My Message To You

Chapter 5

     I finally get to the recreation center. I go through the back and the doors are open. I used to come here with my dad. He brought me here in hope I would make friends but one day, all of this anxiety built up because kids were looking at me as I was playing volleyball and I ran out. My dad brought me back here later at night to finish my game and we went through the back. He told me that ever since he was younger the back door would always be open.
I go to the counter and grab some towels to sleep on and I go to the equipment closet with all my things. I find a piano in there. I set all my things down and I begin to play. Until I knew it, I began to fall asleep.
     I wake up around 6 in the morning and I get ready for the new day of traveling around. I use the bathroom and everything to wash up and I put on new clothes. I pack up my stuff and leave the recreation center. I don't know where I'm going to go. Maybe I should take a plane somewhere. Do planes take cash? Should I call Isa? I don't know what to do. I call my dad from a pay phone. "Hey dad, is mom around?" He says no. "Can you buy me a plane ticket to California? I want to go to Los Angeles." I am nervous as to what he will think about his daughter going to LA by herself. I have never traveled anywhere alone before. "That's a big risk honey but you called me and that is a risk to your mother finding you. I will buy you the ticket. Meet me in downtown by our favorite burger place." Woah he said he will buy it for me? Am I getting the ticket tomorrow?? "Okay dad. Thank you. Bye I love you." "I love you too. Bye honey." He says. I am going to LA. What am I going to do? How will I live? It is expensive over there. I need to find somewhere to sleep later tonight. Maybe I will go to the recreation center again. I am going to head to the pier. I can try to make money by playing down there.
    I make it to the pier. There are many acts but no musicians. I find a bench and put all my stuff there. I set up my keyboard and microphone and I begin to play. Many people begin to surround me. I am getting scared. My hands become sweaty and I can't sing. The words will not come out. I just play the melody of the song but I am not looking at the crowd. "Sing! You have a microphone right there! We will give you money! Come on girl!" They are all shouting at me. "Uh give me a moment." I put on a hat and sun glasses. This makes me feel a little better. I look up and I attempt to sing. The words are a bit shaky but I am getting better. I start singing and before I knew it. My song was over. They put money on my keyboard. I made 15 dollars so that's not bad. I should sing songs by StarStrings. I start doing covers until the night time rolls around.