Wednesday, May 20, 2009
The Present
As Fanny Mae stood at the bus stop across from Jupiter Apartments, the rain started to come down hard. She made a motion to run for cover, but then nixed the idea. Who cares? she thought. The bus will be here soon anyhow, I'm already wet... Fanny Mae continued to stare out into the distance, not focusing on anything. Her mind was as blank and her newly emptied apartment. She suddenly looked up at a strange figure, bent forward, trying to block the rain. As the figure got closer, Fanny Mae recognized it as Madame Maureen, the palm reader. Madame Maureen did not look up to acknowledge Fanny Mae, she just walked past, hunched over, gripping her left arm. Fanny Mae occasionally walked my the palm reading shop, but never went in. What was the point in knowing the future? If what you find out sucks, you can't change it anyways, right? She never let herself be tempted to know what her future holds, to know if she would ever settle. Sure it would be nice to settle in one place, but how could I really do that? She thought about Madam Maureen again. The poor woman always looks so hungry. She had heard someone say that Madame Maureen has lived here all her life. The majority of that life was spent in poverty because she wouldn't just tell people what they wanted to hear. There's no reason to stay somewhere if your life there get all screwed up! Why would I want to stay here? I don't know anyone, no one cares, and now everyone thinks I'm crazy because I stabbed a guy. Madame Maureen's shadowy figure was no longer in sight whatsoever, as she turned down the alley between Jupiter apartments and Sunshine Daycare. It looks like she's going to the playground...She is all alone I don't want to end up that way, I can't bear it. What if when I die I have no one to hold on to. If I live to be 99 years old, I want to have my loved ones at my side. What loved ones? Will I have loved ones? What will my future hold? The future... Fanny Mae glanced toward the direction of the playground. Throwing all of her ideas about foreseeing the future aside, Fanny Mae walked towards where she saw Madame Maureen disappear into the rain. She kept walking and didn't turn back, even as the bus pulled up behind her. I have to know. I can't live without knowing where I'll end up. I just need something to look forward to, even if it's a terrible fate. There has to be something that I can hold on to, that can ground me. Fanny Mae found herself sprinting towards the playground, then she noticed a crowd of people staring at something by the slide. Fanny Mae froze, she didn't even have to go any further, she knew exactly what had happened. She was stuck, she had left the past, she no longer could dwell in it, and now her door to the future was closed. She was trapped between the two, with no where to escape to.
Monday, May 11, 2009
Bus Stop
"Mrs. Lewis?"
"Ms., its Ms. Lewis." Fanny Mae said.
"Oh, excuse me, well your friend is in the recovery room if you'd like to see him." the doctor said.
"Oh, no thanks. He's not a friend, I just wanted to make sure he ain't dead." Fanny Mae said as she turned to leave.
"Well, I think there were some police looking for you ma'am, did you talk to them?"
"Yes, its all straightened out, well I gotta get going, thanks for all your help." Fanny Mae turned and left the hospital, not looking back. She headed to the police station, where she had a meeting with the sheriff. On her way there, she passed the food mart where she saw a bald man overlooking the city. Nothing seemed affected by the previous night's incidents, the city was the same, except her. Upon arriving at the police station, she was warmly greeted by a tall man in a blue uniform.
"Ms. Lewis, lets get right to business. We have officially put it on record that this incident was a case of self defense, but we are still concerned for your safety. We would like to suggest that you get a restraining order, we don't want anything like this to happen again."
"I like the sound of that, I am just so scared. I never meant to hurt him, I- I just..." she welled up and began quietly sobbing.
"Ms. Lewis, Ms. Lewis. It's alright, it will all be okay. We understand your situation and we just want to keep you safe. Before we start on the paper work, I would like you to tell me exactly how you know this..." he looked down at the file, "Bert Huron. We need to know everything."
