I dont really care how old he is, he is just another kid that my parents get paid by the state to watch because whoever is supposed to be watching the... is unable to, usually it is because of drugs or alcohol. Once in awhile one of them will only stay for a few days until a relative can come take them. But normally they are here a few months and then go somewhere else. I try not to get to interested in them. Mom has been doing this for ever. I just try to keep to myself. I tried to befriend one. "They are my friends, Missy" I replied evenly."I know, John," she sighed, turning away "I'm just not sure that they're mine, not Betty Lou, anyway."I spun her back around so that we were facing each other. "Did Betty Lou do something, honey? Do you have a problem with her?" No, John, I don't have a problem with her. I think Betty Lou has a problem with me, though. She's been making snide remarks to my back for the last couple of weeks. Gail and Jackie mentioned it the other day. And Debby Durr. " She was referring to my platoon of guard dogs. I use the term 'dogs' loosely."We don't really communicate. They exist on a different plane and to speak to them I need to penetrate that plane by using arcane arts. It's more like getting them to cross over to our dimension in order to talk with them. It's rather complicated." I began to wonder if I wasn't using telepathy to talk to my 'creatures.' They were getting intractable and the time would come when I would have to return them to their. ” Zoë answers for me. I started crying, deep brutal sobs hit me like a speeding car. He was Reggie! He was supposed to be my best friend! Why couldn’t he have died when we were playing with wd40 and matches at age eleven. Why did I have to give up on my best friend! Why did he have to be my bad guy! My hands shook and I think my fear and loss were infectious. I didn’t hear any other crying. Marin got told by Andrea to stiffen up.“Stretch your leg.” Laurie demanded. I did so. “Take his shirt.