The haunting Nightmares.

Hannah

Johnson

Chapter 1

Zoë Leavenworth was a nineteen year old freshman and was driving back home to Devil's Base, Colorado from the state university. The sky was darkening and the temperature getting colder. “ Please just let me get to a gas station and get home.” thinking about the weather forecast she heard earlier that morning. “ Snow with a chance of ice mixed in and hitting sometime after six o clock.” replayed over and over in her head.

The radio was on to a rock station and the song was interrupted by a news bulletin . “This just in the convicted murder Victor Grays has escaped from prison and is armed with a homemade weapon. He is armed and dangerous so do not approach him but call 911 instead.” the DJ said. “ Approach him? Are they nuts?” she said and thought that it would have been wise to fill up this morning when stopping for coffee and something to eat but her mind was preoccupied with the impending storm. Low on gas and her thoughts were running wild not only with the weather but now with an escaped murderer being out there on the loose.

She spotted a Shell gas station and pulled in. “ Thank the Heavens.” she said as she pulled in next to the pumps.

“ Just get the gas and leave.” she said as she turned the car off. The store looked eerily empty and she would have thought it was closed except for the lone car sitting in the parking lot. The sun was still shining a little bit through the clouds and she couldn't see to make out the car nor to see if there was anyone sitting inside the car.

She was left with no choice so she grabbed her keys and wallet and got out. She then headed to the front door and could hear the gravel crunching under her feet. The wind was sending chills down her back so she wrapped her coat tighter around her. She could have paid for the gas with her card but she still had four hours left and she needed coffee and a sizable snack. She saw a smiling happy person on the sign outside and it calmed her nerves a bit.

As soon as Zoe opened the door and went inside she turned as white as a ghost and screamed. What she saw before her eyes she only seen in horror movies because there were blood and gore everywhere and the smell of death was lingering in the air and almost made her puke. Frozen in fear she just stood there and had to try to keep from throwing up from the smell. She focused on the rack of magazines while she struggled to catch her breath and calm her rapidly beating heart.

She finally was able to move so she ran back to the car and was able to unlock the doors after so many time of trying with her shaking hands. It wouldn't turn over at first. “ No please don't die on me now.” she said as she tried to start it once again. She knew she should have gotten the starter fixed on her car but she was busy with school and work to take it in.

She cranked it once again and this time it started. “ Thank Goodness.” she said as she put the car into drive and sped off as she heard the sirens. She turned the radio on and drove on. She could see the gas light flash and prayed that she would make it to the next gas station. She couldn't get the terrible image out of her head of what she just seen either.

She wasn't sure what happened nor did she care she just wanted to erase that horrific image she seen. Perhaps it was the work of the escaped murderer? She didn't know but she was sure not going to stick around to find out.

Victor Gray was in a nearby cemetery looking on as the authorities was working the crime scene. He had just cleaned his knife and was in the process of sharpening it on a headstone. “ They will never get me alive.” he said and jammed the knife straight down into the dirt. He was out for revenge and wasn't going to stop until revenge was done. His next victim would be his first victim's wife just because he felt like and also so she couldn't testify against him. He was not going to go back to prison if he could help it. He didn't belong in prison, although he was found guilty he didn't comment those murders back then. However he would be guilty now since he was on a murdering spree. He tilted his head back and laughed his evil laugh before getting up and heading to the car he stole.

Victor than drove to the second victim's house and as soon as the door was opened he pushed his way inside and stabbed her before she could speak. She was trying to gasp for her breath and cry out but he slit her throat. He then found the closet thing possible and bashed her head in sending brain and fecal matter all over. He must have been there for awhile because he heard her baby cry. He didn't know rather to kill the baby or leave it unharmed. He knew he had to choose quick though because the cops would soon be there.

He did the thing that was right to do he left the baby unharmed and fled. Even though he was a killer he wasn't a heartless one. He wasn't your average killer because he didn't have a scruffy beard or long greasy hair with tattoos and a wild look but he looked like a normal person with short hair and no facial hair. He cared about cleanness and hygiene but had a mind of a killer. Psychologists deemed him a mentally stable person. Turning on the radio he headed to an abandoned house he saw right next to the cemetery. It would do for awhile until he could figure out where to go next and who the next victim would be.