"Well to start, he is my ex-husband. We were high school sweethearts and incredibly happy. We stayed together, I didn't even go to college because I wanted to star our life together as soon as possible. Things were great for a while, then he started coming home drunk nearly every night. He would get so angry at little things and soon his anger turned into abuse. He would hit me. I would tell myself it was just the alcohol, but it only got worse an worse. The last time I saw him before yesterday was the day I told him I might be pregnant. He was so drunk and he was the maddest I've ever seen him. He hit me a few times until he passed out in his drunkenness. I decided that was enough, I couldn't take it anymore. I wasn't going to bring a baby into that toxic environment. But it turns out it was just a...a false alarm, I wasn't pregnant." She began to tear up again. "Anyways, that night I hopped on the next bus and took it to the furthest town from there. I ended up here. I don't know, I always run. It's just what I do, I didn't see a way out of my situation so I packed up and left.That's the way I've always been."
"Well don't feel like you need to run this time, he will be locked up for a while and we will get you a permanent restraining order. He won't be bothering you anymore." The sheriff said comfortingly.
"Well thank you so much, I appreciate all you have done for me." Fanny Mae stood to leave. She left the police station and headed toward her small apartment in the Jupiter apartment building. Once there, she immediately began packing all her stuff into her few suitcases. Her mind was blank, she didn't think of anything but the task of packing her valuables. After all her stuff was packed, Fanny Mae Lewis walked across the street and stood at the bus stop that she had arrived at only a little while ago.
"Ms., its Ms. Lewis." Fanny Mae said.
"Oh, excuse me, well your friend is in the recovery room if you'd like to see him." the doctor said.
"Oh, no thanks. He's not a friend, I just wanted to make sure he ain't dead." Fanny Mae said as she turned to leave.
"Well, I think there were some police looking for you ma'am, did you talk to them?"
"Yes, its all straightened out, well I gotta get going, thanks for all your help." Fanny Mae turned and left the hospital, not looking back. She headed to the police station, where she had a meeting with the sheriff. On her way there, she passed the food mart where she saw a bald man overlooking the city. Nothing seemed affected by the previous night's incidents, the city was the same, except her. Upon arriving at the police station, she was warmly greeted by a tall man in a blue uniform.
"Ms. Lewis, lets get right to business. We have officially put it on record that this incident was a case of self defense, but we are still concerned for your safety. We would like to suggest that you get a restraining order, we don't want anything like this to happen again."
"I like the sound of that, I am just so scared. I never meant to hurt him, I- I just..." she welled up and began quietly sobbing.
"Ms. Lewis, Ms. Lewis. It's alright, it will all be okay. We understand your situation and we just want to keep you safe. Before we start on the paper work, I would like you to tell me exactly how you know this..." he looked down at the file, "Bert Huron. We need to know everything."
"Well to start, he is my ex-husband. We were high school sweethearts and incredibly happy. We stayed together, I didn't even go to college because I wanted to star our life together as soon as possible. Things were great for a while, then he started coming home drunk nearly every night. He would get so angry at little things and soon his anger turned into abuse. He would hit me. I would tell myself it was just the alcohol, but it only got worse an worse. The last time I saw him before yesterday was the day I told him I might be pregnant. He was so drunk and he was the maddest I've ever seen him. He hit me a few times until he passed out in his drunkenness. I decided that was enough, I couldn't take it anymore. I wasn't going to bring a baby into that toxic environment. But it turns out it was just a...a false alarm, I wasn't pregnant." She began to tear up again. "Anyways, that night I hopped on the next bus and took it to the furthest town from there. I ended up here. I don't know, I always run. It's just what I do, I didn't see a way out of my situation so I packed up and left.That's the way I've always been."
"Well don't feel like you need to run this time, he will be locked up for a while and we will get you a permanent restraining order. He won't be bothering you anymore." The sheriff said comfortingly.
"Well thank you so much, I appreciate all you have done for me." Fanny Mae stood to leave. She left the police station and headed toward her small apartment in the Jupiter apartment building. Once there, she immediately began packing all her stuff into her few suitcases. Her mind was blank, she didn't think of anything but the task of packing her valuables. After all her stuff was packed, Fanny Mae Lewis walked across the street and stood at the bus stop that she had arrived at only a little while ago.
