Nobody’s Son: Part 2 of 3: All Alex ever wanted was a family of his own. Cathy Glass
closed until further notice due to a burst water pipe, so she would have to come home with me. However, a friend of Adrian’s handed him a party invitation, which brightened his spirits.
‘Can I go?’ he asked eagerly.
‘Yes, I should think so. I’ll check in the diary and then we’ll return the acceptance slip.’ Adrian would have done it there and then.
When the klaxon sounded for the start of school Adrian knew he had to say goodbye to Alex and he did so quickly. It was Adrian’s way of dealing with the separation.
‘Bye,’ he said. ‘It was nice having you stay.’
‘Bye,’ Alex said.
I said goodbye to Adrian, wished him a good day and said I’d see him at the end of school. He gave me a quick hug and then ran off to join his class, but I saw him turn round for one final glance at Alex. We returned home, where Alex played with Paula and her toys while I gathered together the last of Alex’s belongings and packed them in the cases. I could hear them laughing and chuckling as they played. Alex was very good with little children and I was pleased we were ending on a happy note.
At ten o’clock I made us all a drink and a snack, which we’d only just finished when the front doorbell rang – at 10.20.
‘That’s them!’ Alex cried. Slipping from his chair, he ran down the hall and then waited for me to open the front door.
‘Good morning,’ I said brightly to Rosemary and Edward. James was at school.
‘Good morning, Cathy,’ Edward returned equally brightly. ‘How are you?’ Rosemary said to Alex as they came in.
‘I’m good,’ he grinned, and gave her a big hug.
‘What a lovely welcome!’ Rosemary smiled, clearly pleased.
Edward was in his suit, so I guessed he was going straight to work after the move. We all knew we should keep Alex’s departure short, as it was generally felt that to prolong this final goodbye could be upsetting for the child – although Alex was so focused and looking forward to starting his new life that I didn’t think leaving us was going to be a problem for him. Not like some children I’d looked after, who for various reasons really didn’t want to leave and move on.
I waited with the children indoors while Edward and Rosemary loaded the car. Then, once it was packed, they returned inside and we stood in the hall ready to say goodbye.
‘Well, thanks for everything,’ Edward said, shaking my hand warmly. ‘Look after yourself and say goodbye to Adrian for us.’
‘Thank you, I will.’ Paula was holding my hand, so I told her to say goodbye to Alex.
‘Bye,’ she said sweetly and the adults smiled.
‘Bye, Paula,’ Alex said and gave her a little hug.
‘Goodbye then, love,’ I said to him. ‘It’s been great having you stay. Your mummy and daddy are very lucky to have you.’
He smiled.
‘That’s kind,’ Rosemary said.
‘Bye, Cathy,’ Alex said, and slipped his hand into his mother’s.
‘Thanks for everything,’ Rosemary said to me, kissing my cheek. ‘You’ll phone us in a couple of weeks?’
‘Yes.’ This had been agreed at the planning meeting. It was usual for a carer to phone at least once after a child left and to hopefully see them. ‘But do phone me if you have any questions or problems,’ I added. ‘Although I’m sure you won’t.’
‘Thank you.’
As it was cold outside I slipped Paula into her coat while we saw them off. We stood on the pavement just the other side of our garden gate and waved as the engine started and the car began to slowly pull away, Alex’s little face beaming at us through the rear window.
‘Bye!’ Paula and I called, waving.
We continued waving until the car had disappeared from view and then we returned indoors. Yes, I had a twinge of sadness that Alex had gone, but I knew he was going to the best place ever – a loving adoptive home. I also knew it wouldn’t be long before I was fostering another child, for sadly foster carers are always needed for children who can’t live with their own families.
I played with Paula for a while and then, as I was reading her a story, she dozed off on the sofa. While she slept, I took the opportunity to telephone Debbie to tell her Alex’s move had gone well.
‘Excellent,’ she said. ‘I was going to phone you later. So there weren’t any last-minute hiccups?’
‘No. It was a textbook move. It went perfectly smoothly.’
‘Good. I’ll let Lin know. She will be seeing the family regularly until the adoption goes through.’ This was normal practice.
Debbie thanked me for all I’d done and we said goodbye. I then telephoned Jill to update her, but she was out of the office, so I left a message with a colleague saying that Alex’s move had gone to plan. Jill telephoned back an hour later, by which time Paula was awake and playing with the building bricks on the floor of the living room, where I took the call.
‘So you survived your first placement after your break,’ Jill said lightly.
‘Yes, although it wasn’t much of a survival test. Alex was lovely and no problem at all.’
‘Even so, he could have become unsettled and angry after all his previous moves. It’s down to your good fostering that the transition to his adoptive family was so successful.’
‘Thank you, but I think it was the promise of going to his adoptive family that saw him through.’
‘Nevertheless, you played your part. And you’re ready to foster again?’
‘Yes.’
‘Good. Because this next lad could be more of a challenge.’
I gave a small laugh. ‘Yes, go on.’
‘Connor is ten years old and the social services are going to court on Thursday to try to bring him into care. His family are well known to the social services. He has a number of half-brothers and sisters who are already being cared for by relatives, and Connor is the last to go. His father is in prison and his mother obviously doesn’t want to lose him, so she is opposing the social services application. Connor has challenging behaviour, but his social worker told me she’s sure it’s because there are no boundaries at home. His behaviour is reasonably manageable at school.’
‘I see,’ I said hesitantly. Carers are expected to take any child referred to them within the age range they are approved to foster. It’s not a pick-and-choose situation – all these children need a home. I was currently approved to foster newborns to sixteen-year-olds, so I would be expected to take Connor. I could say no, but it would have to be for a very good reason.
‘His social worker is aware that you’re a single parent and have two young children,’ Jill continued. ‘Ideally she’d like him to have a male carer but none are free. She said she’s sure that if he goes to an experienced carer who can manage his behaviour he will settle down.’
‘I see,’ I said again. ‘Does he have any history of violence?’ I asked, mindful of Adrian and Paula.
‘At home there have been incidents but not in school. He has no respect for his mother.’
‘And you think Adrian and Paula will be safe? I obviously don’t want to place them in danger.’
‘I think Connor will be hard work to begin with, but with firm and consistent boundaries I’m sure he will soon settle.’ Which wasn’t exactly what I’d asked, but was probably as much reassurance as Jill could offer.
‘All right. When is he arriving?’
‘I’ll