"This conversation is being recorded please state your name," the officer says.
"Jennifer Wilson."
"How do you know the deceased," the officer says.
"He was my boyfriend."
"Are you aware that he was married?"
"I just found out," Jennifer replied with the anger still in her voice.
"Let's backtrack how did you meet him?"
"We met at a club. I was out with some girlfriends and he sent a bottle of champagne to our table then came over to talk to me. It turned out he was the owner so we exchanged numbers and started dating."
"How long ago was this?"
"It was a little over two years ago."
"Was it your understanding that it was exclusive?"
"At first it was just dating but it got serious after about three or four months we were seeing each other almost every weekend and sometimes during the week."
"How would you describe your relationship?"
"For the most part it was good he was attentive and loving," Jennifer says as she remembers how wonderful it felt to be with such a handsome and strong man.
"For the most part?"
"Well he could be jealous sometimes and I only a cell phone for him and for the longest time I never went to his house."
"What did you think about that?"
"I thought he had another woman and I was always asking him and he said he didn't have a house phone and that he didn't like his house and was looking for a new one."
"You believed that?"
"I know a lot of people only have a cell phone so I believed that but not the house thing so about nine months ago he brought me to the house and it's beautiful but a little old fashioned. He said he didn't spend much time there and that was it."
"How did you find out he was married?"
"I was still suspicious so I started snooping. I couldn't find anything in his cell phone or on the Internet so a couple of months ago I started following him after he left my house."
"You followed him?"
"I know it's stupid and I'm a lawyer and should know better but I was so in love with him and I had to know."
"So what happened?"
"I saw him go home and I waited there until the next morning and I saw a woman leave the house with two little kids then I saw Jonathan leave for work. I did this for awhile until one day a couple of weeks ago I took my niece to the preschool the woman took the kids pretending I wanted her to go there and asked about the woman and found out her name was Natasha and she was married to Jonathan."
"Let me get this straight you pretended to be enrolling your niece in school to ask around about Jonathan's wife?"
"Yes I am not proud of it but yes I had to know for sure," Jennifer says with shame.
"What happened then?"
"I tried to figure out a way to confront him I decided not to just confront him alone because I wanted his wife to know so I decided to go to the house. He told me he couldn't spend time with me today because of golf but I figured he was really spending time with his wife."
"What did you do?"
"I went to the house early this morning and I saw both cars there then the wife came out with the kids and they drove off and she came back alone about forty minutes later. I waited for a couple of hours then I went and knocked on the door."
"What happened?"
"Jonathan answered and asked what I was doing there and I told him I knew he was married and was going to tell his wife he tried to close the door on me and I stuck my foot in and forced my way in."
"Then what happened?"
"I told his wife who I was and Jonathan tried to shut me up and get me to leave when I refused he slapped me then his wife tried to leave and he grabbed her. She hit him and he went crazy hitting her and when I tried to stop him he threw me on the ground and I hit my head on the floor."
"How did the gun get involved?"
"He got it out of the end table and pointed it at his wife I thought he was going to shoot her so I kicked him and the gun went off then he pointed at me and I thought I was going to die. The wife grabbed him they struggled and she got the gun he came after her and she shot him then I called the police."
"So Mrs. Richardson shot her husband?"
"Yes but he was crazed I never saw him so angry I think he would have tried to kill us both if she hadn't."
"Ms. Wilson did you know Mrs. Richardson before this?"
"No the first time I saw her was when I first started following Jonathan."
"Thank you."
Over the next couple of days the police looked at police reports and interviewed friends neighbors and the preschool workers. They found that the story checked out there was a history of domestic violence by Jonathan against his wife, there was no evidence the women knew each other and workers at the preschool remembered Jennifer asking about Natasha. Also the evidence at the scene supported their story so police decided it was self defense and no charges were brought.
Six months later Jennifer and Natasha meet up in Chicago they are each there for vacation and meet for dinner. They haven't seen each other since that day.
"How are you?" Jennifer asks as she sits down where Natasha is waiting.
"I'm good and you?"
"Good I decided to start my own law practice and it's going well," Jennifer replies.
"That's good the kids and I moved out of the house and I sold a couple of his businesses and I quit my job as a social worker and manage the other businesses from home," Natasha says.
"Good for you."
They make small talk until their meal arrives.
"So have you had any problems since it happened?" Natasha asks.
"No"
"The police haven't contacted you?"
"No they closed the case as self defense have they contacted you?" Jennifer asks.
"No," Natasha says with a smile.
"So it's over."
"It's over."
"We got away with it so there is some justice in the world," Jennifer says as she sips her wine.
"You didn't tell anyone that you really met me six months ago after I found your number in my husband's phone right."
"Of course not I'm a lawyer I'm not risking my law license by revealing being involved in a murder plot," Jennifer whispers.
"I don't like the sound of murder plot he was abusive and it was the only way out for me," Natasha says.
"Trust me I understand my mom was abused by my dad and she was never safe until he died of a heart attack when I was twelve," Jennifer says.
"Is that why you agreed to help me after we met?"
"That and the fact that he was a lying bastard," Jennifer says.
"I just hope we were careful enough," Natasha says nervously.
Jennifer stops eating and puts her hand over Natasha's. "We were there is nothing to suggest we know each other you called me from his phone we met away from where anyone knew us and you really shot him in self defense because he would have killed you."
"I know you are right."
"Let's enjoy this delicious meal," Jennifer says with a smile.
Natasha smiles and they finish dinner.
"You know we can't meet again right," Jennifer says as they walk toward the door.
"I know and thank you," Natasha says as they hug.
"You take care of yourself."
"You too," Natasha says as they walk their separate ways.
The End
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Sunday, September 19, 2010
Reap what you sow
Jonathan Richardson is lying dead on the living room floor of his home. The cause of death is a single gunshot wound to the head. Two women stand over him. The gun lies on the floor next to Jonathan.
One is Natasha Richardson his wife of 10 years and the mother of his two young children. The other is Jennifer Wilson his mistress of 2 years.
The police arrive and separate the women and bring them to the police station to get their statements.
Natasha is in tears as the police officer begins to question her.
"Mrs. Richardson I'm sorry for your loss. I have to let you know there's a video camera in here and this conversation will be recorded," the officer says.
"Ok."
"Let's start with the easy stuff ok, what's your name?"
"Natasha Richardson."
"Where do you live?"
"543 Hidden Valley Lane Bloomfield Hills Michigan"
"How do you know the deceased Jonathan Richardson?"
"He's he's my husband," as she dissolves into tears.
The officer hands her some Kleenex and waits until she collects herself before asking more questions.
"How long were you married?"
"We just celebrated our 10 year anniversary in August so it was a month ago."
"Do you have any children together?"
"Yes we have twin girls who are 3 years old."
"Now Mrs. Richardson I have to ask you what happened today?"
"This morning I dropped the girls off at my mom's house because she wanted to spend the day with them and take them to the zoo."
"Where did you go after you dropped the girls off?"
"I came back to the house."
"Where was Mr. Richardson?"
"He was home, I made breakfast then we watched some TV together."
"What happened next?"
"After watching TV for a couple of hours there was a knock at the door and Jonathan went to answer it. I heard some muffled voices and then this woman came storming into the living room."
"Was the woman Jennifer Wilson the woman who was in the house when police arrived?"
"Yes it was her."
"Do you know Ms. Wilson?"
"No I had never met her before."
"What happened after she came in?"
Natasha recounts what happened.
"Is this her is this your wife," Jennifer yelled as she stormed into the living room.
"Yes I am his wife and who are you," Natasha replied.
"I am your husband's girlfriend and have been for the last 2 years," Jennifer said with a smug look on her face.
"Jonathan is this true," Natasha asked her husband.
"Shut up Natasha Jennifer I told you to never come here," Jonathan said angrily.
"Wait a minute don't tell me to shut up when some woman comes barging in here claiming to be your girlfriend," Natasha said as she stood up from the couch.
"Look I had a little fling ok it's no big deal let me handle this bitch," Jonathan said.
"Bitch who are you calling a bitch and it was more than a fling we had a relationship," Jennifer said angrily.
"I didn't have a relationship with you ok I have a wife and kids."
"Which I didn't find out about until today so don't act like I knew," Jennifer said.
"I can't believe this," Natasha said while hanging her head.
"Let me handle this," Jonathan said as he turned to Jennifer, "and you need to get the hell out my house."
"I don't need to do anything," Jennifer said with her hands on her hips.
Slap. Jonathan slapped Jennifer across the face. Jennifer grabbed her mouth in shock.
"Jonathan," Natasha yelled.
"You better shut up or you're going to get it too."
"I'm not going to let you treat me like this anymore I'm done with this shit," Natasha said as she headed for the stairs to the second floor.
"You're not going anywhere," Jonathan said as he blocked the entryway.
"Move Jonathan I can't take the abuse and the blatant disrespect anymore and now you're cheating I am done."
Jonathan grabbed Natasha by the arm.
"You are not leaving me over this bitch now calm down and let me handle her and we can talk once she leaves," Jonathan said through gritted teeth.
"You're hurting my arm let me go," Natasha said with tears coming to her eyes.
"Hey leave her alone," Jennifer said while standing just inside the entryway.
"You shut up and get out of my house this is between me and my wife."
"Let me go John let me go." Natasha struggled to get her arm free then slapped him with her free hand.
Jonathan let her arm go and stood there for a moment with a stunned look on his face.
Natasha's heart froze as she saw the all too familiar rage build in his eyes. He charged after her and she tried to run but was too slow.
He grabbed her and punched her in the face until she doubled over. He kicked her in the stomach and she fell to the ground. He kept kicking her. Jennifer ran and jumped on his back.
