Flash Back:

"Jenny, come on," My mother whined, like a little girl. "I wanna stay longer. We haven't even gotten on the Ferris wheel." We were at the livestock show and rodeo, in Houston, Texas. We moved to Houston after our brief stay in Little Rock, Arkansas. My mom hated Arkansas. We couldn't afford to actually get into the show so, we walked around the carnival, and spent the little money we had riding rides.

"Momma, I'm tired and I have school in the morning." I whined back.

"I'll let you skip, if we can just stay longer." She enticed me, as usual.

"No, I love school. Please can we go home?" I was practically begging, so she gave in. I was six, but still more mature than her. We walked across the street to our apartment, the safest cheap apartment we could find. "Momma?"

"Yes, sweetie?" She replied not looking at me, but watching the traffic.

"Tell me about my dad."

"We have gone through this before. He doesn't matter."

"He does to me."

"Why? What has he ever done for you?"

"He gave me life…"

"I gave you life. He didn't want you that's why he left."

"I'm a bas tard." I said, and she spun me around.

"Who told you that?"

"A kid at school."

"You never say that again. You are not, and do not let anyone ever call you that again." She squatted down to eye level with me, and said her famous words. "I want you to keep that man out of your mind, because the only people who matter are those who are still around, and that's me." She stood back up and we continued to walk across the street. "You aren't going to school tomorrow."

"What? Why?" I cried.

"We're moving." I knew that it was because of what the kid said to me, and that nothing would change her mind. The next day we packed up and found ourselves in Springfield, Illinois.

"Come on pick up," I repeated under my breath.

"Hello?" He answered out of breath.

"Hey, it's Jenny. I need your help."

"What kind of help?"

"Well financial help."

"What for?"

"I want to run away."

"WHAT?" He practically yelled into the phone.

"JR, I don't want your parents to hear. I'm going because they are trying to force me to meet my father." My voice was shaky as my plan was actually said out loud.

"What about your sister?"

"What about her, she's coming with me." I was dumb-founded by his question.

"Jenny, you are 15 years old…"

"So?"

"That's not exactly the legal age to work."

"And?"

"Use your head for a minute. If you can't get a job, how are you and your sister supposed to live, and eat?"

"Well…"

"I can't get you enough money to set you guys up that long. I just spent my savings on a new game system. It's so awesome, you should come over and play..."

"JR, focus."

"Oh, sorry. I can't ask my parents cause there're broke."

"How can they be broke, he's an NBA player, and she is an artist."

"His contract wasn't as big as Uncle Nate's or Uncle Luke's. Plus I have four brothers and sisters."

"Well I have a little bit saved up…," I said thinking out loud.

"I really think this is a dumb idea. I mean…"

"What would you do if you were me?"

"Meet him Jenny. Talk to your mom, and meet this man that you have been dying to meet. If he's an ass then tell him how you feel and let that be it. At least all the what ifs would disappear."

"Really?"

"Jen, I don't think running away is the answer, plus I'm you're first real friend, trust me when I say that Uncle Nate, and Aunt Haley want you and your sister around for a while, and don't want anything to happen to you."

"Ok. Good night JR."

"Night Jen." We hung up, and I decided that I was going to stick it out. I'm going to meet this man and tell him that he is the scum of the earth and that he can lick my sweaty armpits for all I care.