Hungry
Tired
Cold
Pain
Filthy
Those were the words that stuck in my mind as I climbed out of the fifth dumpster of the day. It has been a good five days since I woke up in some alley. Five days without food. Five days since I lost any sense who I was. I let out a groan of irritation as I left the alley and walked back to the empty sidewalk. Another bust of a dumpster, just like the one before that. If I actually got food from this, I might actually not mind being coated in grime and filth.
My stomach growled loudly making me shake my head. As if I needed the reminder that it needed food. The pain was beginning to give me a headache. I wasn't sure what was worst. The hunger pain or the pain from my aching feet. My broken flip flops had been getting worse and worse. Right now I am not even sure how much of it was separating my feet from the germ-ridden ground. As I continued my walk, I paused at one of the many empty diners. Getting food at any actual food joint was a giant bust, though the smell of pork ribs and other goodies made the thought of another attempt appealing.
As I glanced at the window of the closed diner, the memories of the diner incident burned itself back in my mind. I could feel my face flush a warm red as the thought refused to leave me in peace.
My stomach groaned again for what felt like the hundredth time. It had been a day since I woke up in some alley and I have been walking ever since. Just trying to see if something...anything seemed familiar or could jog up some type of memory. Yet as I watched the oddly dressed people walked passed me all I could think of is how misplaced I felt. I wasn't sure if I preferred them ignoring my presence as if I was just the dirt they walked on or having them stare at me. Stares that range from pity to utter disgust. So I did the only thing I could do and just kept walking.
I glanced at my opened wallet, my fingers playing with a large amount of change that was settled within it. The hunger was becoming unbearable. I would've gotten some food earlier if I wasn't kicked out so quickly. I know I must look awful, but could you at least give me some pity food? When I approached the next diner I hesitated at the door. Its bright colors gave it a warm and inviting aura, yet the sign on front twisted that feeling into one of disgust. "No Colored Allowed" was hung up, bold and unashamed. It was wrong. I'm not sure what it meant, but I knew it was wrong. Despite my disgust at the sign, I walked in anyway. The smell of food was too good to pass up right now.
The diner was bright and lively, filled with people from a variety of ages. The bright colors quickly caught my eyes. The bright red and calming blue. I could feel the many eyes staring at me. Blushing I looked down at the floor, the blue and white checkered tiles growing dirty from the dirt on my broken flip flops.
"Oh hun," I heard a woman say near me. Her voice was kind enough to make me look up. She had bright blonde curls with big blue eyes. There was pity within them. "You poor poor thing." Her voice was soft as her lips twisted into a sad smile.
She was wearing a white and red checkered dress, one that was similar to the other females working the tables. On the dress was the name "Amber" stitched in black near her breast.
"I have money," I blurted out quickly, the fear of being kicked out crossing my mind. She blinked at my voice, it reminded me of an owl. "For food and maybe a drink. I can pay really, just please don't kick me out."
"Oh hun, what kind of woman would I be if I kicked you out. Now come on here," she guided me to the bar stool. She patted it. I felt like a child.
"Now, I let me get you something. On the house sweetheart."
Now it was my turn to look surprised.
"Uh thank you, really."
With that the waitress walked off, leaving me alone on the bar stool. The silence I brought with me went away and the room filled up with chatter. With the anticipation of food to comfort me, I took the time to take in my surrounding. Other than the booths, tables, and chairs filled with oddly dressed people the only things that caught my eyes were two weird bulky things. The first one stood upright against the wall near the door. It was very colorful. Red was the main color, highlighting the wooden center. The shape was strange, like an upside down U. Near the top was glass that had thin disks within it. Music seemed to be coming out of it.
There was a name for it, I felt it on the tip of my tongue.
The second object was placed on top of the counter near me. It was smaller than the music box yet still made noise and unlike the U shape of the bigger device, this one was a simple rectangular thing. The dull brown color wasn't very impressive but the red knobs brought some color with it.
My thoughts of the two devices left once I heard the sound of a dish being placed in front of me.
"Our famous burger and fries." She smiled warmly.
Taking that smile as permission I dug in. The. burger, as the waitress, called it was the greatest thing I have ever eaten. It was moist with sparks flavors. My nose crinkled at the crunch from some of the toppings within it but I couldn't bring myself to care. I was just happy to have some food after walking for so long.
I switched from burger to water as the kind waitress just looked at me in amusement.
