A couple days later. Miss Toledo called a family meeting. The weird thing is that in the seven months I lived here, she has never called a "family meeting" . Tim and I were utterly confused. But we were also interested so we made sure we were in the living room by 1:30.
Timmy and I stared at Miss Toledo. She stared back at us. With a tear falling out of her eye.
"Ma, what's wrong?" Timmy asked.
After a couple of seconds she wiped all of her tears and started to chuckle.
"Jesus, I'm a mess" she chuckled.
She looked at us again and took a deep breath.
"I'm broke" she admittingly said.
"Aren't we already?" Timmy said back
I nudged at him a little.
"We are more broke, Timothy." She said in a louder, serious tone.
She took another deep breath and said,
"My job recently laid everyone off because it was closing. The pharmacy that I work at, got sewed and now we have to close."
Another tear came out of her eye as she sniffled, "I don't... have a job now... and I don't know what to do. The bills are getting even higher, and I am not going to be able to pay them."
I felt a pit in my stomach, the pit and swollen feeling I always feel when I'm anxious or when i feel like something bad is going to, or is happening.
"Okay." I said. "We will make sure not to use the lights and to not run the water over three minutes." I said,
"We have t-to m-move." She sniffled.
Timmy's eyes widened. "What...no.."
"Please mom! I'm sorry! Don't move, please! I'll be good! I won't run the water, or run out the lights.. Like Hollow said! I promise!"
"It has nothing to do with that, it won't make a difference. The bills in general are too high!" She said angrily.
"I can mow peoples lawns!" Timmy said.
Miss Toledo shook her head and stroked Timmy's face.
"You can't make enough by doing that, bud." She quietly said.
"Me and-"
"No." Timmy interrupted.
"Me and-"
No!" He said again.
"Me and Timmy, are going to have to move into an apartment, and a pretty small one. I think I have one in mind." Miss Toledo said.
"How far from here?" Timmy asked.
"It's in Louisiana... little while away from here." She said
Timmy started to cry.
I pulled him close to me and hugged him.
"Am I coming too?" I asked. "You said you and Timmy.."
Timmy instantly looked at his mother.
That's when Miss Toledo had plenty of tears streaming down her face.
"I spoke to your dad a couple days ago telling him the situation I'm in right now... and he wants to take you with him."
""Hollow, I'm sorry but.. I don't think I can take you with us. I probably don't say it often, but for me.. It's honestly been a struggle taking care of both of you. It's more money for food, clothes, plus Timmy's tuition fee and more.. It's been a rough couple of months." She admittingly said.
NOOO!" Timmy screamed as he started crying. "HOLLOW CAN'T MOVE WITH HIM! SHE HAS TO STAY WITH US! PLEASE MOM! SHE HAS TO STAY WITH US!!!"
He was quiet for a couple of seconds.
"Don't... don't take her away mom... she's the closest thing i've ever had to a sibling... a best friend."
"Timmy, don't worry.. I can tell you. Where we are moving is nothing like up here, I can guarantee you that you will make plenty of friends where we are going. It is a very busy place. " she said.
"What about.. S-Suzanne... what is she going to say?" He asked.
"You have to break the news to her.. I'm sorry buddy." Miss Toledo said.
"Kids, I'm sorry things had to end out this way.. Hollow, I'm so sorry... It's really my last resort.. I tried to stay but I'm at rock bottom. We have to leave before I get kicked out of the house."
"How long do we have to stay here? I asked.
"I want to leave before next week." She said. "I'm planning on beginning to pack today."
"So.. after everything.. This is it?" Timmy asked. "After everything, we are leaving our only home... the only people we know... my school... the town? It's over now.. Your good with leaving it all behind?" Timmy asked angrily.
"Timothy.. I explained it to you already, you know I don't want to do this. Where do you want us to sleep? Outside? On the street? Just to stay in this town?"
Timmy looked devastated.
"Move with us." I said, "Please, move with me and Lonnie. He's rich, and he said his house is huge! There is room for all of us there!" I insisted. "You guys helped me out at my lowest, let me do the same..."
Miss Toledo shook her head, "I can't do that... live in someone else's home.. That's crazy talk."
"You dated him before!" I said, "You know what he's like!"
Miss Toledo shook her head.
"Please... I can't just not see you guys again.. I can't lose you guys... your my family!" I sniffled. "He would be fine with it! Don't leave! Stay! We will take you guys in!"
"No, Hollow." She said. "Thank you.. But that cannot happen, I'm sorry."
"I can't live with knowing that you guys took me in when I had nowhere to go, and now you have nowhere to go and I can't help you!"
"Hollow, it's fine hun' I know how much you appreciate it. I love you, I always looked at you as one of my kids."
"T-Then.. W-why can't you just.. Stay... come with me?" I asked.
Miss Toledo just looked at me and smiled.
"Please mom!" Timmy said.
"He doesn't live close to here! You are still going to be moving to a different area." She shouted.
"Yeah, but I'll still have Hollow!"
"You guys are acting like you will never see eachother again, look! You guys can facetime, we will definitely visit one another... it will be fine. It won't be as bad as you guys think, trust me."
"Here.. let's start packing." Miss Toledo said standing up.
YOU ARE READING
Hollow
Teen FictionThe once lively and bubbly, Hollow Mabel was born by the side of her grandmother "Ma'am" her entire life. But after she passes away, Hollow is torn and depressed. As her neighbor Mary Toledo takes her in, living with her son Timmy Toledo, they al...
