Deepest Shade of Jaded

Chapter Two: The Waitress

Deepest Shade of Jaded

Chapter Two

                When I woke up, it was light out, and the rain had stopped. The sun shone through fluffy white clouds, and birds sang in the trees. But the only problem was, I couldn’t remember what had happened. I didn’t remember anything, except that my name was Jade. I couldn’t even remember my last name, or how I had come to be in the abandoned house. So I started walking. I walked for hours, until the sun was highest in the sky, until I finally found a town. People were everywhere, but I couldn’t find anyone that recognized me. I found a cozy little diner, that looked really friendly, and it must have a bathroom I could use, because I really had to go. So I walked in, and walked up to the counter. A waitress came over and asked me what I needed. She smelled really good and seemed really nice, so I asked really politely if she had a bathroom I could use. She smiled and pointed to a small hallway with a door at the end. I walked towards it and locked the door behind me. I did my business and washed my hands, looking in the mirror. I was filthy. I splashed water on my face and got the dirt off. I then walked back out and sat down at the counter, confused about what to do next. The nice waitress came over and asked if everything was okay, and where my parents were. “I don’t know miss. I don’t remember anything. I don’t remember.” She looked at me sympathetically and said, “Sweetie, do you remember your name?” I told her my name was Jade, but I didn’t remember my last name. I told her everything I remembered up to that point, and she had a deep frown by the end. “I’m calling the police and taking you to the hospital to make sure you’re okay.” I didn’t understand what she said. She must have seen the look on my face because she bent down and told me softly, “I’m going to take you to a doctor to see if you’re hurt, and I’m going to call the police to see if we can find your mom and daddy, okay?” Nodding my consent, I followed her out to her car, and we drove to the hospital.

                There, a doctor looked at me and told Miss Rainy, that was the waitress, that I had amnesia. I didn’t know what it was, but he said that it was most likely permanent. I knew what permanent meant.  She nodded and asked if there was anyone who would take me in and what she needed to do. He shook his head and told her to take me to the police and I would become a ward of the State. I looked at him and asked him what a ward of the State was. He kneeled down so he was face to face and said gently, “It’s when someone can’t live with their family, so the government becomes their family, or finds them a new family. It’s not bad, really it’s not.” He patted my leg and stood up, nodded to Miss Rainy and left. “Okay kiddo, you ready to head out?” she asked kindly. I stood up and followed her back out to the parked car. As we drove to the police station she asked me about my favorite things. I didn’t remember a whole lot, but I told her what I could. When we pulled up an officer met us at the door. Miss Rainy asked me to sit in one of the big plastic chairs in the main room, while she had a grown-up talk with the policeman. I swung my feet and played with my fingers, trying not to feel too scared. It was a long while before Miss Rainy came back, this time with a different person. The man introduced himself as Mr. Mark. He said he was going to help me find my family. I explained that I couldn’t remember anything, and he said it was alright. When I asked if I was going to stay with Miss Rainy until he found my parents, he laughed and shook his head. “No, I have a nice family that’s willing to let you stay with them for a while.  The mom is really nice and some of the kids are your age.” That is how I came to live with Candy Stryker, one of the weirdest people on Earth.