My Mommie Dorie

About this time Dorie became an integral part of my life.... I knew I was going to run but I didn't know how soon and when, where would I live...etc. I met my Dorie. She was the Drop Out Prevention specialist at my high school. She knew my older brother and my cousin. She was determined to see kids graduate, To make it through whatever was going on. Whether she had to pick you up or drop you off at school, find you a way to and from work, pay your bills, whatever resources she had at her disposal were there to save us kids. I don't know what I would have done without her, when I finally ran, I couch hoped for months, I bounced from one house, to another, to another, I really didn't have many clothes, I kept a job so that I could afford to offer whoever I was staying with something. I had a couple of cold nights with no where to go. But I made it, during my senior year I settled with a family I had known since child hood. they had taken in a few other girls in similar situations. We all lived together, like 10 of us in a 4 bedroom, then we increased to 13 when the oldest daughter moved back home. My life was a blur, we worked hard, I had 2 jobs, I helped Dorie when I could as a student assistant, I worked for Greyhound telemarketing, I was a part time student taking 4 classes, part of student council and a party girl. LOL... And we partied hard, see we are approximately 45 minutes from the Mexico border, the legal drinking age is 18. About 3 blocks from the border are a strip of clubs. With fake ID and a little make up, we were getting it in. If we couldn't make it to Mexico we partied at the West on 18 and up nights. I was living on 3-4 hours of sleep a night maybe.... Things were cool for about 4 months and things started to unravel at the house. With All of us girls things were bound to get ugly. I managed to stay out of most of the fights and not pick sides, but enter my baby sis senior year. She was messing with some older dude, who happened to be the boyfriend of one of my roommates... And it spiraled quickly, I defended baby sis, which caused tension. They stopped picking me up from work, stopped being so nice, blamed things on me, particularly a 900 dollar telephone bill which I was not responsible for.. Shit, I ended up paying it even after I moved out... I moved out when it came to blows, the sister of my roommate confronted my sister who slapped her. About 3 weeks prior to graduation we fought in front of the auditorium. I remember it vividly. I had on a silk wrap skirt and a cute blouse, and my best friend rounded the corner after 4Th period furious, I had to pry why he was so upset out of him. He told me my roommates where spreading rumors saying horrible shit and If i didn't do anything he would. Well after ditching 5th period I confronted the culprit in front of the auditorium. I told her to meet me around the corner after school and we could handle it. My sister who was in a tight mini dress heard the exchange, she knew what was poppin. Put her purse down and slapped the shit out of ole girl. One of lifes, freeze frame moments. I watched shock, horror and embarrassment cross girls face. And then out of no where another roommate approached and attempted to punch my sister. I dont remember the detail but I know I bulldozed her out of the side door into a brick wall... I knew I was going to get me ass kicked because she was training for the national guard but to my surprise I was so angry I didnt feel a thing. We punched and pushed and slapped, until one of our mutual friends tried to break it up. He got abused in the process. Mike and Elliot snuck me off campus, Dorie got wind of it, and chewed my ass out, and managed to get school officials to look the other way. My sister got suspended, I ended up moving to my Moms due to lack of options. Dorie talked to me, kept me sane, helped me with clothes etc. since all the things I left at the other house were forfeit. She played liaison, saving my ass, as much as she could. She kind of adopted me and my brother and sister, and other kids me knew from around the way. Keeping us sane, encouraging us, and scolding us like a good mother does. One thing is for sure, you dont want to disappoint Dorie. She has a hold on us kids, she is like an emotional whirlwind, yelling at you, cussing you out like a Good New Yorker, then in the same breath crying because she knows your story, your circumstance, and then convincing you with a whim of determination, that you can and will do this, and better, That failing is not an option. Dorie and Her partner in crime have changed me, and changed my heart, she and Diane love us kids, with a ferocity. They are there with cards every holiday, there with love and support, there with a swift kick in the ass waiting, whenever we need them. Dorie and Diane and my adopted brothers and sisters are my haphazard family. We are like the rainbow, different personalities, nationalities etc, but joined in life, and in love of people. We dont see each other often but they are my family just as much as my real family maybe more in some ways. Because our link is by choice not by blood, we choose to be family.. I couldn't ask to be in a better family......