Christina smiled at the timid, skinny and pale-looking boy that was sitting in front of her. She had to glance back down at her notes to be reminded that he was actually 16, and not much younger.
Christina had sat in front of boys years Daryl's junior, who had been involved in all sorts. Muggings, joy-ridings, getting girls pregnant. But puberty obviously hadn’t this one yet and didn’t look as if it was likely to make much of an impression when it did.
“You’re Darryl, right?” she asked, in her friendliest tone possible.
“Y-yes” he stammered. He was obviously a nervous child.
“Well, my name’s Christina Hannon. And it’s my job to find you a new home, do you understand that Darryl?”
Christina spent her life dealing with tragic cases, and this was up there with some of the worst. Parents killed in a car-crash when he was three years old. All other relatives already dead except for a distant Great Aunty who had brought him up until her own sad demise weeks earlier, leaving her nephew all alone in the world. He’d been bullied throughout school and turned out as a very introverted quiet kid, unable to form personal relationships due to his extreme shyness. From the case notes she’d received, he’d been recognised as an intelligent child by all his teachers – but one that was too nervous to put himself forward in class and demonstrate it in any solid way.
And he was still only 16. With that sort of past, what sort of future could be guaranteed for Darryl? Would he ever be able to make friends – let alone start a relationship? What would his job prospects be like if he’d found school such a struggle? In this sort of situation, it was Christina’s job to ensure he got the best future possible. And – though Christina, as she rose from her desk and went to the cupboard behind her - desperate problems, caused for desperate measures.
“We’re placing you in a children’s home for the time being” she said softly, as she reached into her pockets for the keys, unlocking the cupboard and took something off the top shelf. “Many children in your situation have been placed there. You’ll find yourself with many boys your own age.” As she quietly unscrewed the cap from the bottle of pills in her hands, she looked around again. “How does that sound to you, Darryl?”
Darryl looked at her for a second through the thick glasses balanced on his snub nose. He blinked a couple of times once it hit him that she’d addressed him and stumbled around trying to find the right words…
“I-it sounds ok. Good.”
Christina carefully plucked a single white oval pill from the bottle, clasping it in her hands and dropping it into the glass of water nearby. Taking that glass and handing it to a hesitant Darryl she smiled again
“I realise that might seem like an intimidating prospect” She said. “I know you haven’t always….gelled with boys your own age. But we definitely feel that this is the best place for you. And I promise, we’ll make things as easy as possible.”
Darryl nodded slowly. Christina couldn’t be sure that tears weren’t starting to appear in his eyes again.
“Please, take a drink. The pill I just put it in there now. It’s to help with your anxiety and the stress you must be facing.”
Darryl nodded and took a sip. Then, liking what he found, took another gulp and another bigger one – until it was all gone.
Christina smiled warmly. “Good boy. I know you’re finding it hard at the moment, but trust me – you’ll end up fine.”
For the first time since she’d met him, Darryl smiled and his face lit up.
‘Not a bad looking kid’ thought Christina. She was always amazed at how quickly this stuff could work.