"Get off her," Jennifer yelled.
Jonathan reared back and Jennifer fell to the ground. He turned his attention back to Natasha.
"You are not leaving me."
Natasha crawled away from Jonathan and headed toward the end table by the couch. He walked past her and went to the end table and opened the drawer pulling out the gun he kept there.
"Is this what you're looking for?" Jonathan asked with a sinister look on his face.
He aimed the gun at Natasha on the floor.
"Oh my God," Jennifer said.
Natasha unsteadily stood up and faced Jonathan.
"If you're going to do it then do it because I'm tired," she said.
Jonathan continued to point the gun at Natasha. He took off the safety and started to move his finger toward the trigger. Jennifer kicked him in the leg and the gun went off and the shot went into the floor.
Jonathan turned toward Jennifer and aimed the gun at her. Natasha grabbed the gun and they struggled. She wrestled the gun away from him. He came toward her and she shot.
He fell to the floor and Natasha dropped the gun. Jennifer shakily went to ther purse got her cell phone and called the police.
"So that's what happened," Natasha says to the police officer.
"Had Jonathan ever been violent before?"
"Yes it started with just controlling behavior always asking me where I was, getting jealous of me spending time with family and friends, checking my cell phone and over time it progressed to physical acts," Natasha says feeling embarassed that she was in an abusive relationship.
She's an educated woman. She has her master's in social work and is a social worker. She never thought she'd end up being the battered wife but that's what she became.
"Did you ever leave?"
"Yes I left a few times and he would find me and apologize and I would go back," she responds.
"What about the police were they ever involved?"
"Yes I called them a few times but I always backed out of pressing charges. Once the prosecutor pursued charges but I didn't show up for court. I didn't want him to go to jail. I loved him. Most of the time he was good and loving it's just that sometimes" she trailed off.
"Is there anything else you want to tell me about what happened today or your relationship with your husband?"
"No that's everything."
"Thank you Mrs. Richardson."
Meanwhile Jennifer Wilson is being interviewed in the next room.
Stay tuned for part 2.
One is Natasha Richardson his wife of 10 years and the mother of his two young children. The other is Jennifer Wilson his mistress of 2 years.
The police arrive and separate the women and bring them to the police station to get their statements.
Natasha is in tears as the police officer begins to question her.
"Mrs. Richardson I'm sorry for your loss. I have to let you know there's a video camera in here and this conversation will be recorded," the officer says.
"Ok."
"Let's start with the easy stuff ok, what's your name?"
"Natasha Richardson."
"Where do you live?"
"543 Hidden Valley Lane Bloomfield Hills Michigan"
"How do you know the deceased Jonathan Richardson?"
"He's he's my husband," as she dissolves into tears.
The officer hands her some Kleenex and waits until she collects herself before asking more questions.
"How long were you married?"
"We just celebrated our 10 year anniversary in August so it was a month ago."
"Do you have any children together?"
"Yes we have twin girls who are 3 years old."
"Now Mrs. Richardson I have to ask you what happened today?"
"This morning I dropped the girls off at my mom's house because she wanted to spend the day with them and take them to the zoo."
"Where did you go after you dropped the girls off?"
"I came back to the house."
"Where was Mr. Richardson?"
"He was home, I made breakfast then we watched some TV together."
"What happened next?"
"After watching TV for a couple of hours there was a knock at the door and Jonathan went to answer it. I heard some muffled voices and then this woman came storming into the living room."
"Was the woman Jennifer Wilson the woman who was in the house when police arrived?"
"Yes it was her."
"Do you know Ms. Wilson?"
"No I had never met her before."
"What happened after she came in?"
Natasha recounts what happened.
"Is this her is this your wife," Jennifer yelled as she stormed into the living room.
"Yes I am his wife and who are you," Natasha replied.
"I am your husband's girlfriend and have been for the last 2 years," Jennifer said with a smug look on her face.
"Jonathan is this true," Natasha asked her husband.
"Shut up Natasha Jennifer I told you to never come here," Jonathan said angrily.
"Wait a minute don't tell me to shut up when some woman comes barging in here claiming to be your girlfriend," Natasha said as she stood up from the couch.
"Look I had a little fling ok it's no big deal let me handle this bitch," Jonathan said.
"Bitch who are you calling a bitch and it was more than a fling we had a relationship," Jennifer said angrily.
"I didn't have a relationship with you ok I have a wife and kids."
"Which I didn't find out about until today so don't act like I knew," Jennifer said.
"I can't believe this," Natasha said while hanging her head.
"Let me handle this," Jonathan said as he turned to Jennifer, "and you need to get the hell out my house."
"I don't need to do anything," Jennifer said with her hands on her hips.
Slap. Jonathan slapped Jennifer across the face. Jennifer grabbed her mouth in shock.
"Jonathan," Natasha yelled.
"You better shut up or you're going to get it too."
"I'm not going to let you treat me like this anymore I'm done with this shit," Natasha said as she headed for the stairs to the second floor.
"You're not going anywhere," Jonathan said as he blocked the entryway.
"Move Jonathan I can't take the abuse and the blatant disrespect anymore and now you're cheating I am done."
Jonathan grabbed Natasha by the arm.
"You are not leaving me over this bitch now calm down and let me handle her and we can talk once she leaves," Jonathan said through gritted teeth.
"You're hurting my arm let me go," Natasha said with tears coming to her eyes.
"Hey leave her alone," Jennifer said while standing just inside the entryway.
"You shut up and get out of my house this is between me and my wife."
"Let me go John let me go." Natasha struggled to get her arm free then slapped him with her free hand.
Jonathan let her arm go and stood there for a moment with a stunned look on his face.
Natasha's heart froze as she saw the all too familiar rage build in his eyes. He charged after her and she tried to run but was too slow.
He grabbed her and punched her in the face until she doubled over. He kicked her in the stomach and she fell to the ground. He kept kicking her. Jennifer ran and jumped on his back.
"Get off her," Jennifer yelled.
Jonathan reared back and Jennifer fell to the ground. He turned his attention back to Natasha.
"You are not leaving me."
Natasha crawled away from Jonathan and headed toward the end table by the couch. He walked past her and went to the end table and opened the drawer pulling out the gun he kept there.
"Is this what you're looking for?" Jonathan asked with a sinister look on his face.
He aimed the gun at Natasha on the floor.
"Oh my God," Jennifer said.
Natasha unsteadily stood up and faced Jonathan.
"If you're going to do it then do it because I'm tired," she said.
Jonathan continued to point the gun at Natasha. He took off the safety and started to move his finger toward the trigger. Jennifer kicked him in the leg and the gun went off and the shot went into the floor.
Jonathan turned toward Jennifer and aimed the gun at her. Natasha grabbed the gun and they struggled. She wrestled the gun away from him. He came toward her and she shot.
He fell to the floor and Natasha dropped the gun. Jennifer shakily went to ther purse got her cell phone and called the police.
"So that's what happened," Natasha says to the police officer.
"Had Jonathan ever been violent before?"
"Yes it started with just controlling behavior always asking me where I was, getting jealous of me spending time with family and friends, checking my cell phone and over time it progressed to physical acts," Natasha says feeling embarassed that she was in an abusive relationship.
She's an educated woman. She has her master's in social work and is a social worker. She never thought she'd end up being the battered wife but that's what she became.
"Did you ever leave?"
"Yes I left a few times and he would find me and apologize and I would go back," she responds.
"What about the police were they ever involved?"
"Yes I called them a few times but I always backed out of pressing charges. Once the prosecutor pursued charges but I didn't show up for court. I didn't want him to go to jail. I loved him. Most of the time he was good and loving it's just that sometimes" she trailed off.
"Is there anything else you want to tell me about what happened today or your relationship with your husband?"
"No that's everything."
"Thank you Mrs. Richardson."
Meanwhile Jennifer Wilson is being interviewed in the next room.
Stay tuned for part 2.
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
The house with the picket fence, Part 3
As soon as she hears the barn door close Jade begins to look around at her surroundings. She's in a horse stable at the end of the barn opposite where she entered.
Her feet aren't tied to the chair which is an old wooden rocking chair. She starts to rock and roll the chair until she's able to turn around enough to see where He got the saw.
What she sees is horrifying. There's a big table with saws, knives, hammers, screwdrivers and other tools that are all covered with blood. At one end of the table there are little jars.
Jade squints and tries to make out what's in the jars and to her surprise they are eyes. There are about 5 jars the size of a small jelly jar each with a pair of eyes floating in a mystery liquid.
Jade starts to dry heave, leans over and throws up on the floor.
Oh my god He collects eyes, Jade thinks with a new wave of terror washing over her.
She can feel that she's about to hyperventilate and tries to calm herself down so that she can think clearly.
She starts to reach with her long fingers to feel what is tying her hands and it's some sort of twine.
Jade points the rocking chair toward the table and starts rocking and trying to move forward but all she's doing is rocking in place or side to side she can't go forward.
She begins to panic and rocks harder until she falls over on her left side. She's only a few feet from the table but she still can't reach it. So she starts to scoot and scoot until she reaches a table leg.
Before she fell on the ground she noticed a small knife on the table near the edge closest to her. Jade scoots right up to the table leg and starts slamming her body into it.
The small knife falls to the ground near her feet. She scoots over then reaches with her foot until she gets the knife. She kicks it with her feet behind her then scoots down and feels around with her hand for the knife.
Her wrists are being rubbed raw by the twine as she feels along the barn floor for the knife. Finally she finds it and is just barely able to grip it by the tips of her fingers.
