The Crescent Stone

by E G McNally

  Taylor quickly undressed, leaving the old prison uniform clothes in a pile on the floor and replaced them with the cleaned clothes on the bed. Juggling a muffin and apple in one hand and a milk carton in the other, she scarfed down the food, cramming as much into her stomach as she could before the officer arrived.

  “Taylor, Officer McGraidy is here,” the attendant hollered, from down the hall. “Come up to the front and I will let you out.”

  “Coming,” Taylor responded back, taking one last bite of her apple before tossing it back onto the tray and leaving the room. She waited inside the door, at the far end of the hall, until the attendant buzzed her through.

  “Oh hey,” Taylor said, surprised to see the officer that had dropped her off at the center a week ago. “So what did you do to end up as a taxi driver for delinquents?” she said, the sarcastic tough-kid facade that Taylor perfected returning to her as naturally as riding a bike.

  “Nothing, I just thought you might like to see a familiar face, that’s all,” he said, winking at the attendant.

  “Whatever,” she sighed, rolling her eyes, secretly glad to see Officer McGraidy. Any familiarity was better than none when faced with the unknown.

  He finished signing a couple of release papers and then motioned for Taylor to follow. “Come on kid,” he said.

  “Take care, Taylor. Who knows, maybe you’ll like the next home,” the attending lady said, offering a few kind words of encouragement as Taylor followed the officer out to his police car.

  “Hey, have you ever been in the front of a police car?” the officer asked Taylor.

  “No way, really – I can sit up front,” she asked, relieved that she wouldn’t have to be toted through town in broad daylight, in the back of the police car. “You’re not going to get into trouble for that, or anything?”

  “Nah, hop in, it’s nothing special,” he replied, strapping himself in and starting the car.

  “Where are we going anyway? I thought the hearings were held in the building up the street,” said Taylor.

  “They are, but it’s my understanding that you are going to have a very long day so I thought we’d get some coffee, unless that is you don’t like coffee?” he said.

  “Cool, I think,” she said, wondering what the officer was buttering her up for. “Does that mean you know where they’re going to send me?” she asked, raising her eyebrow to the officer questioningly.

  “Unofficially, but I’m not allowed to say anything, so don’t bother badgering me,” he said.

  “Fine,” she said, as they pulled into a little drive-through coffee hut. “I’ll take a caramel macchiato, of the large sort – as long as you’re buying,” she said, clearly feeling smug.

  Unconcerned with Taylor’s obvious self-righteousness, he ordered for the two of them. “I’ll take a large caramel macchiato, and a medium black coffee.”

  “Four-fifty please,” the lady said, waiting for the change that Officer McGraidy pulled out of his uniform pocket and handed to her. Once he received both the drinks, he handed Taylor hers and they began the drive back to the correctional facility where the hearing would be held.

  “Thank you,” Taylor mumbled, realizing the rudeness in her attitude towards the officer, and then went back to silently sipping her coffee.

  Once they pulled back into the parking lot of the correctional center, Taylor broke the layer of silence that had fallen in the car and asked, “Can you at least hint at where they are going to send me?”

  “Sorry kid, you’ll just have to wait,” he responded, locking the doors behind him as he escorted Taylor into the judicial side of the correctional center.

  “Bummer,” Taylor groaned, flopping into a seat in the lobby and fidgeting with her coffee.

  “Can I help you, Sir?” an attendant asked the officer, in an all too familiar way that reminded Taylor of last week, when Officer McGraidy dropped her off for her initial stay at the correctional facility.

  “Yes,” he said, automatically responding to her question. “I’m here escorting Taylor Saskia for an eight-thirty hearing with Judge Rynfield.”

  “Okay, will you please fill out an informational packet on her behalf?” she asked, handing him a clipboard with some papers.

  While Taylor sat silently browsing through some magazines, the officer quickly filled out the paperwork, returned it to the attendant, and then rejoined Taylor in the lobby.

  “Any last words, before they call you in?” he asked, watching as Taylor actively fidgeted with her nearly empty coffee cup.

