The alarm clock was always shocking even though it went off five days a week.  Jessica’s’ first thought was how she would like one of those soft chiming Zen type clocks she saw in a catalogue.

No matter how often she promised herself to eat a good breakfast at home, there were never the right ingredients.  “I must make a list and grocery shop soon she thought while hastily dressing to get to the sweet little café near work where they made the best coffee in town.”

Work was so dreary, that is why Jess always made sure she looked colorful and well groomed. It helps the patient’s morale she thought while looking at her reflection in the café window.

Having a job with the county had its benefits; unfortunately a hefty wage was not one of them. I should look for a better paying job she mused when handed her pay check. When lunch time came she went to the bank to deposit her check only to discover her account was already overdrawn! How could this happen?

“Why wasn’t I notified as usual so I could transfer from my savings account. “

“I really don’t know miss, maybe you would want to speak to an officer?”

It was getting too close to the end of her lunch break; so she said to herself, “I’ll do this after work,” and she scurried to her little café for a yummy salad with just enough time to get back to her station.

After work, she met up with a girlfriend who worked in the lab. They always had a dinner and movie date mid-week to break up the tension of their jobs. The only rule they made was never discuss work or problems, this was their fun time. Jess forgot she had planned to go to the bank; and off they went.

“Good thing I have a credit card,” she thought when the tab came for dinner.

“It was a wonderful evening,” she said to her friend as they hugged goodnight.

Jessica took a cab home; her feet were hurting from the day. As the cab made its way through the city streets, she reflected “I need a pair of those shoes like the other girls wear; they say they are really comfortable.”

Having to walk up five flights was worth it just to be able to live in a rent controlled neighborhood. The apartment had been her grandmothers and when she passed Jess moved in without anyone knowing the better; same last name, same low rent her grandma had paid for the past 25 years, it was a steal! The furnishings had been changed little by little; she didn’t want to cause anyone to question her rental status. Fortunately, her face was familiar having visited her grandma almost everyday of what surely would be her last year of life. For an apartment in that neighborhood at that price it was worth the sacrifice of spending so much of her free time with a woman who was basically dead. Ugh! Thinking back on that time made her shudder, but in the end it was worth it.

“I just love this view of the park,” sighed Jessica, falling into her couch.

Saturdays were always the best. She would clean out her closet and drawers of perfectly good clothes and shoes, that she had grown tired of, fill a paper sack and leave them on a bench in the park. It gave her a thrill knowing the homeless women would have good clothes to wear, it also made room for Jess to go shopping.

Today she was going to a new mall, just two bus trips away. She had her whole day planned. Comfortable shoes, a large coat, a reusable shopping bag from a quality shop in town and her perky little face. Such an innocent face, almost angelic her mother used to say. Jess could get away with anything. She giggled at the rush it gave her, especially in a new place where she was completely unknown.

The big department stores were her favorite. She had learned long ago how to dodge those hidden cameras. She had a special tool for removing those pesky tags that made sirens blare.

“The way I got it was inspired,” she thought.  Just working for a large department store during the holiday season gave her extra cash and access to all the little security secrets she needed to know. Jess always glowed with pride when she thought of how clever she was.

Today’s trip was for shoes that she would pay for in cash. The receipt was tax deductible, work clothes had that advantage. Cash had its advantages as well, no one knew her name. Once she had a legit purchase along with a shoe box in a bag that she put in her own bag, the party was on!

New panties and nightgowns were easy. The pencil thin skirt fit nicely as well.

“Time for a lunch break and decide what to do next.”

Lunch made her sleepy; she had a busy week ahead and still needed to do her laundry. One thing she knew was when “shopping” the way she did was never do it when you are tired. Just one sloppy move could ruin your day.

When she left the mall, she thought to herself, “What a score! This skirt alone cost more than I earn in a week.”  She patted herself on the back and dozed while the bus ride lulled her to sleep.

When Jess awoke, she had no idea where she was. Stumbling to the front of the bus she asked the driver where she was supposed to transfer.

“I’m sorry miss, but you’ve missed your stop by a few miles.”

It was growing darker and she needed to get home. The driver pointed to a transfer point and she left the bus feeling vulnerable. It wasn’t like her to behave this way.

She was not familiar with the area it was kind of spooky, the only light came from a corner market and some dim street lights. A few random people had begun making their cardboard doorway beds for the night. Jess felt a shudder of fear and aloneness. She looked behind her feeling someone following her, but it was her imagination.

She sat on the bench, hoping to blend into the dusk. She was sweating from her fear and now she was shivering from the cool evening air.

“The smell of urine is making me feel nauseous.  This bench is an open toilet and I don’t even want to imagine what kind of bacteria I’m being exposed to. I could take a cab, but no cabs would come to this neighborhood. Where the hell was the bus?” she wondered.  The driver said it would be here in ten minutes.”  It felt more like a half hour.

She wanted to go into the corner store for a hot drink but was afraid to leave for fear the bus would show. Two bodies in dark clothing appeared across the street. They were older teens or young men. They just stood there staring at her making her feel like screaming help. One started sauntering across the street toward her, a shiny object in his hand the other followed right behind. Jess froze. She had never had anything like this happen before. They were getting closer, taking their sweet time but clearly coming toward her.