Creak. Jade freezes as she hears the barn door open. She grabs the knife and closes it in her hand cutting herself in the process.
"How you on the floor," He asks as he stares down at her from the stable doorway.
"I rocked and fell," Jade says praying he can't see the knife in her hand.
He walks over and picks her up chair and all with one hand and sets her upright.
"Thank you," she smiles hoping that a little niceness will help her.
He just stares at her for what seems like hours. Then he walks past her and heads toward the table.
Jade's pulse quickens and she begins to sweat. He stands in front of her with a butcher knife.
"What are you doing?"
He says nothing as he reaches down and quickly slices through the front of her sweatshirt. He opens the shirt and looks at her bare breasts. Jade wishes she was wearing a bra and prays that all he does is look.
He takes the knife and runs the flat part of the blade over her chest from her neck to her navel.
She holds her breath and tries to find a good grip on the knife which is slipping from her sweaty hands.
He uses the tip of the knife and slices her from under her breast to her stomach.
She screams with surprise and pain. He smiles and does the same under her other breast. It feels like a really bad paper cut.
She looks down and sees the blood and it looks like her breasts are crying.
He stands back and looks at her smiling for awhile while standing perfectly still. Jade is starting to think this is the most he'll do for now when suddenly he plunges the knife in her right thigh.
"Aaahhhh" Jade screams.
"You not going nowhere, I'll be back later I'm hungry," He says as he puts the knife back on the table and walks out of the barn.
There's a blinding pain coming from her thigh and her chest is stinging from the cuts. Tears roll down her face as she tries to go past the pain and find a way to get out of there.
She manages to turn the knife around in her hand. She pushes it up so the blade is in line with the twine on her wrists and she starts rubbing it against the twine. Slowly but surely the twine starts to tear away.
She hears the door open again after a few minutes and holds her breath. She hears footsteps then Earl appears in the doorway. He walks over to her then opens her shirt more to see.
"Now that's some fine cutting my son sure is talented isn't he?" Earl says while beaming with pride.
Jade just stares at him like he's crazy.
Earl whistles and walks out of the barn. As soon as she hears the door close she starts again tearing away at the twine. Minutes later the door opens again and June soon appears at the doorway.
She's holding a bottle of alcohol and a roll of paper towels. Jade stops while June comes over and starts dabbing at the wounds on her chest with the alcohol. She winces at the sting of the alcohol.
"Sorry about that dear," June says.
"Why are you doing this?" Jade asks.
June doesn't look at her and keeps cleaning the wounds then she takes a wad of paper towels doused with the alcohol and places it on the stab wound in her thigh.
"Ow," Jade says as the fresh pain hits her thigh.
"Let this stay on to stop the bleeding," June says as she walks out of the stable.
"June please don't do this," Jade pleads.
A pained look comes across June's face. "I have to dear I'm sorry."
"No wait, June, June," she calls out until she hears the door close. Jade goes back to working away the twine before He comes back.
Finally it breaks away and she's able to free her hands.
"Ah," she says as she takes her hands from behind her back puts the knife on her lap and massages her wrists. Her hands are bleeding so she rubs her palms on the paper towel on her thigh.
Thump. Thump. Thump.
He's coming, she thinks. She quickly grabs the knife and puts her hands behind her back and angles her body so that she's facing the doorway and it looks like she's still tied up.
He appears in the doorway. "Mama cleaned you up."
"Yes."
He goes straight to the table and picks up another knife. He bends down until his face is in line with hers. He raises the knife.
Jade quickly brings her hands from behind her back and stabs him in the side of the head with the knife.
He grabs his head and stumbles and falls on the ground. She jumps out of the chair and comes over to him and grabs the knife in his hand.
She kneels over him where he's rolling around on the floor and plunges the knife in his chest over and over again.
"This is for everyone you've killed you sick bastard," she screams with rage.
When she stops she's exhausted, sweating, breathing heavily and covered in blood. She hears footsteps and looks up and Earl is standing in the doorway.
"What did you do to my boy?"
"Back up Earl just back up and let me leave," she says while gripping the knife. She edges toward the doorway and Earl blocks her.
"Move," she yells. Earl grabs her by the arms and Jade is surprised by his strength and she drops the knife.
He pushes her violently to the ground then starts kicking her.
"You stupid bitch you killed my son, you're going to pay for that," he says with hate in his eyes.
He bends down and picks up the knife. He stands over her with the knife raised.
"Let's see how you..." he trails off. The knife slips from his hands and he falls on the ground.
Jade scrambles to her hands and knees and looks in Earl's now lifeless eyes. She looks down his body and sees a knife sticking out of his back. She looks up and sees June standing there.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry," June repeats while crying.
Jade slowly gets up and walks past June never leaving her back to her. She backs up until she backs into the barn door. June is still saying she's sorry when Jade opens the door and runs for her life.
It's freezing and she only has on socks but she keeps running and holding her sweatshirt closed until she reaches the road and her car. Just as she gets to her car a tow truck pulls up. She runs to the truck and the driver gets out.
"Are you ok," the driver asks taking in her disheveled clothes which are covered in blood.
"Just call the police." The driver heads to his truck and calls the police. Jade stands there hugging herself and periodically looking back at the house until the police and ambulance show up. She wont move until an officer gently walks her to the ambulance and they drive away.
Jade looks out of the window as the house becomes smaller and smaller in the distance until she can't see it anymore. Only then does she breathe a sigh of relief.
*The End*
Her feet aren't tied to the chair which is an old wooden rocking chair. She starts to rock and roll the chair until she's able to turn around enough to see where He got the saw.
What she sees is horrifying. There's a big table with saws, knives, hammers, screwdrivers and other tools that are all covered with blood. At one end of the table there are little jars.
Jade squints and tries to make out what's in the jars and to her surprise they are eyes. There are about 5 jars the size of a small jelly jar each with a pair of eyes floating in a mystery liquid.
Jade starts to dry heave, leans over and throws up on the floor.
Oh my god He collects eyes, Jade thinks with a new wave of terror washing over her.
She can feel that she's about to hyperventilate and tries to calm herself down so that she can think clearly.
She starts to reach with her long fingers to feel what is tying her hands and it's some sort of twine.
Jade points the rocking chair toward the table and starts rocking and trying to move forward but all she's doing is rocking in place or side to side she can't go forward.
She begins to panic and rocks harder until she falls over on her left side. She's only a few feet from the table but she still can't reach it. So she starts to scoot and scoot until she reaches a table leg.
Before she fell on the ground she noticed a small knife on the table near the edge closest to her. Jade scoots right up to the table leg and starts slamming her body into it.
The small knife falls to the ground near her feet. She scoots over then reaches with her foot until she gets the knife. She kicks it with her feet behind her then scoots down and feels around with her hand for the knife.
Her wrists are being rubbed raw by the twine as she feels along the barn floor for the knife. Finally she finds it and is just barely able to grip it by the tips of her fingers.
Creak. Jade freezes as she hears the barn door open. She grabs the knife and closes it in her hand cutting herself in the process.
"How you on the floor," He asks as he stares down at her from the stable doorway.
"I rocked and fell," Jade says praying he can't see the knife in her hand.
He walks over and picks her up chair and all with one hand and sets her upright.
"Thank you," she smiles hoping that a little niceness will help her.
He just stares at her for what seems like hours. Then he walks past her and heads toward the table.
Jade's pulse quickens and she begins to sweat. He stands in front of her with a butcher knife.
"What are you doing?"
He says nothing as he reaches down and quickly slices through the front of her sweatshirt. He opens the shirt and looks at her bare breasts. Jade wishes she was wearing a bra and prays that all he does is look.
He takes the knife and runs the flat part of the blade over her chest from her neck to her navel.
She holds her breath and tries to find a good grip on the knife which is slipping from her sweaty hands.
He uses the tip of the knife and slices her from under her breast to her stomach.
She screams with surprise and pain. He smiles and does the same under her other breast. It feels like a really bad paper cut.
She looks down and sees the blood and it looks like her breasts are crying.
He stands back and looks at her smiling for awhile while standing perfectly still. Jade is starting to think this is the most he'll do for now when suddenly he plunges the knife in her right thigh.
"Aaahhhh" Jade screams.
"You not going nowhere, I'll be back later I'm hungry," He says as he puts the knife back on the table and walks out of the barn.
There's a blinding pain coming from her thigh and her chest is stinging from the cuts. Tears roll down her face as she tries to go past the pain and find a way to get out of there.
She manages to turn the knife around in her hand. She pushes it up so the blade is in line with the twine on her wrists and she starts rubbing it against the twine. Slowly but surely the twine starts to tear away.
She hears the door open again after a few minutes and holds her breath. She hears footsteps then Earl appears in the doorway. He walks over to her then opens her shirt more to see.
"Now that's some fine cutting my son sure is talented isn't he?" Earl says while beaming with pride.
Jade just stares at him like he's crazy.
Earl whistles and walks out of the barn. As soon as she hears the door close she starts again tearing away at the twine. Minutes later the door opens again and June soon appears at the doorway.
She's holding a bottle of alcohol and a roll of paper towels. Jade stops while June comes over and starts dabbing at the wounds on her chest with the alcohol. She winces at the sting of the alcohol.
"Sorry about that dear," June says.
"Why are you doing this?" Jade asks.
June doesn't look at her and keeps cleaning the wounds then she takes a wad of paper towels doused with the alcohol and places it on the stab wound in her thigh.
"Ow," Jade says as the fresh pain hits her thigh.
"Let this stay on to stop the bleeding," June says as she walks out of the stable.
"June please don't do this," Jade pleads.
A pained look comes across June's face. "I have to dear I'm sorry."