  “This is really nerve racking,” she responded honestly. “I’ve never actually been to one of these hearings; usually they just cram me into a room for a day and then drop me off at a new home. I’m not usually involved in these placement hearings.”

  “Don’t worry. It’s nothing serious, and I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised by the end of this one,” he calmly reassured her.

  “No offense, but aside from the Judge saying, congratulations you’ve just won a million dollars and emancipation, I don’t think I’ll be very thrilled,” she said ironically.

  “Will Taylor Saskia please report to hearing room three,” a loud scratchy voice called over the intercom.

  “That’d be us kiddo,” Officer McGraidy stood up and motioned for Taylor to follow, briefly stopping near a trash can, allowing Taylor a moment to swig the last drop of coffee and toss the cup into the can. “After you,” he said, waving his hand at Taylor.

  Her heart began to pound and she could feel the perspiration build up on her brow as she entered what felt like a courtroom. The Judge was waiting, fixated on her every movement, or least that’s what it felt like. And once she sat down beside her caseworker, she noticed that the officer had disappeared, leaving all the staring eyes stuck on her.

  “Good morning Taylor,” the annoying caseworker whispered to her. “Today is going to be a great day for everyone,” she exclaimed in such a bubbly manner that Taylor wanted to slap the smile right off of her face.

  A succession of thoughts rapidly flashed through Taylors mind, as the caseworker pulled out a file with her name plastered onto it. How does she know that today is going to be a good day? What does a happily married woman, with no kids, and both her parents still alive, have to say to me about a freaking bad day? And who in their right mind starts a good day by being escorted by a cop, from a correctional center, to a hearing.

  “What a nut,” she said aloud, finishing her thought just as the Judge interrupted, plunging right into the business of relocating Taylor.

  “What? Did you have something to say, Taylor?” the judge asked quizzically.

  “Nope, sorry, that was nothing,” she blushed, sinking into the back of her chair.

  “Okay then, to continue . . .” the judge began after clearing his throat. “Due to the exhaustion of resources in Clallam County, the State of Washington would rather place Taylor Saskia with a living relative rather than move her into another county. Although the state prefers a ward to maintain residency within the state for legal purposes, we are willing to draw up an interstate compact on behalf of the child.”

  “Seriously! He says that like I’m not here,” Taylor mumbled. Irritated by the Judge, Taylor pretended that she wasn’t listening to him and glanced around the room. Sitting on the opposite side of her caseworker, Taylor noticed three officials that must have represented the State, two policemen, and two men that didn’t look like they belonged at all. Both were dressed in military uniforms, and the taller, older looking one had a file that he was browsing through, periodically looking up from it to evaluate Taylor. That’s odd, she thought.

  “Furthermore, we have contacted the Grandparents and they are more than happy to claim guardianship,” the Judge continued, catching Taylor off guard.

  “What . . .” Taylor gasped, dropping her jaw.

  The caseworker gave her a pleased smile. “Don’t you think that’s great,” she whispered.

  “I don’t know what
to think,” Taylor mumbled. I didn’t realize I had Grandparents, alive even, she thought.

  The Judge continued. “The caseworker has suggested permanent transfer of the guardianship to both of the Grandparents with immediate relocation. On behalf of the child, both the State and the Department of Social and Health Services agree with the recommendation and have decided to get the ball moving, so to speak,” he chuckled. “Anyhow, your caseworker is in charge. There have been arrangements made for you to leave later this afternoon. I trust you won’t make this difficult for anyone. It is a lucky child, whose Grandparents can step in and take on the parenting job. Good luck Taylor.” He said the last part directly to Taylor and then concluded the hearing and left the room.

  “Oh, what a great day, don’t you think Taylor?” Her caseworker chirped, ushering her out into the lobby.

  “Maybe . . .” Taylor groaned, hiding the nervous edge in her voice.

  “I’ve only ever heard bad stories about my grandparents, from my mom,” she explained.

