JP - Dark History - Sorley - The Nutjobs

15 years ago

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Sorley and Kiana stood close to each other as the social worker and their ‘new parents’ talked. Life with their mother was chaotic at times, but it was familiar. They knew her, they knew what to expect. These new people were strangers. Sorley looked around the living room. Religious posters adorned the walls, as well as a cross over every doorway. There was a TV, not a very big one, and there was a sign taped to it: “DID YOU DO ALL YOUR CHORES TODAY?”

The social worker walked over to them. “You have a good home here. Just do what the Stockdales tell you to do.”

The Stockdales told them to do a lot. There were so many damned chores, literal busy work just to take up their time like dusting the bookshelves every day. They were also required to study the Bible for half an hour three times a day- not counting Sunday when they had to only study the Bible for half an hour twice- and attend Sunday school, Church, then some evening service where Sorley was so bored he became anxious. They were only allowed to listen to a religious radio station for music. They were only allowed to watch TV after every single one of their chores were done, and were only allowed certain channels. Sorley soon realized that they were not allowed to watch TV as a reward, they were allowed to watch TV as a trap.

At least Sorley was. The Stockdales were constantly trying to find fault with him, looking for moral failings to punish him for. One day he was watching TV when a commercial came on with a girl wearing a T-shirt and shorts and was accused of lusting and staring at the girl. Eight-year-old Sorley had no idea of what the hell they were talking about, and tried to deny it- which made them furious. His foster father beat him with a belt so badly he drew blood on Sorley’s back.

Sorley was ashamed for making their foster parents so angry. But Kiana thought it was bullshit and told their social worker. They were taken from that family, but unfortunately there were no foster families able to take Sorley and Kiana together, so they were separated and sent to different homes. Sorley thought he could have handled living with the Stockdales better than being taken from his sister.