"No wait, June, June," she calls out until she hears the door close. Jade goes back to working away the twine before He comes back.
Finally it breaks away and she's able to free her hands.
"Ah," she says as she takes her hands from behind her back puts the knife on her lap and massages her wrists. Her hands are bleeding so she rubs her palms on the paper towel on her thigh.
Thump. Thump. Thump.
He's coming, she thinks. She quickly grabs the knife and puts her hands behind her back and angles her body so that she's facing the doorway and it looks like she's still tied up.
He appears in the doorway. "Mama cleaned you up."
"Yes."
He goes straight to the table and picks up another knife. He bends down until his face is in line with hers. He raises the knife.
Jade quickly brings her hands from behind her back and stabs him in the side of the head with the knife.
He grabs his head and stumbles and falls on the ground. She jumps out of the chair and comes over to him and grabs the knife in his hand.
She kneels over him where he's rolling around on the floor and plunges the knife in his chest over and over again.
"This is for everyone you've killed you sick bastard," she screams with rage.
When she stops she's exhausted, sweating, breathing heavily and covered in blood. She hears footsteps and looks up and Earl is standing in the doorway.
"What did you do to my boy?"
"Back up Earl just back up and let me leave," she says while gripping the knife. She edges toward the doorway and Earl blocks her.
"Move," she yells. Earl grabs her by the arms and Jade is surprised by his strength and she drops the knife.
He pushes her violently to the ground then starts kicking her.
"You stupid bitch you killed my son, you're going to pay for that," he says with hate in his eyes.
He bends down and picks up the knife. He stands over her with the knife raised.
"Let's see how you..." he trails off. The knife slips from his hands and he falls on the ground.
Jade scrambles to her hands and knees and looks in Earl's now lifeless eyes. She looks down his body and sees a knife sticking out of his back. She looks up and sees June standing there.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry," June repeats while crying.
Jade slowly gets up and walks past June never leaving her back to her. She backs up until she backs into the barn door. June is still saying she's sorry when Jade opens the door and runs for her life.
It's freezing and she only has on socks but she keeps running and holding her sweatshirt closed until she reaches the road and her car. Just as she gets to her car a tow truck pulls up. She runs to the truck and the driver gets out.
"Are you ok," the driver asks taking in her disheveled clothes which are covered in blood.
"Just call the police." The driver heads to his truck and calls the police. Jade stands there hugging herself and periodically looking back at the house until the police and ambulance show up. She wont move until an officer gently walks her to the ambulance and they drive away.
Jade looks out of the window as the house becomes smaller and smaller in the distance until she can't see it anymore. Only then does she breathe a sigh of relief.
*The End*
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
The house with the picket fence, Part 2
Jade looks up at the huge barn door. It's so dark she can barely see what color the barn is. She pushes the door but it's heavy and she struggles to get it open.
The door creaks open and Jade edges in. At the other end of the barn she can see a faint light but other than that it's pitch black. She stands there a second trying to wait for her eyes to adjust. She begins to see shapes and to her right notices what looks like a pile of firewood.
She turns to head toward it and suddenly feels like there's someone behind her. Before she can turn around she feels a sharp pain on the back of her head then. Nothing.
Jade starts to wake up with the smell of saw dust and something else that she can't identify. Her head is pulsing with pain. She tries to touch her head and realizes she can't move her arms.
She keeps trying then she realizes that she's sitting in a chair and her hands are tied behind her back. She looks down and realizes she's just wearing her sweatshirt and jeans, her boots and coat are gone. She starts to struggle against her restraints.
"It's no use we're going to die in here," says a voice weakly.
"Who's there, what's going on," Jade says frantically.
"On the ground."
Jade looks down and sees a woman in the corner on the ground with her hands tied behind her back and her ankles tied together. She looks emaciated and there are cuts and bruises all over her body.
"Oh my god what happened to you?"
"They sent me out for firewood then I was knocked out and woke up in a chair just like you, they come in and do...things to me."
"Who Earl and June no they wouldn't do this maybe someone is hurting them," Jade says in disbelief.
"Don't you see they're crazy them and their demented son, we're going to die here, we're going to die here."
"Stop it, stop saying that we're not going to die let's just think, is anyone else in here right now."
"No the demented son left after he tied you up."
"Ok ok let's think um it will probably be awhile before he comes back right let's try to find something to untie ourselves and get out of here," Jade says.
"It's no use we're going to die here."
Jade realizes her fellow captive is not going to be any help and she has to figure out a way to get out of here. She can't believe Earl and June would do this but she doesn't know what to believe right now.
Jade hears a door creaking and her heart rate accelerates.
Thump. Thump. Thump.
Someone heavy is walking toward them. Jade feels the sweat trickle down her side.
"You awake," it says, it being a huge man who looks just like June and Earl. He's about 6'5" and close to 300 pounds and it's a solid 300 not a lumpy one.
Jade is paralyzed with fear. He walks toward her and bends down and rubs his rough hand on her cheek.
"Pretty."
"Please let me go I won't tell anyone ok just let us go," Jade says with a strangled voice.
He walks past her and heads behind her. Jade tries to turn around to see what he's doing. He comes back into view and he's holding a saw. Her eyes widen with fear.
He comes up to her and places the blade against her face. She is trembling and praying. He removes the blade and walks toward the woman on the floor.
"What are you doing," Jade asks in a panic.
He ignores her as he continues walking then he kneels down next to the woman and grabs a hold of her leg.
"No don't please," Jade pleads.
"I told you're we're going to die here," the woman says with resignation.
He holds her leg with one hand and proceeds to saw into her leg at the top of her thigh.
Jade and the woman scream at the same time and Jade shuts her eyes.
"Don't you want to watch dear," a man's voice says.
Jade turns her head and sees Earl and June standing there.
"What, how why," Jade stammers with tears in her eyes.
"Look," Earl says forcefully as he grabs her head and forces her to look.
The woman has stopped screaming now and He is now on her second leg. Jade and the woman lock eyes and Jade sees the life leave her eyes.
Jade is now sobbing and struggling to breathe.
"Calm down dear her body will go back to the earth just like God intended," June says calmly.
Jade looks at her through shocked watery eyes. "Why."
"He needs to do it," June replies.
"Who?"
"Our son," June says as she points to Him who has moved on to the woman's arms.
June and Earl watch with almost a look of pride as He dismembers the woman's body and puts the pieces in potato sacks. Jade cries softly as she tries to shut the scene out of her mind by squeezing her eyes shut tightly.
"She's pretty mama," He says while holding all of the sacks.
"Yes she is, he likes you that means he'll want to take his time," June says while smiling brightly.
June, Earl, and Him walk out of the barn and leave Jade sitting there with the stench of fresh blood lingering in the air.
How did this happen, Jade thinks, I have to get out of here I don't want to die.
*So there will be a part 3, stay tuned for that
The door creaks open and Jade edges in. At the other end of the barn she can see a faint light but other than that it's pitch black. She stands there a second trying to wait for her eyes to adjust. She begins to see shapes and to her right notices what looks like a pile of firewood.
She turns to head toward it and suddenly feels like there's someone behind her. Before she can turn around she feels a sharp pain on the back of her head then. Nothing.
Jade starts to wake up with the smell of saw dust and something else that she can't identify. Her head is pulsing with pain. She tries to touch her head and realizes she can't move her arms.
She keeps trying then she realizes that she's sitting in a chair and her hands are tied behind her back. She looks down and realizes she's just wearing her sweatshirt and jeans, her boots and coat are gone. She starts to struggle against her restraints.
"It's no use we're going to die in here," says a voice weakly.
"Who's there, what's going on," Jade says frantically.
"On the ground."
Jade looks down and sees a woman in the corner on the ground with her hands tied behind her back and her ankles tied together. She looks emaciated and there are cuts and bruises all over her body.
"Oh my god what happened to you?"
"They sent me out for firewood then I was knocked out and woke up in a chair just like you, they come in and do...things to me."
"Who Earl and June no they wouldn't do this maybe someone is hurting them," Jade says in disbelief.
"Don't you see they're crazy them and their demented son, we're going to die here, we're going to die here."
"Stop it, stop saying that we're not going to die let's just think, is anyone else in here right now."
"No the demented son left after he tied you up."
"Ok ok let's think um it will probably be awhile before he comes back right let's try to find something to untie ourselves and get out of here," Jade says.
"It's no use we're going to die here."
Jade realizes her fellow captive is not going to be any help and she has to figure out a way to get out of here. She can't believe Earl and June would do this but she doesn't know what to believe right now.
Jade hears a door creaking and her heart rate accelerates.
Thump. Thump. Thump.
Someone heavy is walking toward them. Jade feels the sweat trickle down her side.
"You awake," it says, it being a huge man who looks just like June and Earl. He's about 6'5" and close to 300 pounds and it's a solid 300 not a lumpy one.
Jade is paralyzed with fear. He walks toward her and bends down and rubs his rough hand on her cheek.
"Pretty."
"Please let me go I won't tell anyone ok just let us go," Jade says with a strangled voice.
He walks past her and heads behind her. Jade tries to turn around to see what he's doing. He comes back into view and he's holding a saw. Her eyes widen with fear.
He comes up to her and places the blade against her face. She is trembling and praying. He removes the blade and walks toward the woman on the floor.
"What are you doing," Jade asks in a panic.
He ignores her as he continues walking then he kneels down next to the woman and grabs a hold of her leg.
"No don't please," Jade pleads.
"I told you're we're going to die here," the woman says with resignation.
He holds her leg with one hand and proceeds to saw into her leg at the top of her thigh.
Jade and the woman scream at the same time and Jade shuts her eyes.