  “Nonsense, we’ve spoken to them and they seem like very gentle and realistic people,” the caseworker responded. “Now, if you please. You’ve got packing to do and little time to do it.” She turned her attention to Officer McGraidy, “If you’ll be as kind as to escort Taylor back to her foster home to pick up her stuff and then off to the airport, we can all be on our way.” She handed him a folder, which contained a flight plan and some meal vouchers, along with a copy of Taylor’s file.

  “Thanks,” he said, grabbing the folder and escorting Taylor out to the car. “I’ll make you a deal, okay kid,” he said, holding the passenger door open, while Taylor plopped into the seat.

  “Yeah, I guess. It’s not like I’m in any sort of position to argue with you anyway,” she responded despondently, preoccupied from the proceedings of the hearing. Taylor was both confused and anxious, as things that her father had said flashed through her mind.

  “Your mom’s parents are the most horrible people in the world,” he’d say. “They once threatened to blow my brains out if I didn’t leave their house right then and there. They were hateful people - didn’t even want us in their lives.” Taylor remembered how he’d say all sorts of terrible things about them when he was drunk, but that was the problem. He was always so drunk and angry that who knows how much of what he said was exaggerated or even made up.

  Taylor shook her head, knocking away the images of her angry father that remained while she sat in the car. Trying to hide the obvious tortured look that commonly overtook Taylor’s face when she was reminiscing, she cleared her throat a few times and refocused her attention.

  “Are you alright there? You kind of spaced out on me for a while.” Officer McGraidy gave Taylor a concerned look.

  “Yeah, sorry . . . Now what about a deal?” she asked.

  Officer McGraidy pulled up alongside a cute little ranch style house at the corner of the street, parked the car, and leaned over to Taylor to speak. “Well I figured . . . If you promise to behave and not give me any trouble, not that I think you will, I’ll let you meet up with those troublemaker friends of yours to say goodbye, after you finish packing here.”

  “Cool . . . I mean, yeah, that sounds like a good deal.” Taylor responded. This guy is pretty cool, she thought. I’m glad I got stuck with him, instead of my lame caseworker, for the day.

  They both got out of the car and walked up to the house. Taylor rapped on the door, until her foster mom answered.

  “Come on inside,” she said. “Taylor, you know where your things are. I left some bags in the room you were staying in.”

  “Thanks,” she replied, and headed back to her old room where she quickly called Joe, setting up a rendezvous point. When she finished up her phone call with Joe, she rummaged through the few things that were hers and tossed them into her backpack, then proceeded to call Jake.

  “Can you meet me at the coffee shop downtown?” she asked, once he’d answered the phone.

  “The one near subway,” he responded.

  “Yup, that’s the one.” She scanned the room for any last items.

  “Sure, is Jake coming?” he asked.

  “Yeah, apparently I’m leaving town today, so this is my only chance to say bye,” Taylor explained.

  “Okay, well I’ll be there shortly, wait for me.” He finished and hung up the phone.

  Taylor zipped up her backpack, and glanced around the room one last time. The room looked about the same as it did before. Taylor shrugged a little, accepting that she didn’t really have much to change a room in the first place, but maybe that would change someday. She gave the room that she had stayed in fewer than three days a final farewell, and then rejoined Officer McGraidy in the living room where he was chitchatting with her old foster mom.

  “Officer McGraidy and I were talking, and he told me about taking you to say goodbye to your troublesome friends. I think that’s awful nice of him, don’t you?” the foster mom asked, exaggerating her face as she asked the question.

  Taylor gave her a scrutinizing look. What was she trying to get at, she thought? And then like a light bulb flicked on, Taylor realized that this woman, like so many foster parents before her, was trying to act like she was her mother, and it was her duty to enforce good manners. Keeping in mind the deal she had made with Officer McGraidy earlier, Taylor kept her sarcastic thoughts to herself, and instead said to Officer McGraidy, “Thank you, that’s very awesome of you to let me meet up with my friends.” Taylor flashed a small glare to the foster mom, and then exaggerated a smile.

  “Better,” the foster mom said.

  Taylor let out a disgusted noise. She was annoyed that a woman who had only watched her all of three days felt so in control of her behavior. What nerve, she thought.

  “Can we go now?” Taylor pleaded, scooting over toward the door.