Sunday, April 19, 2009
Bert
"Fanny? Fanny Mae!!! Open up this damn door right now!" The violent knocking persisted. "I'm not kidding woman, you know who this is. OPEN UP!!"
Fanny Mae curled up in a corner in her cold, dark kitchen. The knocking and yelling continued, but she remained still and silent.
The knocking eventually weakened and then there was silence for a minute. She started to get up to check the doorway. Maybe he finally got tired and left, she thought. But she was startled by a quiet plea from the other side of the door. "Baby, just let me in, I was real worried when you wasn't there one morning, I just want to talk. C'mon baby."
It sound like he's calmed down...maybe it won't hurt to talk this out. She opened the door slowly, and looked up into the eyes she had always found so irresistible. Wow...she thought. He's a lot taller than I remember.
"Hey," he said.
"Bert."
"Sorry about earlier... I just want to talk about this like grown ups now."
"Ok."
"Why'd ya leave baby? You know I love you, I came all this way to find you. Now come back with me."
"You know why I left," her eyes moved down to her bruised arms, "I'm not coming back."
"Look, I'm sorry baby, I was just drunk. It won't never happen again, I'm gonna try to quit drinking. I don't wanna hurt you no more, all I want is for you to come back to me."
Fanny Mae momentarily got lost in the sea of his beautiful blue eyes, but snapped back. "No! I can't, I don't wanna. I- I like it here," she lied. "Besides, I have a new job at this place called The Jaguar."
"You can't possibly like it here! This place is a dump, you're coming back with me!" Fanny Mae could sense that rage coming, the rage she had experienced several times before. She backed slowly into the counter. He approached her angrily,
"Get in the fuckin' car, woman! Don't think I'm playin', you're my wife and you best do what I say!" Fanny Mae backed further into the counter with her hand behind her back, positioned on a kitchen knife. Bert lunged at her, she whipped out the knife and stabbed him right in the shoulder. He fell to the ground in pain and she ran past him into the hallway. Outside of the room, she ran into a man in a track suit.
"Are you alright lady? I was passing by and I heard screaming and-" He looked into the apartment and saw Bert lying on the floor passed out and bleeding. "Oh, oh ok. Um, I'll call the police." Fanny Mae leaned against the wall and slid down, listening to the man talk to the police.
"Yes, Hi. My name is Jeremiah Taylor, I'm in the Jupiter Apartments and there's been a man stabbed...Yes, there is a woman here. She hasn't left so I assume it was a case of self defense...Yes...No...I'm not sure....Apartment 556C...Yes, ok thank you." He hung up the phone and turned to Fanny Mae, "Are you alright? I assume that you knew this guy, yeah? Well the police and an ambulance are on their way. Do you need something?" Fanny Mae didn't say a word, she just buried her head in her knees, sobbing as a crowd began to form outside of apartment 556C.
Fanny Mae curled up in a corner in her cold, dark kitchen. The knocking and yelling continued, but she remained still and silent.
The knocking eventually weakened and then there was silence for a minute. She started to get up to check the doorway. Maybe he finally got tired and left, she thought. But she was startled by a quiet plea from the other side of the door. "Baby, just let me in, I was real worried when you wasn't there one morning, I just want to talk. C'mon baby."
It sound like he's calmed down...maybe it won't hurt to talk this out. She opened the door slowly, and looked up into the eyes she had always found so irresistible. Wow...she thought. He's a lot taller than I remember.
"Hey," he said.
"Bert."
"Sorry about earlier... I just want to talk about this like grown ups now."
"Ok."
"Why'd ya leave baby? You know I love you, I came all this way to find you. Now come back with me."
"You know why I left," her eyes moved down to her bruised arms, "I'm not coming back."
"Look, I'm sorry baby, I was just drunk. It won't never happen again, I'm gonna try to quit drinking. I don't wanna hurt you no more, all I want is for you to come back to me."
