Runaway Mother chapter 15

School can be cruel to those who have a tough life behind them, and an uncertain rocky road ahead! Nobody knows that better than me! The further my grades slip, the more resentment I have towards my mother.

I think about all the opportunities she has made me forfeit in order to keep the family together, like my dreams of going to MIT. When I dwell on it, my heart feels heavy.

The past week, I have opted to eat my lunch silently in the library with nothing or no one surrounding me but books. I needed the headspace! A job, a four-year-old and a missing mom! That’s what I have to deal with. Not being able to tell anyone is weighing heavily on my heart. I just want, no, need to share my problems with someone other than Zach.

My mind goes immediately to Connie and The Mint Leaf. I take a mental note to ring her to see if I can come by after work.

As I pass by the cafeteria, I notice a strange person in my seat. Curiosity gets the better of me and I enter the sea of students, eating and being merry, and make a bee line for this stranger.

I lift my chin up and pretend to act confident as I approach the table. I want to make things up with Anna. I’m not sure what I did but I haven’t seen an inkling of an attempt of her trying to contact me all weekend! I want to rekindle our friendship! I miss her!

‘Hi guy’s!’ I say holding the straps of my tatty backpack, and my breath, uncertain whether to join them or not.

‘Hi Mare!’ Anna beams up at me, ‘have you met Taylor?’

‘Hi Taylor, I’m Mare,’ I say and go to shake her hand but instead she stands up and air kisses me on both cheeks. When did this become a thing?

‘Taylor is from Beverly Hills!’ Anna nods as if she’s impressed.

‘Really?’ I smile and nod.

‘She got us all matching bracelets!’ Chelsea holds up her wrist. Anna and Taylor do the same.

‘Sorry!’ Taylor says, ‘I didn’t know you would be joining us!’ She takes off her own bracelet and hands it to me.

‘No, no!’ I show off a bracelet of my own, the one me and Anna gave each other in the third grade.

‘I can’t believe you still have that tatty old thing, Mare!’ Anna snubs me as she admires her shiny new bangle.

‘Seriously,’ Taylor offers what looks to be a very expensive piece of jewellery, ‘I have another two at home!’ she smiles. It’s a smile that extends to her eyes so I know its genuine.

‘Thank you!’ I accept the gift graciously.

‘Are you sitting down?’ Taylor asks.

‘Ye…’

‘…Mare has lunch in the library now!’ Chelsea interjects, ‘right Mare?’

My face drops, and for the second time in as many weeks, my ‘friends’ let me down. I’m not about to let them get the best of me!

‘Actually, Chelsea, I was planning on eating here today!’ I can see a sea of disappointment envelope her body. Her whole demeanour changed, and not in a good way!

I’ve had the feeling Chelsea didn’t like me for years now. She’s jealous of the friendship I have with Anna because of how far back it goes, but Anna has gotten very superficial lately. Chelsea only entered the scene in high school and has been trying hard to make the trio a duo, but Anna never allowed it! I don’t believe Chelsea deems me ‘good enough’ to be friendly with, as if it is going to change her social status or something. Yes, my clothes aren’t designer and yes, my backpack has a hole in it, but I’m not going to let a ‘daddy’s girl’ like her ruin a lifetime of friendship with Anna!

I go to the fourth seat at the table, the one for the bags to deter people from joining us and notice Chelsea looking at me with a sour puss on her face.

‘Sorry sweetie!’ Taylor says and removes her bag from the chair causing a domino effect, Chelsea being the last.

Once the chair is free, I take pleasure at watching Chelsea squirm as I reveal my brown bagged lunch.

‘What you got there sweetie?’ Taylor askes interested.

‘A PB&J sandwich!’ I smile back at her.

‘Daddy makes a mean PB&J, but he’s just too busy in the mornings to do it anymore, so I’m stuck with this salad, Taylor says playing with her croutons looking sad.

I don’t know why I did it but…’would you like half?’ I ask her.

