[voice message]

[hardtoignore]

[The sound of Clarence's voice is somewhat hushed but obviously annoyed. In the background could be heard the droning of a bathroom fan and water running as though a shower were being had.]

So my phone got destroyed in the hubbub we had to deal with and, lucky me, I got chewed out the moment things went back to normal for running away, like I had any freaking control over whateven that was. The only thing that kept Phil and Kris from throwing me out for being an ungrateful urchin was that I started bawling my eyes out the moment I got home and suddenly they thought I got mixed up with, I dunno, a gang or something?

[Clarence is a bit breathless now, his voice pitching mildly hysterical, but after a moment of just breathing on his end of the line he seems to regain himself.]

Anyway... I've basically been under house arrest and have been stuck playing board games and crap with whichever one is home to make sure I'm not, I dunno, shooting up cocaine or whatever they think I was doing all the time away. But the worst thing is, I can't even tell them what the heck happened for reals, so they're just left wondering if I'm hiding something from them and that's... that's just really crappy to do but I...

[Where he had been worked up before, it seemed like Clarence was losing steam. His voice dropped lower, sounding far too much like the lost teenager he was.]

... What am I supposed to do about this?

[[OOC: It can be assumed that anyone who wants to remain in contact with Clarence after this can get his new contact information by handwaving that they PM'd him after this post.]

Comments

text;

[howkickassiam]

Whoa, man, I hope they ease up quick. Nothing worse than dealing with a punishment you don't deserve.

[hardtoignore]

It's not the punishment I'm upset about. I get why they would be upset, but there's literally nothing I can say to make them stop worrying that I did something crazy, or got mixed up in some shady stuff. There's nothing TO say.

[howkickassiam]

Oh, I see. It's more the powerlessness on your part that's bugging you, then?

[hardtoignore]

I...

I didn’t think of it that way, but yeah, that makes. A lot of sense.

[howkickassiam]

That's the biggest problem I had with being an older teen, myself. My mom was always on me to go into pre-law and that's about the last thing I wanted. So I left as soon as I graduated.

Not that I'm saying that's what you should do, just explaining what happened to me.

[hardtoignore]

>Kris is on my case a lot lately for my grades but I mean, it’s my last year so I should probably attempt to graduate at least.

No, I got what you were saying. I don’t think I want to leave soon if I can help it, but I dunno, maybe they do want me gone the moment I

[There’s a break and several of those “the other person is typing dots” before Clarence finally finishes and sends his next message.]

>I’ll be 18 before the end of the month. I don’t know what I’ll do if they want me to leave then.

[howkickassiam]

Look, I don't know your foster parents at all, but if they cared about you being gone all week I doubt that they're going to want you to leave the instant you turn 18.

[hardtoignore]

[There’s another long pause before Clarence finds the right words to answer.]

But they aren’t obligated to care after that. I don’t know if I’m worth the effort. Not after this.

[howkickassiam]

Mm. I don't know, man. I've never been a parent but I think if they care about this, they'll keep caring even after you turn 18.

[hardtoignore]

I hope you’re right.

[howkickassiam]

I do too, friend. I really hope that for you.

You seem relatively happy there, so.

[hardtoignore]

Happy? I... guess.

[He couldn’t really say if that was what he felt about the situation. It was definitely the best one he had dealt with since he was eleven, but putting words to it that simple was... well.]

Things are always more complicated than that.

[howkickassiam]

Yeah but like, it's better than being stuck on the streets or homeless shelters, right? And it's good they're concerned about what's going on, and not just letting anything happen without questioning it.

[hardtoignore]

Oh definitely. I'm sure they won't kick me out immediately or anything, but I just kinda wonder if it would be easier on them to cut ties after I'm gone for good.

Concern isn't something I'm used to dealing with from guardians. This latest pair has been... an experience.