Diary of a Broken Doll

Drew's Rider

Kind of a filler chapter but also to show the change in the dynamics. Enjoy and remember to vote and comment your thoughts :)

I look at road signs as we cruise through an unfamiliar area. We turn next to a sign that says Rosencrest Housing Authority. He pulls up to one of the brick apartments and tells me to sit tight.

Quickly he reappears with a woman in cut off shorts, a tank top, and clearly no bra. What little hair she has is standing wildly atop her head. She's holding a baby that's only wearing a diaper and has a baby bag slung over her other shoulder. She gets in the backseat.

Does Drew have a baby? I wonder to myself. The girl is quiet but the baby starts to whine a little before the music comes on and drowns him out.

We ride to the grocery store on the corner and she gives him the baby bag and gets out. He reaches into the bag and pulls out a stack of money. Immediately he starts counting it. So do I. I lose count at two thousand.

Apparently it's all there because he pulls a brown package from under the seat and stuffs it in the bag, then throws it in the backseat. About twenty minutes later she comes back out and gets back in the car. We drop her and her baby and the brown package off.

"You ready to go home?" He looks at me.

"Yeah." I mumble.

"Aight."

He drives me home and I watch the road signs once again. I might have to navigate my way over here tomorrow to wake him up. I really didn't want to spend my money on a ticket. Neapolis Street, Isabella Avenue, Ocmulgee Street then we hit Main Street and head for the freeway.

After a mile or two we got off in my neighborhood. I get the idea to ask him to drop me off at the store a few blocks over to keep him from knowing where I live. After convincing him that I definitely don't need him taking me to my house because of my mama, he agrees and pulls away from the store.

I walk into the store with no intention on buying anything. I wait about five minutes and leave. I go to Mrs. Winkle's house. I use the key she gave me to let myself in. I dust and vacuum before helping myself to an apple. I use her phone to call Camille.

"Hey girl. You working huh?" She answers.

"Yeah I was anyway. I'm finish now."

"So you all ready to go?" She asks half-heartedly.

"Yep. I'm all packed and get this I ran into Drew and he giving me a ride." I update.

"What? Where you saw him at?" She perks up.

"At the ticket station. He said he saw me walking in and stopped."

"So yo boyfriend gone take you. That's cool. You can save yo money now." She adds.

"Drew ain't my boyfriend. I'm thinking about letting him be that one though."

"That's what's up. I think he good for you." She restated.

"We'll see. Well let me call you later. Love you Camille. In case I don't talk to you for a couple weeks." I said bleakly.

"Love you too. Don't say that though." She whined.

"Ok Cam, I'ma get a phone as soon as possible." I compromise.

We hang up. I walk over and get my money off of the counter before leaving. Once I'm home I put my things up and go to the refrigerator to get something to drink. I see my mama's feet hanging off the end of the bed. So I tiptoe into my room and turn in for the night.

"Where the hell you been?" She stands at my door in a long red tube dress, remnants of last night's makeup, but no bra to lift her obviously tired titties. Her silky black hair falling just above her elbows. That's one of the only things I'm glad to have gotten from her.

"Riding with my friend." I murmur, hoping to cut the confrontation short.

"What friend? You ain't got no friend with no car." A red and white beer can is in her hand and she slings it with every word as if to add emphasis.

"Yes I do. We just went to the mall and walked around." I ensure.

"It don't damn matter. You go to school and bring yo ass straight home. I'ma have to get Doughy to start picking yo ass up. Cause you don't know how to come home." She snarls.

"I don't need him picking me up." I scoff.

"I didn't ask you what you needed!" She slaps my book out of my hand. "I'm telling you what's gone happen if you keep this shit up."

"Ok." I concede.

"Don't be drinking my soda's either. You seen my lighter? You probably been smoking." She shuffles around on my dresser. I'm praying that she doesn't look in my closet and see my suitcase. "Stay out my room bothering my stuff. You don't know what you gone be done got into." She says and strolls off down the hallway.