She shook her head, ‘I couldn’t possibly…’ then silence filled the air and her face lit up, ‘actually, yes, I’d love half!’ she said pushing her $10 salad to one side.

We cheers to our PB&J’s and Chelsea looks disgusted.

Taylor takes one bite and closes her eyes and shakes her head as though she was reliving a memory. ‘This is so good!’ she says with her mouth full, her hand to it.

‘I can get my brother to make you one tomorrow if you’d like?’ I ask after swallowing my first bite!

‘Oh sweetie, I couldn’t ask you to get him to do that!’ she says diving into the sandwich again making yummy noises.

I make a note to self to get Zach to make me two sandwiches tomorrow. I can’t help but smile over how much she is enjoying something so simple! It looks like we are going to become fast friends!

Once she’s finished, she looks at me with kind eyes and asks, ‘can I get you something, after all I did eat half of your lunch.

I shake my head, the last bite of sandwich being masticated in my mouth. Just as I’m about to swallow, I hold up my index finger and produce some string cheese. ‘I’m all set thanks,’ I say opening the cheese.

‘Would you like to come to a party on Saturday night?’ she asks.

‘Yea Mare, it should be a blast!’ Anna chimes in.

‘I’m sorry but I can’t!’ I say with a heavy heart, ‘I have an obligation on Sunday morning at 8:30!’

‘What’s that got to do with Saturday night?’ Chelsea asks. ‘If your too hung over, just blow off your, ‘obligation’,’ she says using air quotes.

I shake my head and tell them, ‘I’m babysitting on Saturday anyway!’ after remembering that I told Zach I would look after Ethan when he goes out with his buddies.

‘You have an excuse for everything!’ Chelsea says throwing her nose in the air. ‘I don’t know why you even sit here at lunch! The library suits you way better!’

I gasp and look at Anna, hoping she’ll jump in and be the best friend that she once prided herself in saying.

‘Chelsea, if she says she can’t go, then she can’t go!’ I’m surprised that its Taylor, the person I only met ten minutes ago who shows any sort of support as Anna sits there with her arms folded.

Chelsea looks deflated, after all she was just put in her place by the one she had been fawning over minutes before, and from Beverly Hills no less!

‘Yea Chelsea, give her a break!’ Anna chimes in smiling and winks at me.

With that, the bell rings and I make my way to class.

 

Once out of school, I turn towards work and dial Connie’s number as I stroll.

‘Hi Connie, its Mary!’

‘Oh great! I had a feeling you would ring me today in my waters!’

I hadn’t heard that one in a while. My mother used to say it all the time!

‘Listen,’ I start, ‘I was wondering if I could meet you at The Mint Leaf after work to chat, would that be….’

‘…. Of course you can pet!’ she answers before I even get my question out.

‘But I just want to meet with just you!’ I make very clear.

‘We can sit in a booth of our own and I even though the guys would love to say hi to you, I promise that’s all they’ll say!’

‘That would be great!’ I close my eyes and breathe.

‘What time do you finish?’ she asks.

‘8pm!’

‘I’ll eagerly anticipate your arrival!’ she says.

‘Thanks Connie!’ I say before hanging up.

 

I chance getting to work early for two reasons, one being I want to see if I can talk to Chad, the other reason is that I want to see if I can ask Bob is it ok to start early and finish early!

When I get there its only 3:20. The break room is empty and Bob’s door is shut. I take a deep breath and wrap on the cork board that covers the office door.

‘Come in!’ I hear from the other side.

I close my eyes tightly and enter the lions den.

‘How can I help you Mary?’ he asks in a soft tone before adding, ‘you’re very early today!’

‘That’s kind of why I’m here sir!’

‘Bob, please!’ he says and pushes a chair my way.

I swallow hard and just let it out, ‘I was wondering, Bob, if it would be ok to start and finish 30 minutes early today?’

My heart feels like its beating out of my chest as he looks at the security cameras.

‘Sure!’ he says in an upbeat manner.

I’m surprised by his answer. ‘Thank you sir…I mean Bob!’