Fanny Mae momentarily got lost in the sea of his beautiful blue eyes, but snapped back. "No! I can't, I don't wanna. I- I like it here," she lied. "Besides, I have a new job at this place called The Jaguar."
"You can't possibly like it here! This place is a dump, you're coming back with me!" Fanny Mae could sense that rage coming, the rage she had experienced several times before. She backed slowly into the counter. He approached her angrily,
"Get in the fuckin' car, woman! Don't think I'm playin', you're my wife and you best do what I say!" Fanny Mae backed further into the counter with her hand behind her back, positioned on a kitchen knife. Bert lunged at her, she whipped out the knife and stabbed him right in the shoulder. He fell to the ground in pain and she ran past him into the hallway. Outside of the room, she ran into a man in a track suit.
"Are you alright lady? I was passing by and I heard screaming and-" He looked into the apartment and saw Bert lying on the floor passed out and bleeding. "Oh, oh ok. Um, I'll call the police." Fanny Mae leaned against the wall and slid down, listening to the man talk to the police.
"Yes, Hi. My name is Jeremiah Taylor, I'm in the Jupiter Apartments and there's been a man stabbed...Yes, there is a woman here. She hasn't left so I assume it was a case of self defense...Yes...No...I'm not sure....Apartment 556C...Yes, ok thank you." He hung up the phone and turned to Fanny Mae, "Are you alright? I assume that you knew this guy, yeah? Well the police and an ambulance are on their way. Do you need something?" Fanny Mae didn't say a word, she just buried her head in her knees, sobbing as a crowd began to form outside of apartment 556C.
Sunday, March 22, 2009
The Jaguar
Fanny Mae walked into The Jaguar and was greeted by a greasy looking man in a fedora hat. As she stepped inside, the door shut behind her, drowning out the sound of a crazy man yelling about how he is Jesus.
"Can't be too careful in this town, there are a lotta crazies out there." the man grinned at her through several gold teeth. Fanny Mae nodded politely in agreement. He continues, "I mean just today, I saw a man walking around in a long trench coat and a hat coverin' his face, don't think I've seen 'im before. I'm sure he had something to do with that dern Donald gettin shot straight in his leg."
"That's very sad," Fanny Mae uttered. "So you said something about a job? What would I be doing, waiting tables or something. I'm real good with people and I am real-" The man laughed, cutting her off. Fanny Mae just stared at him in confusion.
"Honey, you got the wrong idea, this ain't no fancy country club, we don't go no food."
"You mean this ain't a restaurant?"
"You're obviously new to this town, sweetheart. The Jaguar is the best damn strip joint on this side of anywhere! We got great numbers, we even added a midget stripper, that's the best fuckin' shit I've seen in a long time! We got lots of costumers, if you look over there you'll see the wall with some of our regulars on it."
Fanny Mae was shocked into silence. She studied the wall with the pictures and names of all The Jaguar frequenters. She read, Danny Hiser, Paulo Nadie, Andrew Underwood, David Borisovich Sokolov, and Bernard Rattifice. She turned away from all of the scrutinizing eyes, staring and peering through her. Or at least through her clothes.
"Sweetcakes, listen I don't have all day, do you want this job or not?"
"I am not your sweetcakes, and I absolutely don't want such a horrible job! Exposing myself in front of vile, sleazy old men? No thank you." Fanny Mae turned and headed for the door, but the man grabbed her arm and spun her quickly around to face him.
"I guess you're pretty strong minded, I can't make you do anything. But you should take this job, you've got a nice, tight ass, I just know you'll bring in a load of dough. The offer stands, come back anytime," he smiles mischievously "...sweetcakes." Fanny Mae yanked her arm free from the man's grip and stormed out in a rage.
