سے طرف کی the time, I reached Social Services noon had come. I walked inside the one-story, brick building. I looked around the large, blue-walled room the door had revealed. I didn’t see Lucy.
    A curvy, dark-toned woman come up to me. She had curly black hair, and brown eyes.
    “You must be, Damien,” کہا the woman. I nodded.
    “And آپ are?” I knew she was a social worker, but that’s all.
    “I’m Stacey, Stacey Sterns,” she said.
    “You’re Lucy’s worker, right?”
    “Yes, I hate that little freak. She’s a demon child,” Stacey کہا with a disgusted look on her face.
    “That’s not very fair to say,” I said. “Maybe she just doesn’t like you.”
    “Every person that has been with her- teachers یا foster parents- has کہا she was terrible,” Stacey shook her head.
    “No one knows how to handle her. Yesterday, when she was with me, I noticed Lucy only wants someone to listen to her,” I said.
    “She’s putting on an act. Just when آپ are least expecting it, she’ll turn on you,” کہا the woman.
    “To each is own,” I said, and then turned as I felt arms go around my waist. I turned around, and looked down.
    “Lucy! I was wondering when آپ would get here,” I picked her up.
    “I brought my sketchbook,” she held a black covered book in her little hand.
    “Good, I’ll look before آپ leave,” I said. Lucy nodded, instead of saying ‘okay’.
    “Damien, Lucy, are آپ ready to get started?” Stacey asked. I turned back to her. Stacey walked to a black ڈیسک with three chairs around it. Lucy and I sat side-by-side, Stacey opposite us. “So, what did آپ call this meeting for?”
    “I wanted to talk about influences, and people,” I said.
    “Alright,” کہا Stacey. “Lucy, what influences you?”
    “Uh…” Lucy started.
    “No, no, no,” I said. “You’re doing it all wrong. That isn’t what I meant, either.”
    “Then what did آپ mean?” Stacey asked, agitated.
    “I meant, doesn’t Lucy deserve مزید positive influence in her life?” I asked.
    “She has it, from Mr. and Mrs. Blevins,” Stacey said.
    “Positive to her, not positive to society,” I said.
    “What do آپ want around her? That street-rat? Yeah, that’s positive. A positive ticket to jail,” Stacey snapped. I wondered whom she was talking about.
    “Xander is not a street-rat, آپ ignorant woman!” Lucy exclaimed. Xander that was Lucy’s best friend.    
    “What do آپ call that boy, then?” Stacey کہا intensely.
    “Homeless, because his mother is a selfish bitch!” Lucy explained, angered.
    “Do not use that language in here. Lower your voice,” Stacey commanded.
    “Lucy will do whatever the hell she wants. آپ are not her parental figure,” I said, becoming pissed at the woman across from me.
    “No one is, because this child is bad. No one wants her!” Stacey said.
    “I want to be her mentor,” I said. I could not adopt her, Grey would have a fit. I didn’t want to listen to her complain.
    “Why?” Stacey asked.
    “To teach her a person like آپ is what poisons the world,” I کہا my voice strong.
    “Fine, you’ll see what I’m talking about. Maybe you’ll put some respect into her, and then it will rub off on you,” Stacey said.
    “Lucy, یا I, aren’t the ones who need it,” I took Lucy سے طرف کی the hand, and walked out of Social Services.