"Don't you want to watch dear," a man's voice says.
Jade turns her head and sees Earl and June standing there.
"What, how why," Jade stammers with tears in her eyes.
"Look," Earl says forcefully as he grabs her head and forces her to look.
The woman has stopped screaming now and He is now on her second leg. Jade and the woman lock eyes and Jade sees the life leave her eyes.
Jade is now sobbing and struggling to breathe.
"Calm down dear her body will go back to the earth just like God intended," June says calmly.
Jade looks at her through shocked watery eyes. "Why."
"He needs to do it," June replies.
"Who?"
"Our son," June says as she points to Him who has moved on to the woman's arms.
June and Earl watch with almost a look of pride as He dismembers the woman's body and puts the pieces in potato sacks. Jade cries softly as she tries to shut the scene out of her mind by squeezing her eyes shut tightly.
"She's pretty mama," He says while holding all of the sacks.
"Yes she is, he likes you that means he'll want to take his time," June says while smiling brightly.
June, Earl, and Him walk out of the barn and leave Jade sitting there with the stench of fresh blood lingering in the air.
How did this happen, Jade thinks, I have to get out of here I don't want to die.
*So there will be a part 3, stay tuned for that
Monday, August 30, 2010
The house with the picket fence
*The following is a story that comes from one I wrote in college. I couldn't find the original story so I took the idea and wrote a new one, enjoy.
I must have been crazy to try to drive in this storm, Jade thought as she slowly made her way up I-96 heading to Grand Rapids from Lansing.
Her '03 Toyota Camry was strongly protesting against the decision to drive it in a snowstorm at night. The snow was coming down in thick sheets and Jade could barely see a few feet in front of her. She decided the smart thing to do would be to get off the road.
She edged her car over to the right at what she hoped was the next exit. She inched her way off the exit ramp and decided to turn right at the light because it was just easier than making a left hand turn.
Jade knows she should have just stayed at her dorm but no she had to leave Grand Valley to go to Michigan State to see her boyfriend. He offered to let her stay the night when he looked out the window and saw the snow but Jade has a final exam at 11am the next morning and she didn't want to risk being late.
As Jade slowly heads down the road trying to find a place to stop she realizes she should have took the chance on being late to the exam. It's the middle of December and she hadn't seen her boyfriend since Thanksgiving and she really missed him but it wasn't worth dealing with this weather.
Jade sees a Kmart parking lot coming up and decides she'll stop there but her car has another idea. Her car starts jumping and sputtering then comes to a stop.
"No," Jade screams while hitting the dashboard.
She turns off the car then tries to turn it back on, nothing. She looks around and to her left there's a closed down gas station and ahead on the right is the closed Kmart which are the only buildings that she can see.
Jade reaches in her purse to grab her cell phone to call AAA and to her dismay it says low battery. Jade tries it anyway and grabs her AAA card and tries to call and the phone cuts off mid dial. She tries but she can't get it to turn back on.
"Dammit" Jade looks around at her dark snowy desolate surroundings and starts to get nervous. She doesn't even know what town she's in. It can't be safe for a 21-year old woman to be stranded on the side of the road in a snow storm with no working cell phone.
Jade waits there for an hour and as the car gets colder and more minutes pass with no traffic she's really starting to get anxious. Suddenly out of the corner of her eye she sees a glow coming from a yellow house down a side street.
At this point she's cold tired and getting hungry and she hopes she'll find a friendly face in the house. So she gets out of the car and heads toward the house.
The closer she gets to the house the more she's drawn toward it. As she gets to the house she sees that there is a white picket fence and beyond the fence is fresh and oddly even snow.
Jade cautiously opens the picket fence and heads toward the house. It seems like as soon as she crossed the fence the air got calmer and the snow less blinding. Finally she makes it to the porch and rings the bell. As she waits she looks around at the house. It's yellow with white trim and there's a wooden swing on the porch.
The door opens and standing before her is a woman who couldn't be more of an opposite to Jade. Jade is young with a caramel complexion and the woman is white and looks at least 80 years old. Jade has long almost jet black hair and the woman has silver hair that's pulled up in a bun. Jade is 5'3" and a slim 115 pounds while the woman appears to be about 5'9" with the solid build of Mrs. Doubtfire.
"Good evening dear," the woman says.
"Hi my name is Jade and I'm sorry to bother you but my car broke down and my cell phone's not working and I wonder if I could use your phone to call AAA," Jade replies.
"Of course come in out of that cold and snow, my name is June."
"Hi June nice to meet you," Jade says as she enters the home.
June takes her coat and insists she take off her boots and put on some slippers.
"Thanks so much."
"Not a problem dear the phone is in the kitchen."
Jade heads into the kitchen which has cabinets the color of warm wood with red accents and appliances that look like they came from the 50s. It's a very cozy room. Jade finds the phone and calls AAA and tells them her information. They tell her it could be a couple of hours before anyone can get to her car. She thanks them and hangs up the phone.
"They said it could be a few hours," Jade says once she gets off the phone.
"That's fine you can stay here if you like," June says as she sets down some butter cookies and tea in front of Jade at the kitchen table.
"Thanks," Jade says as she settles into her chair and the butter cookies which are delicious.
A man comes into the kitchen who looks like a taller thinner version of June.
"Earl meet Jade she's waiting for the what do you call it AA," June says.
Jade smiles, "AAA nice to meet you Earl and these cookies are delicious June."
"Thank you dear so tell us about yourself," June says as she and Earl sit at the table with Jade.
Jade tells them about how she's a college student studying political science and she hopes to be a lawyer someday and that she's an only child and her parents live in Detroit. June and Earl in turn tell her about how they've been together for 50 years and tell her stories about their kids and life together. Jade feels so comfortable and warm in their presence.
During the conversation they move from the kitchen to the living room which has a big fireplace. Earl goes to put some firewood in the fireplace but there isn't any left on the pile.
"Jade dear we hate to bother you but would you mind going out to the barn and getting some firewood Earl would do it but he's so slow these days," June says while smiling warmly.
"Of course I didn't realize you had a barn," Jade answers.
"Yes it's out back and the firewood is in a pile just inside of the barn."
"Ok," Jade says as she follows June to get her coat and boots and heads to the back door. June opens the door and Jade sees a dark barn in the distance.
"I'll be right back," Jade says as she starts to head out of the door.
"Jade," June says and for a moment a look of hesitation and worry cross her face.
"Is everything ok," Jade asks.
"Yes everything's fine," June says with the warm smile again, "just be careful."
"I will."
As soon as Jade leaves the warm confines of the house she is almost struck in the face by the wind and snow. She heads toward the barn and where the snow in front of the house was even and soft this snow is hard and almost jagged. She slowly makes her way to the barn and passes a huge gnarled tree that makes her shudder. She almost turns back but doesn't want to go back to June and Earl empty handed so she keeps going. Finally she makes it to the barn door.
*Check back for the conclusion, part 2
I must have been crazy to try to drive in this storm, Jade thought as she slowly made her way up I-96 heading to Grand Rapids from Lansing.
Her '03 Toyota Camry was strongly protesting against the decision to drive it in a snowstorm at night. The snow was coming down in thick sheets and Jade could barely see a few feet in front of her. She decided the smart thing to do would be to get off the road.
She edged her car over to the right at what she hoped was the next exit. She inched her way off the exit ramp and decided to turn right at the light because it was just easier than making a left hand turn.
Jade knows she should have just stayed at her dorm but no she had to leave Grand Valley to go to Michigan State to see her boyfriend. He offered to let her stay the night when he looked out the window and saw the snow but Jade has a final exam at 11am the next morning and she didn't want to risk being late.
As Jade slowly heads down the road trying to find a place to stop she realizes she should have took the chance on being late to the exam. It's the middle of December and she hadn't seen her boyfriend since Thanksgiving and she really missed him but it wasn't worth dealing with this weather.
Jade sees a Kmart parking lot coming up and decides she'll stop there but her car has another idea. Her car starts jumping and sputtering then comes to a stop.
"No," Jade screams while hitting the dashboard.
She turns off the car then tries to turn it back on, nothing. She looks around and to her left there's a closed down gas station and ahead on the right is the closed Kmart which are the only buildings that she can see.
Jade reaches in her purse to grab her cell phone to call AAA and to her dismay it says low battery. Jade tries it anyway and grabs her AAA card and tries to call and the phone cuts off mid dial. She tries but she can't get it to turn back on.
"Dammit" Jade looks around at her dark snowy desolate surroundings and starts to get nervous. She doesn't even know what town she's in. It can't be safe for a 21-year old woman to be stranded on the side of the road in a snow storm with no working cell phone.
Jade waits there for an hour and as the car gets colder and more minutes pass with no traffic she's really starting to get anxious. Suddenly out of the corner of her eye she sees a glow coming from a yellow house down a side street.
At this point she's cold tired and getting hungry and she hopes she'll find a friendly face in the house. So she gets out of the car and heads toward the house.
The closer she gets to the house the more she's drawn toward it. As she gets to the house she sees that there is a white picket fence and beyond the fence is fresh and oddly even snow.
Jade cautiously opens the picket fence and heads toward the house. It seems like as soon as she crossed the fence the air got calmer and the snow less blinding. Finally she makes it to the porch and rings the bell. As she waits she looks around at the house. It's yellow with white trim and there's a wooden swing on the porch.
The door opens and standing before her is a woman who couldn't be more of an opposite to Jade. Jade is young with a caramel complexion and the woman is white and looks at least 80 years old. Jade has long almost jet black hair and the woman has silver hair that's pulled up in a bun. Jade is 5'3" and a slim 115 pounds while the woman appears to be about 5'9" with the solid build of Mrs. Doubtfire.