Fanny Mae stepped out into the cool fall air, but her face was still burning red with anger and embarrassment. Just as she was about to turn the corner onto Dublin Avenue, she hears a several cops cars, with blaring sirens, pull up to the Jaguar. They roughly handcuffed a man, threw him into the cop car, and sped away. Fanny Mae was staring cars speeding away, when a man came up behind her. He said, "The guy they just handcuffed, he's some famous rapper, I forget his name. He's been hiding out at The Jaguar for days. They finally got him." Fanny Mae turned around and peered into a familiar pair of eyes. She had seen this man on the wall of The Jaguar not 5 minutes ago. She recognized him as David Borisovich Sokolov." Without saying a word, Fanny Mae looked down and quickly walked away.
"I was just trying to be nice," David yelled after her. "whatever!"
Men, Fanny Mae thought furiously to herself. They can never just leave a woman to herself. And to think, that man wanted me to be a stripper! Ha! Like that would suit me... who would possibly want all that attention for being a naked whore? I just don't get it. I mean I'm sure the job pays, nice...and you do get to meet a lot of men. But I'm sure they're all shady and think they're big hotshots throwin' all that money around! Me? A stripper? Please...
Fanny Mae walked up to the Jupiter Apartment Building, narrowly missing the construction being done around a manhole outside. She ascended the steps and burst into her apartment, still in a rage from what had happened earlier. She collapsed into a chair and let out a big, exhausted sigh. Just as she was about settled, she heard I loud, rather violent knock on her door.
"Can't be too careful in this town, there are a lotta crazies out there." the man grinned at her through several gold teeth. Fanny Mae nodded politely in agreement. He continues, "I mean just today, I saw a man walking around in a long trench coat and a hat coverin' his face, don't think I've seen 'im before. I'm sure he had something to do with that dern Donald gettin shot straight in his leg."
"That's very sad," Fanny Mae uttered. "So you said something about a job? What would I be doing, waiting tables or something. I'm real good with people and I am real-" The man laughed, cutting her off. Fanny Mae just stared at him in confusion.
"Honey, you got the wrong idea, this ain't no fancy country club, we don't go no food."
"You mean this ain't a restaurant?"
"You're obviously new to this town, sweetheart. The Jaguar is the best damn strip joint on this side of anywhere! We got great numbers, we even added a midget stripper, that's the best fuckin' shit I've seen in a long time! We got lots of costumers, if you look over there you'll see the wall with some of our regulars on it."
Fanny Mae was shocked into silence. She studied the wall with the pictures and names of all The Jaguar frequenters. She read, Danny Hiser, Paulo Nadie, Andrew Underwood, David Borisovich Sokolov, and Bernard Rattifice. She turned away from all of the scrutinizing eyes, staring and peering through her. Or at least through her clothes.
"Sweetcakes, listen I don't have all day, do you want this job or not?"
"I am not your sweetcakes, and I absolutely don't want such a horrible job! Exposing myself in front of vile, sleazy old men? No thank you." Fanny Mae turned and headed for the door, but the man grabbed her arm and spun her quickly around to face him.
"I guess you're pretty strong minded, I can't make you do anything. But you should take this job, you've got a nice, tight ass, I just know you'll bring in a load of dough. The offer stands, come back anytime," he smiles mischievously "...sweetcakes." Fanny Mae yanked her arm free from the man's grip and stormed out in a rage.
Fanny Mae stepped out into the cool fall air, but her face was still burning red with anger and embarrassment. Just as she was about to turn the corner onto Dublin Avenue, she hears a several cops cars, with blaring sirens, pull up to the Jaguar. They roughly handcuffed a man, threw him into the cop car, and sped away. Fanny Mae was staring cars speeding away, when a man came up behind her. He said, "The guy they just handcuffed, he's some famous rapper, I forget his name. He's been hiding out at The Jaguar for days. They finally got him." Fanny Mae turned around and peered into a familiar pair of eyes. She had seen this man on the wall of The Jaguar not 5 minutes ago. She recognized him as David Borisovich Sokolov." Without saying a word, Fanny Mae looked down and quickly walked away.
"I was just trying to be nice," David yelled after her. "whatever!"
