Billy's Story

J an 12,1986 the first time I was in a foster home, I was there for one year. Then they let me go back to my parents and the same thing happened. They had not changed a bit. They would leave my brother and me at the house all alone, they would not feed us right and there would always be a lot of people in the house. I was about 6 and my little brother was 4.

My grandma would have to come pick us up. Then somebody called Social services and told them what was going on. Well then we were placed back in the same foster home. We stayed there over 5 yr's. In this period of time we were mentally, physically, and sexually abused. (Mentally) I was constantly told I was fat, retarded, stupid, and constantly cussed out and also I was the oldest out of five foster kids. I had to take care of everyone.

At the age of 6 through 10, I was making beds, cleaning toys up for 4 others kids, I also made up my foster parents bed . I was the only one who did this until my little brother and Nicholas where old enough to do it. They where about the same age .

(Physically) I was thrown down stairs, smacked in the face so much that I had bruises on my face for yr's.. I remember one night I took my shirt off. After I fell asleep I was woken buy getting smacked in the mouth I woke up the next morning ( with my shirt on) I had blood on my face. That is only one thing that happened. There were times that I wanted to die, "at the age 7 yr's. old I wanted to kill myself ." that is not a healthy way to live. "I don't want to do that still, instead I want to make it better.

" I had a real rough time living there but I still looked at her as my mother. Even though I did not like living there, she was the only thing that I new as mother. (Sexually) Max Cook, he was our foster dad. When I was about 9 through 10 yr. old I had gained a lot of wait. Max started to mess in places and would tell me that I had tites bigger than my foster mom. I never told anybody about this until I was 17. They investigated it and said they could do nothing, because he is in a rest home now. Because right before I left this home max got tumors on his head and had to go to a rest home. Matter of fact that was the reason that we left.

The whole time all of us where scared to tell anybody. There was one time Pat Cook told me that any thing that I told, she would find out. Nicholas (foster child) had a worst time I think. He is now living some where for trying to burn down Pat's house. I have seen Nicholas get his face swollen and his lips swollen. He has really been disturbed.

Ten yr's. old, My brother and I were moved to Pat Cooks sisters house, I don't think they where licensed to keep foster kids. We stayed there for a while. At this time there was a lot of anger coming out of me. Pat's sister liked me but wanted to send my little brother to a children's home. So I told them he goes I go. So we were moved. We were scent to Bruce Morton's house. I can't really say any thing about this home because I was not there very long The reason that I had to leave this place was because I could not get along with one of the other kids in the home. He always tried to bully me around. So I left, I guess I felt threatened.

So I was moved back to King NC to a family of three. I was having a hard time adjusting to this family. Soon my little brother was moved with me. Sadly I did not make it their either. My anger was building up more and I was letting it out on my little brother.(so they say) So I was moved again. I moved to a home with a preacher, it was a good home except for the strict rules like no TV, can't wear shorts, had to learn verses from the Bible. I liked it there more than any other place. After awhile there was a family that wanted to adopt my little Brother and Me. So they moved me again to that home with my little brother. I stayed there for a while and I was having a hard time with my anger and could not get along with their daughter. So I was moved to a group home this time.

So I moved to Hendersonville NC. I stayed there for almost 2 yr's.. I was on the football team and was doing pretty good. I was still having a hard time with my anger. I had to move to another group home, because of my anger and frustration with life. So I moved to Burlington NC. I stayed there maybe 3 months or more. It was close to Christmas and they surprised me with letting me see my family. Things went good, so they moved me to a foster home in King close to my family. King is where I was raised most my life. After that I went wild I did not know how to deal with every- thing. I ended up running away getting in trouble trying to be with my family. I also ended up getting involved and ended up getting shot. There is a lot of things that I have gone throught mentally and I have had a lot of problems. Everything that I have gone throught has made me nothing but stronger but has also caused a lot of problems. I have not had the chance to get my high school diploma, because I have to run my house hold and work.

My little brother has been seriously effected by everything that has happened. He has a lot of anger inside him and he dosen't know how to release it. If he doesn't get a high school diploma how is he going to the service. I am having a hard time surviving. Social Services have helped me out a little bit. But what about the rest of my life, I am 19 yr's. old I have to support myself. I have no car no medical insurance no home .(I have had Medicaid all my life)

There is a lot to my brother and my story, even a social worker said that the state Screwed us! If you can do anything to help my brother and I, I will be able to give more information if needed. All my brother and I want is to be normal. Thanks, Billy