Unicorn Rod Shop

I awoke struggling to find myself. I knew who I was; I didn’t know WHERE I was. The ceiling was stark white and the lights were blinding. I was groggy, no, more than that. I felt drugged. I realized then where I was; a hospital room.
I had failed. The toxins in my system weren’t enough to end my life, and were even now leaving my system. I glanced at the curtained window and around the room; a lone figure sat in a corner chair snoozing.
I tried to get up, but found I was restrained. I tried to work my hands free and had almost succeeded when I was interrupted.
“That’s not a good idea, you know.”
I swung my head around to face the man.
“They’ll just sedate you…..” He offered. “Look kid; I don’t know you, you don’t know me. Word is, you got a choice of a foster home or a jail cell. You’ve got a court date tomorrow to decide.
I couldn’t place his intention, but what he said was true, I’d been running too long. They’d finally caught me.
“My name is William Deville, like the Cadillac. I’ve got some friends your age living with me. There’s room for one more. All I ask from you is that to show respect to me, my home, and to the others. It’s all your choice, us, foster care, or juvie.” He said.
I took stock; he wasn’t much older than me, maybe early 20’s. Goatee and sideburns, and short; maybe 4’11”. What he wanted with me was anybody’s guess, but it made me nervous.
“I’ll see you tomorrow, okay?” he said, and left.
I thought about the consequences; the law didn’t take to runaways and truants well and I’d been warned. I’d been on the run for almost a year now, living in my dad’s old Plymouth, begging for gas money. I’d finally run a hose from the tailpipe through the trunk and passed out. How I got here was a mystery.
And who was this dwarf taking a vested interest in my life? I could go live in a foster home; if I didn’t like it, I’d run away. Except I no longer had my dad’s car. That alone was worth suicide.
I laid back and fell asleep. I dreamed of flaming metal scorching my hands as I tried to lift the debris and free my mother. My own clothing burning as my hair smoldered.
I awoke with a start; again not knowing where I was. I knew I had to go to court and face a judge again. I didn’t trust William. I didn’t know William. I still didn’t know, all I wanted to do was sleep.
A nurse woke me up for breakfast. I was ravenous, but I refused. She wouldn’t hear of it.
“If you don’t eat, we’ll just shove a feeding tube down your throat.”
I ate the runniest eggs I’ve ever had washed down with grits, or oatmeal soaked in bleach. I guess now I was ready for court.

I was handcuffed and placed in a wheelchair (hospital policy), then placed in a squad car, then driven across downtown San Diego to the central courthouse. The room was full and I was chained to other truants and runaways. I could hear their talk of robberies, lewd acts, drugs, and general wrongdoings. Not the kind of life I wanted, which is why I left the foster home in the first place.
I saw William sitting on a bench next to two kids. One was a pale boy much younger than me, and the other was a fair, and really pretty, black haired girl my age. He was talking to them, so I assumed they were living with him. They seemed fairly stable and happy. Maybe he wasn’t a child molester……..
The bang of the gavel brought me to my senses, causing me to jump. The kid next to me laughed, I didn’t even look at him.
“Hey, check out the fish….” He murmured.