(Betty)
As I opened my eyes to the semi stained ceiling, it took my brain a moment or two to catch up to my new reality. I was living in a trailer park, in possibly the most run down trailer out here…in Southside. Well, it could always be worse, I could still be living with my mother.
As I rolled over to grab my phone and check the time, it occurred to me that I was going to need to buy groceries today too. My dwindling savings were going to take a hard hit.
Alright, so finding a job has now taken top priority in my metal to-do list, I thought morosely, looking at the 7% battery life left on my phone, after finding my charge cord.
In the early morning light I couldn't find too much to complain about, however. I was on my own, in my own place, with no one looking over my shoulder critiquing every move I make. It was practically paradise.
Rolling out of bed I double checked the time. 6:02am. A pretty standard wake up time for me, however, with no clean clothes taking a shower felt pointless, and with no food or coffee in the place…I really needed to find something to do to keep my mind occupied until my rides got here. Normally I would have played music, but I desperately needed to keep the battery life I had left on my phone. So a quiet chore filled morning it was.
In the cupboard under the sink I found a couple black garbage bags, some dish soap, a rusty box cutter, a wrench probably left behind by the plumber and three and a half peanuts. The drawers didn't hold much besides crumbs and an old pair of work gloves, but surprisingly it was everything I needed. Grabbing the gloves I pulled them on cautiously, then took a garbage bag and the box cutter. Regardless of what was under that carpet, it had to go. Diligently I pulled at an edge and started cutting the carpet into manageable strips, turning my head and covering my mouth as best I could from the dirt, dust and debris. After about an hour of grime, bugs I really didn't care to question, and all garbage bags now filled, the carpet was just a bad memory sitting at the end of my driveway.
The subfloor underneath wasn't ideal, but it was better than dealing with that smell any longer.
As I watched the sun touch the sides of my place I couldn't help but grimace. The dark of night hid the decaying siding much better than sunrise.
As I looked on, a stranger walked up my drive and stopped a few feet away.
"Hey, are you the girl that bought old Mrs. Rafferty's place?," she queried, looking me up and down.
I nodded and extended my hand, " Yes, hi, I'm Betty, I just moved in last night."
She took my hand kindly and smiled, "Well, I'm Sunny, I live just across the way and if there's anything you need you just come on over and ask. I have some coffee brewing, that interest you?"
I couldn't help but smile in return. "Oh absolutely, I would love a cup of coffee. You wouldn't happen to have a metal rake I could borrow for a few minutes would you? I'd love to level out my drive a bit so no one destroys their suspension coming in here."
She nodded her head in the direction of a small blue shed on her property, "Got a whole bunch of tools in that shed, you go get what you need and I'll go get that coffee. Cream or sugar?"
"A little of both, thank you!" I watched her walk away and smiled to myself. Good neighbours were a good sign as far as I was concerned. Walking to the shed I saw a motorcycle out back up on blocks and a little vegetable garden. A bit of an odd combination, but who was I to judge? I quickly found the metal rake and moved back across the way. There were a couple piles of loose stone near the shed and I started in.
I managed to fill up one of the smaller potholes before Sunny came back outside, two coffees in hand.
"Here you go Betty, working hard already this morning eh? I don't blame you, the place looks like it could use a fair bit of TLC, but I'm sure you'll get there, nothing the boys around here won't help with," she said, sipping on her coffee, "The Serpents usually come around once or twice a month and help us older folks out with some yard work or minor projects. It's a good community to be in."
I was a little stunned to hear her say that, who knew on this side of the tracks the gang was a little bit revered instead of feared and loathed?
"Actually, I just started prospecting for them last night, it's good to hear they're in good standing in the community, " I said, hoping it didn't make this grey haired, first nations woman look down on me. If anything she looked even more pleased to have me across the way.
"Oh that's wonderful, you're going to love it out here! Where are you from?"
"Uh, actually, I'm from Riverdale proper, but my mom used to…uh…she used to live here, Alice Cooper?"
Her smile seemed to fall a little at that, until it softened again, "You must be Frank and Cherry's grand daughter, Elizabeth. They always spoke so highly of you to anyone who would listen. They lived closer to the centre of the park before they passed, You'll find a lot of people around here who will be happy to see you back."
I smiled sadly, but nodded my head in thanks. I hadn't been by to see my grandparents for years before they passed. It was still a sore point to me that my mother wouldn't let me see them when I got older.
"Anyways, sorry for talking your ear off, if you need anything little Legacy, my door is always open. Literally and figuratively, I haven't locked it in years. You need anything, you feel free. Now I got to head in to the hospital and start my rounds. I'll see you later Betty."
With a final smile and a wave, Sunny was off. I thanked her again as she walked off and swore I would repay her kindness.
I passed what time remained to me, filling in the rest of the holes in my drive as best I could and about 20 minutes before I expected anyone, Toni pulled into the driveway.
"Hey girl, sorry! I have clean clothes for you so you should have enough time to take a shower before Sweet Pea gets here!" She said, jumping out of the car, "And damn, nice work on the driveway, so much better!"
I thanked her profusely and dashed inside, not wanting anyone else to smell me after all of the work I'd put this poor outfit through.
As the warm water washed over me I was thankful for the friends I had acquired and the lovely neighbour I'd moved in by. You really couldn't ask for much more after the night I'd had.
Drying off with the towel Toni had graciously supplied, I heard a motorcycle pull up outside. Throwing the clothes on quickly I didn't even really have time to look at them before walking into the kitchen. I was still towel drying my hair as Sweet Pea walked in.
"I rode past your old place Betty, looks like the family cleared out already, we're good to go" he said, leaning against the door and eyeing me up and down, "Nice outfit, let's get going."
Looking down I finally took notice of the jeans and cut up shirt I had on. They were so much darker than the usual pastels I always wore, but I didn't have time to think on it past that, it was time to empty the Cooper house of the memories of their youngest child. It was time to move forward.