Page 19 of The Good Char
“Oh, Harold.Our baby can't survive on the unforgiving streets.She’ll simply wither away and die.What would happen to our lineage?Don’t you want grandchildren to pass our family name?How could you?”she cried.
“You worry too much, Margie,” he chastised her.“You know that girl knows she won’t make it out there without us.You might as well make room in the back offices again for her return.Our restaurant has missed her meticulous way of bookkeeping.She’ll see, soon enough, that all of this is just a phase.We’ll be alright.”
A phase?How could he call my need for independence a phase?I couldn’t be the only twenty three year old in this world with the same desires.
I gritted my teeth and softly planted my fist against the door beside my face.What would Mr.Dzik do?He was so brave, so courageous, so strong.I needed to pull from his strength today.
Panic coursed through my veins at the thought of really going through leaving.I never wanted it to be this way.I always dreamt of my move day as a happy experience with my mother gushing over what kind of furniture we needed to buy in order to match the table I was probably going to pick up from a rummage sale one of these days.
But as much as I tried to convince myself of positive outcomes, I knew in the back of my mind this was a possibility.That was why I had already researched what I needed to do in order to move into my first apartment.
With a dry gulp, I pulled my head away from the door, wiped my face and pulled up my big girl panties.How much money did I have in my savings?In a frenzy, I dashed toward my kitty bank and hopped onto the edge of my bed.Turning it over to its cute little belly, I pulled out the rubber stopper and reached in with my little fingers, digging around and patiently pulling out all its contents.
Frantically, I rummaged through the scattered coins, and neatly rolled and bound up wads of cash.I counted them with trembling hands, my eyes burning with tears at what had to be done.
I sniffed and flicked my gaze to the door, listening intently.I didn’t hear any more arguments, so I quietly counted the grand total of what I had.
“Nine-hundred dollars,” I whispered.What were the odds?The perfect amount without any trailing cents.It was meant to be.It had to be now.Now or never.
I had always been the one to turn to when my classmates needed to cheat on their math test and now the skill was to my advantage.According to my calculation, I needed the amount for the first month, a deposit, and possibly a deposit for light and water.Yes, no one ever died without water.I needed water.That was enough to get me through to the next paycheck.Thank you Mr.Dzik for taking a chance on me.
I knew there was a reason why you came into my life.If only Cindy could see me now.She wouldn’t dare make fun of me anymore.I was going to be Mrs.Independent!
Missus.
Who would I be a missus to?
Flashes of Mr.Dzik in his black outfit and his corndog apron came before me and I could feel my face flame.
“Calm down, Kimmy.One thing at a time.You can’t put the horse in front of the carriage.”
I sniffed.I didn’t even have a carriage.My trusty bicycle would have to do, for now.
Looking over my treasure once again, I felt my courage swell within my chest.“That should be more than enough to find a place," I beamed, a spark of determination igniting within me.
I would show them both that I was capable of standing on my own two, size six and a half, feet.
Chapter12
The next morning,I arrived at work bright and early, eager to establish my newfound independence.I wasted no time in diving into my tasks, starting with washing all the walls and scrubbing away every smudge and stain.After that, I meticulously cleaned out the bucket and disinfected the counters, ensuring every surface was spotless.With a sense of liberation in my heart, I began to whistle the tune of "Walking on Sunshine."
No longer under the oppressive rule of my parents, I was a free woman, determined to prove myself and secure my place in the world.
As I hummed my tune, Mr.Dzik snapped his head to mine while holding onto a still sizzling corndog that came straight out the fryer.I was getting used to his resting glower face, so I thought nothing of it and continued cleaning happily.
"What's wrong with you?Why are you here so early, and why are you so happy?"
Oh, he was so nosy, it was cute.I think he had a communication problem.His growly words translated in my mind that he was curious about my change in demeanor.I mean, I would be too.
Grinning from ear to ear, I tried to contain my excitement but failed miserably… or happily, depending on how one looked at it."Well, Mr.Dzik, we get paid on Fridays, right?I mean, I’ve only gotten a couple of paychecks so far and that seems to be the trend.It’s new to me since my parents always gave me allowances growing up and with me helping with the accounting at work, it slips my mind if I get paid alongside the employees at the same time or not.Anyway!I need this job because last night I totally stood up to my parents, and now I'm looking for apartments!"
I squealed and did a little dance with the broomstick, twirling around it with flare.
My little jig was interrupted with the sound of a large quantity of corndogs being thrown into the fryer, sizzling and spitting oil everywhere.It didn’t stop the emotion bubbling up as I smiled at Mr.Dzik’s back, watching the way his muscles moved when he shook the frying cage with ease.
"You talk too much."
He’s such a jokester.