‘Would it suit you to work 3:30 to 7:30 every Tuesday and Thursday?’ he asks.

I look at him wondering if there’s a catch.

‘Its just that our busiest time is between now and seven and you would be really digging me out of a hole if you could manage it!’

I look at him open mouthed.

‘I’m sorry Mary, is that too much pressure?’ he asks in a kind tone. I can see where Chad gets that sparkle in his eyes.

‘No sir, that would be brilliant!’ I answer with a smile from ear to ear!

He winks at me and just as I’m about to get up he says, ‘oh and Mary,’

‘Yes sir, sorry…Bob.’

‘I’ve seen how you work! How you have managed to tame Betsy, something that usually takes weeks to occur!’

I smile at him. ‘Betsy and I do have a sort of rhythm going!’ I admit.

‘Well it hasn’t gone unnoticed! And your dedication to the job hasn’t gone unnoticed either!’ he adds.

My smile grows wider and wider with each word that comes out of his mouth.

‘I don’t usually do this until someone has worked for me for three months, but how does a pay rise sound?’

I nearly fall off the chair in shock. ‘Si… Bob that would be amazing!’ I answer, my head spinning.

‘Great!’ he says. ‘Thank you again for agreeing to the different time change! I really do appreciate it!’

I leave the office before he changes his mind and go into the toilet to put on my uniform. As soon as I get to Betsy, I say hello to her and clean her steam wand, ready to start my shift.

‘We are go for coffee!’ I tell Jesus who works the till and begins shouting orders at me.

An hour and a half into my shift Jesus shout ‘three lattes’’ over his shoulder. I make the coffee’s and bring them to the pass.

‘Mare?’ I hear and look up. Its only Chelsea, Anna and Taylor. I smile at them and say ‘shit!’ under my breath.

The questions start flying, but so do the coffee orders!

‘I didn’t know you worked here?’ Anna says with an air of disapproval.

‘Two cappuccinos and a latte!’ Jesus repeats himself.

‘Oh,’ I say and put my index finger in the air, ‘that’s me!’

The girls all nod and just as I’m about to turn around to fill the orders, Chad instructs me to take my break. I can’t help but smile at him. He makes another latte, not as well as I would make it, naturally, but when he hands it to me a wave of lust envelopes me.

I put my hand in my pocket to pay for it but he says, ‘its on the house!’ and winks. ‘Go and spend your break with your friends!’ and points to an empty table.

Beaming I follow the girls and nod at him when I sit down. He nods back and Anna asks, ‘who’s the hunk?’

‘Oh,’ I say, ‘that’s Chad!’

‘And why are we only hearing about him now?’ she says looking over at him as he makes coffee.

‘More importantly,’ Chelsea interrupts, ‘why are you working here?’ she says taking a sip of her coffee and looks around.

‘Well…’

‘…don’t you think that’s Mare’s business?’ Taylor saves me. I’m actually starting to like her!

‘Yea, but…’

‘…but nothing!’ she says getting annoyed, ‘I don’t think anyone has to justify having a job when times are hard, right Mare?’

‘Yes!’ I say agreeing with the newest member of our group.

‘Now,’ Anna says getting down to the business end of things, ‘tell us about Chad!’

I recount the story of the other night and how we went out to feed the homeless. That showed he had a heart and initiative.

‘I’m sorry girls, I say looking at my watch, ’but my break is over!’ I lie to get out of the spotlight. The three of them stay as I take over from Chad.

‘You have another ten minutes!’ he says with a furrowed brow, ‘is everything ok?’ he points his eyes in the girls direction and I just started filling the orders as Jesus was calling them out. Chad touches my shoulder and whispers, ‘are you ok?’ into my ear. I look up at him and all I want to do is plant my lips on his. I refrain however and just nod and focus on Betsy.

I don’t even notice when the girls leave but when I look at the table about thirty minutes later, I wonder if they even tried to say goodbye.

Me and Betsy are moulded as one as Jesus keeps shouting out the orders. At 19:20 Bob taps me on the shoulder, asking me to see him in his office. I finish what I’m doing and go into the break room where his door is open.

