Page 4 of Skid
“Can I stay with Ms. Vickie?”
“We already talked about this. Ms. Vickie got a new job. She isn’t going to be able to keep you anymore.”
“But I like Ms. Vickie.”
“I know, and I do, too. But we’ll find a way to make do.”
The flashlight on the counter started to flicker, and I muttered a quiet prayer that it would hold out just a little longer. I hated this. I hated that we were living in this dingy apartment with no electricity, but the power company didn’t care that my bill was only two weeks late. They’d shut off the power and wouldn’t turn it back on until I paid the balance and reconnection fee.
That was money I didn’t have and wouldn’t have for quite some time. I’d gotten behind when Baylor came down with a bad cold and ear infection a few weeks back. I took a couple of days off work to take care of her, and that’s all it took to throw everything off balance, and I’d been playing catch-up ever since.
“I can’t find Bunny-B,” Baylor whined from across the room.
“Did you check the bed?”
“Um-hmm.”
“What about the bathroom?”
“Not ‘dare.”
“I don’t know.” I glanced over my shoulder and found my beautiful daughter standing behind me with a pout. She was wearing her favorite hot pink sweats and a white sweatshirt that wasn’t looking as white as it used to. Her little curls were a disheveled mess, but as always, she looked absolutely precious. “Give me a second, and I’ll find him.”
I finished pulling my hair into a ponytail and threw on some blush before starting my hunt for Bunny-B. It was her favorite stuffed animal. She didn’t go anywhere without it, so I knew it had to be close by. I checked all the usual spots before dropping to the floor.
I swept my hand under our small sofa, and relief washed over me when I felt his little, fuzzy foot. “Here he is! He was hiding from us again.”
“Bad bunny,” she giggled.
“That’s right. Very bad bunny.”
Baylor was my whole world. She was my reason for getting up every morning, even when the world felt like it was set against me. She took the bunny from me and gave it a tight squeeze. I used the opportunity to quickly tie her shoes. Once I was done, I turned her around and started braiding her hair.
“You working night?” she asked.
“Yes, sweetie. It will be nighttime before I get done today.”
“Can I have cheese noodles for dinner?”
“I think we can manage that.”
That got me a grin wide enough to completely melt me. I gave her a quick kiss on the cheek, then stood and brushed the wrinkles from my thrift-store blouse. The clock on the stove wasn’t working, but I knew I was already running behind. I wasalways running behind. I grabbed my bag and keys and took one more look around the apartment, making sure we didn’t forget anything.
Once I knew we were set, I flipped off the flashlight and took Baylor by the hand, leading her out of the apartment. I locked up, and then we made our way out to the car. It was rainy, and there was a chill in the air, making it feel dreary as I buckled Baylor in the backseat. As soon as I got behind the wheel, I turned the key, and the engine sputtered like it didn’t want to start.
“Come on, girl. Don’t let me down now.”
I turned the key again, and it coughed twice before the engine finally caught. The old Corolla had more miles than I could count, and the check engine light had been glowing for months. The heater worked, but only when it felt like it. And the brakes were beginning to get iffy. Sadly, I didn’t have the money to fix any of it, but she was all I had.
And as long as she got us from point A to point B, I wasn’t going to complain. Thankfully, we didn’t have to drive far to get to the hotel. It was just a few blocks away, but it wasn’t in the best neighborhood. During the day, it seemed fine, but after dark, the empty lots and graffiti etched on all the crumbling buildings made it feel like a ghost land.
I spotted theHotel Royalsign in the distance, and my heart sank a little. The name was fitting in a sarcastic, pathetic kind of way. There was nothing royal about the place. The brick was faded and crumbling, the windows were caked in grime, and the parking lot was full of dented cars and bad decisions.
Don’t get me wrong. I was thankful for my job. There weren’t many places that would let you bring your kid into work, but I got lucky. Gladys, the owner, held a soft spot for single mothers and said I could bring Baylor with me as long as she didn’t keep me from my work.
By the time I pulled into the lot, the wipers were squeaking against the glass, and the car was rattling like it was begging for mercy. I parked under one of the lights and killed the engine. Before heading inside, I turned back to Baylor and said, “Okay, bug. You know the drill. You stick close to me. No talking to strangers and no wandering off.”
It was something I’d said a hundred times, but it needed to be said.There were too many people who came and went without looking you in the eye. Doors seemed to close too quickly, and the silence that followed said more than words ever could.
