CHAPTER THREE
1305 Words
WILLOW
I woke up to the cry of my alarm clock. It 6:00am already and I have to make breakfast for my siblings. I barely had any sleep last night because I was up thinking about our financial situation. Newsflash, I don't have any answers yet.
It's been a week, and I've been looking for a job, but I haven't found any suitable one to augment my earnings from other jobs. Trust me, I've looked everywhere.
I headed down to the kitchen and prepared my first of many cups of coffee. I won't be able to function without it.
I opened the fridge and was greeted by its emptiness. The only thing there was some pieces of sausage. I looked around at the shelf and saw that there was only a box of pancake mix remaining.
In twenty minutes, breakfast was ready, and I kept it warm while I prepared the girls for school.
Aspen, Sage, and I shared a room while Rowan slept in the living room. Our living situation is not ideal, but it's all I can afford right now. I even owe the landlady the month's rent, and I've been avoiding her since.
We had to downgrade when our parents died. We had to leave the house we grew up in and move into this dump. This has been hard on everyone.
If my parents were here, I'd have raged at them for their bad finances. Alas, they are not, so it's up to me to deal with the fallout. I'm just annoyed that they didn't tell me anything, and they kept spending money like they had a lot of it. They didn't. I didn't even know what they spent it on!
If I had known about this, I would have postponed my admission into college. We spent thousands of dollars on that alone. I also felt guilty that it was because of me that we were in this kind of situation.
But, I have no time to think about this, I just have to keep going so I don't disappoint my siblings.
'Aspen, Sage,' I whispered as I gently shook them awake. After a few back and forth, they brushed their teeth, took their bath and were dressed with their hair styled, then we went to the kitchen for breakfast.
'Good morning, Rowan!' The girls chirped, and he just grunted in return. I raised my eyebrows at him, and he responded correctly. It's one thing for him to grunt at me, but I don't want the same for the girls.
The girls were understandably more affected by our parents' death. For the first three months, they were clingy and cried themselves to sleep. Even now, they can not sleep alone. But, they're getting better.
'Willow, when is Rowan going back to school? I want to stay home too!' Sage, the baby of the house at eight years complained
'Shhh,' I admonished her, 'Don't talk while eating.'
She swallowed what was in her mouth and repeated her question.
'Don't worry, I'll be back in school next week. Besides, there's nothing fun to do here. I'm bored out of my mind.' Rowan answered her.
'Whatever, I'll be totally sick if I were to miss a day of school.' Aspen, only a year and few months older than Sage at 9 years, dramatized. She's the little genius of the house.
'Why aren't you eating, Willow? Are you not hungry?' Sage asked.
'Yes, I'm not really hungry.' I'm actually very hungry, but there was not enough for everyone.
I had better get a job today or else there won't be anything for lunch and dinner.
Their bus honked its arrival and I took them outside to board it.
'I'm going out now, Rowan. Don't just spend all your time playing games. And I put some cash (the last cash on the table, order some pizza or something for lunch when the girls get back.'
'Okay, thanks Willow.' He said softly, which was unlike him. I just gave him a smile in return
I already dropped my details with an employment agency, but I've not gotten a response.
This morning, I had my dog walking job. I walk a couple of dogs in a rich neighbourhood. At least that pay would get us dinner.
After I'm done with that, I'll walk around the streets of Louisiana and find a job the old-fashioned way.
Walking dogs is easier said than done. Especially if the dogs are hyperactive, but the pay is okay, so I'm not stopping anytime soon.
I walked from restaurant to cafe to restaurant to grocery shops looking for a job, any job, but I'm yet to get any. But, I was not successful with any. I'm getting discouraged.
I sat on a bench to relax and get my breath and watched people walking past me. I decided to take a short rest, too. I bought a snack and sat down to eat it. It's not enough, but it's something
Louisiana is a beautiful place with an interesting culture, great people, and amazing food. I've lived here my whole life except when I left to go to New York for college.
My mum and I used to do this. It was our 'thing', and I miss her so much. It hurts more because I couldn't say goodbye properly.
I tried getting help from some extended family, but they practically abandoned us after the funeral. They only called twice before they left us to ourselves. And my parents had done so much for them.
I was startled out of my daudream world by a call from my best friend, Diane Butler.
'Hi girl. What's up?' She greeted
'I'm fine.' I lied
'No, you're not. You literally sound like the opposite.'
What can I say? She knows me too much.
'I am fine or I will be soon when I get a job.'
What about your waitressing job at the Cafe?'
'I lost it.'
'Oh,' She replied sadly. 'I'm so sorry to hear that. What happened?'
'The usual reason.'
'Do you have enough to tide you over?' She asked gently.
Diane is one of the best people I know. She is the type of person who can give out her last dollar to someone else who needs it.
If I told her I didn't have enough, she would give me all the money with her. But, I know she has some issues she's dealing with herself, so I can't burden her with this.
'No, we're okay for now. I have some money saved up.'
'You know you can ask if you run out, right?
'Yes, I know. Thank you, babe. I love you.'
'I love you right back. Anyway, now that you don't have the waitressing job. Someone wanted me to babysit their kids sometime last week. I'll call and see if the job is still available.'
'Really? Thank you, thank you!
We talked for a few more minutes and ended the call.
It was well into the evening, so I trudged back home on my feet. I can't afford to take a cab right now. Before I got home, I branched at a grocery store and got a few foodstuffs. At least, this would last a couple of days before it runs out. Just like that, my pay from dog walking is gone.
When I got home, the girls and Rowan had had their lunch, and everywhere was clean. I'm sure the girls roped him into doing it.
I prepared a small dinner, and we ate as a family, cleaned, and went to sleep.
When I woke up the next morning, it was a message from Diane informing me that the babysitting job was still available.
Yes! I smiled in relief for the first time in a week when I saw the details and the pay.
- Writer
