Page 58 of Freeing Hawk
He was healed up and out of the hospital before the baby.
After leaving the hospital, I visited Keegan in the group home to see how he was holding up after his latest court appearance. When I arrived, I was stopped at the front desk.
“I don’t think he wants to see anyone right now.”
“Why?” I asked.
“Well.” She paused to glance over her shoulders then leaned over to whisper. “His parents didn’t show up.”
“Again?” I frowned.
“Shouldn’t there be a way to hold them in contempt or something, make them act right?”
“Juvenile court is a crock of shit, unfortunately.” I muttered. “They’ve missed a number of these hearings. It’s like they’re trying to lose their kid.”
“Well, if that was their plan, they succeeded.” The woman muttered. “The judge terminated their rights to him. I was beginning to wonder how many more chances he was going to give these people.”
“I’ll talk to him. Is he up to foster toward adoption?”
She nodded.
Leaving her, I entered the room where Keegan was sitting on his bed. The walls were no bare. Everything was sitting in a messy pile on the small desk. Without saying anything, I sat on the edge of his bed and exhaled. “The baby is here.” I told him. “She’s pretty. Her name is Violet Hawk Trejo.”
Keegan didn’t move. “She’ll be sorry,” he said. “She’s going to find out when she’s older that life sucks and her parents are useless.”
“You don’t mean that.”
Keegan sighed. “Why are you here?”
“I wanted to see how your court appearance went.”
“Nothing to tell.” Keegan replied. “My parents didn’t show up. The judge got angry and now I’m a ward of the state. But it doesn’t matter. In three years, I’d have done my time.”
“You could be adopted once the way is fully clear.”
“Come on, Sasha.” He scoffed. “I’m fifteen. No one wants a fifteen-year-old.”
“Would you let me foster you?” I asked him.
He scoffed.
“I’m serious.” I frowned. “I have a home and a job—a stable one. You’d have to go to school—be a kid. I mean, you shouldn’t have to worry about half the stuff, hell, any of the stuff you’ve been preoccupied with.”
“And Angel?”
“What about him?”
“He lives in California, Sasha.” Keegan eyed me. “I may be a kid, but I know he has a thing for you and you for him. I have eyes.”
“This isn’t about Angel.” I told him.
“Then you’re a fool.” Keegan unfurled his body from the bed and climbed off.
“Hey! Wait minute!”
Keegan stop at the door and turned to look at me as if I was boring him.
“What do you mean?” I asked.