"Good evening dear," the woman says.
"Hi my name is Jade and I'm sorry to bother you but my car broke down and my cell phone's not working and I wonder if I could use your phone to call AAA," Jade replies.
"Of course come in out of that cold and snow, my name is June."
"Hi June nice to meet you," Jade says as she enters the home.
June takes her coat and insists she take off her boots and put on some slippers.
"Thanks so much."
"Not a problem dear the phone is in the kitchen."
Jade heads into the kitchen which has cabinets the color of warm wood with red accents and appliances that look like they came from the 50s. It's a very cozy room. Jade finds the phone and calls AAA and tells them her information. They tell her it could be a couple of hours before anyone can get to her car. She thanks them and hangs up the phone.
"They said it could be a few hours," Jade says once she gets off the phone.
"That's fine you can stay here if you like," June says as she sets down some butter cookies and tea in front of Jade at the kitchen table.
"Thanks," Jade says as she settles into her chair and the butter cookies which are delicious.
A man comes into the kitchen who looks like a taller thinner version of June.
"Earl meet Jade she's waiting for the what do you call it AA," June says.
Jade smiles, "AAA nice to meet you Earl and these cookies are delicious June."
"Thank you dear so tell us about yourself," June says as she and Earl sit at the table with Jade.
Jade tells them about how she's a college student studying political science and she hopes to be a lawyer someday and that she's an only child and her parents live in Detroit. June and Earl in turn tell her about how they've been together for 50 years and tell her stories about their kids and life together. Jade feels so comfortable and warm in their presence.
During the conversation they move from the kitchen to the living room which has a big fireplace. Earl goes to put some firewood in the fireplace but there isn't any left on the pile.
"Jade dear we hate to bother you but would you mind going out to the barn and getting some firewood Earl would do it but he's so slow these days," June says while smiling warmly.
"Of course I didn't realize you had a barn," Jade answers.
"Yes it's out back and the firewood is in a pile just inside of the barn."
"Ok," Jade says as she follows June to get her coat and boots and heads to the back door. June opens the door and Jade sees a dark barn in the distance.
"I'll be right back," Jade says as she starts to head out of the door.
"Jade," June says and for a moment a look of hesitation and worry cross her face.
"Is everything ok," Jade asks.
"Yes everything's fine," June says with the warm smile again, "just be careful."
"I will."
As soon as Jade leaves the warm confines of the house she is almost struck in the face by the wind and snow. She heads toward the barn and where the snow in front of the house was even and soft this snow is hard and almost jagged. She slowly makes her way to the barn and passes a huge gnarled tree that makes her shudder. She almost turns back but doesn't want to go back to June and Earl empty handed so she keeps going. Finally she makes it to the barn door.
*Check back for the conclusion, part 2
Friday, August 20, 2010
Road Tripping, Part Three
Tonya and her mom walk up to the house and precariously step onto the porch.
"I can't believe this is where you grew up," Tonya says.
"Me neither," Nicole replies as she gets out the key and unlocks the door.
As soon as the door opens the stench of stale humid air mixed with funk hits them in the face.
"Maybe you should leave the door open to let the place air out," Tonya says while trying not to look too disgusted.
"Good idea," Nicole replies.
Directly in front of them is the kitchen/living room area. There's an old card table that Tonya assumes was the dining table and a counter with a refrigerator and stove that look like they were last new in the '40s. They brought in some boxes and trash bags from the car so they head to the kitchen area to get started.
There are only a couple of cabinets in the kitchen. Tonya opens a cabinet and sees a can of beans with a mouse or rat just chilling next to it. Tonya screams and slams the cabinet door.
"What in the world is wrong with you," Nicole asks.
"There's a Rat in there," Tonya says still shaking from the shock.
"Well you better get used to it because I'm sure that's not the only one," Nicole says matter of factly.
"Were there rats here when you lived here," Tonya asks in disbelief.
"Yes and we dealt with it and so will you," Nicole says as she opens the other cabinets and doors and dumps the contents in a trash bag.
Tonya shivers and cautiously opens the refrigerator. Luckily there are no rats just old bread and rancid milk. Nicole dumps the milk in the sink and puts the rest of the stuff in the trash. From the kitchen they head into the bathroom.
There is peeling tile on the floor and paint chips peeling off the walls and ceilings. The sink and toilet are rusted and the claw foot bathtub has rust and dirt stains. Nicole looks in the vanity above the sink whose door is falling off the hinges and throws away her mom's medicine and ointments.
"I can't believe you lived here I don't know how you did it," Tonya says as she looks around the room which is about the size of an utility closet in her parents' house.
"Now do you see why I had to leave here as soon as I turned 18," Nicole asks.
"Yes I actually do," Tonya says and she feels like she understands her mother a little bit better after seeing this place no wonder she's so driven.
They leave the bathroom and head across the hall to the bedroom.
"Wait a minute is this the only bedroom," Tonya says as she looks around the house which is easy to do because she can stand pretty much anywhere and see the whole house.
"Yes we shared a bedroom," Nicole says as she heads into the room.
"And by we do you mean you, your mom and your sisters," Tonya asks incredulously.
"Yes," Nicole responds. Nicole has 2 sisters.
"Mom slept in a twin bed and my sisters and I slept in pallets on the floor we would take a comforter and use that as a mattress and put a few pillows on the comforter and depending on how hot or cold it was wrap ourselves in a sheet or blanket," Nicole says.
"Wow I don't even know what to say to that," Tonya responds.
"I don't expect you to, now come on let's go through the dresser and pack up this stuff," Nicole says.
Tonya and her mother silently go through the dresser and put the clothes into boxes. There isn't much there so this only takes a few minutes then they head to the closet. There are few clothes and shoes and they quickly pack them until the only thing left is a shoebox at the top of the closet. Tonya being the taller one reaches and gets the box down.
She opens the box expecting to find shoes and instead she finds pictures and other things.
"Ooh pictures," Tonya says as she sits down on the bed.
"I'm ready to go," Nicole says.
"Come on and sit down with me I want to look at the pictures," Tonya says as she pats a spot on the bed next to her.
Nicole sighs and sits down next to her daughter.
The first few pictures are the pictures the hospital takes of newborn babies. There are no names on them so Nicole isn't really sure who's who. Tonya then comes to a picture of her mom and her sisters standing in front of some house all of them look miserable.
"What's going on in this picture," Tonya asks.
Nicole looks at the pictures. "That looks like Uncle David's house he lived in Macon Georgia and mom's idea of a vacation was to go to his house," Nicole says with a far away look in her eyes.
"His house was no bigger than this and he had 7 kids you add us to the mix and it was horrible you had to find a corner on the floor to sleep and we always went at the height of summer so it was hot as hell too," Nicole says.
"Well what kind of stuff did you do at the house," Tonya asks.
"Nothing that's what made it worse there was nothing to do but the good thing is we didn't have to do chores there," Nicole says.
"You had a lot of chores," Tonya asks.
"We did all of the cleaning as long as I can remember I don't ever remember my mom cleaning anything, we scrubbed floors and washed windows and scrubbed toilets we had to work," Nicole says remembering those days with a little bitterness.
"Did you clean for an allowance," Tonya asks as she tries to picture her sophisticated mother scrubbing floors.
Nicole looks at her like she's crazy.
"Allowance are you serious, it was just my mom making money my dad left before I can remember we could barely make ends meet there was no extra money for us kids to have an allowance," Nicole says.
"It must have been hard for you," Tonya says as she can tell this is bringing up bad memories.
"Yes it was which is why I got the hell out of here when I could, mom worked us like slaves and made us sleep on the floor while she got the bed and she never showed interest in our school or interests it was all about doing chores and getting to school on time and god help you if you disobeyed her," Nicole says with her voice rising.
"She made us call her mom because she heard the white kids calling their mother that in the houses she cleaned and she thought it was proper and she told us she deserved the bed because she made the money in the house and she should get the best place to sleep, She was a cold demanding woman," Nicole continues.
Tonya doesn't know what to say she's never even heard her mother speak this much about her mom and she doesn't know how to handle it. She sifts through the rest of the pictures but it's more of Nicole and her sisters looking sullen and tired.
Under the pictures Tonya comes to some newspaper clippings. There's a newspaper clipping from a local paper announcing that Nicole was going to college up north and that she was going to law school.
"Look at this," Tonya says.
Nicole looks at the clippings in surprise. They continue to go through them and there are clippings about the success of her practice and copies of her degrees that Nicole sent her mom which she figured were thrown away. There were also similar things for her sisters' accomplishments.
"I don't know what to say," Nicole says overwhelmed that her mom kept those things.
Tonya puts a hand on her mom's arm.
"It looks like she was proud of you all along and maybe she just didn't know how to show it," Tonya says gently.
A tear rolls down Nicole's cheek and she starts to cry. "Oh mom," she says.
Tonya doesn't really know what to do so she just embraces her mom and holds her.
After a few minutes Nicole stops crying and looks at Tonya.
"I've been so bitter about how mom raised us and I never stopped to think how hard things were for her and that she was doing the best she knew how, I can't believe she kept those things and I'm happy that she did. I just wish I'd been able to find out before she died so we could have had a better relationship," Nicole says with remorse.
"You did the best you could as a daughter so don't beat yourself up just be happy to know that she was proud and she loved you," Tonya says.
"When did you get so wise," Nicole says with a slight smile.
"It just happened," Tonya replies with a smile. Tonya and Nicole put the things back in the shoebox and place it gently in one of the boxes.
