A Far Way Home

*Izzy’s POV Age 14* I stare out of the window and watch as the sea of trees passes before my eyes. Wave after wave I see the same thing. Occasionally the sun will break through the canopy providing a stream of light on the otherwise shady road. Mr Garcia looks at me out the corner of his eye,”You’re running out of places to go, kid. This is the what?... 15th family … “ “It’s not my fault they don’t want me” I huff, earning the famous Garcia glare I am so familiar with. He looks like his mother when he does that. “Okay fine! The last one was my fault … but they were creeps. And the old man was a perv … I did what I needed to. But the ones before that I swear weren’t my fault, those families just didn’t want a cursed kid in their home.” “You aren’t…” he started. “I’m cursed. It is a proven fact. Bad things follow me wherever I go. I’m better off on my own.” “Well until you turn 18 I’m afraid that’s not going to happen. Who knows? Maybe this will be this will be the time? You’re a teenager and you need to try have normal teenage experiences. Go out, make friends… and please no more fires!” “Hey! I was trying to cook! It’s not my fault the thing caught on fire…” “It was cereal Izzy…” “I wanted to warm up the milk!” “So you put it in the microwave for 15 minutes?” “Well they should put a warning label that says plastic melts in the microwave…” I sigh, “and anyway, it was the stupid new wire tag thing they put on it that was really important... that was the thing that caught on fire and made the microwave explode.” “Just stay away from the kitchen” he laughed. He will never let me live that down. I was 7 for Pete’s sake. If you ask me it was the family’s fault anyway. Who leaves a 7 year old alone at home the whole day? I couldn’t help my hunger. After another half hour we finally left the dense forest and arrived in the new town I would call home… Only for the next few months maybe. We drove through the middle-class suburban town of Harrowsdale until we arrived at the edge of the town. Mr Garcia pulled the car into the short driveway and turned off the engine before looking at me and saying, “You ready?” “It’s not like I have a choice anyway.” “Izzy, please behave.” “When don’t I?” I smile mischievously.