After Crystal was semi-official, with regards to child services, there were more temporary placements with her. Those placements could be anywhere from an overnight to a couple of weeks, while they sorted out more permanent arrangements. They were nearly always girls with a few exceptions. And those were moved on more swiftly. Generally when there was a male involved, it was a brother and sister. They didn't like to split them up. Bearing in mind the reason they were sent to Ms Goodbody was down to their home lives being in ruins. Physical, emotional and sexual abuse victims. Though I never knew, in most cases, what the children had suffered. Crystal didn't care. They'd provide information packets on the child, when they had any information. She'd scan a couple of pages then dispose of the documents. She said it was because she wanted to make her own mind up about each individual. Experience had taught her the views expressed were extremely subjective. Grinning at me because she'd used a dictionary word.
By Christmas I'd become a lot more social thanks to the placements and Andy and I being a magnet for waifs and strays. Andy liked to pretend the ladies were cramping his style. He still played with the kids. The street kids came and went. Turning up for days then disappearing. Either moving on or finding friends elsewhere. I wasn't the life and soul of the party by any means. I had learned to engage with others and picked up enough skills to appear interested. The only one to stay the course over the years, other than myself and Andy, was Heather. Every weekend, apart from family holidays, she'd be in the rec room with the rest of us. Stopping over some nights. As did Andy, once the rec room had been completed to Crystal's satisfaction.
Heather was an important part of what Andy had christened our Not a Gang. It was corny, but it amused us greatly. She was an absolute computer whizz. Understandably given her Cerebral Palsy prevented her from going out a lot. Brown haired and pretty. She looked frail, but was as tough as leather. Sit her in front of a keyboard and her abilities were astounding. Despite those wrist braces she could type far faster than you could talk. Most of her friends were online and spread across the world from Hong Kong to Washington DC. She was my main rival academically. Having a great line in smack talk whenever she beat me in a test or exam. According to her she could whoop my ass in everything apart from Phys Ed. I learned later she did it because of me, for my benefit. She could spot when I was slacking off or losing interest. When that happened she'd goad me into competing against her. The steady drip of insults and putdowns forcing me into focus.
I had a birthday I think. There was a party that summer anyway. Where I was forced to open some presents. Enormous peer pressure having been applied to me I complied. There was definitely a celebration at Christmas. My first with Crystal. We were invited over to the Vadash's. The best part of it being watching Helen open her gifts. Andy had played it very cool with his. Holding in his own excitement. There was a bit of an awkward moment when Crystal and I discovered they'd given us presents as well. We had only brought things for Helen. Despite our protestations they all insisted we should accept the gifts. Andy's parents laughing at the two of us as we awkwardly unwrapped them. Andy and I had exchanged gifts on Christmas Eve. It was the only present either of us had bothered with. Next year we'd have to do better it seemed.
The real celebration for me, came towards the end of January. When Crystal and I celebrated our first anniversary. She decided it was from when I'd first accosted her at Child Protective Services. It was only the two of us together. That was what made it so special. I loved having all of her to myself. It consisted of a dinner. The first year was a Chinese banquet from the local restaurant. We both dressed for it. Giggling and chuckling at the silliness of what we were doing, while trying to remain solemn. Which only made things worse. I wore a suit and tie, Crystal actually put on a skirt and heels. I couldn't recall having seen her legs before. I must have I suppose, only it wasn't this memorable. Hers was a business suit. She looked every inch the professional when she wore it. We had napkins. Something neither of us had ever used.
We chatted over our meal, eaten with chopsticks. Using those to place anything we found tasty into each others mouths. Well before we finished it was decided, by a unanimous vote, we would make this an annual event. January 29th was our day from that point on. No one else was invited. I can honestly state that if anyone had shown up and interrupted us I'd have shot them in the face. Except for friends of course. I'd beat them unconscious then slam the door.
The following year I turned 14 during the summer. Andy and I were due to start high school, Heather tagged along to. Claiming there was no way we could get rid of her that easily. Brigstock High School was the best in the area by a wide margin. Luckily for me it was affiliated with St Michael's. That combined with my scholastic accomplishments gained me automatic entry. Andy got in because of who his dad was, he claimed. It may have been a minor factor in reality. He was no slouch as far as school was concerned. Working far harder than me. Although I suppose that might have been due to the pressure his dad placed on him to do well.
Being an establishment of academic excellence, with a long illustrious history, we would be hazed on our first day. Seniors would beat us on the ass with a paddle. Only the boys of course. It was watched over by the staff so it didn't descend into bullying. And, believe it or not, Andy and I had practised on each other during the last two weeks of the summer break. Preparing ourselves for the brief discomfort, in the best way we could come up with. I didn't dare point out, to my best male friend, a few hits were nothing to me. I could ignore the pain. At that point my arm was no longer hurting. I'd grown. Putting on weight and muscle so the slight bend in my forearm was not noticeable.
