The Forgotten One

Chapter Two

Chapter Two

              I stepped into my new room and looked around. It looked more like a studio apartment than a room. There was a small living space with a wood stove and a loveseat, a television on a small stand, and a radio on top of the dresser that led to the sleeping area. A small bed was pushed into the corner with a homemade quilt lying on the end. A desk had been built into the wall across from the bed and a makeshift closet constructed into the wall. Off to the right was a small door that led into a bathroom with a toilet, a pedastal sink, and a clawfoot tub. There was a small cabinet above the sink that held toiletries and to my relief, female supplies. Soft butter yellow towels hung from a hook on the back of the door. There was a border lining the ceiling of yellow sunflowers and daisies. It made me smile when I realized that Mrs. Reynolds had chosen the pattern and the towels for me. It had a clear woman’s touch.

              “Well, I’ll leave you to it. Dinner is at five. Tonight we would like it if you would come down to the house for dinner so we can talk a little about school. They’ve already sent over your paperwork and your class schedule. You’ll start at the diner on Monday. That’s also the first day of school.” Mr. Reynolds backed toward the door and looked at me expectantly.

              “Thank you.” I didn’t know what else to say and so I just watched him walk away.

              Unpacking took a long time. The suitcases were full of clothes like I had never owned before. It was clear that Mrs. Jensen had taken her daughter with her when she picked out the things. There were trendy jeans and tee shirts and some soft and beautiful sweaters and skirts. Several pairs of shoes lined the bottom of the largest suitcase and I took them all out and lined them up in the bottom of the closet. Hanging everything took most of the afternoon.

              I emptied the second suitcase and at the bottom I found a small black purse. I picked it up and opened it, finding a matching wallet inside. I opened up all the zippers and compartments and unfolded the billfold. In it were several crisp, clean hundred dollar bills. Six of them tucked around a note. I took it out and read it. “Madison, This should help you get on your feet until you start earning your own. Put whatever’s left over toward your college fund. Please try your hardest. Love Always, Stephanie Jensen.”

              I sat on the edge of my bed with the purse in my lap and unwrapped the small package that Mrs. Jensen had left with me. It was a long velvet box that was marked with the name of a top of the line jeweler. Inside was the most beautiful gold chain bracelet I had ever seen. It had a small anchor charm attached to it and I smiled as I lifted it out of the box and put it on. Tucked into the top of the box was another small note. This one simply read, “No more drifting.”

              I lay back on the small bed and stared at the ceiling, not sure what to do with myself. I had never had this much free time. At every other foster home I’d been expected to do everything, sometimes more than any young girl should have been expected to do. On the streets every moment had been about getting enough money to buy a meal and finding somewhere safe to sleep for the night. Everything in my life had been such a struggle for survival that it felt strangely terrifying to be laying in a space that was my own with a room full of all the things I would need to get by. Part of me wanted to relax and enjoy the moment, but there was still a little girl inside of me that was waiting for the other shoe to drop.