He's not stupid

On our way out to the counseling appointment he spoke about how he hoped they had found him a good family and remarked that he had no idea they would find him a new family this quickly. Last time it took months and months.

By the time he got to the counselor he worked it out. This was just too suspicious. He must be going to one of those rat holes. He would rather live on the streets. He did just fine on his own in the streets.

He and his counselor had a pretty good time together. They played with light sabers and were finished a little early. I think the counselor found it emotionally exhausting. Like the rest of us he has to pretend not to know something that he knows. Frankie said he would miss him, and I think he meant it.

We went to Frankie's favorite hamburger joint for dinner. He asked if he could order the monster burger even though he thought he probably couldn't finish it. I said, "What am I going to do, ground you?" He looked at me trying to puzzle that one out and I said, "You can order anything you want."

All the way home he talked about how they couldn't fool him, there was no way they could find a family this fast. They were taking him to one of those rat holes. He doesn't seem that upset though -- more triumphant that he has figured out the plan and is too smart to be fooled. Fortunately he is not so smart that he has guessed that I must know the truth.

Or maybe it is just that he trusts me.

But I think part of him knows that he needs to be in a residential treatment center.

He knows.