"...Yeah, that's not so much a thing."

There's definitely the stereotype of foster parents mostly in it for the money, and probably some truth to it, but Evelyn hasn't actually met anyone like that; it's not like it's even that much money, given how much work it is. And Annie wouldn't do well in the stereotypical foster-family-in-it-for-the-money household; they're usually the ones who take as many children as possible, often preferring more independent teenagers, and getting a houseful of teenagers not to play music sounds like a losing battle. There are children's group homes, but less of them in recent years, and it's not actually cheaper for the state to have Annie in a more institutional setting.

"I do think there are parents who would be far better suited to you than to another child," she adds. "Say, someone quiet and bookish who hates noise and mess, who likes to stay at home most of the time and isn't a fan of music anyway. Maybe an older couple, who don't have the energy for a boisterous kid anymore."

Which is normally discouraged for someone Annie's age, but if they were sixty and it good health, they wouldn't be likely to die before Annie was grown up. And if they adopted her, they would have a very mature and responsible teen who could help around the house. Surely that's something that could work out? ...Evelyn is now picturing a retired English literature professor or novelist, which is definitely getting ahead of herself. 

"Or deaf people, I could live with deaf people and they wouldn't miss the music."

"You could! - I guess I don't know if your visual impairment would mean you can't learn sign language, it's a pretty confusing visual impairment, but you could at least write notes back and forth, or use signs with words on them. And there's got to be at least one deaf couple in the state who enjoy staying in and reading books and would love to adopt a little girl."

Whether she can get Social Services on board with the plan 'look for the perfect deaf couple' is another question, but it's early days, she's just trying to get a sense of the possibilities. 

"- Speaking of that, do you know how to write? I know you can read but I wasn't sure if anyone had taught you writing, or if it's harder for you with the visual impairment." 

"I do know how to write. - do they have to be in the state? I might want to live in Alaska."

"- Hee. That makes sense. I don't think it has to be in state, though it'd mean trying to coordinate with another department, Social Services is run on the state level. It would take longer, but I think it's likely to take a long time anyway to find you the perfect adoptive family or long-term foster placement." 

They've been sitting on the floor of Annie's bedroom for...kind of a while...and should probably meander down and get breakfast. Annie can stay in just her underwear if she prefers, since there aren't other children in the house right now. 

Annie actually pulls on a rainbow T-shirt but does not bother with pants before following Evelyn down.

What does Annie like for breakfast? Evelyn has bread to toast (white or brown), and cornflakes and Cheerios and granola and muesli and yogurt and fruit. She can do oatmeal or scrambled eggs but probably Annie prefers non-cooked foods when possible? 

Yogurt and fruit is good! With granola in it maybe.

That's a very reasonable breakfast! Evelyn has muesli and yogurt and coffee. Annie can have milk or juice to go with her breakfast if she wants, or just ice water. 

"I was wondering if you had ever tried writing stories?" she says as they eat. "I think you would be good at it, and it's something you can do to - have more interesting things in your life - that doesn't require going anywhere." 

"I would like some notebooks to write in. I don't know if I'd like writing stories specifically."

Nod. "Of course you can have notebooks, and write whatever you like in them. I have a stash of school notebooks, and if you want a nice bound notebook for a diary or something, I can pick something up when I next go shopping." 

She looks thoughtful. "Did you still want to make a library trip today? It's probably a good time to go, it's a school day so it won't be very busy, and we don't have to drive downtown so probably we won't encounter any car stereos. I should call the library first and make sure they don't play music or can turn it off, though." 

"Aren't libraries supposed to be quiet? I'm up for risking the trip if the library itself will be safe."

"Libraries don't want you talking, but I've - I'm the kind of person who tunes out Muzak and I'm not entirely sure the library doesn't quietly play it in the background. I'll call them. ...Uh, not an issue now unless they have hold music, but do phone ringtones do the thing for you? Should I change mine to the old-fashioned telephone sound or keep it on vibrate?" 

"Please."

Evelyn does that, and then - if Annie is okay staying put in the living room - she might go outside in the backyard to make the call, juuuuust in case the library has hold music and it's loud enough to hit Annie even not on speakerphone. (She's not sure she's ever actually had to call the library before, they have a perfectly functional website with the hours and special kids' events listed.) 

...They totally do have hold music. Is being in the backyard, with Annie on the other side of a closed sliding door and also all the way across the house, and Evelyn being not-on-speakerphone good enough? If Annie starts screaming she'll...hang up immediately and see if her earbuds work for phone calls as well as listening to podcasts, maybe. 

Annie does not scream about this.

Oh good. That's - better than it could be - Annie is trustworthy to not injure herself if left briefly in the living room, and it's not ideal fostering practice but guess what is also not ideal fostering practice, is torturing your foster child with misophonia. 

She's back a couple of minutes later, after ninety seconds of hold music and a fifteen-second conversation. "The library doesn't play music except sometimes when there's a special event, but there isn't one today. Want to go now? - you'll have to put pants on." 

"I'll put pants on." She goes upstairs and comes down in her little cutoff jean shorts.

They can head out in Evelyn's car, then. (She puts on a sweater before they leave and then blasts the air conditioning, though it's only a ten-minute drive.) 

They don't pass any cars with thumping stereos. They do pass a few houses where the people inside are playing music at moderate volume on home stereo systems, or listening to TV with a musical soundtrack. The car windows are shut and the aircon is kind of loud; it's not something that Evelyn would notice at all, if she were driving alone, but she's unusually on alert and will also definitely notice if Annie starts screaming in agony. 

Annie twitches a couple times but does not scream.

And then they're safely pulling into the library parking lot. It's not a big library - or a big parking lot - and it's currently empty aside from what's presumably the librarian's car. 

"Huh," she says as she parks. "Do you get the music thing at - not full force - if you can barely hear it? I - there was a couple times I thought I maybe heard a TV soundtrack or something, we drove past before I was sure, and I sort of saw you flinch?" 

"Yeah, if it's faint enough it only hurts a little."

"That's - better than the alternative, I guess. I know you said earplugs don't help, but does there being other noise nearby to drown it out help? Or if it depends on how much you're paying attention to it, maybe playing audiobooks in the car would help? Even the good talk radio stations usually have some music but I think audiobooks should be safe." 

"Other noise drowning it out might help, I'm not sure. Maybe I should play nature sounds really loud all the time or something. How much attention I'm paying doesn't matter at all. I was asleep when your alarm went off."

"Right. I wasn't sure how much the aircon noise was helping make it harder to hear - it definitely made it harder for me to hear. Maybe we can - experiment, at home, when it's easy to make it stop right away if you scream? You don't have to, I'm not going to push you to do something that hurts, but it might make it easier to go to places like the library - there's a bigger library on the other side of town, too, but that definitely involves going past more places and cars that play music."