Life’s Expectations

Just A Pitstop

Grace was so sleepy when night sorted to creep in.She had made it through two states the first day and camped in New Mexico.She was very glad to have made it through Texas before nightfall.She was in Arkansas and she found a nice little town with a good camp ground.She would just get a one night pass and explore in the morning.If she liked it,she would stay a while.She pulled out the one person pop up tent and a sleeping bag.She ate at her last stop,but she fed Salts.They curled up in the little tent and fell right to sleep.The next morning she woke up early and went to get breakfast.She went to the Diner in town.She ordered the special,pancakes sausage and two eggs.She finished her meal and asked the waitress if they needed any help.The waitress told her they needed a breakfast and lunch dishwasher,but only for a few weeks.Their dishwasher was in a cast.Grace applied for the job and got it.She would start the next day.She brought a sausage back for Salts.The Diner owner said if Salts stayed in her carrier she could stay with Grace in the dish room.Grace paid for a week and set up her campsite.She got real settled in this time.She made dinner after she went and purchased some wood.She ate and then

went to the shower house.She showered and dressed for bed.

Grace was so excited about going to work,she woke up really early.She dressed in some jeans and a white t-shirt like the owner told her.She was to excited to eat,so she just fed Salts and turned the fan on for her.She wanted to see how it was being in the dish room all day,before bringing Salts.She walked to the Diner.

“Hey,Grace.Good morning.”the owner Joyce said with a huge smile.

“Good morning.Thank you again for the job.”Grace said.

“Did you eat this morning?”Judy the head waitress asked,Grace shook her head.

“Joy!Grace didn’t eat this morning.”Judy told Joyce.

“Oh no mam.We don’t start the day hungry and we don’t end it hungry.You order something to eat,then you can start those dishes.Don’t look at me like that.You get meals free,so order.”Joy told her.

Grace got a breakfast sandwich,it had a fried egg,cheese,bacon,lettuce,tomato and mayo.She also got a big chocolate milk.She devoured them in minutes.Grace thanked the cook and Joy,then went to work.She kept up with the dishes very well.She took water breaks during slow times.Joy made to eat lunch around 11,to avoid the busy hours.Grace got the Special,hamburger steak and gravy over rice,with a veggie.She got sweet peas.She ate quickly and took a big ice water to the back with her.She washed dishes straight through lunch,which ended at 3PM.At 4 she was getting ready to leave and Joy stopped her.

“Do you need to be paid daily or weekly?I think daily,so here is your first pay.”Joy handed her $40.Grace smiled and thanked her.

“No,thank you.You did a great job and are helping us so much.Nobody wanted the job,because it is such a short time.Are you coming back for dinner?”Joy asked.

“I really need to save money.I have to get somewhere and settle in and get a job.”Grace told her.

“You don’t have to pay,as long as you work at the Diner”Joy told her.

“Oh,I thought you meant while I was working.”Grace said and Joy shook her head.

“Are you coming back?”Joy asked.Grace nodded and Joy smiled.

Grace went to her little home and her fur baby.She let Salts out and fed her.She got her shower bag and headed to the showers.Grace showered and dressed for dinner.She wanted to take a nap for at least an hour.She and Salts laid down and fell right to sleep.She woke up a few hours later.The Diner closed in an hour,so she rushed over.She ordered a burger and fries,with a chocolate milk shake.

“Did you fall asleep?”Joy asked,Grace nodded.Joy smiled and sat her food in front of her.

“Can I go get some ranch?”Grace asked not wanting to bother them.Nobody answered,but Judy gave her a small cup of ranch.

Grace devoured the food and was enjoying her shake.She started getting sleepy.Joy laughed.

“Grace hun come on I will take you home.I don’t want you passing out in a ditch.”Joy drove Grace home.She was surprised at Grace’s little home.

“Gracey girl,I have to come visit you in daylight.I have to see your home better. I am so curious.”Joy said and Grace smiled.

“You are welcome back whenever you like.”Grace told her new boss.

Joy drove away and Grace dressed for bed.She and Salts slept very well.i

The next few days Grace woke,fed Salts,dressed,headed to work and came home.Saturday and Sunday she doesn’t work,so Friday after her shift she was super happy.She cleaned up after she got home and fixed her yard up more.She had bought a fern and hung it on a hook by her door.She was so happy with her site,because it was fully in the shade.Beautiful old oak trees grew all over the camp grounds and she was lucky enough to have one of the coolest ones.Andy would call it perfect for a treehouse.She thought it was perfect for hammock swings and she hung two.She put colorful bottles in the tree,that held her prayers(wishes and dreams) and her fears.The prayers were in clear bottles,so heaven could see them clearly.The fears were trapped in the dark bottles,browns and greens.The cheerful colors were to attract good luck,happiness and peace.And maybe a fairy or two.Grace loved the mushrooms that grew in a huge circle around her campsite.Holly had always said that it was a circle of protection.She also called it a fairy circle,where fairies would gather.Grace put out her wind chimes and whirly gigs that Andy made her.Holly said wind chimes chase away bad spirits.She also told Grace to burn her sage bundle to cleanse her home and ward off evil.

Grace went back inside and made her bed and she put out the new floor cushion she made Tuesday.She put together her folding shelf and placed her most precious things on it.At the top she put her tea set,special tea spoons and tea supplies.The second shelf had her graduation photo with her family.Her picture of herself the last month she was pregnant with Gracelin.And the teddy Andy and Holly excitedly bought when they found out the baby was a girl.And her cap from graduation.The bottom had a basket with snacks in it.Grace had her favorite chandelier up and plugged in.She was so thankful the campground offered sites with outlets.She was going to go buy an outdoor shelf tomorrow for her cooking setup by the grill.She went into town and did laundry,then came home cooked,showered and went to bed.

She fell asleep very easily and slept soundly until right before dawn.She dreamed that Thane was looking for her.That he had become sick and depressed.Grace tried to reach him but once again couldn’t.Grace decided to call Holly in the morning.She actually slept a couple more hours.She woke once the sun peeked through the branches of the tree.She fed Salts,then got an apple and yogurt for her breakfast.She didn’t want anything heavy.She fixed her tea and sat to read for a while.Grace rode to the store in town to shop,then went home.After putting things away she sat to read more.Around lunch there was a knock at her door.Grace answered and it was Joy and Judy.

“Come in,please.”Grace said motioning for them to enter.They came in and Grace motioned for them to sit on the cushions.She was super glad she made another one.Judy and Joy sat looking at Grace’s beautiful home.They were very impressed and shocked.How did she fit everything into her small trailer and bags?She must be a packing wiz.