April 30th

karen

karen

it was thurs. feb. april 30th 2015 2 a.m. The bar had just closed. Over the past couple of months evan and jesse decided they weren't going to drive me back from the bar anymore. And given how drunk I got each time and what he knew of my past jesse didn't want me taking a cab. My daughters weren't available at this time to call. I'd tried lacy, mark and raven who weren't available. Instead of going towards leetsdale I decided to go towards a park I knew was around here. Maybe I could sleep there. If only for 4 hrs. I had to get back to my house at 7 work started at 9 ended at 5. dinner was at 6 then i'd go visit pansy. Then i'd. Go back to my house get ready for karaoke which started at 9. i'd even started working on stardays same schedule. But I didn't go to karaoke on days that weren't wed. or thurs. I hadn't found a good place to go yet.

As I started walking towards the park it was dark and cold but not snowing. I walked past trees and small apt. buildings and then found the park which wasn't big or well lit. I sat down in the grass somewhat close to the sidewalk and put my purse on the ground. I pulled a shooter out of my purse even though i'd had 4 drinks at the bar. I had more shooters in my purse. I was always drinking them these days whenever I had a chance.

It was so quiet in the park. It was weird. And still. I knew some people would be up and walking by 6. I got used to the quiet after a bit. I kept drinking. My buzz had gone now I just felt dizzy. It had gone a few hrs. ago. Pam had called a cab and asked if I wanted her to wait for me. I hadn't. So she took it back to my house. I finished my shooter pretty quickly and had another one soco. That got my buzz going back up again. All this drinking made me sleepy so I lied down on the grass and slept.

"aunt karen?" I heard someone say.

I opened my eyes to see the blue light of a phone shone in them. I squinted.

"um yeah? I replied.

"sorry. It's annabelle. I know it's dark out. Why are you sleeping out here?"

"um. hi."

I sat up. It took me awhile to remember where I was.

"i um. Didn't want to walk all the way back to my house," I replied.

"they make you walk?"

she was surprised.

"well they don't like. Er 'make' me but in a way yes. It's my only other option."

"oh. Well what time do you have work?"

"it starts at 9."

I wondered what she was doing out here at this hr.

"oh. Well do you want to come to my place for a bit? It's gotta be better than here. Well it's lit anyway. A lot of people will probably be asleep so be quiet."

"um yeah ok."

"ok."

she waited while I stood and collected my things. We began walking to her place.

"what are you doing out at this hr.?" I asked.

"grocery shopping."

"oh."