Backstop by C.M. Kane
PROLOGUE
Kylie…
This waiting was going to kill me, I swear. Like, how hard was it to just give me what I wanted and not make me wait for hours and hours at this stupid courthouse? Thank the goddess it was spring break, and I could come to the courthouse without missing school.
“Miss Somerton,” a man called from the front of the courtroom.
“I’m here,” I said. “Although it won’t be that for long,” I mumbled under my breath.
I stepped to the front of the courtroom with my envelope of forms I had completed, as well as a cashier’s check for the fee. Today would be the last time I would ever be called by my father’s last name.
“Your paperwork, please,” the man who had called my name said as he came to me, holding out his hand.
I opened the folder and pulled out the forms, handing them over to the man who walked them up to the judge. After taking them, the judge read them over, not giving anything away as to what she was thinking.
“Is this true?” she asked after her review.
“Which part?” I asked.
“That your father is—”
“Yes,” I said, cutting her off. I didn’t need the whole courtroom full of strangers knowing who my father was. “I kind of would like to put that behind me.”
“I’m surprised this wasn’t granted several years ago,” she said.
“He refused to give me permission,” I said. “Now that I’m eighteen, he has no further say over it, and I wish to remove him from my life permanently.”
“I completely understand,” the judge said. “I see no reason for this to not be granted, so I’m going to do so. Go forward, Miss…” she paused, looking back at the form, then continued, “Miss Harper. May you find happiness in your future.”
“Thank you, Your Honor,” I said.
She stamped the form with something, then handed it to the man who had taken it from me.
“Take this to the court clerk and they will accept your payment,” he said. “Once that’s done, you will receive the official authorization and can take it to the Department of Licensing and receive your new ID.”
“Thank you,” I said.
Walking out of the courtroom, I turned when I got into the hall, having already figured out where the court clerk was located. Once I was there, I pulled one of those ticket things and waited for the number to be called. It seemed like it took forever, but they finally did, and I walked to the window.
“What are you here for?” the clerk asked.
“Name change,” I said. “Here’s the paperwork from the judge.”
“Perfect,” the clerk said. “I need your ID as well.”
I pulled that out of my wallet and handed it over.
“Do you have a cashier’s check or money order?” she asked.
“I have a check,” I said, pulling it out of the folder I had with everything I needed for today.
She took it from me and turned around to check something in her computer, clicking and moving the mouse with a speed I couldn’t keep up with. I heard a printer running somewhere behind the glass and she slid her wheeled chair away from the computer screen and over to another area in her little space, pulling something out of what I assumed was her printer, then wheeled herself back over to me.
“All right,” she said when she was back in front of the window. “First thing you will want to do is go to the Social Security Office. Sometimes they make you make an appointment, but stop in and see if you can get it started right away. It looks like they gave you the option to change your Social Security number if you want to. I would suggest going ahead and doing that, just to be safe. The closest one is at this address here. It’s in Burien.
“This form right here will be what you want to take with you when you go to the DMV,” she continued. “They’ll take a copy of it and then give you a temporary ID to replace yours. If you want to get your license, you can do that with this form as well, then set up to take the tests. It will also allow you to register to vote, which you can do now that you’re eighteen. Once you have the new ID, you should be able to make the changes everywhere else you need to. Do you have any more questions?”
“Umm…” I mumbled. “I’m not sure.”
“Here’s a pamphlet that will help you show what you need to do,” she said, pulling one from behind the counter. “If you have any other questions, you can go to the website on the back of that booklet and you can probably find your answer there. If not, you can give a call to the number there. There is probably a way to contact them through the website.”
“Wow,” I said. “I didn’t realize how many other things I was gonna have to do.”
“But, from what I see, it will be really helpful for you,” she said, and I looked at her, confused. “I know why you’re changing it, and I don’t blame you at all.”
I didn’t want to acknowledge the unsaid comment, so I just nodded and thanked her, then headed out to catch the bus back home. At least I had a few more days to get everything else done, but I was no longer tied to the monster that was my father.