Dream Deep

Chapter 3

"Snap, snap! Clap, clap! Earth to Livia! Hellooo; hello ooo?!" Livia snapped out of her daze, nearly having a heart attack in the process. Through her slightly blurred vision she saw standing as tall as what seemed like a skyscraper a very thin lanky girl. Her eyes were sunken in as if she were starting the first stages of morphing into a zombie. She had Bell bottom jeans on that flooded worse then that one year back when I lived in Houston. That time I asked my mom to go play in the dirty ant infested rain water that went up about 2 feet while she was sleeping, (I was never to ask when she was asleep bc she would be in dream land and always say "yes". I mean come on that was the best time to ask.)
  "Hey girl hey!" , she squealed piercing another hole in my ear. "Where were you,  Mars?" She forced a giggle out then fixed her tiny shirt which laid flat like saran wrap over her bee stings, and that barely covered her belly button. "I wish", I mumbled quietly, slightly hoping she didn't hear me. "You're not gonna just sit here all alone in the room dazed out like a zombie right?", she said deeply concerned. Wait, not this bitch comparing me to a damn zombie, I thought. "You're never gonna get out of here if you play your role too well 'Walking Dead'! They will keep you here for fucking ever! Now come on get up! It's just about dinner. " DINNER!"? I couldn't believe my ears. "Geeze what time is it", I asked. Oh girlie... it's 4:35! We eat between 4:45 and 5:15. Now come on... let's get some good seats! She picked up a jacket off of the other twin sized slab of springs and ushered me out of the door. Wait, don't tell me she's my roommate! God could it get any worse. She hurriedly flip flopped her way down the hall looking back to tell me to hurry. "Hondale! Pobrecita! Aye dos mios!, she exclaimed. I did a slight 2,3 step and caught up. We had to sign our name on the roster to show we made it to dinner and received our food. There apparently are 2 day rooms but I just stuck with her since I guess she was the only friend I had and the other room was infested by old people as she put it.
  "I don't fucking think so Annie! You already know this is where I sit! Get th3 fuck up now!" Her voice trembled and her Spanish accent flared through. "Language Vanessa!", yelled the CNA in charge. Vanessa flipped her off when she turned her back then glared at Annie who sighed heavily but still slowly got up. Vanessa's voice changed back to high pitched..."See? Everything goes so much more smoothly when we all cooperate!," she said with a big smile. Her braces shined in the light and you could see the spit covered pink rubber bands expanding at the side of her mouth. I was in total shock with the sudden anger that roared out of the skinny thing. And the way she switched back to her pippy self with ease put a different kind of fear in my soul. She pointed to the chair next to hers, "here sit". I didn't take long practically falling in it as my knees were weak and I was shaking from hunger. They passed out the plates that came with a brownish tan top... the special diet or allergy plates has maroon tops with a white note on top. I opened my plate, baked chicken, canned green beans and instant mashed potatoes with a roll on the side. It wasn't Golden Corral but the way my stomach bellowed I could give two shits! I went it tearing at the chicken quater like a ravenous cave man who hadn't eaten in days. "Damn girl, slow down. Don't choke Mami!, she laughed. Other patients wallowed in... one caught my eye. A kempt athletic built dark skinned man with strong beautiful features. The bone structure in his face looked as if Jesus was his personal architect. He didn't look like he needed to be here. I couldn't help but wonder why.
  "Ah shit there she goes again", I here Vanessa say as I almost did slip back to Outer space. "Damn walking dead", you gotta get it together", she tapped me on my hand. Everyone had their eyes fixated on small box tv hanging up in the corner. On it played a never ending marathon of "The first 48". "Take one, pass it down, exclaimed Ms. Yolanda the CNA but Everyone called her Yoyo. I looked down at the kids coloring sheets. Two choices Winnie-the-Pooh or Gumby. I was slightly thrown off but still excited as I haven't colored in so long.  Everyone scrambled through the pencil box full of broken wrapperless crayons trying to find the best colors. They shuffled over them... it seems they argue over everything. I waited but then I felt a slight touch on my shoulder. Vanessa had her own personal box and shared. Maybe she wasn't so bad. I gave her a slight yet genuine smile and she returned the favor. I looked down and started to outline the characters of Winnie-the-Pooh and colored them in. I  felt a sense of Childhood nostalgic peace flow through my body. Something I didn't realize I longed for and hadn't experienced in so long. I let the picture take me away... maybe this place wasn't so bad after all. I scribbled myself into a daze with a sense of contentment that comforted me.