‘Ah Mary, come in, come in!’ he says and I sit on the spare office chair. I must have looked befuddled as he says, ‘don’t worry, its nothing negative!’

Relief envelopes me and I shut my eyes and exhale.

‘I noticed you didn’t take your full break!’ Bob says with a furrowed brow. ‘I just want you to know that I give my staff breaks so they are able to relax and get headspace from the shop floor! Is there something wrong? Did your friends upset you?’

‘No si…Bob’ I start and tears fill my eyes.

‘I’m always here if you need to talk!’ he tells me looking concerned.

‘My friends didn’t know I work here, or anywhere for that matter!’ Bob nods and I continue, ‘you see I’m sort of in a bind financially, and I didn’t want…god this is harder that I thought’, I say wiping my tears away with my hand. Bob offers me a tissue from a box which I gratefully accept, ‘…I didn’t want them to know that I’m struggling. They all have rich parents who give them an allowance, and I didn’t want to be the outsider who works hard to keep food on the table!’

‘Ok,’ Bob starts, ‘first of all, there is no shame in working to get financially stable. In fact, it’s something I greatly admire!’ I look up at him surprised. ‘You shouldn’t have to feel ashamed around your rich friends who don’t understand the meaning of a dollar! You hold your head up high and be proud that you are a productive member of the community!’ I smile and nod in agreement. ‘Secondly, I want you to start bringing home some sandwiches after each shift!’

‘No, I ca….’

‘…yes, you can!’ Bob insisted. ‘I’ve noticed you work so hard here and I want you to have some of what would be compost at the end of the day anyway! You are on your way to becoming employee of the month you know!’

‘I am?’ I ask surprised.

‘You are the only one Betsy properly listens to! You are like a machine from the second you walk through those doors, dedicated to making ‘Bobs Deli’ the best in the town!’

I smile up at him and my chin rises with the thought.

‘Chad said you have an older brother as well?’

I nod.

‘Well I want to send you home with three sandwiches, of your choice, on the house every day you work as a sort of bonus if you will!’ I shake my head and am about to say something, but Bob puts his hand up and said it wasn’t negotiable. ‘I’m going to make the deli staff aware and if you don’t, I will be deeply hurt and you don’t want to hurt me now, do you?’ he smiles.

‘No!’ I smile back, touched at what a great boss this man is.

‘I knew from the second your …brother?’

I nod.

‘…from the second your brother called me a poo-poo head and the way you handled him that you would charm Betsy, and you have, and in such a short amount of time to boot! You are pleasant and humble and are turning out to be a great fit here at the deli!’

Tears start to form in my eyes. I don’t think anyone has ever paid such lovely comments to me…not even my mother!

‘Now, go home and put your feet up because you deserve it!’

‘Thank you si…Bob!’ I say and take another tissue to wipe my eyes for the last time.

 

In the taxi, on the way to The Mint Leaf, three BLT’s in my bag, I was surprisingly excited to be able to talk to another human being, other than my brother, about my home situation. I was in and out in under an hour. Connie is a lovely woman and she sat there listening to me bitch and moan about her friend. She was as surprised as we were that my mother had just picked up and left us.

We talked about the credit card statement, and the email situation. When I finished talking and had enough, Connie told me that she had no idea about the men. That in itself was reassuring….at least we weren’t the only ones blindsided over the revelation.

Upon me leaving, Connie brought my attention to the bus stop half a block away. ‘That will take you into town and save you some money!’

‘Would it be ok for me to come by on a regular basis?’ I asked.

‘I’d love for you to come by every day if you are ok listening to five old farts talking shite!’

I laughed, hugged her, and ran for the bus.

'Thank you!' I shouted back as the bus approached.

 

When I got home, Ethan was in bed. I told Zach everything that was said in Bob’s office and he was delighted about the pay rise, and the sandwiches. I didn’t tell him about the change in the time of my shift however, as I wanted to make The Mint Leaf a regular thing, something just for me!