What in the world have I gotten into? These people are crazy!
What is that?
Her nine year old mind wouldn't stop. Ari had spent the last year moving from foster parent to foster parent, but none of them had prepared her for this. Standing at the top of the driveway looking across the lawn, everything was unfamiliar. The peals of laughter coming from the contraption on the hill by the water caught her attention. All of a sudden water started shooting out of it onto the ground and there was more laughter. Littler kids wearing life jackets started running to the top of the hill, but a tall, exotic dark skinned woman beat them to it. She ran and jumped on a tube and cheered all the way down the hill. As Ari inched forward to see what had happened to her, a couple of gangley blond teen-aged boys grabbed the rope and pulled the tube back up the hill. The little ones climbed in and were pushed down the hill and were caught at the bottom by the woman.
"Come on. Do you want a turn?"
She looked up at her new foster mother, Jenna, with wide eyed apprehension and excitement.
"Let's go find you a life vest and change into our suits. You can decide if you want to go down after we get changed." Her smile was reassuring.
They walked down a hill along the opposite side of the house, and were greeted by several dogs of varying sizes and breeds running towards them. Jenna said "Down!" with such authority that the dogs stopped and wagged their tails and shook with excitement. "They won't hurt you on purpose, but they do jump when they get excited. You should let them smell you, so they know who you are. It's ok, like this." She extended her hand to each of the dogs and let them sniff her. Most just smelled her fingers and waited for a pat on the head, but a couple put their paws on her hand for a handshake, making Ari giggle and try it herself. The largest of the dogs, a big black pit mix, seemed to have the kindest eyes she had ever seen, but you could see the scars on her face. "What happened to her?" she whispered.
"She was rescued from some very bad people who used her to train other dogs to fight. She got taken to a foster home until my brother met her and took her to her forever home. She is very loving, but you need to tell her to stay down, or she might jump up and knock you down. She is still learning and doesn't know how strong she is."
"Oh, ok." They continued into the house, but Ari's thoughts were on what Jenna had said. When they walked in there were more people and they were right in front of the pair, there would be no way to avoid talking to them. It would be the start of a myriad of introductions.
"Hey everyone! This is Ari, my new foster daughter. Ari, this is my mom, Ann, my aunt Kate and my cousin Bree. And this little cutie is Jay." Jenna introduced everyone while bending down to scoop up the toddler running around the table, trying to escape his mother and the diaper she carried.
There were so many other kids here, of all different ages. It didn't seem to matter who belonged to whom, everyone was connected. Ari was out of her element.
"I'm going to put on my suit. Where can I change?" Ari really wanted to escape and collect her thoughts.
Jenna pointed her to a door in the corner and handed her the bag. "Let me know if you need help." Ari just nodded.
How many new people am I going to meet? What will they expect of me? How could I ever fit in with these people? I'm too shy to yell and cheer like them.
After getting changed and sprayed with sunblock, Ari and Jenna went outside. The large black dog followed them up the hill. Ari stopped suddenly before they reached all the people. "I am going to sit here for a bit. You go down the hill." She said to Jenna.
"Are you sure? You could come with me." The concern in her voice was somewhat comforting, but not enough. Ari sat down and began to pet the dog that had laid her head on Ari's leg.
"Okay, I will be back in a minute." Jenna raced towards the tube yelling "My turn!" Everyone turned and looked and one of the boys held the tube steady as she jumped on and flew down the hill. Ari smiled as she watched.
When Jenna came back up, she grabbed a towel and walked back to Ari, stopping to hug the children that ran to her. The children came with her.
Ari was a bit nervous, more people to meet.
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