Her Journey Begins (27 page)

  
“
Worse than that.
”

  
“
What, layoffs?
”

  
“
No, even worse than that. The store is going to close down. Cody
‘
s is filing for bankruptcy.
”

  
“
What? Where did you hear that from?
”

  
“
Jenny in layaway overheard two of the managers talking about it. Sounds like we only have six months left. Well, I
’
ve got to close up and go take my lunch. I
’
ll let you know if I hear anything else.
”

Chris clenches and unclenches her hands as she watches her walk away.



   It
’
s been two months since she was laid off. Groaning Chris is counting out all the money she has left.
“
Ugh, there is never going to be enough no matter how many times I count it. Oh God what am I going to do.
”
And she lays her head down on the table. She
’
s already 2 weeks late on the rent. Her lab classes are supposed to be starting next week and she can
’
t pay for those and she has nothing left to sell at yard sales. Lifting her head up, she sweeps her hand across the table, scattering the bills and change all over the floor, then lays her head back down. Finally Chris gets down on her hands and knees and picks up the money while sniffling and muttering,
“
They will just have to take what I
’
ve got.
”

   Sitting at the landlord
’
s kitchen table Chris looks down at the stacks of coins and bills she brought.
“
But it
’
s all I have.
”

   
“
I
’
m sorry Chris I can
’
t take the $176 dollars. The owner has been on my case for letting the tenants slip behind on their rent. In order for you to stay, you need to pay this month
’
s and next month
’
s rent, the late charges and renew your $100 dollar security. There
’
s nothing else I can do.
”

  
“
How am I going to come up with $650 dollars?
”

  
“
I don
’
t know. I am really sorry that I have to do this, but all tenants that are behind right now are getting the 3 day pay or quit notices. If you can
’
t come up with the total amount in 3 days, you have until the end of the month to move. That
’
s the best I can do.
”


                                                             

   Walking into her photography class later that night Chris walks up to the professor.

  
“
I am going to have to drop my class.
”

  
“
Why, what
’
s wrong?
”

  
“
I can
’
t afford to take the lab classes and if I can
’
t afford to take them then I have to drop this class also. So tonight will be my last class.
”

Once class is over, Chris hands the drop sheet to the professor to sign.
“
Is there anything I can do to help you?
”

  
“
Not unless you can find me a really cheap apartment. I was laid off my job after the holidays and have fallen behind on my rent, so I am being evicted at the end of the month, that is, if I can
’
t come up with the total amount they want. I
’
m sorry, this isn
’
t your problem. I just wanted to thank you for being such a wonderful teacher. I learned a lot from your class.
”

  
“
I am really sorry to hear that. You are one of my best students and you have the potential to be a great photographer. What are you going to do?
”

Looking down Chris shakes her head,
“
I don
’
t know.
”
She puts her hand out to him, says goodbye and walks towards the door.

  
“
Chris, maybe there is something I can do for you. Wait up and I
’
ll walk out with you.
”

As they are walking out towards the parking lot he notices that his is the only car left.
“
Do you need a ride?
”

  
“
No thank you, I
’
ll take the bus.
”

  
“
Chris, I can
’
t pay for your lab classes, but maybe there is another way I can help with your living arrangements. I have an extra room at my place. I have been meaning to put up a notice on the bulletin board looking for a roommate. If you would be interested in renting it, I am only asking $100 a month. I was looking for a male roommate, but I can
’
t see anything wrong with having a female roommate. I mean you would have your own room and all the privileges a guy would.
”

  
“
I
’
m not sure, but I do thank you for the offer.
”

  
“
Here let me give you my number. Think about it and let me know before next week
’
s class. Then if you don
’
t want it, I
’
ll be able to put up a notice when I come in next week.
”

Riding the bus home, Chris thinks about what he said and starts calculating in her head.
Right now, I
’
ve got $176 dollars so I would have the first month
’
s rent covered and then when I get my $75 from unemployment I
’
ll have enough to pay the next month
’
s rent and still be able to afford some food.

