Jenny had lots to be thankful for that Thanksgiving Day. She had filled up her tank of gas to the limit; and she also bought some needed essentials. The next day, she took the kids to a matinee to see: “The Bee Movie,“ and even splurged on Happy Meals afterwards.
She also saved $20 for her Christmas fund; that would go far at the local thrift shop.
There was no room for pride. She needed to be effective in making ends meet. The worrying of covering those, robbed her of precious sleep. She needed to be able to function as mom, dad, and perform her very physical job as well.
She called Sandra the following Monday, which turned into a bi-weekly assistant position, as she already had a regular cleaning staff.
Her perception that Sandra was so generous with her, perhaps because she needed a reflection to show off to, and admire her status in life, was not so.
From the outside Sandra has a fabulous life. A very rich husband, and a multi-million dollar home on the West side. Sandra is young and beautiful; she also has lots of prominent friends attending her parties. She would be the exception to the rule, though she would not be considered Sandra’s friend.
- “I wish you had a cell phone Jenny, I wanted to let you know not to come today. I must get you a cell phone soon; please remind me in a few days. “
- “Are you OK Sandra?” Jenny asked genuinely concerned as Sandra looked disheveled, unlike her usual self. She had been obviously crying. Sandra broke down again crying, while she covered her face with her hands.
- “He’s such a shit! A complete asso! I HATE HIM! Sometimes...sometimes, I wish he would die already. He…he was in one his moods yesterday, and he drank too much. He took it out on me again. You wouldn’t know it from knowing him. He is such a good guy; successful…a philanthropist…..what he really is, is a fucking depraved degenerate! There is no such thing as a free lunch Jenny.
If you had any idea of the things he makes me do...disgusting things. He’s just so jaded…that fucking prick! I wish the motherfucker, would just hurry up and go to hell. He's worth more dead to me, than alive!"
She succumbed again to a heartfelt crying session.
- “Did he hit you? Wait let me get you some water”
- “Did he hit you? Wait let me get you some water”
- “Yes, he does hit me whenever he gets in “his moods.” Yet, he is very smart. He only kicks me around, never hits me on the face. Wait! Please go to my bathroom medicine cabinet, and get me some valium too.”
- “Here Sandra, drink this. Why don’t you leave him Sandra?”
- “Thanks…here. Are you kidding me? Leave this? And do what? Really! What would I do? Just one of my purses is worth more than a month's salary at most entry level jobs. Besides, he’s a crazy motherfucker. He’d kill me if I attempted to leave him. I can’t divorce him because I signed a pre-nup, and he also gave me herpes. And what about all the years I've invested in this? And my friends? This is all I have now! “
- “Here Sandra, drink this. Why don’t you leave him Sandra?”
- “Thanks…here. Are you kidding me? Leave this? And do what? Really! What would I do? Just one of my purses is worth more than a month's salary at most entry level jobs. Besides, he’s a crazy motherfucker. He’d kill me if I attempted to leave him. I can’t divorce him because I signed a pre-nup, and he also gave me herpes. And what about all the years I've invested in this? And my friends? This is all I have now! “
She was consumed by a fit of hysterical laughter.
- “Jenny, I need to be alone now, to sleep it off, the valium helps me. Wait! What’s pending? Oh...ok the New Year’s Eve party. Wait here.”
- “Jenny, I need to be alone now, to sleep it off, the valium helps me. Wait! What’s pending? Oh...ok the New Year’s Eve party. Wait here.”
She came back with a credit card and $200 in cash.
“Jenny, please go get a cell phone, I will pay the monthly fees. With this credit card order the stuff needed for the party. I can’t deal with it anymore. Please go now.”
The New Year’s Eve party was an amazing success. Jenny had never in her entire life, seen so much money burnt on just one party! She gathered in a Tupperware several goodies to share with the kids, then looked for Sandra to tell her she was leaving then.
“Happy New Year Sandra, and thanks for everything, the extra income has really made a difference to us.”
“Happy New Year to you too Hun!” This time, she opened her arms to Jenny for a genuine felt embrace. There were no more pretenses among them now. There was a common denominator, that of two young women who had made bad choices in life, and paid for the consequences on a daily basis.
“Don’t forget to come tomorrow to help me with the mess. Just make it after 12:00PM; surely I won’t be awake before that.” She softly kissed Jenny on the cheek.
The following day Jenny was barricaded from Sandra’s home.
The cops simply told her there was a homicide investigation, and he could not let anyone in there, except the detectives and forensics. She inquired again, as to whom…what happened, to no avail. The cop would not release any information.
Jenny dialed Sandra’s cell phone several times….only the mail box answered.
The New Year’s Eve party was an amazing success. Jenny had never in her entire life, seen so much money burnt on just one party! She gathered in a Tupperware several goodies to share with the kids, then looked for Sandra to tell her she was leaving then.
“Happy New Year Sandra, and thanks for everything, the extra income has really made a difference to us.”
“Happy New Year to you too Hun!” This time, she opened her arms to Jenny for a genuine felt embrace. There were no more pretenses among them now. There was a common denominator, that of two young women who had made bad choices in life, and paid for the consequences on a daily basis.
“Don’t forget to come tomorrow to help me with the mess. Just make it after 12:00PM; surely I won’t be awake before that.” She softly kissed Jenny on the cheek.
The following day Jenny was barricaded from Sandra’s home.
The cops simply told her there was a homicide investigation, and he could not let anyone in there, except the detectives and forensics. She inquired again, as to whom…what happened, to no avail. The cop would not release any information.
Jenny dialed Sandra’s cell phone several times….only the mail box answered.
