justin's turn

I followed behind Joeie to where Justin sat nervously in the waiting room.  "Your turn," she said, sticking her tongue out playfully.

Justin stood, saying "hi," again and following me to my office.

He sat in a chair closer to mine, in the middle of the room (neither closest nor farthest from the door).  I felt his nervous energy (more than the average guardian I met with) as I closed the door and went to my seat.  When he glanced up at me with his worried brown eyes, I could see his inner child... the little boy who had to take care of everyone before he was ready.  It kinda broke my heart a little.  

"I doubt she told you why we're here."  It wasn't an accusation, more an acknowledgment that he knew his little sister well.  "She would probably give me shit for even hoping that she might have told you."

"Sounds like it might be a long story, with layers that she doesn't quite understand yet."

Justin nodded.  "Our mom was a drug addict, opioids.  She died of an overdose when Joeie was 10, which is when I took over custody.  Her dad wasn't in the picture... provided financial support in the beginning, but once that stopped... it was... unstable."  He paused.  "I guess what I'm saying is, there's a history of substance abuse in our family and I'm worried about Joeie.  This past weekend she snuck out to get drunk and high at a club, nearly was arrested.  She has told me I'm overreacting, and I might be.  Our other brothers have surprising opinions about it.  Jeremy thinks it's harmless experimentation, but Jonnie suggested therapy, so it doesn't turn into something extra."  Noticing whatever expression was on my face when he mentioned Jonnie, Justin grinned.  "She may have told you Jonnie is the reason she even agreed to give this a try today.  That little shit has so much sway over her, even though he's rarely around."

"What makes Jeremy think that her substance use is 'harmless experimentation'?"

"He had a phase of experimenting that didn't lead to disaster."

"What about you?"

"I have no desire to drink, and can't use drugs in my line of work.  I'm a paramedic."

I nodded.  "Do you know about Joeie's biological father?  Did he have substance use concerns?"

Justin shook his head.  "I don't think so, but I'm not sure.  He was a wealthy businessman from the city.  And a few months ago, Joeie took a DNA test, then found out who he was.  He died last year.  Jo didn't seem too bummed about it, but she also wouldn't talk to me about it either.  And there's more... She found two half-siblings.  The half-sister didn't want anything to do with Joeie, rejected her completely from the beginning.  But Joeie met the half-brother recently, and got this idea to stay with him in the city this summer while she takes acting classes.  I think this is all part of her acting out lately.  She's been through a lot.  She never really had a parent... none of us did.  But I don't want Joeie to have to go through what we did.  There's probably a lot that she needs to process with someone, and she doesn't want to talk to me about it."