Skid Row Beginnings
Chapter 3
From Uptown to the Slums
DISCLAIMER: I don't own the rights to any LSOH characters. Audrey's parents and sisters are characters of my own creation. Audrey's sisters and father also appear in my fic Epilouge To The Three Matchmakers.
Unlike Seymour and Orin, Audrey Fullerton did not start her life on Skid Row. She actually came from a well to do family that lived on Long Island. Her story however is just as sad as Seymour's as far as living situation.
Audrey was born to two parents Richard and Marietta Fullerton in April 1948. Richard had a pretty good job as an accountant but somewhere along the line Marietta developed an alcohol addiction. When she was pregnant she stopped drinking so nothing would affect the health of the baby but in between pregnancies she would consistently drink Audrey would then become an older sister to Darlene born in 1951 and Debbie born in 1953. Audrey was observant of her mother's actions and vowed to be a good role model for her sisters. Because of her alcoholism Marietta could not hold down a steady job. This put unlimited stress on Richard being the breadwinner
One night in late March Marietta came home from a night on the town in a drunken rage. She was throwing things all over the living room and broke four plates out of the kitchen cabinet. She also became violent and started to kick and punch her husband. This would happen on several occasions and it came to a point where Richard was ready to leave his wife. This happened when Audrey was 7 and Debbie and Darlene were 5 and 3. It was a very scary time and Audrey was afraid that her father was going to put her and her sisters up for adoption. Richard considered doing that but could never live with not seeing his girls to grow up to have the lives they deserved to have.
Audrey felt very unsafe around her mother and could never be sure when a good time to talk to her was because of her random mood swings. This made her relationship with her very hard and she began to trust her dad more as a confidante. Her father was always supportive of her while her mom was constantly putting her and her sister down and verbally abusing her and sisters.
Audrey dropped out of school at age 16 and moved to Skid Row to live on her own. She couldn't stand living and her house anymore. She couldn't stand to leave her sisters alone to deal with how cruel her mother was to them but knew she had instilled strength in them that her mother had never instilled in her.
It was a very emotionally day when Audrey moved out.
"Bye Daddy. Bye girls . I promise I'll write."
Audrey's sisters were in tears
"Take us with you. We don't wanna stay here."
"You have Daddy to take care of you. Be strong for each other. I'm not that far away and I'll visit."
Audrey's father gave her a strong hug.
"I love you baby girl. You're stronger then you think you are."
"I love you too Daddy."
Audrey then proceeded to get in the car and drove away to start her new life on Skid Row.
She was surprised to find an apartment as soon as she got into town. It was right next to flower shop that had a sign that said in bright letters Mushnik's Skid Row Florists. The building did not look quite as run down as the other buildings she had seen while driving around town. 'I hope they're hiring over there… I need to find a good paying job.' She thought to herself
The apartment had just been vacated by people who had moved to a bigger place on the other side of town. It wasn't bad for a fixer upper and the rent wasn't too bad either. Hopefully she'd be able to find a good job in order to pay her bills.
There was a knock at her door. A black girl about her age peered tentatively inside.
"Hi, I'm Ronnette. I live in the building down the block with my friends Crystal and Chiffon. Do you need help unpacking?"
Audrey was lucky to get such a good first impression of the people on Skid Row. Hopefully other people around here would be just as nice.
"Hi Ronette. I'm Audrey. It's nice to meet you. I would love some help unpacking."
"Okay, I'll be right back let me go get them."
As quickly as Ronette left she reappeared with the two other girls in tow. The four immediately got to work unpacking Audrey's endless amount of boxes.
"You look like you come from some ritzy place up town. What brings you here?" Crystal asked
"I come from Long Island. My mom's an alcoholic and she's very physically and verbally abusive. I couldn't stand living in my house. I had to get out."
"Was leaving the rest of your family hard?" Chiffon asked.
"Yes. I have two little sisters who are 13 and 10. My departure was hard on them but I plan on visiting. Where do you guys work?"
"We sing at a local nightclub. We waitress there too." Ronette said
" I'll probably be looking for a job very soon. Do you know if they're hiring?"
"Luigi's isn't but The Gutter is. I wouldn't recommend that place. Sleaze balls hang out there but it's one of the only place that's really hiring right now." Crystal said
"What about the flower shop next door,they looking for people?" Audrey asked. She thought to herself 'I'll probably need two jobs just to pay the rent.'
"Not that I know of…." Crystal said but Ronnette interjected before she could finish her sentence.
"I saw a sign in the window two days ago.. Mr Mushnik said it's been up for 2 weeks and they've been unable to fill the position."
"What position do they have open?" Audrey was excited that she already knew of two job openings and was hoping to apply as soon as possible.
"Mr. Mushnik is looking for a second flower arrangement assistant and someone to manage the register. Our friend Seymour works there now but they are so behind on their inventory that they are desperate for an extra set of hands."
"I'll definitely look in to both places. Can you guys show me where The Gutter is?"
"Sure most definitely." Crystal said.