Whispers Journey

Moving On

Whisper went to work as usual on Wednesday morning but instead of clocking in she was asked to come into the office. "Your a hard worker but we just don't feel like your progressing as fast as you should. It's taking you 20 or more minutes per room while other girls are averageing 15. I'm sorry but we're going to have to let you go." Eric stood stone faced behind Mr. Gordman and didn't try to come to her defense. She knew this had something to do with the night before but she just looked around looking for where to go next. "I'll take your uniform and here's you last weekes pay, you'll get your final check mailed to you." She stood up and walked out confused but resolved not to cry. She asked Dan for more hours at Ds but he said his hands were tied and he just couldn't give her more hours until she was 18. He asked if she was gonna be ok for November rent and she assured him she would. She went home and looked around the apartment that felt alien to her now. The livingroom set and T.V. he'd bought her now disgusted her. She went to her room and found her check ledger book. She had almost $2000 in the bank and the $100 check from TTs in her hand. She wondered if she could return the furniture and get some cash that way. She asked Dan if he could help her take her T.V. To the pawn shop and he agreed. They gave her $25 and she pocketed it along with $5 for the radio. Dan looked at her when they got back to his truck  and said "Your leaving aren't you?" She didn't have to say it he knew. "I'll finish out the week. You can keep the furniture rent the place for more as furnished." "What happened with that guy who kept coming around?" " He was a mistake, I don't wanna talk about it k"they sat for a minute and he said well you're gonna need a suitcase or at least a duffel bag. They went to Shop Right and she found a red duffle bag with a purple glittery heart on it. She packed her cloths and books and some food when she got home. The next morning she cashed out her bank account. It was Thursday so she had the day off of Ds so she cleaned her apartment. Her mother had always told her to leave a place cleaner then how you found it. The weekend whizzed by and she didn't tell her friends she was leaving but they knew. She hadn't finished her GED class but she knew she would someday. Dan gave her all of her final pay on Sunday night. He'd invited her over for dinner at his place with his wife. "Where will you go now hunny?" She didn't know for sure herself she just knew her time in Montanna was through. She thought for a moment about maybe going home to Lake Lee but quickly dismissed that idea. She wasn't the same girl she'd been when she'd left Minnesota so there was no reason to go back there. It was a week before Halloween as she strode into the bus station. Dan and his wife had given her $300 for the bus ticket and food along the way. The ticket agent asked her where she was going and she just said "Away" He looked annoyed for a second then asked "well do you wanna go now or later? I got a bus leavin for Austin,Texas  in 10 minutes or I got a 1 o'clock ride goin to Tallahassee, FL. They all got stops in between so your call doll how far away do ya wanna go?" She decided on Florida and paid $120 for the ticket then took a seat and waited. She'd picked up a Walkman and some headphones at the pawnshop and a few other cassettes. She'd gotten batteries  from Shop Right so now she sad and listen to Michal Jackson and waited. The bus boarded at 12:30 and pulled out right on time. She watched the town fall away as they headed East for the next adventure of her life. Once again she had her morning her shoe, she rested her head against the large window and noted that she just didn't feel that same spark of adventure she had in May. She wondered where she'd be by Christmas and how life could ever be as good as it had been a week ago. She'd had it all, good jobs, a place of her own and a cute boyfriend but he'd ruined all that. She had her ID in her wallet and birth certificate in her duffle bag. She thought it would be too hard to invent another new identity so she'd just stay Whisper. The bus stopped every hour or so making it nearly impossible to fall asleep. By the next morning she was waiting for a transfer at a bus depot in Iowa and she saw a familiar face on a bullitin board -Heather Ann Johnson -Age 12 - last seen May 15th, 1992 in Lee Lake, MN -any information call.... she saw a dozen other posters and wondered where those people where. She walked away from the board and sat back down. The trip took 2 days and her neck and back were so sore by the time they pulled over the Florida state line. The October sun was bright here and the window was warm on her cheek. She was beginning to feel optimistic again. She thought she'd go blond this time around. The red was feeling tired and she wanted a change again. Dan had given her a good reference for her next job. She was deposited in Tallahassee, her bag tossed onto a pile of other bags. She put her Walkman away and started her check list all over again 1. Where will I sleep tonight 2. What will I do for money 3. Will I ever have a home again?