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Description
  "Who are you?" Jackie asked staring up at the good looking, older man in our living room.
  He was accompanied by a smaller, red-headed woman presumably his wife. They had come a while earlier and sat talking quietly with Sam and Becky, my foster parents and Jackie's biological parents. They'd decided to foster me three years ago and I'd actually fit into the family quite well. Jackie and I had become best friends and Sam and Becky were the closest thing to parents I'd ever known.
  "Jacqueline, shut up!" Becky scolded as she rolled her eyes and we giggled, "Girls this is Mr. and Mrs. Haner. They're here to talk to you Andi."
  "Uh, kay…hi, what'cha got to say?" formality was not my forte.
  "Well this is kind of odd but hear us out. Though we are not your biological parents, I was once married to your mother. I knew there was no way we could raise a child in the situation we were in so I talked to her. She refused to give you up and said she had fallen out of love with me anyway so she left. She took off with you and absolutely no plan or money. She had a dangerous debt tied to her name and a severe addiction to drugs. I only wished the best for both of you.
  "A few weeks ago was were contacted by a lawyer stating that your mother had passed away and that in her will we had been named as the god parents for you. They found you in the system for a prior arrest and we went from there. I'm not trying to force you in to anything but we were hoping you would come back to California with us. We understand that you're almost eighteen and can make your own decisions from there but we hoped you'd give the west coast a try." The man was very calm and almost rhythmic in his speech.
  "But Mr. Haner, they told me my mother had died when I was put into the system." I was utterly confused.
  "Brian Sr., please, I don't know what your mother did. I only know that she has since passed and we've been instructed to request your return to Huntington Beach." My heart raced and my head spun as I looked frantically at my foster family. Sam and Becky smiled and nodded encouragement as Jackie frowned, obvious about her stance.
  "Okay, I'll go to Cali, but you have to promise Jackie can come to visit sometimes. I mean I know it's a pricey flight but she's my sister!" we giggled together.
  "Yes, we'll help fly her out to see you." The two of us hugged and celebrated. We'd always wanted to go to California but never had money or reason. "I'm sorry to break this up, but our flight leaves at 9:15 and I'm sure you have plenty to pack. We have luggage if you need it."
  "Okay, my room is the last one at the end of the hall. Jackie doll, will you help me pack?" she nodded and we were off.

  The final goodbyes were heartbreaking but I always kept in mind that we could visit each other and talk constantly. As I boarded the plane with Suzy and Brian I knew one thing for certain. My life was about to change, something new was on the horizon.

Description
  "Who are you?" Jackie asked staring up at the good looking, older man in our living room.
  He was accompanied by a smaller, red-headed woman presumably his wife. They had come a while earlier and sat talking quietly with Sam and Becky, my foster parents and Jackie's biological parents. They'd decided to foster me three years ago and I'd actually fit into the family quite well. Jackie and I had become best friends and Sam and Becky were the closest thing to parents I'd ever known.
  "Jacqueline, shut up!" Becky scolded as she rolled her eyes and we giggled, "Girls this is Mr. and Mrs. Haner. They're here to talk to you Andi."
  "Uh, kay…hi, what'cha got to say?" formality was not my forte.
  "Well this is kind of odd but hear us out. Though we are not your biological parents, I was once married to your mother. I knew there was no way we could raise a child in the situation we were in so I talked to her. She refused to give you up and said she had fallen out of love with me anyway so she left. She took off with you and absolutely no plan or money. She had a dangerous debt tied to her name and a severe addiction to drugs. I only wished the best for both of you.
  "A few weeks ago was were contacted by a lawyer stating that your mother had passed away and that in her will we had been named as the god parents for you. They found you in the system for a prior arrest and we went from there. I'm not trying to force you in to anything but we were hoping you would come back to California with us. We understand that you're almost eighteen and can make your own decisions from there but we hoped you'd give the west coast a try." The man was very calm and almost rhythmic in his speech.
  "But Mr. Haner, they told me my mother had died when I was put into the system." I was utterly confused.
  "Brian Sr., please, I don't know what your mother did. I only know that she has since passed and we've been instructed to request your return to Huntington Beach." My heart raced and my head spun as I looked frantically at my foster family. Sam and Becky smiled and nodded encouragement as Jackie frowned, obvious about her stance.
  "Okay, I'll go to Cali, but you have to promise Jackie can come to visit sometimes. I mean I know it's a pricey flight but she's my sister!" we giggled together.
  "Yes, we'll help fly her out to see you." The two of us hugged and celebrated. We'd always wanted to go to California but never had money or reason. "I'm sorry to break this up, but our flight leaves at 9:15 and I'm sure you have plenty to pack. We have luggage if you need it."
  "Okay, my room is the last one at the end of the hall. Jackie doll, will you help me pack?" she nodded and we were off.

  The final goodbyes were heartbreaking but I always kept in mind that we could visit each other and talk constantly. As I boarded the plane with Suzy and Brian I knew one thing for certain. My life was about to change, something new was on the horizon.