That first day, as it happened, gives another window into my inner crazy. Dalton Grant was the star player for the school football team. A giant of at least 6 foot 3 inches. He cornered me, slapping his palm with the flexible paddle he used. I knew the jig was up so I accepted my blow. It was mighty indeed. The hardest of any I received that day. Instead of just shrugging it off, I knew I had to respond as if it was excruciating. So I swore. It was easier to do than acting out any other response. Dalton chided me, saying "kiss your momma with that mouth?" That switch inside me was flicked. I completely lost it and attacked him. As a wise man once told me "A good big one, beats a good little one, every time". He picked me up and slammed me down on the ground before heading off.
For the rest of that day I spent my free time tracking him down and attacking him. I think there were a further 3 attempts by me to hit him. Which I did. He could hit a lot harder though. My blows were not nearly as effective. If he hadn't taken it easy on me I would have been badly injured. The following day, as soon as I arrived at school I went after him again. He was with his fellow football players. Word had got round about the crazy kid. As I zeroed in on him some of his friends tried to head me off. They weren't happy. I think they intended me harm. That they would have hurt me badly is almost certain, but as they imposed themselves between myself and Dalton he stepped in. Told everyone to leave me alone. This was between me and him. I stood there. Fists clenched. Steam coming out of my ears. He extended his hand to me.
"You got some brass balls kid." He scratched his head with his other hand. "You get knocked down, you just keep coming back. I didn't know about your mom and dad. I apologize for my words. Luke, isn't it? I didn't mean to disrespect you or your parents. Are we going to be cool Luke?"
Still snorting like an enraged bull, I was about to take those words and attempt to shove them up his rear end. Until the image of Crystal flashed into my brain. She'd forgiven me for far worse injuries, out of respect for her I should do the same. I shook his hand.
"I'm sorry to. You weren't to know my mom was dead."
That rage? Where had it come from, and where did it go? Until then I hadn't known it existed within me.
From that day on Dalton and I were cool. Not friends, we didn't move in the same circles. He'd always acknowledge me whenever we met. My spat with him ensured an easy ride through the rest of high school. The bullies gave me a very wide berth. Thanks to Dalton going on to become a pro, this lasted until I left for college four years later. I still had my teenaged trials and tribulations. Girls had become a lot more interesting. Fascinating in fact. My adolescent hormones suddenly went up several notches. Up to this point I'd always been one of the smallest in my year. I put on a growth spurt and became average height for my age. It was step up for me.
There were other changes of course. My interests broadened in some ways and narrowed in others. I took up gymnastics, to build my core strength. I'd never reach a competitive standard but I could do back flips and somersaults on request. Crystal underwent changes also. Inwardly at least. Ones which she tried to keep secret. By Easter of my first year I'd noticed something seemingly amiss. I'd enter a room and she'd hurriedly hide something from view or close her laptop very quickly. I was determined not to invade her privacy. I wouldn't dream of checking her computer out or mention her Friday nights. When she would go out for a few hours. Meeting Dan no doubt. The married state trooper.
One day she got a little careless with her security. The booklet she'd tried to hide was glossy, so the few papers she'd covered it with moved in the draft when she hurriedly headed to the kitchen. It was a community college prospectus. She discovered her error when she found me staring at it. Moved over to the table and began drumming on it.
"Am I being stupid?" She asked without turning towards me.
"If you are, it would be a first. What do you mean?"
Swivelling to face me she looked uncertain. Almost shy. This wasn't the Crystal I knew.
"I was thinking about getting my high school diploma. Graduating. It's dumb isn't it? I haven't set foot in a school in over 4 years. Am I too old? I'm too old aren't I? I'm not like you. Haven't got your smarts. It would be a waste of money we can't afford."
"Or an investment in your future. You'd be in the lower range of ages of those attending the classes. You're more than intelligent enough to graduate high school. If you graduate and you find you like it, you could even go on to college. There are dozens of vocational courses you'd be eminently qualified to take. I think you could graduate before me. You must have credits from when you were in high school. You should be able to transfer them."
Her face fell.
"Oh. Knew it was a stupid dream. If I approach my high school they could find out I lied about my age. It's too big a risk to take. I can't afford to take a whole four years to study."
She looked sad. I never wanted her to be sad.
"The risk is tiny, but it can be reduced to zero. Heather could hack into your old high school's system and amend your date of birth. I'd say it would take her all of five minutes to do so."
That cheered her up, making me feel like a god.
"Oh really? So you think it's a good idea?"
"I think it's a great idea."
Now there was a smile on her face. She sat down with the prospectus and opened her laptop. She patted the seat beside her and we both looked over the details.
"Could Heather give me extra credits? You know. Make it easier for me to do the clever stuff." She saw the look on my face. "Okay. No cheating then. It was just an idea. I'll have to do it the hard way I suppose."
We both started laughing at the same time. Crystal had put on a growth spurt of her own.