Stephanie: Sitting on the bus I almost can't believe everything thats happened today I came home, D.J and I escaped our dads clutches. I put a bandaid over the cut on my wrist it was bleeding she had tried to protect me from dad but he had come at us with a broken bottle of booze. She had tried to explain what was going on quickly to Becky giving her the paper for Michelle, however Becky saw D.J as a kid and was not exactly happy she was taking me and leaving. We ended up jolting from Becky thinking she would try to stop us, I think D.J is grown up enough to be on her own and take care of me even though shes 17, We've both grown up a lot and are ready to try and live together alone.
I hugged her as we sit on the bus trying to hold back tears I know this is something we need to do it's not going to be easy but its worth at least trying. Theres so many things on my mind right now one of which is that we wouldnt need to do this if mom was still alive. I miss her but I try not to let my mind wander, its the past this is the present. A few people get on the bus it should be downtown soon the sooner the better.
Something tells me its going to be a long time before I see my dad again, Getting drunk and abusing your kids physically is just horrible if I ever have kids I would never abuse them or do anything to hurt them. Hopefully one of these days dad sobers himself up and stays clean off the booze he's doesn't act like the father I used to trust when hes drinking.
Finally the bus reaches downtown we get off the bus and start walking "D.J do you have any money? If we can't get a job within a few hours we may want to just get a room somewhere for the night" I say. "All I've got is 60$ I had to use some of my stash of money to cover what the insurance wouldn't cover on my er bill" she says. "That should cover us for a night if needed I just hope we find a job tonight so we don't run out of money" I say worried. "Me too Steph it's sunset already" she said we walked around trying to find a motel.
The first place we stopped in said there were no job openings available no luck at the second place ether by the 3rd time we got turned down it was starting to get dark out. "Maybe we should just call Becky and ask her to come get us, I don't know how safe it is to be walking around here in the dark D.J" I said starting to feel uneasy."If we call her she'd probably try to stop us from leaving again if she did come get us, She'd probably think we couldn't handle it out here and weren't grown up enough to be on our own together which isn't the case." D.j said"
She was right if we called there would be a good chance they'd just think we we're to inmature to handle being on our own. We walked by a dollar store D.J stopped "We're going to pick up a few things Steph" "Okay D.J whatever you say your the adult". We walked in she picked up 2 com;act swiss army knifes and bough them it only cost 4$. "I guess better safe than sorry" I said as we exited the store "Hey I'd rather we have it on us and hope we don't have to use it than to need protection and not have it" She said handing one to me I put it in my pocket. "Your right one can never be to careful out on the street especially at night time" I say.
At least shes being cautious I hold her hand as we continue to walk down rows of streetlights, I don't dare let go of her. A few homeless people are sleeping in dark corners some old others young I wonder why they don't have a place to go did they get kicked out of their house or become unemployed?. I had been abducted raped escaped gotten kicked out of my house am unemployed and only 12, well at least I have my sister still. Thats one thing no one can take away from me were going to stick together no matter what happens.
Four more motels turn us down its 10 pm now we stop into a two story motel the office is on the side theres a total of 14 rooms visible 7 on each level. D.J and I walk inside still holding hands "Hi we'd like to apply for a job as maids could we speak to the person in-charge" she says in a stern but business voice. "I'm the managers wife I more or less run the place we had to fire our last maid for sleeping on the job too many times I've been doing the work the past week but the two of you look young I don't want to break any child labor laws and get shut down".
"We can work off the records we really need this job please we just got kicked out of the house and have no place to live we'll work for 25$ a week each if you give us a room to stay in I swear we're really hard workers and can clean anything" she said. The lady gave her a look "Are you sure the two of yous aren't run aways? I don't need any legal trouble here". "I'm 17 and emancipated I have custody of my sister I can even show you the papers if you want" she says, the lady nods her head sticking out her hand. D.J hands her the papers the lady looks them over carefully and hands them back.
"The documents look legal but why would two nice young ladys like you get kicked out of the house just like that? you sure your not in trouble with the law?" The lady questions. "Our dad is an alcoholic he chose the booze over us we didn't do anything wrong I got myself emancipated and took custody of my sister to try and protect her from him both of us have gone through a lot but it wouldn't effect our work performance I swear please if you give us a chance we'll prove it to you" she says I knod my head giving sad eyes hoping to get across.