Men, Fanny Mae thought furiously to herself. They can never just leave a woman to herself. And to think, that man wanted me to be a stripper! Ha! Like that would suit me... who would possibly want all that attention for being a naked whore? I just don't get it. I mean I'm sure the job pays, nice...and you do get to meet a lot of men. But I'm sure they're all shady and think they're big hotshots throwin' all that money around! Me? A stripper? Please...
Fanny Mae walked up to the Jupiter Apartment Building, narrowly missing the construction being done around a manhole outside. She ascended the steps and burst into her apartment, still in a rage from what had happened earlier. She collapsed into a chair and let out a big, exhausted sigh. Just as she was about settled, she heard I loud, rather violent knock on her door.
Sunday, February 22, 2009
The City Park
Fanny Mae woke up to a clear, snow-free day. It was still cold outside, so she bundled up and walked outside. There was no time to waste today, it was a beautiful day to walk around town and find a job. Fanny Mae was walking and found herself by the city park. She looked around at the dead trees and her eyes eventually fell on two people sitting on a park bench. One of them was a very creepy looking man who was hovering over the girl sitting next to him. The girl looked very uncomfortable, and was trying to ignore this man by concentrating on the papers in her hands. She suddenly looked up, waved at Fanny Mae, and bolted off the bench towards her.
"Hey!"
"Hi?" said Fanny Mae
"Sorry I just had to pretend like I knew you until I got away from that guy. What a creeper! Anyways, my name's Sidda, what's yours?"
"I'm Fanny Mae Lewis."
"Nice to meet you. Man, I was so uncomfortable back there," Sidda said "I knew he was just like any other guy, only thinking about one thing!"
"Ain't that always the case." Fanny Mae muttered.
"What?"
"I just have experience in that area, I guess."
"You've been in some bad relationships?" Sidda asked.
"Well yeah, just one. My ex husband."
"Oh...I'm sorry..."
"Yep... He beat me. He would come home drunk, get really angry for some stupid reason and hit the livin' daylights outta me. I got bruuses all over. I would always tell myself it was just the alcohol and he really did love me. I mean, we'd been together since high school. I know it's cliché, but I was a cheerleader and he was the football quarterback.We were so happy." A smile spread across Fanny Mae's face, but she quickly wiped it away.
"Wow." Sidda said, rather speechless.
"Oh dear Lord, I am so sorry. I just spilled my whole life story to a perfect stranger. I reckon I just don't talk to a lotta people, especially in this new town."
"Oh, no its perfectly alright. Why did you move here anyways? This place is horribly drab."
Just as Fanny Mae was about to open her mouth, she noticed a large mass of people standing outside of Jupiter Apartments. She and Sidda ran to the scene and inquired as to what was going on.
"Some stupid ass kid pulled the fire alarm, scared us all half to death. You know the insurance on this place probably sucks." said a tall man with a rather large nose.
Relieved that there was no real fire, Fanny Mae wandered from the chaos down Rouse Boulevard, where a fire truck passed by with its deafening sirens. She eventually turned down Dublin Street and then on to Church Street found herself outside of the Jaguar, when she heard a noise.
"Psssst, hey you wanna job?" said the man standing in the frame of the front door.
Fanny Mae looked at the man and then up at the lopsided Jaguar sign. What is this place? she thought, I guess its like a restaurant or something. I do need a job, maybe I should check it out.
"Hey!"
"Hi?" said Fanny Mae
"Sorry I just had to pretend like I knew you until I got away from that guy. What a creeper! Anyways, my name's Sidda, what's yours?"
"I'm Fanny Mae Lewis."
"Nice to meet you. Man, I was so uncomfortable back there," Sidda said "I knew he was just like any other guy, only thinking about one thing!"
"Ain't that always the case." Fanny Mae muttered.
"What?"
"I just have experience in that area, I guess."
"You've been in some bad relationships?" Sidda asked.
"Well yeah, just one. My ex husband."
"Oh...I'm sorry..."
"Yep... He beat me. He would come home drunk, get really angry for some stupid reason and hit the livin' daylights outta me. I got bruuses all over. I would always tell myself it was just the alcohol and he really did love me. I mean, we'd been together since high school. I know it's cliché, but I was a cheerleader and he was the football quarterback.We were so happy." A smile spread across Fanny Mae's face, but she quickly wiped it away.
