Then her head popped up out of the water near the pool’s edge, water streaming down her head and shoulders and her wet hair covering her lovely face... She whipped her head around, water and hair flying, and looked at where Roger was treading water, watching her. She smiled.From all around the pool came cheers and applause and Roger swam over to her.“Shit! That was gorgeous, darling, a perfect dive! I know how the low board dives are tough to do, the timing’s so quick.”“Ah, it felt good. Can’t do. She may need counseling, but not 'immediate help'. Here, she's in a safe environment where people care for her. Removing her could do more harm than help," said Paul."I'm sorry, but as you're not family nor have been vetted as a foster care home, as a juvenile, I'm required to take her into custody." Sir, she's not a juvenile. She's sixteen, so that makes her a minor," observed Derek."But she's a freshman in High School," Clausen said, genuinely surprised."She was left back a year because her. Out in the cold on the metal grid of the fire escape landing high abovethe busy street I lit the cigarette and inhaled, it had been some timesince my last cigarette and it tasted harsh against my throat. Down inthe street I could hear young people enjoying themselves and smiled. 'atleast they are having a good time' I thought to myself.As I smoked I thought back to my own youth, my childhood and my parentsand remembered how as a young boy everything seemed full of excitementand wonder and life. Look!" Sloane jumped up on thebed and sat beside me.Sloane too was wearing a matching A-line skirt, white blouse, Bobby soxand Mary Jane's and her blonde hair, straight - not curly like mine, alsohad bangs."See mom! We're sisters!" Sloane squealed.Had I been older I could have sensed the wheels turning in Amanda's gin-soaked brain."Why yes she is honey. She's just like your twin sister," Amanda smiledand blew a plume of blue smoke in our direction.Sloane pulled me too her and hugged me tight.