The lights of the oncoming vehicle just made the nasty looks on their faces more vivid. Thank goodness it was the bus. Jessica hopped on nearly tripping in her haste, relieved and quite shaken. She did not fall asleep again. Not even when she was safely in her bed.

Adrenaline is quite a drug. It was one thing when Jess planned it out, quite the other when it happens because of real danger. She was moody all day. Doing laundry, she burnt herself on a hot pipe she bumped into and tripped over her basket cutting her toe on the bottom of the dryer. The laundry room was in the basement of the old building, usually at least one other person was there to chat with; not today. Feeling jumpy, she was not her usual bold and brave self. The idea of climbing five flights of stairs was not appealing especially since she had cut her toe on her left foot.

She needed some fresh air. Since she was closer to the back door of the building than her apartment, and while it was not exactly the weather she was dressed for, she stepped outside hoping to get a breath of fresh air.

It was too cold and luckily, no one was there. She looked down and saw a used needle.

“Great,” she thought, “someone is shooting up outside my back door.”

This revelation made her feel even more vulnerable. It took some time to get the key to work in the swollen lock and in her rush for safety she closed the heavy door scraping tops of all her toes on her left foot. That was the last straw.

Sobbing she went into the laundry room again, sat on the bench and tended to her scrapes. She was so self-absorbed she hadn’t noticed another person had come in.  A person she had never met came and sat next to her.

“That looks like a nasty scrape, let’s get some paper towels and clean you up.”

The voice belonged to a young man.

“I’m Joseph.  I’m here staying with my grandfather.

Jessica didn’t answer, but she did let him tend to her foot. 

“I’m surprised such a young person lives in this building.”

Fortunately, the washer buzzed, and Jess had a reason to move her clothes to the dryer; avoiding his questioning face.

Joseph continued on, “I’ll be staying for awhile caring for my Granddad, cause I’m out of work right now, and it seems like a fair exchange, you know…room & board for helping out the old guy.

Jessica finally spoke, “I can relate.”

She took a longer look at this guy and said, “Thank you for the first aide.”

After an awkward silence, they laughed.

The Joseph spoke, “I guess I was supposed to say, you’re welcome—sorry.  I’m in 4-B, by the way.”

Jess realized her apartment was directly over his, and she wanted to tell him, but something made her stop.

They chatted about nothing till her dryer was done, she quickly grabbed her clothes and hobbled away saying “See you around I guess’.  

Five flights of stairs with a bum foot were going to be really hard. She heard footsteps running behind her and Joe said, “What was I thinking; let me carry that for you.”

 Jess acquiesced, but then she realized he would know where she lived. “Oh well,” she thought, I can just be evasive about why I’m here.”  She told him a white lie, and thanked him.  Before he had a chance to look inside she grabbed the laundry, started to close the door, and said, I really want to soak my foot.”

 Quick thanks, and bye, and he was gone. Between last night and today she felt completely exhausted. She planned a hot bath as soon as her laundry was put away and hopefully she’d fall into bed early and sleep!

The next day the sun woke Jess before the alarm even went off. She stretched and smiled thinking at least she had her comfy new shoes to wear today. Then her left toes touched the sheet and started throbbing. She had to wear close toed shoes on the floor; maybe some cotton would buffer the pain. Once again—no breakfast and she was rushing out the door when she almost crashed into Joseph in his running gear all sweaty.  He was happily surprised to see her and asked where she worked.

“I work in the state building across town, I must rush, I have to catch my bus.

“Wait, wait,” Joe said. “Let me drive you. I’ll just take a quick shower, then I’ll get you there faster than any bus and it will be kinder on your foot.”

“Thank you, but I won’t have time for my breakfast at the café”.

“Give me five minutes. Then I’m taking you, and joining for breakfast. Just have a seat on the bench over there, and I’ll be right back.”

True to his word, Joe came out of the underground garage driving his Grandfather’s 1957 Chevy. She laughed as she climbed in, it was in pristine condition.

Breakfast was yummy as usual, even better with Joseph’s company. He insisted on treating her, as much as she protested. 

“Not to worry, let’s turn your luck around and give you a day of happiness.”

Jessica was actually blushing.

“What time are you through today?”

“Five o’clock why?”

 “I’ll be back to pick you up and take you home—and feed you.”

“Joseph this is too much.”

 “Yeah, it is a bit much, but it’s the most fun I’ve had in a month, so let me have a good time.”  

She could hardly refuse an offer made clearly from the heart and agreed to meet him at five fifteen in front of the café.

“Thank you so much Joseph. You really have made my day.”

It had been a long time since Jess had a boyfriend and all day long she could think of nothing else. Well that, and, her throbbing toes that were making it almost impossible to make her rounds. She stopped in the pharmacy closet where she had a key, took a pain pill that should have been one of the patients.

“She won’t miss it,” muttered Jess, “and my foot is killing me.”  Within 20 minutes she was pain free and on cloud nine, in love. She talked abut him endlessly to anyone who would listen, feeling totally in love.  So much so, that she was already planning her wedding. They made such a cute couple. She remembered the cute nightie she had gotten on her shopping adventure and blushed again.

End of Chapter 2