As Tonya and her mom leave the house Nicole stands in the driveway and takes a long look at the house. Tonya looks at her mom and thinks she should take her mom's own advice and give her a break. She came from living in a shack to a beautiful home in the suburbs and she just wants her kids to not have to struggle like she did.
Tonya can take a lesson from her mom and be more understanding of her and why she pushes her so much. She doesn't want to wait until her mom is gone to realize how much she loved her and wanted the best for her.
Nicole turns away from the house and she and Tonya walk back to the car together.
*The End
"I can't believe this is where you grew up," Tonya says.
"Me neither," Nicole replies as she gets out the key and unlocks the door.
As soon as the door opens the stench of stale humid air mixed with funk hits them in the face.
"Maybe you should leave the door open to let the place air out," Tonya says while trying not to look too disgusted.
"Good idea," Nicole replies.
Directly in front of them is the kitchen/living room area. There's an old card table that Tonya assumes was the dining table and a counter with a refrigerator and stove that look like they were last new in the '40s. They brought in some boxes and trash bags from the car so they head to the kitchen area to get started.
There are only a couple of cabinets in the kitchen. Tonya opens a cabinet and sees a can of beans with a mouse or rat just chilling next to it. Tonya screams and slams the cabinet door.
"What in the world is wrong with you," Nicole asks.
"There's a Rat in there," Tonya says still shaking from the shock.
"Well you better get used to it because I'm sure that's not the only one," Nicole says matter of factly.
"Were there rats here when you lived here," Tonya asks in disbelief.
"Yes and we dealt with it and so will you," Nicole says as she opens the other cabinets and doors and dumps the contents in a trash bag.
Tonya shivers and cautiously opens the refrigerator. Luckily there are no rats just old bread and rancid milk. Nicole dumps the milk in the sink and puts the rest of the stuff in the trash. From the kitchen they head into the bathroom.
There is peeling tile on the floor and paint chips peeling off the walls and ceilings. The sink and toilet are rusted and the claw foot bathtub has rust and dirt stains. Nicole looks in the vanity above the sink whose door is falling off the hinges and throws away her mom's medicine and ointments.
"I can't believe you lived here I don't know how you did it," Tonya says as she looks around the room which is about the size of an utility closet in her parents' house.
"Now do you see why I had to leave here as soon as I turned 18," Nicole asks.
"Yes I actually do," Tonya says and she feels like she understands her mother a little bit better after seeing this place no wonder she's so driven.
They leave the bathroom and head across the hall to the bedroom.
"Wait a minute is this the only bedroom," Tonya says as she looks around the house which is easy to do because she can stand pretty much anywhere and see the whole house.
"Yes we shared a bedroom," Nicole says as she heads into the room.
"And by we do you mean you, your mom and your sisters," Tonya asks incredulously.
"Yes," Nicole responds. Nicole has 2 sisters.
"Mom slept in a twin bed and my sisters and I slept in pallets on the floor we would take a comforter and use that as a mattress and put a few pillows on the comforter and depending on how hot or cold it was wrap ourselves in a sheet or blanket," Nicole says.
"Wow I don't even know what to say to that," Tonya responds.
"I don't expect you to, now come on let's go through the dresser and pack up this stuff," Nicole says.
Tonya and her mother silently go through the dresser and put the clothes into boxes. There isn't much there so this only takes a few minutes then they head to the closet. There are few clothes and shoes and they quickly pack them until the only thing left is a shoebox at the top of the closet. Tonya being the taller one reaches and gets the box down.
She opens the box expecting to find shoes and instead she finds pictures and other things.
"Ooh pictures," Tonya says as she sits down on the bed.
"I'm ready to go," Nicole says.
"Come on and sit down with me I want to look at the pictures," Tonya says as she pats a spot on the bed next to her.
Nicole sighs and sits down next to her daughter.
The first few pictures are the pictures the hospital takes of newborn babies. There are no names on them so Nicole isn't really sure who's who. Tonya then comes to a picture of her mom and her sisters standing in front of some house all of them look miserable.
"What's going on in this picture," Tonya asks.
Nicole looks at the pictures. "That looks like Uncle David's house he lived in Macon Georgia and mom's idea of a vacation was to go to his house," Nicole says with a far away look in her eyes.
"His house was no bigger than this and he had 7 kids you add us to the mix and it was horrible you had to find a corner on the floor to sleep and we always went at the height of summer so it was hot as hell too," Nicole says.
"Well what kind of stuff did you do at the house," Tonya asks.
"Nothing that's what made it worse there was nothing to do but the good thing is we didn't have to do chores there," Nicole says.
"You had a lot of chores," Tonya asks.
"We did all of the cleaning as long as I can remember I don't ever remember my mom cleaning anything, we scrubbed floors and washed windows and scrubbed toilets we had to work," Nicole says remembering those days with a little bitterness.
"Did you clean for an allowance," Tonya asks as she tries to picture her sophisticated mother scrubbing floors.
Nicole looks at her like she's crazy.
"Allowance are you serious, it was just my mom making money my dad left before I can remember we could barely make ends meet there was no extra money for us kids to have an allowance," Nicole says.
"It must have been hard for you," Tonya says as she can tell this is bringing up bad memories.
"Yes it was which is why I got the hell out of here when I could, mom worked us like slaves and made us sleep on the floor while she got the bed and she never showed interest in our school or interests it was all about doing chores and getting to school on time and god help you if you disobeyed her," Nicole says with her voice rising.
"She made us call her mom because she heard the white kids calling their mother that in the houses she cleaned and she thought it was proper and she told us she deserved the bed because she made the money in the house and she should get the best place to sleep, She was a cold demanding woman," Nicole continues.
Tonya doesn't know what to say she's never even heard her mother speak this much about her mom and she doesn't know how to handle it. She sifts through the rest of the pictures but it's more of Nicole and her sisters looking sullen and tired.
Under the pictures Tonya comes to some newspaper clippings. There's a newspaper clipping from a local paper announcing that Nicole was going to college up north and that she was going to law school.
"Look at this," Tonya says.
Nicole looks at the clippings in surprise. They continue to go through them and there are clippings about the success of her practice and copies of her degrees that Nicole sent her mom which she figured were thrown away. There were also similar things for her sisters' accomplishments.
"I don't know what to say," Nicole says overwhelmed that her mom kept those things.
Tonya puts a hand on her mom's arm.
"It looks like she was proud of you all along and maybe she just didn't know how to show it," Tonya says gently.
A tear rolls down Nicole's cheek and she starts to cry. "Oh mom," she says.
Tonya doesn't really know what to do so she just embraces her mom and holds her.
After a few minutes Nicole stops crying and looks at Tonya.
"I've been so bitter about how mom raised us and I never stopped to think how hard things were for her and that she was doing the best she knew how, I can't believe she kept those things and I'm happy that she did. I just wish I'd been able to find out before she died so we could have had a better relationship," Nicole says with remorse.
"You did the best you could as a daughter so don't beat yourself up just be happy to know that she was proud and she loved you," Tonya says.
"When did you get so wise," Nicole says with a slight smile.
"It just happened," Tonya replies with a smile. Tonya and Nicole put the things back in the shoebox and place it gently in one of the boxes.
As Tonya and her mom leave the house Nicole stands in the driveway and takes a long look at the house. Tonya looks at her mom and thinks she should take her mom's own advice and give her a break. She came from living in a shack to a beautiful home in the suburbs and she just wants her kids to not have to struggle like she did.
Tonya can take a lesson from her mom and be more understanding of her and why she pushes her so much. She doesn't want to wait until her mom is gone to realize how much she loved her and wanted the best for her.
Nicole turns away from the house and she and Tonya walk back to the car together.
*The End
Monday, August 16, 2010
Road Tripping, Part Two
They ride along for awhile with nothing but the radio for sound. After an hour of not talking and Tonya not being able to go to sleep she decides to give conversation with her mom another try.
"So what made you want to drive instead of fly down," Tonya asks.
"I just wanted some time to think and I figured it would give us a chance to talk because we rarely do that," Nicole answers.
"Oh," now Tonya feels kind of bad for having an attitude about this trip maybe she should give her mother the benefit of the doubt especially since her own mother just died.
"When was the last time you were down in Alabama," Tonya asks.
"Probably when you were a toddler I'm not a big fan of the south," Nicole says.
"Why not?"
"Because it's hot and backwards as all get out," Nicole responds.
"Backwards how," Tonya asks.
"Backwards as in my mother sometimes picked cotton and there were parts of town that black people just didn't go," Nicole says matter of factly.
"Picked cotton," Tonya says incredulously.
"Yep trust me that stuff isn't as far back in history as you think," Nicole says.
"I guess not, man that must have been hard for her," Tonya replies.
"Yeah it was and I wanted no part of it which is why I got the hell out of dodge as soon as I could."
"Grandma must have been proud that you were a lawyer," Tonya says.
"You would think so wouldn't you."
"She wasn't," Tonya asks.
"Not as far as I could tell she thought I thought I was too good for her once I went to college and eventually became a lawyer," Nicole says with a look of annoyance.
"Well you did say you're not a big fan of the south and you left when you were 18 and barely went back to visit her," Tonya says.
Nicole glares at her daughter.
"Are you saying you agree with her," Nicole says with a hint of anger in her voice.
"No I'm just saying I could see how she would get that impression I mean you barely even liked to go into Detroit from what I can remember growing up because it was too ghetto for you," Tonya says.
"So you think I'm uppity," Nicole says with a clenched mouth.
Uh oh, Tonya thinks, how did she get down this road she didn't mean to offend her mom but if she's honest her mom is a bit of a snob.
"Uh no you just have a discerning taste," Tonya says trying to be diplomatic.