"Wow." Sidda said, rather speechless.
"Oh dear Lord, I am so sorry. I just spilled my whole life story to a perfect stranger. I reckon I just don't talk to a lotta people, especially in this new town."
"Oh, no its perfectly alright. Why did you move here anyways? This place is horribly drab."
Just as Fanny Mae was about to open her mouth, she noticed a large mass of people standing outside of Jupiter Apartments. She and Sidda ran to the scene and inquired as to what was going on.
"Some stupid ass kid pulled the fire alarm, scared us all half to death. You know the insurance on this place probably sucks." said a tall man with a rather large nose.
Relieved that there was no real fire, Fanny Mae wandered from the chaos down Rouse Boulevard, where a fire truck passed by with its deafening sirens. She eventually turned down Dublin Street and then on to Church Street found herself outside of the Jaguar, when she heard a noise.
"Psssst, hey you wanna job?" said the man standing in the frame of the front door.
Fanny Mae looked at the man and then up at the lopsided Jaguar sign. What is this place? she thought, I guess its like a restaurant or something. I do need a job, maybe I should check it out.
Sunday, January 25, 2009
First Day in the City
At 12:03 in the afternoon, Fanny Mae slowly awoke from her deep, dreamless sleep. Normally she wouldn't be able to sleep a wink in a place like this, but last night was different. She was finally free from her old life and Greg, the man she had loved for so many years...before the incident. But no, this was a new life and a new beginning, there was no time to dwell on the past she fled so fearfully from. Fanny Mae sat up, stretched her thin arms high above her head and set her warm feet on the cold floor. As she sat at the edge of her bed, Fanny Mae glanced down at her legs, and spotted the several bruises and her pale thighs. She quickly looked away, ignoring the evidence of her dark past staring up at her. She pulled her nightgown up over her head and began getting dressed to go out into the cold.
Once outside, Fanny Mae headed out down Rouse Blvd. and listened to the comforting thumping of her feet on the cold, gray pavement. She loved walking, she used to take walks all the time before she got married. After several minutes, Fanny Mae looked up and found herself right in from of a little noodle shack named Chan's. The heavy aroma of the noodles filled her nose and drew her into the shack like an invisible, welcoming hand. She sat eating her noodles, which were dry and bland, but this was the only full meal she had had in days. After her lunch Fanny Mae wandered around the city for several more hours. What had started as a job hunt soon became a leisurely, thoughtful walk. Eventually, Fanny Mae ended up right in front of Jupiter apartments. She was about to walk in until someone bumped into her. She looked up, and saw a tall man who was walking his dog.
"Oh I'm so sorry ma'am are you alright? I guess I just didn't see you there. I really should pay more attention."
"It's alright, I'm fine." Fanny Mae said, smiling half-heartedly. She knelt down to pet the dog. "She's a beautiful dog."
"Yep and she's sweet too, her name's Shadow." said the man, looking down admiringly at his dog. "So do you live in the Jupiter Apartments?"
"Yes, I'm new in town. What about you?"
"Actually I live under the old book store, the old man that owns it is nice enough to let me rent the basement. I'm Jacen, by the way. Jacen Vaughn."
"I'm Fanny Mae Lewis. Listen, it was nice to meet you, but I'm pretty busy. I have to go." Fanny Mae's voice trailed off as she looked down and shuffled back into the apartment building. In her apartment Fanny Mae sat on the floor, for she still had no furniture other than her bed and lumpy mattress. She pondered her rather brief encounter with this man.
He was nice, she thought, but you can never trust men these days. Fanny Mae was deep in thought when suddenly, the lights in the apartment shut off. She got up, flipped the old switch up and down a couple of times, but nothing happened. As she sat back down on the floor something crawled across her hand. She shivered in disgust. I hate cockroaches, she thought. She looked her watch, it was about six o' clock, so she reached into her purse and pulled out a pack of crackers. "I guess this will me my dinner tonight." Fanny Mae sat in the dark, eating her crackers and was once again lost in her thoughts.
