Trapped || UNDER CONSTRUCTION

A Place to Call Home

Breakfast finished up rather quickly. Huey was covered in syrup although his plate was pretty empty. I don't know where he puts it all. 

"How was everything?" The woman, who I have learned is called Susan, Starts to clean up the table. "Those pancakes must have been good, you must have licked this plate clean." She chuckles softly handing Huey some more napkins from her apron.

"It was delicious!" Huey jumped up on the booth. I gave him the look. 

You know the one. "Sit down, or you will be in big trouble."

He sits back down with a huff. 

"It was delicious, thank you." I say, picking up little pieces of trash and putting them on the plate I had, stacking the silverware up. "I've never had chicken and waffles before but I am sure you have the best."

This really gets a chuckle out of Susan.

"Oh dearie, thank you!" She swipes at invisible tears. "It's actually an old family recipe, so I'm glad you enjoyed it."

She finishes cleaning up the table and carefully lifts the stack of plates into her arms and lets us know she'll be right back. 

"Ya'll need anything else?" She asks with a knowing look in her eye. 

"Yes actually, I was wondering if you happened to know anywhere that we could stay? We are looking to stay for a while but even something temporary, like a motel, would be helpful right now." I look down, slightly embarrassed. I've had to stand in food stamp lines, food bank lines and even shopped at goodwill for the last 4 years, but I've never had to personally ask someone for help, someone I don't know. 

"Hmmm," She looks off in the distance, lost in thought for a few moments before she speaks again. "Being a small town, we really don't have any motels or nothing like that. But I do know someone who is looking for a roommate, maybe look there first. Let me write down the information. Be right back, sugar." 

Uh-oh. The idea of staying with someone we've never met before makes me cringe. But Susan seems like a nice, caring woman, I would like to think she wouldn't recommend someone who was a bad person. 

"Alright, here you are. The address is 774 Maple street, I hope that works out for you, hun." She gives me a smile and hands me 2 papers. 

I pocket the paper with the address on it and look at the second paper. 

It seems to be the check but the pancakes aren't listed on there. I call Susan back over and explain to her that the check isn't right. 

"Oh! Kids eat free, dearie." She winks at me and walks over to the elderly couples table to clean it up. 

I put the cash on the table with a 10$ tip and start to gather Huey. We make a trip to the restroom to try and clean him up first. 

Once back in the car, Huey pulls out his change of clothes.

"I like Susan, she's nice."

"Yes, she sure seems like, doesn't she?" I pull the mirror on the visor down and gasp.

That's what I looked like all morning? Yikes.

Aside from the hair in a rough sloppy pony with a million fly aways, making me look like a baby lion, there's drool on my chin.

Yep you heard it here first folks, drool on my chin. What a great first impression in a new town.

Slept in my car, now baby lion is walking around with drool on her chin.

I take a deep breath. Oh well, can't change the past.

After wiping the drool stain I fix my hair. I decide a half up half down look should work, considering I can't shower right now.