*Kelli blinked, unable to comprehend what she was hearing.*

~Jamie, those were your parents! You slammed the door on your -parents-? the ones who brought you into this world when you knew they were homeless? Why didn't you let them stay with you?~

*Jamie could feel the familiar tension that always accompanied her discussing her family life with someone whose upbringing was a little more 'Ozzie and Harriet' and less 'The Osbournes.' She knew she should have kept her mouth shut when Kelli asked how her weekend went.*

Kelli, if I'd let them into my apartment, I'd have woke up with half my stuff missing. They would have stolen my shit to buy drugs. That's what they do. My parents are drug addicts.

*Kelli's brow furrowed as she considered what Jamie said. The little light bulb went off in her 16-year-old brain and Kelli got a big smile and the perfect idea.* ~Send them to rehab! They'll go through the program, and get better, and then you can be a family again!~

*Jamie laughed, but it was dark bitter laughter.* Kelli, they've been in rehab ten times at least. It doesn't work unless you want to get off drugs, and they don't! *Jamie shrugged, but her eyes were sad.* We never got to be a family, so we really couldn't go back to being one. They've made their decision, and I've made mine.

*Kelli bit her lip and just looked lost. Sure, she thought there were people who had difficult lives, but she'd only seen them on TV, never met one in person. It was sad, confusing, and she didn't really know what to do.* ~I-I'm sorry, Jamie. That sucks.~

Don't be sorry, Kelli, it's not your fault. I guess I just lost the parental lottery. Let's just not talk about it anymore.

~Uh, ok.~ *Not only did they not talk about parents, they didn't talk about anything else for the rest of the shift. It was just easier that way.*