"Twenty for you and twenty for me." I said when I had finished counting the money and setting it down on the counter top of the dinner. I sat indian style on top of the counter as I watch my fellow coworker/friend pocket the tips earning that we both split. I looked away from her and looked around the rundown dinner I have been working in for nearly 4 years. It was empty like always and the place was starting to dust. I focused back on the older lady who was in her mid thirties.
"Loretta." I said as I watched her wipe the the counter.
"Uhm?" She said in unison.
"I'm leaving." I was hurt that those words were leaving my mouth but I was tired of having to live off the tips which wasn't much. Besides, this was a small town and I no longer found my place here after my mother passed.
"What do you mean?" Loretta asked continuing to wipe the counter.
"As soon as I get my paycheck I'm gone." Just as those words left my mouth my cheap boss came out off the bathroom the sound of the toilet flushing coming from behind him. Fucking rat bastard.
"I'll be back on five minutes." he said making no eye contact with us and going straight for the tip jar.
"Ben I need my check before you leave." I said jumping off the counter and landing on my feet.
"Sorry, payment is at the end of the month." he said still failing to make eye contact.
"You STILL haven't payed us for last month. I need my money. Loretta got a kid to feed-"
"Hey, you have a problem with management put a note in the suggestion box." he said turning for the door.
"Ben I'm serious. I'm quitting!" I said after him my voice beginning to raise.
Ben opened the door and step outside before saying "I'll be back for the dinner shift." The he disappeared down the street. I scoffed and threw my cleaning rag on one of the tables and turned for the cash register. "I sure as hell wont be." I said as I opened the register and started to take the money that he owed me. Loretta panicked a little. "What are you doing?"
I kept on collecting the money he owed me and said. "I'm only taking the money he owes me not a penny more."
"You take that money and he's gonna come after you."
I closed the registered and scoffed once again. "He gotta come find me first."
"Jessie, what are you going to do?" Loretta asked.
I rolled up the cash and placed it inside Loretta's jean pocked. "This will cover for that bike you want to get little Keith and you are running late to pick him up from school." I said grabbing Loretta's purse and handing it to her. Loretta stared shocked at the money in her hand and looked back at me.
"Go. I have everything covered here." I said with a smile.
"You're really going." Loretta said. I guess she knew how determined I was because by way she said that it wasn't in a question way. From the day she met me all I ever talked about was leaving.
I nodded my head. "I'm really going."
Loretta stared hard at me then she smiled and place the money back in my hand. "That bike can wait till Christmas. You keep what Ben owes you and I'll deal with him." Loretta turned for the door. "See you later." And with that she left.
I turned to watch Loretta walk down the streets through the dinner's window. I sighted and ran my fingers through my shoulder length chocolate hair. It was time to pack.
Jessie Bennett that is my name I am 23 years old. I went to my trailer home and packed all my belonging. Today was the day I left this raggedy town for good and no one was going to stop my. I wanted to go to the big city of Gotham were I wanted to break out off my cocoon and really know who I am and what I was put on this planet for. I packed everything. My clothes. My shoes. My personal belongings like a picture of my mother holding me when I was just a baby. I smiled at the picture and kissed it then I rapped it up in one of my nylon scarf. I grabbed my suitcase and left to the town bus stop.
When I walked into the place I felt so good about myself that I went straight up to the salesperson and smiled. "One ticked to Gotham, please."
The skinny young man smiled. "Is that one way or round trip?"
My face dropped. "Are you kidding?" I asked.
In the bus I looked out the window I watch as we passed dessert after dessert. Until I got tired of the same scenario and reached for my purse to pull out a white envelope that marked in cursive handwriting When you find yourself alone. I never had opened it because the caseworker who was dealing with my case strictly forbid me to opened it. She said something about my mother wanting me to opened it when I finally decided to runaway but not sure were to go.
Well, this was the moment to opened it right? Here I am in a bus leading me to Gotham City a place I have never been to before. I opened the letter gently and pulled out the letter which read:
Dearest Jessie,
If you are reading this letter it means that I am no longer here and you find yourself alone. But don't be because you are not alone. You have an aunt that lives in Gotham City with her husband James Gordon go to them they will take care of you. They know who you are for your aunt Barbara knows exactly who you are. Also, I want you to know that I have always love you and I will forever will. You're the greatest thing that has had happen to me and your father.
