So, You Think You Want to Foster?

‘And this…this thing,’ Jeannine hissed, gesturing at her. ‘She has been going around the campsite telling everyone that you sexually abused your previous twelve-year-old foster daughter and that Nathan, (our fourteen-year-old) made her pregnant and she had to have an abortion.’ ‘Jesus Christ!’ I exclaimed. ‘No wonder I’ve been getting strange looks.’ ‘Well?’ Jeannine shouted. ‘What have you got to say to Jim?’ Annie was blubbering, sucking her bottom lip in and out under her upper one, making a puffing and snorting noise, emphasising the fact that she was very upset. I looked at her with disgust and then as though confiding in her I said softly, ‘Shall I tell you what I did to Alice?’ She was immediately silent, the crying stopped and she looked at me expectantly, waiting… ‘Sod all!’ I bellowed into her face and she recoiled in shock.