"50$ a week for both of you to work and free board? I was paying my last maid over 350$ a week. I have a room attached to the back of the motel that I can't rent out to the customers because the room is stuck in the 60's era accept for the tv and bathroom. My husband wont let me update it, I'll give you two a trial of two days if you work as well as you say their should be no problem" "Thank you we won't let you down!" D.j and I say at the same time.
"Its late here's the key to your room orientation starts at 9am sharp be back out here and be on time, my names Jaynie you best get some rest Donna Jo and Stephanie you've got a long day of working ahead of you!".D.J takes the key we say thank you again and walk towards the back of the motel I see a soda machine, low and behold a room it almost has a mini concrete porch in front of it. She opens the door its a smallish room with a psychedelic tapestry pinned to the sealing on each side of the double size bed it drapes down to the end of the mattress. At least it provides protection from people being able to look in the window at us while we're sleeping.
She puts down her bag and takes out a few dollars "Pick a soda any one in the machine lets celebrate!" she says I walk a few seconds back out to the machine and get a can of Vanilla flavored cola D.J gets the same thing curiously "Thank you" I say as we walk back inside and lock the door I crawl onto the bed and take a sip its delicious. "Heres to our new job!" she says we clink cans and take a big gulp "This stuff is great" I say enthused. "Who thought Coke a cola could taste so good" she responds I nod lying down in our new hippie room!. "Do you think we should call Becky? you did say you'd call if you want I can talk to her I know its probably uncomfortable" I say.
"If you can handle talking to her go ahead i think the phone is on your side of the bed she gave you her cell number earlier in the er, just be careful and don't tell her where we are right now" she says. "Of course I wouldn't tell her where we are if she showed up here that could get us in trouble with the boss, I just want to make sure Michelles safe thats all" I say. I find the phone on the nightstand and punch in the number after a few rings I hear her pick up "Hello this is Rebecca" "Aunt Becky it's Stephanie I just wanted to call and make sure Michelles with you" I say slightly worried by her tone of voice. "Michelle's in bed with Nicky and Alex shes fine, Is D.J with you where are you Stephanie? its 10:30 at night you shouldn't be out this late at night its not safe for a kid your age" she said.
"Don't worry D.J's right next to me we're not outside both of us are fine, we just wanted to make sure Michelle's okay thats all" I say, well we're as okay as we can be right now I think to myself. "Can you put the phone on speaker? the three of us need to talk" she says "Hold on" I say. "What should I do she wants me to put the phone on speaker she claims she needs to talk to both of us" I say unsure "Okay put the phone in between us but if she starts pressuring us to tell her where we are I'm hanging up" she says "Alright" I say.
Putting the phone in the middle I press the speaker button "What do you need to talk about?" D.J says in a cool calm voice. "I don't know quite how to tell you this oh Jess maybe you should tell them" I hear Becky tearing up. "D.J, Steph I'm sorry but your father well he had an accident and took off around 7:30" Jesse said. "What do you mean he had an accident and took off" D.J and I say at the same time. "He hit his head somehow and then ran off when we tried to take him to the er to get help I found 2 bottles of alcohol on the couch, your right girls your father has a problem with drinking" Jesse said in a concerned voice.
"After what he did to D.J and I how do you expect us to react? we don't want him in our life right now" I say slightly angry. "What Steph means is no one can force him to stop getting drunk and unless he gets himself help we don't want him in our life. Yes he may be our dad but hes an abusive exuse for a dad when he drinks, we're doing whats in our best interest and cutting him out of our life right now Steph and I are working out on our own right now." she says. Sensing shes upset I squeeze her hand she pulls me into a hug tears slide off our face I hear whispering in the background "Danny did what?!" I hear Jesse yell.
"Look we really need to get some sleep we have to be up early for our first day of work but if we have time tomorrow maybe we could meet somewhere and get dinner?" she says. "Please can we I haven't seen my little sister in 4 years! nor have I met my cousins" I say. "It's up to them Steph" She says "I'll have to see how things go tomorrow but its possible" Becky says. "Thank you!" I say feeling somewhat happy. "We'll call you tomorrow when we get off work its going to be a long day the boss said.. Goodnight tell everyone we love them" she says. Hanging up the phone I put it back on the nightstand, D.J and I pull eachother into a protective hug "Goodnight D.J I love you" I say giving her a kiss on the cheek "I love you too Steph try to get some sleep, we both need some rest but I'll be right here if you need anything" She says kissing me on the forehead nether one of us lets go of the other.