Love, Mom
I wipe away a tear and sniffled. My mother had never told me of no other family member and when I did asked if I had any she would simply reply 'the only family member you need is me. I am your mother, your father, your brother, your sister, your friend then she would hug me and whisper 'it's just me and you baby girl'.
I liked to think my mother didn't want to share me therefore I started to believe all I needed was my mom and that mom was truly every family member I had. I flipped the letter over and on the corner of the paper was commissioner James Gordon contact information.
I was in the big city of Gotham. The city that never sleeps. The city with all the lights. It was dark out and the streets was packed. Their were was so many people of different style. Their were people that look like they had just stepped out of a fashion magazine and people that look like they had just stepped out of the nearest fast food restaurant. I looked up at a gigantic TV and saw a Victoria Secret model in lingerie I was so awe struck. I was so focused on the TV when someone had bumped into me. I turn to apologized to the person but they kept on walking before saying "Watch were you're going."
"Sorry." I murmured. I remembered that I had to make a phone call and looked for the nearest public phone. I found one across the street so I picked up my suitcase and proceeded on crossing the street. I had forgotten about looking twice before crossing because I almost got hit by a yellow taxi cab. The man started yelling at me as I made a mad dash across towards the phone booth. Safely inside I started dialing the number. As it rang apprehension filled me and was thinking of hanging up until someone answered the phone.
"James Gordon." said a really tired voice.
"H-hello." I stuttered.
"Yes, hello?" he said loosing patience.
I didn't know what to say. So I just went with the next best thing. "I'm Jessie Bennet. I'm your niece."
Gordon started asking me many question and asked me were I was.
"I dunno were I'm at I just arrived here. I dunno if you know but my mother passed away 4 years ago." I said my eyes softening.
"I didn't know. I'm sorry." Gordon said.
"Yeah, me too. But she left me a letter with your contact information. She said you'll help me."
"Of course. Tell me what's around you." Gordon said.
I started to explain my surrounding to Gordon and he immediately knew were I was. He told me not to go anywhere and that he'll be here in 30 minutes. Thirty minutes it was because a black car pulled up in front of me. I got in the car with Gordon and I started to explain everything to him. I didn't miss out a single detail. I told him about how how my mother died which was from breast cancer. And how I have been fending for myself ever since.
"Why didn't you call me earlier? Why didn't you mother call us?" Gordon questioned.
"I don't know. I was told to opened the letter only when I found myself alone." I shrugged. Gordon nodded his head and continued driving. A few minutes later we pulled up at a apartment building. Gordon offered to cary my suitcase which I accepted to. Going inside the apartment building I started to get scared. What if they don't want to help me and they kick me out to the street? Gordon opened the apartment door and he hadn't even stepped in when he was attacked by small young boy and a little girl screaming daddy. Gordon picked them both up and motioned me to come on in. I closed the door behind me and fallowed Gordon to the kitchen were the scent of spaghetti filled the room.
"I'm glad your home were having pasta for dinner." said a women behind a stove that didn't bother to turn to look at him. I only guessed that the lady was no other than aunt Barbara. Barbara turned around with a smiled on her face. I was already expecting the worst when Barbara started sobbing.
"Jessie? Jessie is that you?" She sobbed.
My eyes water and I nodded my head. Barbara started to sob in her hands. Barbara opened her arms for me. I ran/walked towards my aunt's extended arms were I was engulfed in a tight embrace. After catching up while eating dinner Barbara asked the most important question.
"So were are you going to be staying?" Barbara asked.
"That's the thing I don't have enough money to rent a place of my own-"
"You can stay here." Gordon offered.
"Really? It would only be for a little while until I find a job and make enough money to rent a place of my own. I don't want to be a disturbance."
"Nonsense!" Gordon and Barbara both answered.
"You're family. You can stay here as long as you want."
I smiled. "Thank you." Yeah, this was a new start.
AN: I hope you guys enjoyed the first chapter and stick on for the rest. I have the whole story written but just cause I do doesn't mean I'm just going to update without knowing if people like my story && for that matter I am very lazy so I will not update is no one is reading it. So if you like PLEASE PLEASE REVIEW! After all REVIEWS ARE LOVELY!