I went to check on Kanesha at lunch. She was pale and wan and pushing her food around her plate.
“What’s wrong?”
“They told me that even though he doesn’t have custody, he still has to sign the emancipation papers. A social worker can’t do it. And the custody trial date has been set for right before Thanksgiving.”
“We’ve got almost a month to think of something then. I know a cop who might have some ideas. Or Thea might.”
“The social worker told me I might as well pack. But he can’t actually stop me from going to college.”
“Maybe it’s a good thing that he’s broke. He wouldn’t have any money to help you with anyway.”
Could magic fix this? I didn’t think so. Or at least not in any ethical manner.
“He can’t stop me, but he can make me have to wait a year, and that doesn’t help with scholarships unless you spend it traveling or something.”
I nodded. “Okay. So, spend it volunteering. Can he stop you from doing that? There’s plenty of places that could give you hours.”
She hrmed. “While I’m under his roof.”
“He’s not going to be able to stay where he is. That place…no social worker would let him keep a kid there.”
“He’s found a new place. And it’s rent controlled.”
I whistled. “Those are like gold.”
“And he doesn’t get it without dependents.”
“Crap. Well, you aren’t going to be his key to a better life at your expense.”
“Maybe I should be. I mean, I could live with him and go to one of the DC schools and everything would work out if he didn’t think college was a waste of time for girls.”
I considered that. “And he’d lose the place as soon as you aren’t a dependent any more.”
“Can push that to 25 if needed.” She sighed. “If he’d only…”
“I’d say we should introduce him to Thea, but she’s white too. He did seem like he might be willing to listen to me, though. I vote we keep working on him. If he won’t sign the papers…then…”
“Unless he gets himself thrown back in jail.”
I privately thought that was more likely, the way he’d acted towards her. “If you’re around him, 911 on speed dial.”
She rolled her eyes at me. “Always.”