  “Sure thing . . . Is that all you have?” he asked, pointing to the backpack she had slung over her shoulder.

  “Yeah, it’s not like I have much these days.” Taylor gave the backpack a quick shake and then opened the door, walking out onto the front porch, before replacing it over her shoulder.

  “Well, it was nice to meet you again, Mrs. Chialto,” the officer waved her goodbye.

  “You too,” she responded, and then added in a scrutinizing tone to Taylor, “Mind your manners young lady, and take care.”

  Taylor pretended she didn’t hear her, sitting inside the car, quietly waiting for Officer McGraidy.

  He sat down beside Taylor, strapped in, and started the car before asked Taylor, “So where to?”

  “I asked Joe and Jake if they could meet us downtown at the coffee shop near Subway, if that’s okay,” she said.

  “Yeah, that’s fine. Quit stressing already. I’m not Mrs. Chialto.” He winked at Taylor, and then pulled the car away from the sidewalk.

  “Oh, so you caught that too,” Taylor sighed in relief.

  “By that, you mean that holier than thy attitude?” he asked.

  Taylor nodded in agreement.

  “What was that all about?”

  “Honestly”, Taylor answered, “I have no idea. I only lived there for like three days before I was moved into the CCC place. The funny thing is that, that is normal. If a foster home isn’t bad one way, than usually there’s some other catch, like an abnormal addiction to etiquette.”

  “Well hopefully your grandparents will be pretty cool,” he said, nearing the downtown coffee shop that Taylor loved.

  “Yeah, let us hope,” She murmured.

  Joe and Jake were both patiently waiting outside the coffee shop, Jake carrying a little something shaped like a card. Taylor jumped out of the police car, eager to catch up with the boys, before running over to them and affectionately in turn punching each in the shoulder. “Hi guys,” she said, disappearing inside the coffee shop before either one could hit her back.

  “Ouch, not gonna miss that,” Joe flinched.

  “I will,” Jake muttered, and
then followed after Taylor. He walked up to the counter where Taylor was browsing through the display of drinks and ordered for all of them. “I’ll take two large caramel macchiatos and let me guess,” he paused to glance at Joe. “The Oreo madness blended coffee as well, oh and make that a large,” he said, testing Joe’s approval.

  “Hey, you don’t have to order for me, Jake,” Taylor said, pulling out a handful of change from her pocket.

  “Nah, my treat, we’ll call it a little farewell gift.” He quickly paid the cashier and waited to pick up the drinks while Taylor and Joe went to sit beside a window.

  “Nice escort,” Joe commented. “Is he not coming inside?” He nodded in the direction of the car outside.

  “Nope, guess not. But don’t worry he’ll drag me out of here when it’s time to go,” she said.

  Jake ambled over balancing the three drinks, before distributing them, and joining Taylor on the loveseat in the shop. “Speaking of dragging you off, where are you going anyway? You haven’t even told us what happened at the hearing yet.”

  “Well, there’s good news, and there’s bad news. I’ll start with the good. Apparently, I have Grandparents that want to take care of me, so I don’t have to be moved around anymore,” she said.

  “Wow, that’s really cool. I know you’ve missed having a real family and all,” Jake responded, sounding as cheerful as he could manage to fake.

  “Yeah, only the bad news is that I’m moving away – to another state I think. Also, I really don’t know my grandparents. I mean what if they totally suck, and are really mean and strict?” She sighed. “I won’t be able to hang out anymore, and I’ll have to make new friends and all that jazz.”

  “Yeah, I could see how that might suck,” Joe responded, slurping up some of his Oreo blender.

  “Hey, just look at it this way, it’s a new school so you could totally join cheer squad or something hot like that, and we could still come visit anyway . . . maybe,” Jake teased.

  “Yeah right, cheerleading, there’s something I’ll look into. You’d love it if I was bouncing around in one of those skimpy little skirts wouldn’t you, ya pervert.” Taylor playfully smacked Jake’s arm. “Okay, but in all seriousness, I’m not even sure where I’m going. They didn’t divulge that information to me.” She straightened up her face and let out another long disappointed sigh.