A Dead Summer

UNO: WELCOME MICHIGAN

"Now and then its good to pause in our pursuit of happiness and just be happy.."

-Guialloume Apollinaire

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[Santa's]

Growing up I never really like summer. My mother died the same summer when I was born. Same as my father who disappear on summer nine years ago. Since then the word and time summer became a bad news for me.. A real bad news.

I was ready to believe that my summer will turn out the same this year. Well, no one can blame me. Last week is the official start of summer this year and I just lost my job for three years.

I really thought my summer was cursed but an email change it all. Three days ago I received an email from a recruiting agency I applied on. I was offered of a job as a assistant chef in Hillsdale, Michigan.

I was ecstatic. No it was actually an underestimation. I was beyond that. Michigan is my dream place. Since a kid I always dream of being there. And a month from now I'm claiming my dream. Finally!

I thought that it will start my lucky days. That fate got my curse lifted already. That finally I will have happiness already but I was wrong.

Michigan is not a place for me. Hillsdale does not have my dreams.

For what waited in there is not a beautiful summer. But a dead one.

****************

[3rd]

Santa's so excited. Her happiness is out of scale. Last week she got her tickets already. She actually had to ask money to her bitchy Aunt Maddy (she is Santa's mother's sister, she actually thought that she was a witch, well, she look like one). Her placement fee cost her a leg already and she does not have anything to spare anymore so she resort in borrowing money to her aunt.

Santa look around her. Each one of the supposed passengers of the day got family with them. But she had none. She doesn't even have a friend with her..

She smiled bitterly. She got relatives yes, but they were never a family to her. When her mother died and her father disappear she actually live alone. Working and studying at the same time. She always hated sundays for what she only have is herself. She don't have friends to bond with. She actually tried on looking for one but she always ended up being hurt. She don't know if her face is a curse or what. Girls never liked her because of that. While guys only thought of getting her to bed. Yeah. it sucks to be her.

But today, Santa realize that she's better off alone. She did graduated from college by herself. She build her own house. And now she's boarding to Michigan.

Santa stand up and paint a satisfying smile in her lips. Her flight is being called. She's finally saying goodbye to all her heartaches. Michigan is waiting for her. And she's soon to be welcome in Hillsdale. Finally! There's a new life ahead of her.

____________________

Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport)

|11:39 a.m.|

[3rd]

It's a hot afternoon when the plane landed. Santa's so excited that she able to come out the plane first. But her excitement immediately died down when she get to the entrance. There's no one there to fetch her. She was told that the restaurant will send someone to pick her up. But no one was there.

Santa decided to wait for the driver. She sat in a bench few meters away from the airport entrance. It was so hot that she's slowly losing her cool. A good forty minutes pass when a stranger approach her. He is a blond with blue eyes. Standing mighty with his 6'2 inches height. Yeah, and well, handsome.

"Hello, I've been eyeing you from across the street. Yah been here for almost an hour now." the guy said with a kind smile.

Santa doesn't know if she have to answer. Afterall the guy is a total stranger.

"Oh I'm sorry. I'm Stan. I work in that supermarket. Don't ya' worry I'm harmless." Stan cheekily uttered that send her to smile.

"I don't usually talk to strangers." Santa informed Stan that earned up another smile from him.

"I understand. Yah' new here?"

"Yeah. I'm a Filipina. Got a job to a local restaurant in Hillsdale." she answered truthfully.

"Oh? Hillsdale is my hometown. Its been three years since I last visited the town though its just 83 miles away from here.." Stan commented while adjusting his seat beside Santa.

"Really? I'm actually waiting for the chauffeur the restaurant send me. But you see, no one was actually here to pick me up."

Santa look so troubled. She can actually ride a cab to Hillsdale but it will cost her a lot. She only got $2000 with her and it will not last long. Besides she doesnt know the exact location of the restaurant.

"I can help you. Can I see your letter? The one from the restaurant." Stan offered her that she immediately grab. Who will say no to someone who's giving assistance?

"The restaurant's name is The mermaid. They say its in the center of the county." Santa whispered yo guy who's scanning her papers.

"You sure? Coz' I don't know a place with that name in Hillsdale. And I've been searching the local map and there's not a single result. I even check the neighboring county but I really got none." Stan confusely ask.

That brought Santa to shock. She can really digest the words she hear. The placement fee cost her a good $4000 that she have to ask her aunt money for her ticket. She even sold a couple of her mother's old jewelries to gather up some pocket money. And now he's saying that there's no restaurant with that name.

"Are you sure?" she ask softly.

"Yeah. Are you okay?"

Stan was shock when Santa fell unconscious. She was so pale and her hands are cold. She probably didn't take the information good. Well, who else will? After spending a lot of money to get a job abroad you will suddenly find out that everything is bogus.

******************

Santa woke up in trance. Upon looking around her she realize she's in some unfamiliar place. Slowly remembering what happen a few hours ago Santa welled up into tears. She can't believe she's cheated on again. After spending all her money she's here in an unknown place with nothing to spare and no one to run into.

Fate really had her cursed. Her little tears turn into river slowly becoming sobs. The pain is unbearable that she can feel her heart swelling up. How can she go on now? All she had is $2000 in her pocket and few old jewelries her mother saved.

Santa was so ready to give up when the door suddenly opens revealing the tall blond whom she talked few hours ago.

"I'm glad you're awake. You slept for almost eight hours yah know." Stan informed her smiling.

"Where am I?" she sadly ask her host.

"You are in my apartment. Don't worry I didn't touched you." he answered panicking.

"Thank you."

"Right. I forgot to tell you. There's an herb store beside the place I work. The old lady there id looking for some helper. I ask her if you can have the position and she said yes. There's an attic you can stay there." Stan informed her making Santa jump.

"Thank you. Thank you."

"Its my pleasure to help. You can ask me anything just give me your name." Stan jokingly said.

"I'm sorry. I'm Santa Bellisima Ismael. You can call me Santa." she said smiling.

"You've got a nice name, huh. It suit your face, innocent and beautiful." he uttered earning a blush from Santa.

Well, she's still lucky that she met Stan. She finally got her first friend. And she have a job too.

She's not totally unlucky though.

*********Belle