Dirt Poor

NINE - Warmth

This is a little longer chapter - hopefully it makes up for my inconsistent updating?

It felt like I had just closed my eyes once the beeping of my black watch brought me out of sleep. I'd give anything to be able to go back to sleep and not have to go to work, but missing days regardless of how I was feeling was not an option. My father would have a field day if I did and not giving him opportunities to inflict pain upon me is something I strived for.

I took a deep breath and wiped the sleep from my eyes in a desperate attempt to give myself a slight boost of energy. I let out a sneeze and groaned at the possibility of getting sick. Colds were something I got quite frequently anyway; it was difficult not to when I wasn't ever able to get enough sleep or food or like last night, not being able to sleep inside.

Slithering out of the little tunnel, I stood and stretched my back, hoping to put things back into place and loosen the muscles that became stiff while sleeping on the hard surface.

I grabbed my backpack which served as a makeshift pillow and hoisted it over my shoulders. I didn't have much time but I swung by the house to see if my father had unlocked the deadbolt at all, though I doubted it considering how early in the morning it was.

I checked the door and it was still locked. Luckily, this has happened before and I decided to be prepared after the first time it ever happened. Inside the wooden steps that led to the front door of the trailer was a bag that held a spare set of pants and shirt-something I had to work extra hours to afford but it was worth it for times like this.

Quickly, I ducked down and changed out of my clothes and into the spare clothes before stuffing my original clothes into the bag. I debated between putting the clothes back under the steps or taking them with me. I decided to bring them with me in case the deadbolt is locked again when I get home. At least this way I will have the clothes to change into or put over these ones just to keep warm.

At least the walk to the store wasn't too long. It wasn't far enough for me to use any money on the bus so I just walked. Except after all the extra walking I had to do last night just to get home, I didn't really feel like walking, but I didn't have another option. I made sure to leave a little earlier because I knew I would shuffle slowly this morning.

Once I got to work, I pulled open the front automatic doors that were unlocked but not turned on yet. Brandon gets here at 6 to get everything in order and flips the doors on right before 7 when the store opens. I pushed the doors closed before making my way to the break room where my locker was.

I didn't make it very far before a voice called out to me, "You look like hell, Lo."

It was Brandon. He appeared from the cereal aisle which was on the way to the breakroom, "Rough night?"

"Yeah, I uh, I stayed up late working on a project for school. Lost track of the time," I shrugged. There wasn't any point in letting him know what actually happened with Syre, it's not like Brandon could do anything about it anyway.

"You're committed, I'll give you that," Brandon laughed, "You're going to be on 3. Jenna is in at 8. Can you let her know to be on 5?"

I nodded my head at him before continuing to the break room. Even though people here were generally well trusted, you never know what could happen so each of our lockers had a lock on it, luckily supplied by the store itself.

My lock popped open after spinning in the correct combination and I placed my bag inside, grabbed my name tag, and tied my apron around my back before plugging into my code and clocking in.

Normally when I am working the time goes by rather quickly, mainly because I dread having to go back home, but today the time was dragging on even though it was relatively busy. Numerous people had already come and gone after getting their needed groceries, but it was barely 11 and I was struggling to stay awake. The smallest part of me couldn't wait to be done and go home to sleep.