-“The fare is $1.25. You need to give one dollar and one quarter.” The driver slowly pronounced the words condescendingly, as he gave back the $50 dollar bill to Jenny.
Taking back the bill, Jenny puts it back in the wallet, and searches for two single dollar bills which she then hands to the bus driver.
The driver took the two dollars and made an elaborate gesture of inserting those into the money slot. He looked at Jenny as if the effort to do this was simply too much.
Feeling stupid, Jenny gathered her stuff and went to the back of the bus. Seated on the last row, Jenny reclined her face on the window sill and looked out into the night as the bus drove off.
It was after a few miles that hunger, thirst, and just plain exhaustion took over Jenny.
She broke down to sob without making too much noise. What she missed most in the world right now, was the image of her angel. She felt utterly alone and lost in this dark, intimidating world -- everything was so unfamiliar to her. Calling on her angel, she asked that he not desert her, and asked him for guidance.
Shivering from cold as the air conditioner on the bus was turned on at full blast, Jenny felt that the first step would be to remedy that situation. The massive building of a store loomed just ahead. She got up from her seat and ran to the front door.
-“I want to get out.” Jenny said. The driver offered an exasperated glance, and opened the door at the next bus stop.
Jenny sat on the bus stop to put on her silver sandals once again. She made her way to the glass doors which automatically opened to let her in. So as not to draw undue attention to herself, she decided to copy how the other people behaved.
She pulled a cart and pushed that in front, just like she saw the others do. She decided that she needed a sweater, as the night was unbearably cold. Walking to the women’s clothing section, she moved along to the junior section when she found nothing to her liking there. Jenny chose a red sweatshirt, and a pair of jeans which were on sale.
There was so much cool stuff in this place that she decided to investigate it. She came upon the shoe section and chose a pair of sneakers, as her silver sandals were very beautiful, yet frankly, too uncomfortable to run in. She then chose a bag of white socks, and cotton underwear.
Thinking that she needed a toothbrush and paste, no matter where she went, Jenny went on her quest when suddenly she stopped cold in her tracks. She had come upon the home décor section of this place, and there covered in glass and framed in a burnt gold finish, was her angel waiting for her.
Jenny could not hold back the tears of joy, as she took this as a sign that she was not alone in the world. She ran with her cart and grabbed the framed art, to embrace it lovingly to her heart.
Wiping her tears with the sleeve of her new sweatshirt, she renewed her quest to find the toothpaste. On her way she stopped in awe at every single aisle, while checking out the goods on display. When the overhead speaker announced that the store would be closed in fifteen minutes, Jenny finally stopped her browsing and diligently searched for the toothbrush.
Paying extra attention to the money, as this was her lifeline at this moment, she meticulously counted the money the cashier had asked for. She had been very lucky she thought, that the old man’s wallet was plump with cash. He must be very generous if he had given Myrna $2,000 dollars, she concluded.
Taking her purchases to the store’s public restroom, Jenny changed into her new clothing. She folded her beautiful dress, and set it in a bag on top of her silver sandals. As she walked out into the night, and she saw people rushing to their cars and warm homes, she felt anew the burden of her plight.
She did not have anyone to turn to, and she was so hungry and very tired.
Not true! - she switched her thinking mode. She was embracing her angel, and she had a beautiful pink dress and sandals fit for a princess. She also had a lot of money stuffed in the pocket of her new jeans. Yet most importantly, she now had the freedom to do whatever she wanted with her life - she had herself!
Walking to the main avenue she saw an open eatery. Jenny picked up the pace, and walked towards this beckoning place.
-“Table for two?” asked the cashier.
-“It’s just me. I just want to eat something.” Jenny said wondering why she had asked for two, did she not see that she was all alone? Stupid woman.
Seated at a booth in the back of the restaurant, Jenny opened the colorful menu to be tempted by all the pictures of delicious food. She carefully placed the framed image of her angel right next to her.
-“Anything else I can get for you miss?” asked the waiter once again. Jenny had already eaten a side of pancakes, fries and a burger, and a chocolate milk shake. She could not eat anymore, nor hold off sleep at all.
-“Just more water please.” Jenny turned to look at the wall clock. It read 2:30 am.
-“Miss, you can’t sleep here, wake up please! Don’t you have somewhere to sleep?” The waiter asked. Raising her head, Jenny looked at the clock which said it was 4:00 am.
-“I’m just waiting for daylight to find a place to stay. I need a job, and a place to stay.” Jenny said in hopes that he might indicate of any.
Looking down at her sleep-deprived face with haunted eyes, way too mature for a kid her age, Jose decided to help her.
-“Listen, I think my wife can help you. She cleans houses and she knows a lot of people. My shift ends at 7:00 am. If you want I will open the door to my car, and you can sleep in the back until my shift ends.
All I can offer you is to sleep there until my shift ends, and then take you to see my wife. I am sure that she will find something for you – don’t worry.
I have a daughter about your age, and I would not want to see her alone with no place to go. I’ll take care of the check, just go to the back of the restaurant, and meet me there in five minutes so that I can unlock my car.” Jose said.
He looked like someone who could be trusted, at least he did not look at her with lust - and which other options did she have? Jenny went to the restroom to wash her teeth, and then met Jose at the designated spot.
Before drifting off to sleep, she placed her angel in front of her seat and thanked him for not deserting her. She hoped that perhaps there were angels who pretended to be people, and that she would encounter those in her path. There was so much to see and investigate in this new world which would be her home, and she was excited by the prospect.
Before she fully succumbed to sleep, Jenny felt a sweet kiss once more upon her cheek.
To be continued….