Once outside, Fanny Mae headed out down Rouse Blvd. and listened to the comforting thumping of her feet on the cold, gray pavement. She loved walking, she used to take walks all the time before she got married. After several minutes, Fanny Mae looked up and found herself right in from of a little noodle shack named Chan's. The heavy aroma of the noodles filled her nose and drew her into the shack like an invisible, welcoming hand. She sat eating her noodles, which were dry and bland, but this was the only full meal she had had in days. After her lunch Fanny Mae wandered around the city for several more hours. What had started as a job hunt soon became a leisurely, thoughtful walk. Eventually, Fanny Mae ended up right in front of Jupiter apartments. She was about to walk in until someone bumped into her. She looked up, and saw a tall man who was walking his dog.
"Oh I'm so sorry ma'am are you alright? I guess I just didn't see you there. I really should pay more attention."
"It's alright, I'm fine." Fanny Mae said, smiling half-heartedly. She knelt down to pet the dog. "She's a beautiful dog."
"Yep and she's sweet too, her name's Shadow." said the man, looking down admiringly at his dog. "So do you live in the Jupiter Apartments?"
"Yes, I'm new in town. What about you?"
"Actually I live under the old book store, the old man that owns it is nice enough to let me rent the basement. I'm Jacen, by the way. Jacen Vaughn."
"I'm Fanny Mae Lewis. Listen, it was nice to meet you, but I'm pretty busy. I have to go." Fanny Mae's voice trailed off as she looked down and shuffled back into the apartment building. In her apartment Fanny Mae sat on the floor, for she still had no furniture other than her bed and lumpy mattress. She pondered her rather brief encounter with this man.
He was nice, she thought, but you can never trust men these days. Fanny Mae was deep in thought when suddenly, the lights in the apartment shut off. She got up, flipped the old switch up and down a couple of times, but nothing happened. As she sat back down on the floor something crawled across her hand. She shivered in disgust. I hate cockroaches, she thought. She looked her watch, it was about six o' clock, so she reached into her purse and pulled out a pack of crackers. "I guess this will me my dinner tonight." Fanny Mae sat in the dark, eating her crackers and was once again lost in her thoughts.
Saturday, January 17, 2009
An Unfurnished Heart
Fanny Mae watched as the landlord hobbled out the door, relying heavily on her one good leg. She looked down at the silver key in her hand, turning it over and over, inspecting the dull, rusty surface. "Apartment 556C...Welcome home Fanny Mae..." she muttered to herself. A cold Fall wind came through the open window, sending a violent shiver down her back. They didn't have weather like this in Alabama. She pushed and pulled until finally the stubborn window shut with a thud. She looked out the window at the bus stop on the corner of Rouse Boulevard and Dublin Lane, the one at which she stepped off the bus only 15 minutes earlier. The bent bus sign stared back at her, only reminding her of the life from which she fled.
Fanny Mae glanced around the desolate apartment and it stared back at her with desperate, bitter loneliness. She immediately felt a connection with the place. She loved its imperfection: the paint chipped walls, the scuffed floors, and the cracked ceiling. Despite all this apartment had been through, it was still warm and ready for the next inhabitant. Fanny Mae walked out of the apartment, hoping to find a place to buy furniture for her new apartment. She shut the door behind her, turned the key, and heard the clink of the dead bolt lock the door. Fanny Mae turned and headed down the stairs.
Fanny Mae glanced around the desolate apartment and it stared back at her with desperate, bitter loneliness. She immediately felt a connection with the place. She loved its imperfection: the paint chipped walls, the scuffed floors, and the cracked ceiling. Despite all this apartment had been through, it was still warm and ready for the next inhabitant. Fanny Mae walked out of the apartment, hoping to find a place to buy furniture for her new apartment. She shut the door behind her, turned the key, and heard the clink of the dead bolt lock the door. Fanny Mae turned and headed down the stairs.
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