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They’re going to sell me, so I might as well get something out of it. There’s a few hundred in each envelope, so it’ll definitely help. Grabbing them, I slip them into my backpack and zip it up before storing both bags in my closet.
My clothes for tomorrow are already set aside in my dresser. If, for some reason either of them gets in here tonight, I don’t want anything looking amiss that could tip them off that I know what Preston’s up to. Even though my room is small and dingy, I’ve always kept it as clean and tidy as I can.
Slipping into my threadbare pajamas, I carefully pull down another duffle bag from my closet and pull out my rolled up sleeping bag. Tucking it under my covers, I crawl into bed, snuggling deep into the sleeping bag, and pull my thin comforter over the top of it.
Peggy and her husband, Glen, gave me this sleeping bag one year for Christmas. It’s a camping one that’s rated down to zero degrees. If I didn’t keep it hidden or make sure my covers are always wrapped tight around me and the bag, I’m sure Preston would have taken it from me a long time ago. I wish I could take it with me tomorrow since it’s a good sleeping bag, but then I’d be traveling with a lot of bags and I’m not sure how much room I’ll have on the bus. Hopefully, I’ll be able to find a place to stay in whatever town my dad lives in.
Sighing, I set my alarm for 5 am and will myself to sleep. I’ll only get a few hours of sleep, but it is what it is. I need to be gone before Preston wakes up and realizes my ruse.
Something vibrating on my bed wakes me and it takes a few moments before I realize it’s the alarm on my phone. Yawning, I rub the sleep from my eyes, shut off the alarm and get out of bed. A shiver racks through me as I walk across the room. The insulation is terrible in this trailer. That is, if there even is any left in between the walls. I’m sure most of it’s been stolen by mice or other vermin for their nests by now.
Quietly, I slip the chair out from under the doorknob and listen. Relief fills me when I still hear Preston’s loud snores coming from their bedroom. Turning the doorknob, I tiptoe out of my room and head to the bathroom with another small travel bag in hand. I hadn’t wanted to try to get anything from the bathroom last night when Preston was still awake for fear that he’d ask what the bag was for.
Shutting the door and quietly locking it, I open the cabinet and pull out new bottles of my shower gel, shampoo, conditioner, a couple of disposable razors, deodorant, perfume, toothpaste, new toothbrush, comb, and a few hair ties. Spying the tampons, I grab a box. When I get to wherever my dad lives, I can buy anything else I’ve forgotten. I put everything into the travel bag and since I can feel a headache brewing, I also grab a bottle of ibuprofen as well as a couple of other items in the medicine cabinet. Everything else of mine I leave as is, not wanting to raise any alarm bells sooner than necessary.
After doing my business, I pull out some baby wipes Mom keeps stashed in here in case our water gets turned off, or a pipe freezes, and take a poor man’s shower. I don’t want to run the risk of waking Preston up by taking a real shower and then having him asking about my bags. Putting the baby wipes back in the cupboard, I pause, and then drop them into my travel bag instead. I don’t know where my dad lives, if he’s even still alive that is, but it might take me a couple of days to get there. Who knows if I might need them in the meantime?
Zipping up my bag, I open the bathroom door and my shoulders relax slightly when I can still hear Preston snoring. Making my way to my room, I get dressed and pack my frayed phone charger, praying it’ll last a little longer. Slipping on my coat and tennis shoes, I grab my bags and tiptoe out to the living room.
Playing up the lie, I leave Mom a note saying I got called into the diner before school because someone’s sick. Neither one of them will think anything of it because I get called in a lot to fill in for people. I don’t get very many extra shifts at the grocery store, but everyone at the diner knows I’ll take any extra shifts I can get.
Quietly stepping out the front door, I look longingly at Mom’s rusty old beater, but then shake my head. I can’t chance waking them if I want to get as far away as I can before they realize I’ve lied. Mom’s and Preston’s bedroom window is right by where the car is parked so they’d hear it right away. If they see it out here when they get up, they’ll probably assume it wouldn’t start. Wouldn’t be the first time that happened.
With a sigh, I pull my jacket tighter and start my trek into town.
It’s a little before 6 am by the time I make it to the diner. I know Peggy will already be here because we get a breakfast rush around 7 am.
Checking the front door, I breathe a sigh of relief that it hasn’t been unlocked yet. We open at 6 am, so I’m thankful there aren’t any customers here yet. Unlocking the door, I step inside and relock it. I have no idea if anyone else is here yet besides Peggy, but I hope not.
Speak of the devil, well not really because Peggy’s the sweetest person I’d ever met, her head pokes out of the pass through and a smile lights up her face until she notices my bags. She waves a hand and I follow her back to her office. Once inside, I shut the door behind me.
“Don’t worry, no one else is here yet. What happened? Did the asshole finally figure out your ruse?”
I can’t help the small smile that tugs at my lips. “No, but something happened, and I need to get out of town as soon as possible. I’m sorry, Peggy, but I can’t give you two weeks’ notice.”
She takes the keys I hold out and says nothing as she studies my face. A few moments later, she gives me a curt nod, and turns toward the picture that I know hides her safe since I help her open and close so much. Once the door is open, she shuffles something around in there, but I can’t see what she’s doing. When she closes it, she’s holding two envelopes, one small, and another that looks the size of regular printer paper and is bulky.
“It’s probably best that you don’t tell me where you’re going in case that asshole comes here asking for you. That said, I want you to let me know you’re safe when you’re able to. You know Glen and I will be worried sick until we hear from you. Here’s the money for what you would have earned from last week and the couple of days this week that you worked.”
She passes me both envelopes.
Hesitantly, I look up at her. “What’s in the other one?”
Her eyes turn misty, and she takes a shuddery breath as a tear escapes. “I always knew that asshole would do something to send you running. Not that I blame you in the least. It’s something Glen and I started squirreling away the day you came through that door looking for a job all those years ago. We want you to have it, sweetie. I know you saved as much as possible over the years, but both of us want to help provide you with a bit more of a buffer. You know we love you like our own. Always have.”
Now it’s my turn to cry. Peggy pulls me in for a hug and I cling to her as my tears fall harder. I’ve always wished they could have been my parents. They were never able to have children of their own. Said the diner and their employees are who they consider their children.
After a few minutes, I pull back, wipe the tears from my face, and then tuck both envelopes in my backpack. “Thank you. Once I’m safe, I’ll give you a call. I need to look something up on my computer and then I’ll head out of town. Can I use the Wi-Fi here?”
That’s one thing Preston cut out a couple of years ago, saying the internet wasn’t really a necessary expense for us. My phone was never much help either because it’s very old. The thing takes forever to pull anything up, especially on the internet. Honestly, I think Preston tries to do anything he can to prevent us from communicating with people outside our little slice of hell.
Twatwaffle.
Peggy nods as she wipes away another tear. “Of course, sweetie. Stay strong and keep your wits about you. Never leave your bags alone until you get where you’re going. If you run into any problems, give us a call. We’ll help you as best as we can.”
“Thank you, Peggy. Thank you for everything you, Glen, and the others have done for me over the years.”
She waves off my thanks. “Let me at least get you a hot biscuit sandwich, so you have some food in ya before you leave. I’ll wrap one of them to go, so you have something for later, along with a tall cup of coffee.”
