Running Stitches by Carol Dean Jones

Author:Carol Dean Jones [Jones, Carol Dean]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781304028983
Publisher: Carol Dean Jones
Published: 2013-05-15T07:00:00+00:00

Chapter 19

The young girl got off the bus in Middletown. She had intended to go to St. Louis, but the idea of an unfamiliar city frightened her. She had no idea who she and her mother visited in Middletown but, at least, there was one thread of a connection to the town and she wouldn’t feel quite so alone.

It was dark when she arrived at the deserted bus station. She didn’t go in but, instead, walked up the street. There were lights and she hoped to find an inexpensive place to eat. She wondered if she could get a refund of the money she wasted on the bus ticket. Maybe she would talk to them tomorrow. Right now she needed food and maybe a place to sleep.

The restaurant she found was brightly lit and the smells were inviting. She hadn’t eaten since the previous day. She went in and inconspicuously slid into a booth. When the waitress came, she asked for a cup of soup, a glass of ice water, and lots of crackers. She carefully counted out $2.59 and laid it on the table. The waitress brought the water and crackers first. When she returned with the soup, she noticed the crackers were gone. She returned with a basket of crackers, rolls, and butter. The young girl smiled at her shyly. The waitress returned the smile and said, “Let me know if you need anything else.”

The girl ate slowly now, having gulped the first crackers down. The soup was hot and comforting. She wondered if she dared order a second cup. She counted her money and decided that would be foolish. She didn’t want to run out of money before she figured out what to do. She was glad it was summer. She could sleep outside. The warm soup was making her feel sleepy.

The waitress smiled at her as she left the restaurant. The girl walked up the street passing several shops. They were all closed. She came to one with a strange name, Persnickety Place. She wondered what they sold.

As she was passing the shop, the girl noticed a strange structure in the back. She didn’t know it was called a gazebo; she only knew it looked inviting. There was a long bench inside. No one was around. She opened her duffle bag and took out a sweater and bunched the bag up to make a pillow. She curled up on the bench and used the sweater as a cover. Within minutes, she was sound asleep and dreaming of a different life.

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