Page 8 of Cloud Storm

It’s an easy question, should I smash his face? At least tell me there’s no reason for me to be jealous.

I don’t think I’m going to be able to sleep tonight just thinking about it.

Yours,

A x

Chapter 3

A few months ago…

I closed the apartment door behind me, my nerves eating me whole the way termites devour entire homes. Well, that was me. With the bank papers in a plastic folder in my right hand and the fingers of my left listing all the requirements that were in place.

Did I tell you that I’m left-handed?

Well, I am, maybe that’s why I always do things backwards, as my mother told me so many times.

Well, Ariel. Focus. That is not the case now.

First, the shoes. They were lime green, flat, and sparkly. I continued with my scrutiny. Stockings without holes, almost, at least none that were visible. My dark blue dress, fifties style, printed with small white spirals was impeccable, even though it was second-hand. But it was well ironed and even starched. No, I’m not really that fussy, they sell a spray in the supermarket that works wonders. A wide belt of the same print fits snugly around my waist, and I carried a lime green bag on my right shoulder. My freshly colored purple hair was in place and I’d kept my makeup quite subtle—for me anyway.

With a gesture that, surely many would have branded as theatrical, I accommodated my generous frontal attributes, read breasts, inside my dress and left for war.

I know, I know. More drama, but in my defense that day I was sure my life would change. I was about to take another step in the right direction, one that pointed to a future, not exactly bright, but at least calmer and more promising. A future in which one of my big dreams was going to be realized.

I was going to obtain the money to open my rustic bakery store and coffee shop.

God, how many months had I been working on it? I had done all the research, overcoming many obstacles. The first one being my lack of a computer at home. Internet access, let’s not go there. That was simply out of my budget.

But when you need something badly enough, you find a way. The public library was within walking distance from home, so I decided to dig out my card and take advantage of their facilities. I became a regular there, to the point where those in charge offered me cups of tea, which I gratefully accepted.

So, everything was on track.

I learned everything I needed to know about mixtures, ingredients, rest times, natural preservatives, packaging and, above all, the government requirements I needed to comply with for them to issue the licenses that would allow me to sell my products.

That’s why I was on my way to the bank: I had the determination to succeed, but not the money.

Well, not the kind of money needed to open a place. I’d sold cookies, cupcakes, pies, and muffins around the neighborhood, earning extra cash that I kept saved in a tin box inside one of my closet drawers.

And at that moment, I had the entire sum well-stashed at the bottom of my crossbody, lime green bag.

I had kept all this secret, not spoken a word about it to anyone. None of my friends knew about my dream. Not even Oliver and Sawyer, who were like brothers to me. I’d met them going door to door asking for odd jobs, such as gardening or window cleaning.

They are good people, and they wanted to help me, but I refused to be a charity case. The only thing I’d been able to retain during those hard times was my dignity. My willpower. The dream of becoming a whole person.

So I didn’t need or ask for their help.

Mr. Hatz would have done the same, he would have helped me out. He’s a shrewd entrepreneur, but he’s also a good man, with a heart worth his weight in gold. But I didn’t want to take advantage of his fatherly feelings toward me, it wouldn’t feel right, it wouldn’t be fair. Business is business and so I had to do this on my own.

There was also Roselynn, who at that time was living in my apartment. She was a dedicated housewife, so I had no reason to tell her. This loan issue had become Top Secret, national security classified.

Although I must confess that I used Roselynn as a guinea pig, since she was available any time I needed to test out a new recipe. It was that or buying rabbits, but since I refuse to let animals suffer because of a human whim, the only other option was to experiment with my friend. In my favor, we didn’t have a single adverse reaction, not even a small rash. Everything was going as well as expected.

Until I went to the bank.

With my folder full of documents, I headed to the nearest branch. That was an advantage of living Downtown, a girl can walk anywhere.

Fifteen minutes later, I crossed the threshold of the building, pushing open a heavy tempered glass door. A kind lady found me standing there, not knowing where to go, and directed me to a comfortable waiting room located just a few steps away. There I had to sit with my assigned number, until the next executive became available.

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