"Well it seemed someone was hungry." her voice was light and teasing.
I stopped midbite, feeling my face warm up.
"Oh hun, it's okay. You must be starving."
I still ate slower despite her words. My eyes glanced back to the door, the sign still up.
Swallowing, I looked back at the waitress. "What does it mean?"
She tilted her head in confusion, "What does what mean hun?"
"The sign. The no colored allowed sign." I tilted my head to the door before taking another gulp of water.
Her eyes lit up as she nodded. "Well...we don't want any of those filthy negros dirting up the restaurant now. Who knows what kind of diseases they have."
I gaped at her, any sense of hunger vanishing with each word she said. How could anyone say something so...vile? While I'm not one hundred percent sure exactly what her words meant, my gut was telling me that is was quite awful. My reaction must have confused her because she gave me a frown.
"You must have traveled from somewhere quite if you haven't had to deal with those beasts." She had an odd look in her eyes, almost as if she was envious.
"Uh yeahhh...thanks for the food, but I just remember I have to go now. Gotta find a place for the night. You know how it is," I said quickly, standing up from the stool and rushed to the door.
"Oi!" A loud voice rang out, stopping me in my track. I spun around to see a tall balding man with angry grey eyes walking towards me. "You didn't pay."
"Sir, it was on the house. Look at-" the waitress was cut off with a wave of his hand.
"Enough Amber! We don't feed strays. You know our policy."
I let out a sigh. Just wanting to leave and get far away from this place I unzipped my wallet.
"Whatever, how much?"
He glared at me, his frown deepening. His eyes glanced back to Amber then to my plate that had some leftover burger and fries.
"$1.50."
Quickly I shifted through my change, my eyes looking at each cent in confusion. How much was $1.50? With a frustrated huffed I grabbed a handful of change and placed it in his open hand.
"Is that enough?" I asked as he looked over the change. However, instead of a nod, his face started turning a bright red.
"Is this a joke?" he barked as he stalked towards me. I blinked at the turn of the situation.
Slowly, I started backing up. "I...I'm sorry?"
The man threw my change on the floor causing me to take a large jump backward.
"This ain't any American change. You trying to give me counterfeit money?" Warning bells were ringing in my head. I have to get out of here, now.
He looked at me, taking in my whole appearance. From my dirt-matted curls to my ruined shirt and jeans.
"Fucking commies," he snarled.
I didn't wait around any longer before taking off running. And I ran and ran, ignoring the shouts of the people I passed. I didn't stop until I was far away from that place.
I shook my head, wincing at the memory. The only good thing about that was the food, but my confusion just got worst. I still have no clue what was wrong with my change.
Now it felt I was back to where I started off. Hungry, cold, and looking like a mess Just a different day in the different section of the city.
I peered into the empty diner before checking my surroundings. Should I? Yeah, girl gotta eat somehow. I grabbed the doorknob and jingled it. Of course, it is locked. I released it and placed my palm on the door. The metal was cold against my hand. Maybe I could throw a rock through the window? Before I could even shake off such an awful idea, a strong tingle senesation danced across my palm. Startled I retreated my hand away from the door as if it had burned me. To my astonishment, the one spot where my hand had once laid seemingly aged centuries. The dark rusted color strikingly contrasted the steel color. Was that spot always there?
In a sense of curiosity, I lightly poked the spot.
"What the fuck?" I whispered as it fell apart, leaving a hole.
I am far too hungry and tired to deal with this shit.
Smoothly I stretched my arm through the hole and grabbed the doorknob on the other side. The tingle sensation came back and I yanked the knob harshly.
CREAK
Suddenly, the door opened up as I toppled inside. Glancing over to the other side of the door I saw my hand holding the doorknob and a good section of the door in my hand. It was severely rusted just like the door. I slowly grabbed the rusted knob and slid my other hand back out.
Softly I closed the door behind me and placed the ripped of pieces next to it.
"Sorry," I whispered to the door. At least I apologized to it.
With that I quietly rushed to the kitchen, my eyes roaming for any scraps of food.
Before I could start the great food search and then book it the lights turned on.
"Now...what in da devil's name is happenin here?"
Aw fuck me.
Another day another chapter. I hope yall enjoy, leave a review and tell me what you think! I love reading feedback and constructive criticism. I have a lot of plans for this story. Thanks for reading!
