She looked up at Mr. Gray, somewhat flustered and stammered. "I..I just can't..., he..., but not... why..."

Mr. Gray laughed. "My goodness no, you will not have to be in the same room as

Daniel."

Sam breathed a giant sigh of relief. If she had had to spend anymore time near that

boy she was surely bound to knock him again.

"I do think I have some good news for you though." He reached up and pulled a

paper off of his desk. "One of our highschool counselor's has a farm near here and

she offers some programs for kid's like you."

"Kid's like me..." she whispered, here it comes she thought.

"Oh, I don't mean that there is anything wrong with you Sam. Hmmm, how can I put

this without meaning to upset you..."

He handed her the paper. "I guess I'm trying to say, kid's that have had a rough

start in life and that may need a little extra help with coping. Do you know what I

mean?"

"I think so." Sam answered shyly as she looked over the information on the paper.

"Mrs. Foster said she would love to meet you. She'll be in charge of your after

school detention time. I've already discussed it with your case worker and your

guardians." He smiled and patted her hand. "I think it's going to be ok. I think you're

going to be ok Sam."

She gave him a small smile. This had not been what she expected. Had she finally

found someone who wasn't going to shove her off to another school and home?

"You can go gather your things. Your case worker said she would pick you up and

clear things with your guardians."

They both stood up and walked to the door.

"Thank you Mr. Gray." she said quietly.

"Your quite welcome."

She stopped at the hallway door and glanced back at him. He smiled and waved

then went back into his office. Sam walked down the hallway to her locker. It was

quiet now, all the other kids had already left; including Daniel. She smiled

and secretly wished she could have seen the little rat's face when he found out that

he would be getting detention.

    Sam hugged her books tightly and ran down the hall. She nearly plowed over

her case worker as she turned the corner to her locker. Sam's books flew down the

hall ahead of her as she grabbed at the wall to slow herself.

"Hey, slow down there sport." Ella Fitzpatrick laughed. "Is there a monster after

you?"

Sam laughed. "Sorry."

    Sam began to gather her things off the floor. She liked Ella. Ella was tall and

thin and in her mid 30's, but she knew how to have fun. She had been the only part

of Sam's life that didn't change every six months.

"I thought you might have been waiting for awhile."

Ella looped her arm around Sam's shoulders.

"It wasn't that long." she smiled.

    They stopped at Sam's locker then headed out the door and down to Ella's car.

Sam liked Ella's car too, she smiled as soon as she saw it. The bug; that's what

Ella called it. Late 1960's VW, neon yellow; Ella had had it painted, sometimes

Sam would swear it glowed in the dark. The interior was even wilder. Bright red,

orange, blues and greens spashed about in no specific order. Sam tossed her

bookbag in the back then buckled herself in.

"How about some ice cream and conversation?" Ella said as she shifted the bug

into gear and it jumped out onto the road.

"I guess."

"The usual spot."

"Of course."
   
    This had become a routine for them when Sam had had a bad day. They would

head for Scoopy Doo's and polish off a Chocolate Volcano together; two spoons

and a never ending pile of chocolate fudge and ice cream. Then Ella would take her

home, she would go off to her room, and then the 'grown ups' would discuss her

fate.

Pardon me for leaving you hanging. My weakest issues are spelling,grammer, punctuation (then or than, your or you're) so please keep a look out and send comments and suggestions. Thanks.