  


   Lying in bed that night thinking she will have to decide sometime this week or come up with another idea, Chris doesn
’
t want to take him up on his offer, but what other choice does she have. With her stomach growling she cries herself to sleep.



   Up early the next morning, Chris makes herself half a peanut butter and jelly sandwich and then uses the last of her coffee to make a fresh pot. She cleans up the apartment and looking around, she knows she needs to get out of here for awhile. As her stomach begins to growl she wonders what mom
’
s making for lunch, maybe she
’
ll stop by there before going over to the cemetery to see Brandon.



   Walking up to the porch, Chris sees Barb sitting on the porch swing.
“
Hi Chrissy, what are you doing here? Aren
’
t you working today?
”

  
“
Hi mom, no not today. I thought I
’
d stop and
…
Her stomach growls and she smiles.

  
“
Come on, I
’
ll warm you up some of the leftover enchiladas I made last night for dinner.
”

  
“
Thanks mom.
”
Chris tells her as she follows her into the kitchen.

  
“
Are you doing okay Chrissy? You look awful thin and tired.
”

  
“
I
’
m fine mom. I just wanted to stop by and visit you before I go see Brandon. Mom, do you believe in fate? I mean you
’
re always telling me everything happens for a reason and
…”

  
“
Are you referring to Brandon dying?
”

  
“
Yeah. You know mom, the day he died, everything was weird. I had felt uneasy when Brandon took me to work that day. He even wanted to take me back home, but I told him I
’
d be okay. I blamed myself for him dying for awhile and yet I blamed his mom, because if she wouldn
’
t have disowned him, I don
’
t think we would have been working there still. Then Amber told me it was her fault that he was late because her car wouldn
’
t start after their class. Even Brent has blamed himself for working overtime that night or he would have been there.
”

  
“
Why would Brent have been there?
”

  
“
Because he always drove by the store on his way home and if Brandon wasn
’
t there Brent would stay with me until Brandon got there.
”

  
“
Didn
’
t that upset Brandon?
”

  
“
It did the first time, but Brent told him,
“
If you
’
re not here when I drive by, even if I have to sit in the parking lot, I will stay here until you get here, because it
’
s not safe for Chris to be here by herself that late at night.
”
I don
’
t know why mom, but do you think that with everything that happened it was just Brandon
’
s time to go? I mean even if I had stayed home, he could have been mugged in the parking lot at school or had a car crash on the way home.
”

  
“
I don
’
t know Chrissy.
”

  Chris looks towards the driveway.
“
Where
’
s dad at?
”

  
“
He went to go help Tim and Judy move some things into storage. They leave next week for Japan. If they don
‘
t quit cutting your dad
‘
s hours we are going to have to pack up and move to Japan too.
”
Barb chuckles at the look on Chris
’
face.
“
I
’
m kidding. Even if the company closes down your dad and I will be okay. We
‘
ll just have to cut back some more. How about your job, is everything okay? They haven
’
t cut back your hours again have they?
”

Chris hates to lie to her, but she doesn
‘
t want Barb to worry.
“
My job
’
s okay.
”
Chris changes the subject.
“
So why didn
’
t you go to help?
”

  
“
I don
’
t know really. For some reason, I had this gut feeling that you would be by today and I didn
’
t want to miss you.
”

Chris smiles,
“
Well I guess your gut was right.
”

  
“
Chris, do you want a ride to the cemetery?
”

  
“
No, I think I
’
ll just take the bus, visit with him for awhile and then I
’
ll take the bus home.
”

  
“
What are your plans for when you get home?
”

  
“
I have some laundry to finish and by the time that
’
s done, it will be time for dinner. Then I think I will do some reading.
”

  
“
Chris I
’
m going to have a going away dinner for Tim and Judy next Saturday. Do you think you can come? They
’
d really like to see you before they leave.
”

  
“
I don
’
t know mom, I
’
ll have to check my schedule. Well I better get going. Thank you for lunch.
”