My dad has a way of getting under my skin. I mean, nothing I do he is proud of or believes in. Except for that time where I told my grandmother off for thinking that I was gay because of my eccentric attire. Her words not mine. See my dad and grandmother can't stand one another because she didn't think my mom should have married him but she mooches off of my father's success with every chance she gets. My parents were invited to the White House, she went too. Time magazine ran a cover article on my dad's company, she had to have her two cents. They got a new vacation home down in Miami, she insisted that they purchase her a guest home. I mean really grandma, you're 67 years old why do you need a house on the beach in sexy Miami, Florida?
My phone rang again. This time my father was calling from his office phone. "Come on, dad! Clearly I don't want to speak to you," I thought. Again I hit ignore.
As I continued to walk I saw lights. Maybe I was getting out the dumps of this area. I came to a crosswalk at what seemed like a small business district still in an urban area. There was a candy store that caught my eye. It had a sign in the window that said "All CANDY 1 Penny!" When Roselyn and I were younger and would visit my dad's parents in Pasadena, California they had a store in their neighborhood that sold candy for one cent. I just had to go in there. Before I did I promised myself that since I only had three hundred and twenty-three dollars and twenty-three cents, I would spend no more than three cents. That may even be too much with my life in shambles right now but eh, you only live once.
Inside I was greeted by an older gentleman who introduced himself as Mr. Getty. Seemed real nice. While I browsed I overheard him tell some kids, "go down to the youth center, it's spaghetti night." At the moment when he said spaghetti my stomach started to growl, boy was I hungry. I grabbed a pack of bubblegum, huge Symphony chocolate bar, and a water. There goes my three cents. I was thinking that it should tide me over til I got a real meal but I didn't foresee one anytime soon.
I went to the register to pay for my items and Mr. Getty's granddaughter Inez bagged the order. "That will be $1.02," she said sweetly.
I questioned, "$1.02?"
"Yes, that's what I said."
"But the sign says...."
Mr. Getty overheard us and interjected. "Dear the sign says "all candy, 1 penny. Water is not candy."
"I understand sir but you see I'm short on cash and today just hasn't been.."
My phone was blowing up again. Five text messages and now three missed calls from my father because you know I hit ignore. I looked back at Mr. Getty and he told me, "dear we all have bad days but those bad days prepare us for our brighter ones. The days where we can rejoice that we had a bad a day." I sort of understood but I didn't. It was like he was speaking an ancient proverb or something. "Rejoice that you had a bad day?" Guess I would understand it whenever the brighter days showed up.
Mr. Getty asked, "Dear, you aren't from around here are you?" Him continuously calling me Dear was getting on my nerves so I told him my name and part of my story. As I opened my bag to pay Inez he told me that it was on the house. Inez saw my ballet shoes and that led us to talk about dance. For a change I was happy to discuss my formal training. Inez was only in high school but she expressed her dreams of one day attending Julliard and then being a part of a company where she could perform the classics like Swan Lake. I spent about 45 minutes in the store with Inez and Mr. Getty. I decided I should leave before it got too dark, but besides that I needed to figure out where I was really headed.
Before I left Mr. Getty and Inez both told me I should go down to the Youth Center for spaghetti night. To my surprise it was FREE! Where I come from you have to pay for everything, even thank you's. The Youth Center was only two blocks away on Main Street and Loving Lane. It was more than I expected. There was kids learning karate, a library/homework area, art studio, and best of all a dance studio with bars and kids who wanted to learn how to perfect their craft. I wonder why Inez didn't mention it was here. I did know one thing though I was in Heaven.
Just a lady was approaching me, my phone started to vibrate again. This time the Caller ID said Myles. Myles was my parents assistant's son who lived with us. He was like a younger brother to me. We'd grown up in the same house. Shoot, I considered his mother Meghan to be my mother. She treated me as if I was hers. She was there from the time I my mother delivered me and the doctor spanked me on the butt to every pivotal moment and milestone I ever had. I pondered on whether or not to answer but I did. I just hope my dad wasn't using Myles as a pawn to get to me. He knew that kid was my weakness.
"Hello."
"Rae, where are you," Myles said.
"Myles, what's up my whereabouts are not important."
"Yes, they are. Mr. Mack (his interrputation of their last name Mccullar) has been calling you all day."
"Myles, I'm fine. Just after that argument with my mom, I had to leave."
"Rae, forget all of that we have bigger issues than arguements to think about."
"What do you mean?"
"Your dad has been trying to reach you because it's an emergency....."
"An emergency?"
"Yes, an emergency. It's....it's....it's Roselyn........"
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