Writing Camp Kella’s New Begining

Week 4 - Writing Camp - Chapter 2 - Kella

The following weeks were filled with double shifts, early shifts, late shifts, any shift I could get my hands on. As much as I wanted to get away from this place, I had to be smart about it. I'd told everyone at the diner my plans and some of them were more than happy to let me cover their shifts. It meant that I got to see less of my baby girl but it was just short-term. I had to keep reminding myself that I was doing this for her. For the dream of a better place for us. 

Brenda's husband worked at a mechanic's shop so he checked my car over. My parents had bought it for me on my 17th birthday. While it was used, it had been in good shape. Over the last couple of years though it hadn't had the maintenance it needed so I was worried. When Jimmy walked into the diner dangling my keys from his finger, I held my breath. He crossed the diner with a slight limp and pulled his hat off as he sat down at the bar. This was the defining moment. If my car wasn't reliable we would be stuck here longer. I had a feeling that if I didn't get out of here soon, leaving would always be a dream. Finally, a grin broke through Jimmy's mask and I could breathe.

"The car's good kid," as he slid the keys over to me. "Needed a few little things but nothing we couldn't manage"

"How much are a few little things going to cost me?" I asked quoting his words back to him.

"Ah, nothing for you kid. We had some downtime and had everything we needed there at the shop so don't you worry about it."

Tears welled in my eyes. I couldn't help it. I was a crier. I threw my arms around Jimmy's neck and hugged him tightly. He stood there for a moment as he processed what I was doing then chuckled and hugged me back. He grabbed my arms and pulled me back to look at my face.

"You're a good kid. If anyone deserves to get out of this s**t-hole, it's you and that little girl." He took a step back and cleared his throat. Oh my was Jimmy getting emotional? Brenda's tough mechanic was getting all choked up over me and Dani. 

"Now, get your s**t together. I don't want to see you around here any more kid." He slapped my shoulder and walked out the door. Yep typical man, tucking those emotions away before anyone sees them.

I stuffed my keys into my apron and darted through the kitchen to get the next table's order. Brenda just winked as I walked by and I had a suspicion that there were more than a few little things wrong with my car but that I'd never know about it. I loved these people like my family and I was going to miss them when Dani and I packed up and headed out. 

The rest of my shift passed quickly with anticipation. In only a few days Dani and I could be anywhere we wanted to be. Anywhere. I slowly pulled my tired body up the stairs of my building. When I made it to our floor, I knocked on Mrs. Anderson's door and then let myself in. She'd been letting me sleep on her couch the last couple of double shifts I'd pulled. Even though I had a perfectly fine bed just a couple of doors down at my own apartment, this way I wouldn't have to wake Dani. I heard Mrs. Anderson quietly moving about the kitchen and I crept over to the playpen where Dani was snoring softy. I kissed my fingers and pressed them lightly to her temple. I was truly blessed when God gave me my baby girl. She definitely wasn't planned but she was exactly what I needed. I brushed her dark hair away from her face and pulled the blanket up onto her shoulder. She usually slept with me but Mrs. Anderson never had trouble getting her to sleep on her own. I wasn't sure how I felt about that. I loved having her warm little body next to mine. I loved being about to reach out and feel her breathing. But most of all I love how in her sleep she would search for me, seek me out, then snuggle even closer to me. Before I could get all emotional I straightened up and headed to the kitchen. 

I slumped down in a chair at her kitchen table; my body was so tired. I smiled as Mrs. Anderson pushed a dainty teacup towards me and I dropped a couple of sugars in. 

"You're not supposed to put sugar in it child. It's supposed to help you sleep!"

"Mrs. Anderson, I promise I don't need any help getting to sleep tonight." 

As the warm - sweet - tea hit my throat it warmed and relaxed my whole body. I leaned back in my chair and closed my eyes just enjoying the quiet after a long loud day at the diner. Then I heard Mrs. Anderson shuffling around and plunk something on the table. I cracked one eye open to see two small boxes on the table. 

"What's this?"

"Just a little something for you and my sweet Dani Girl."

I sat up and carefully opened the first box. Inside were dozens of envelopes with Mrs. Anderson's beautiful cursive writing decorating the outside. I plucked one from the stack and carefully read the outside. Open When...You're feeling homesick. I pulled another one out. Open When... You need a laugh. My eye welled with tears. More tears, of course. 

"One has letters for you. One has letters for Dani. Of course, I'm hoping you'll read them to her. But there's plenty for when she gets older too."

"Oh, Mrs. Anderson! What am I going to do without you?!" I let her pull me into a hug and just sobbed. I was so excited to get out of this town. But at the same time, I was terrified. What if I couldn't do this on my own? What if I couldn't make it?

"Now child hush. You know you are a fine strong woman. You are going to make the best life for you and that baby no matter where you land. I believe in you."

I believe in you. She would never know how much those four words meant to me. They settled in my chest and wrapped themselves around my heart. She believed in me. When Dani looked up at me with those big brown eyes, she believed in me. Brenda and Jimmy believed in me. I could do this. Because I believed in me.

The next week was spent working and packing. We couldn't take very much with us so I donated a lot of clothes and toys that Dani had grown out of. I packed as much as I could into the trunk of my car and filled the back seat with Dani's favorite toys and blankets. When I was finally ready to go, our friends gathered around us. Brenda and Jimmy with a few of their kids running around, Mrs. Anderson, and even a few of the girls I worked with were all there to send us off. I hugged everyone and then swooped my baby girl up. When I buckled her into her car seat, I kissed her forehead and dragged her blanket up on her lap. I pulled out of the parking lot and didn't dare look in the mirror. I was brave. I could do this. I believed in myself.  I maneuvered onto the interstate and headed south.

Dani slept most of the first day of traveling. We stopped a couple of times to stretch and grab a snack. I wanted to save as much money as I could for our destination so I opted to sleep in the car on the way there. I found a truck stop and slept for a few hours with Dani stretched out on my chest. On the second day, Dani was much less cooperative. She was cranky and needed to burn off some energy. I tried to sing to her and play games with her but she would lose interest quickly. I couldn't blame her though the trip was tough on me too. 

By the end of the second day, I could smell the salt in the air. It was just the push I needed. I drove through the night and came upon a tiny town in South Carolina. The moment we passed the Welcome sign I could feel it in my bones that this was where we needed to be. This was where Dani and I could get our new beginning. Excitement filling me the closer we got to the shore. The sky was just beginning to lighten. The sun would be up soon. I pulled a blanket out of the trunk and carefully lifted my still sleeping baby girl onto my shoulder. She clung to her favorite stuffed animal, Mr. Wiggles, a purple cat. I turned towards the sand and a sense of peace settled over me. Home.