"Which is another way of saying I'm a snob," Nicole says.
"That's one way to look at it," Tonya says quietly.
Nicole looks thoughtful and doesn't say anything for awhile. Tonya is not sure what to think or what to say.
"I suppose you're right I was so focused on not being poor or living in a poor environment like the one I grew up in that I have looked down on the south and the city," Nicole finally says.
Tonya is shocked.
"You're saying I'm right wow I don't think I've ever heard you say that," Tonya says.
"Yeah well don't get used to it," Nicole says with a smile.
Tonya is just relieved that her mom isn't mad.
"Mom I don't know about you but I'm kind of hungry and I have to go to the bathroom you think we could stop," Tonya asks.
"Sure but it's 12:30 in the morning I'm not sure we'll be able to find anywhere," Nicole responds.
They drive for another half hour before coming to a sign for a Denny's they get off the freeway and luckily it's still open. They park and go inside.
"Sit anywhere ladies," a little old white woman says from behind the counter.
They find a little booth and after they take turns going to the bathroom they sit and wait for their order.
"It's funny seeing you in a Denny's," Tonya says.
"I've been to Denny's before," Nicole says.
"Yeah but I figured you'd be too good for ole Denny's now," Tonya says with a laugh.
"Shut up I'm not that bad," Nicole says smiling.
"Whatever you say," Tonya says laughing.
"All right now don't get used to teasing me," Nicole says.
"Why not it's so fun," Tonya says.
"Because I'm your mother that's why."
"That's not an answer," Tonya replies.
"Yes it is just wait until you have your own kids then you'll understand and by the way when you are going to have some grand babies for me."
"Whoa hold up I'm not ready for all of that," Tonya says.
"Why not," Nicole asks.
"I'm just not settled and ready for that yet."
"Still figuring your self out," Nicole says.
"Yeah."
"Well you better hurry up because you're not getting any younger," Nicole says as their food arrives.
"Hey I'm not exactly old I'm 25 I have plenty of time," Tonya says indignantly.
"Ok whatever you say," Nicole says and she digs into her pancakes.
Conversation stops while they eat and soon they are back in the car and on the road.
"So are you ready to get back to school," Nicole asks.
"Yeah I actually really enjoy creative writing and the chance to be able to only focus on that," Tonya says.
"What are plans after school," Nicole asks.
"Well I'm working on a novel which will be my thesis and hopefully I can get that published," Tonya responds.
"What are you going to do for work in the mean time," Nicole asks tentatively.
"Don't worry I'll find a job in the mean time so I can support myself I won't be moving back in with you," Tonya says a little defensively.
"I'm not suggesting you'd have to move back in with me I just wanted to make sure you have a plan," Nicole responds.
"I appreciate the concern," Tonya says trying hard not to sound sarcastic but her careers choices are a sensitive spot for her because honestly she doesn't know what she wants to do writing is good for now but her mind will probably change by the time she graduates.
"Are you going to stay in New York or move back to Michigan," Nicole asks.
"I'll probably move back to Michigan it's way cheaper to live here than New York," Tonya responds.
"That's very true," Nicole says.
They spend the rest of the trip having an easy going conversation about work and school and her dad and brother. Before she knows it it's morning and they've made it to Mobile. Nicole wants to quickly stop by the hotel then head to her mom's house to pack up her things.
They drive to a hotel which is outside of Mobile to drop off their things get freshened up and change clothes and then they get back in the car and head to Tonya's grandmother's house. Tonya was too young to remember visiting here before so she's not sure what to expect. Nicole is quiet on the drive from the hotel to the house.
They pull up to a dirt driveway and stop in front of what looks like a slightly over sized wood shed.
"This is it," Nicole says.
They get out of the car and Tonya looks at the house that's about the size of a one car garage with crumbling wood, a missing step going up to the porch, and newspapers taped to the windows instead of curtains.
This is going to be interesting, Tonya thinks.
*Stay tuned for the final part, part 3
"So what made you want to drive instead of fly down," Tonya asks.
"I just wanted some time to think and I figured it would give us a chance to talk because we rarely do that," Nicole answers.
"Oh," now Tonya feels kind of bad for having an attitude about this trip maybe she should give her mother the benefit of the doubt especially since her own mother just died.
"When was the last time you were down in Alabama," Tonya asks.
"Probably when you were a toddler I'm not a big fan of the south," Nicole says.
"Why not?"
"Because it's hot and backwards as all get out," Nicole responds.
"Backwards how," Tonya asks.
"Backwards as in my mother sometimes picked cotton and there were parts of town that black people just didn't go," Nicole says matter of factly.
"Picked cotton," Tonya says incredulously.
"Yep trust me that stuff isn't as far back in history as you think," Nicole says.
"I guess not, man that must have been hard for her," Tonya replies.
"Yeah it was and I wanted no part of it which is why I got the hell out of dodge as soon as I could."
"Grandma must have been proud that you were a lawyer," Tonya says.
"You would think so wouldn't you."
"She wasn't," Tonya asks.
"Not as far as I could tell she thought I thought I was too good for her once I went to college and eventually became a lawyer," Nicole says with a look of annoyance.
"Well you did say you're not a big fan of the south and you left when you were 18 and barely went back to visit her," Tonya says.
Nicole glares at her daughter.
"Are you saying you agree with her," Nicole says with a hint of anger in her voice.
"No I'm just saying I could see how she would get that impression I mean you barely even liked to go into Detroit from what I can remember growing up because it was too ghetto for you," Tonya says.
"So you think I'm uppity," Nicole says with a clenched mouth.
Uh oh, Tonya thinks, how did she get down this road she didn't mean to offend her mom but if she's honest her mom is a bit of a snob.
"Uh no you just have a discerning taste," Tonya says trying to be diplomatic.
"Which is another way of saying I'm a snob," Nicole says.
"That's one way to look at it," Tonya says quietly.
Nicole looks thoughtful and doesn't say anything for awhile. Tonya is not sure what to think or what to say.
"I suppose you're right I was so focused on not being poor or living in a poor environment like the one I grew up in that I have looked down on the south and the city," Nicole finally says.
Tonya is shocked.
"You're saying I'm right wow I don't think I've ever heard you say that," Tonya says.
"Yeah well don't get used to it," Nicole says with a smile.
Tonya is just relieved that her mom isn't mad.
"Mom I don't know about you but I'm kind of hungry and I have to go to the bathroom you think we could stop," Tonya asks.
"Sure but it's 12:30 in the morning I'm not sure we'll be able to find anywhere," Nicole responds.
They drive for another half hour before coming to a sign for a Denny's they get off the freeway and luckily it's still open. They park and go inside.
"Sit anywhere ladies," a little old white woman says from behind the counter.
They find a little booth and after they take turns going to the bathroom they sit and wait for their order.
"It's funny seeing you in a Denny's," Tonya says.
"I've been to Denny's before," Nicole says.
"Yeah but I figured you'd be too good for ole Denny's now," Tonya says with a laugh.
"Shut up I'm not that bad," Nicole says smiling.
"Whatever you say," Tonya says laughing.
"All right now don't get used to teasing me," Nicole says.
"Why not it's so fun," Tonya says.
"Because I'm your mother that's why."
"That's not an answer," Tonya replies.
"Yes it is just wait until you have your own kids then you'll understand and by the way when you are going to have some grand babies for me."
"Whoa hold up I'm not ready for all of that," Tonya says.
"Why not," Nicole asks.
"I'm just not settled and ready for that yet."
"Still figuring your self out," Nicole says.
"Yeah."
"Well you better hurry up because you're not getting any younger," Nicole says as their food arrives.
"Hey I'm not exactly old I'm 25 I have plenty of time," Tonya says indignantly.
"Ok whatever you say," Nicole says and she digs into her pancakes.
Conversation stops while they eat and soon they are back in the car and on the road.
"So are you ready to get back to school," Nicole asks.
"Yeah I actually really enjoy creative writing and the chance to be able to only focus on that," Tonya says.
"What are plans after school," Nicole asks.
"Well I'm working on a novel which will be my thesis and hopefully I can get that published," Tonya responds.
"What are you going to do for work in the mean time," Nicole asks tentatively.
"Don't worry I'll find a job in the mean time so I can support myself I won't be moving back in with you," Tonya says a little defensively.
"I'm not suggesting you'd have to move back in with me I just wanted to make sure you have a plan," Nicole responds.
"I appreciate the concern," Tonya says trying hard not to sound sarcastic but her careers choices are a sensitive spot for her because honestly she doesn't know what she wants to do writing is good for now but her mind will probably change by the time she graduates.
"Are you going to stay in New York or move back to Michigan," Nicole asks.
"I'll probably move back to Michigan it's way cheaper to live here than New York," Tonya responds.
"That's very true," Nicole says.
They spend the rest of the trip having an easy going conversation about work and school and her dad and brother. Before she knows it it's morning and they've made it to Mobile. Nicole wants to quickly stop by the hotel then head to her mom's house to pack up her things.
They drive to a hotel which is outside of Mobile to drop off their things get freshened up and change clothes and then they get back in the car and head to Tonya's grandmother's house. Tonya was too young to remember visiting here before so she's not sure what to expect. Nicole is quiet on the drive from the hotel to the house.
They pull up to a dirt driveway and stop in front of what looks like a slightly over sized wood shed.
"This is it," Nicole says.
They get out of the car and Tonya looks at the house that's about the size of a one car garage with crumbling wood, a missing step going up to the porch, and newspapers taped to the windows instead of curtains.
This is going to be interesting, Tonya thinks.
*Stay tuned for the final part, part 3
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)