Strings

Callie Foster

"Get the fuck off me!" Callie yelled as one of the girls had jumped on top of her and she was fighting back once again. Pulling her hair and pushing her face in Callie fought back with all her might as she kicked the girl in the stomach herself and dug in her eyeballs.

"Stupid bitch!" Janice yelled covering her eyeballs as Callie now topped her. But she never expected two more girls to jump her and overtake the fight punching her in the stomach and face. This group home was the worst and if she didn't stop this now Juvenile Hall would be her next stop. At almost 12 years old it was a fight for survival every day for each time a new girl came it was Callie they seemed to want to mess with. Granted the girl tried to keep her head down and out of trouble but she was never one to back away from a fight and didn't want anyone thinking she was weak. Fights usually started over the smallest things such as food, privileges and dirty looks but soon escalated to bigger things. Drugs also ran rampant among some of the older girls as they often used the younger ones to smuggle them in all of which Callie refused to take part in. As a result she became a target being labeled as a non team player.

Since being split from Mariana almost a year ago things had pretty much went downhill from there. The young Latin girl had become like a sister to her and the separation had done a good amount of damage to both. Their time with Mrs. Carol as short lived as it was had been the best home they had ever been in and they each thrived under her care in their own way. Callie had not only excelled more in school but along with the guitar she learned to play the piano entering school competitions and shows. Mariana showing interest in singing herself would often participate in the shows and competitions singing her heart out along with her sister. Mrs. Carol enjoyed the two more than anything and being recently divorced herself basked in her new role as a mother. In the beginning she was warned that Callie had a number of issues and behavioral problems but the girl never gave her any problems except for the occasional anger outburst. For the most part however she witnessed a well behaved young girl who was in desperate need of love, care, affection and understanding. There were many nights she needed to comfort Callie for the young girl would wake up crying and screaming about a dream she couldn't distinguish from fake or reality. Often these dreams depicted a long haired blonde whom she would always try to run after but could never catch up too. Her face was always blank but her singing voice rang in her head over and over. Sometimes there was a curly haired woman in it as well who seemed to fade as well into the darkness. Callie had no recollection of who she even was but was pretty sure the blonde was her mother. By this point the young girl had given up on her mother coming back for her and as a result harbored a good amount of resentment and anger toward her something Mrs. Carol had clearly picked up on. Being the person she was there were many times she spoke to Callie explaining that her mother wasn't a bad person and it was possible she just wasn't able to take care of her anymore. The young girl would often dismiss that and grow angry often throwing things around her room and one time kicking a hole in the wall out of pure frustration.

"I hate her! I hate her!" she screamed kicking the wall repeatedly and throwing her school books all over as Mariana sat worried and scared on the bed. Pretty soon she picked up her guitar and was ready to slam it as well to the ground

"Callie no! Not your guitar. No!" Mariana yelled running to her sister as the young girl broke down in tears and Mrs. Carol ran over to her hugging her tight.

"Callie it's ok honey. It's ok. I know you are upset with her I know but she loves you. I am pretty sure she loves you honey." Gently she wiped the girls angry tears and smiled warmly at her.

"She doesn't! She doesn't love me and I don't love her! I will never ever love her ever! Ever! She just left me! She left me behind and let all these bad things happen to me! I hate her!"