Chapter 3

Kevin had spent the whole day yesterday on Brian's computer until Brian kicked him out. Then he went home and got on his computer. Nick had helped him out a lot and wrote a few numbers down. That's what he was going to do today, call those numbers.

Brian and A.J. kept bugging him and Nick to tell them what they were doing, but they wouldn't. Kevin knew he would have to tell them sometime, but he was too busy searching that he didn't want to stop and explain it to them. Nick just told them that it was a friend.

Kevin sat down on his couch and began calling the numbers.

Jacksonville, Florida

In the morning when I woke up I heard Joanne and Alan. They were arguing about our financial situation again.

I quietly closed my door and turned my little radio on. Then I looked at my clock and got dressed for school. Once I was through getting dressed I sat on the futon waiting until it was time to leave.

As the time passed the yelling kept getting louder. Each time the yelling got louder I turned my radio up.

Finally it was 8:20, time for me to go to school. For once I kind of wanted to go to school. I just didn't want to hear Alan and Joanne argue anymore, especially since it was my fault.

I shut off my radio, grabbed m backpack, and walked out of my room.

As soon as they spotted me they became silent. I could feel the tension in the air.

Joanne looked like she had just started to cry. Alan's face was red from him yelling and becoming furious.

Joanne came up to me and grabbed my hand. "I'm taking Lily to school."

Then we walked out the door.

We got in the car and she wiped away her tears.

"What's wrong Joanne?" I asked quietly.

"It's none of your business Lily," she said coldly.

I was shocked at her response, and the tone in her voice.

"Sorry," I mumbled.

She started the car and drove me to school. She stopped and I unbuckled myself.

"Bye Jo," I said as I grabbed my bag.

She just stared straight ahead.

I unlocked my door and got out. Then she drove off.

I stood there until I could no longer see the car. Then I felt someone place their hand on my shoulder. I turned around to see Mr. Countrymen standing there.

He smiled at me brightly. "Good morning" he said, then he took a bite of his donut.

His chocolate donut looked so delicious, and I was starving.

"Morning," I replied.

Then my stomach made a very loud growl.

My face began to turn red from embarrassment.

He smiled. "Did you eat breakfast?"

I shook my head no.

"Here, you can have the rest of my donut," he said as he handed it to me.

"No, that's okay," I said.

"No, I insist," he said as he gave it to me.

I slowly took it from him. "Thank you."

"You're welcome," he said. "So how was your first day of school?"

"Do you want the truth?" I asked.

"Yeah," he said.

"Honestly, it sucked," I said.

He laughed. "I promise they'll get better. Just give it sometime."

"I hope they get better," I said.

"They will," he said. "Well I have to go back to my office and bury myself in some paper work. But I'll talk to you later."

"Okay," I said.

"And enjoy that donut," he said as he walked away.

I smiled. Then I went and found a bench to sit on. I watched the other students pass by as I ate my donut.

Joanne walked into the apartment and found everything sitting by the front door. Alan walked out of the bedroom towards Joanne.

Tears filed Joanne's eyes as she hugged Alan.

"Are you sure that just leaving her here is the best thing?" Joanne asked.

"Yeah, I think it's the best thing we can do for her," he said.

"And us?" she asked.

"Yes, and for us," he said.

"Do you think she'll be okay?" Joanne asked.

"Yeah, Social Services will place her with a family that can provide for her. We can't. We can barely provide for ourselves," Alan explained.

Joanne shook her head agreeing with Alan.

"Did you put all of her stuff in her room?" she asked.

"Yeah, and I left her a couple of blankets and her pillow since we're taking the futon," Alan said.

"Okay," Joanne said. "Oh, what about the food?"

"I put what we had in the little cooler. It's sitting in her room," he said.

"Good," she said.

"Well I'm going to start taking this stuff out to the car," Alan said.

"All right," Joanne said.

He picked up a couple of boxes and then walked out.

She walked back to the room and looked at Lily's things.

Oh, how she was going to miss her little girl. But Alan was right, it was best for them to leave. They could no longer provide for Lily. So they hoped that she would be placed with a family that would give her everything she wanted.

Joanne bent down and unfolded the blankets. Then she began to make a bed for Lily. Once she was finished she set Lily's bunny on her pillow.

She stood up and wiped away her tears. Then she walked out of their room.

"That's everything," Alan said.

"Okay," Joanne said.

"I just need to check something real quick before we leave," Alan said.

"All right. I'll be waiting in the car," she said.

"Okay," he replied.

As Joanne went out to the car, Alan walked back to the bedroom.

He smiled as he saw that Joanne had prepared Lily a bed.

He was going to miss her like crazy. But he knew that she would find a better family.

He took out an envelope from his back pocket and placed it next to Lily's bunny. Then he looked at everything one last time and walked out.

He locked the apartment up and then walked to the car.

"You ready?" he asked as he got into the car.

"I guess," Joanne said quietly.

"Okay then, let's hit the road," he said as he started the car.