Zoe reached the next town and spotted an Exxon station and pulled in. She pulled next too a pump and smiled as she saw this store was more lively than the first one. She was back to normal now and hoped that she stayed that way. She got out and grabbed her keys and wallet. And walked to the front door. The bell clanged as she entered and the clerk looked up and smiled. “ You ok tonight?” he asked her as she grabbed a bag of chips and coffee and brought it to the front. The radio was on and the news of the second murder came on. The images came back to her head but she wouldn't let them bother her as much this time.

“ I also need thirty dollars on pump two.” she told him as she took out her card to pay for her purchases.

“ You by yourself?” he asked her as he handed the card back. She put it back into her wallet and looked at him. “ Yes going home for the holidays.” she said as she picked up her purchases and walked out. The air was a lot colder than what it had been earlier and the sun wasn't out anymore either. After looking around she started pumping her gas. The pump clicked and she hung it back up and got back in.

Taking a sip of coffee she started the car and drove away and didn't even pay attention to the car coming into the parking lot nor the person driving the car.

Two hours later the lead detective on the case was looking at the pictures of the latest murder and comparing them to the ones that were taken when Victor was convicted and he knew that this had to be his work. However the police driving to the first scene witnessed a car driving away from the crime scene and so he had no idea if this was the work of Victor or the person driving away from the scene. Perhaps Victor was the one driving away? There were far to many questions and not enough answers and he knew that this case was going to be a tough one. He closed the file and got up to head to the next crime scene and this time it was a personal because the judge who overseen his case and his wife were the next victims.

Zoe finally made it home and had made it inside when the storm hit. “ Glad you are home dear.” her mother said to her. Zoe fixed herself a glass of iced tea and set down to join her family at the table. She had to get that starter fixed while she was home. “ Dad can you take my car to the shop sometime while I am home?” she asked him. Her dad was a mechanic who owned and operated his own body shop. He looked up at her and smiled. “ Sure I can. Is it your starter?” he asked her. She told him about it on the phone before. “ Yes it is. I was going to get it fixed but I just didn't find the time.” she told him. She knew that a lecture would be coming on taking the time out to get her vehicle taken care of. “ I know you have been busy but you should have taken the time out to get your vehicle fixed. I taught you some stuff.” he said to her.

“ I know you did dad and I am sorry that I didn't take it in.” she told him as the program they were watching was interrupted by a news bulletin. Once again she was haunted by the images she had seen. Her mother looked over and noticed that her daughter looked as white as a ghost. “ You ok dear?” she asked her. Zoe than excused herself and went up to her room. She wanted to get the horrific scenes that she seen out of her head. However she knew that was not going to happen as long as he was still at large.

The detective looking into the case seen the headlines in that days paper. A copycat murder or the work of escaped murder Victor Gray the headline read. The detective threw the paper down in disgust. “ I guess that everyone is going to be running scared now.” he said to himself as he lit a cigarette and leaned back in his chair.

Chapter 2

The next morning Zoe woke up after a fitful night sleep. She tried to sleep but she couldn't because of the horrible nightmares she was having. All she dreamed about was the horrific events of yesterday and Victor came after her in the dreams. She didn't want to re live what she saw but the images were haunting her. She put her robe on and went downstairs for a cup of coffee. “ Morning.” her father said as she came into the kitchen to fix her a cup of coffee. She fixed her a cup and went over to the table and set down. “ Morning.” she said as she took her a sip. Her father noticed that she looked tired. “ How did you sleep?” he asked her. She then clutched the coffee cup and let the steam hit her face.

“ Not good. I had nightmares last night.” she said. She didn't want to tell anyone what she witnessed because of how gruesome the scene was. “ What were the nightmares?' her father asked as he folded up the newspaper and set it aside. He then picked up his coffee and took a sip.

“ Ok you remember how I acted when the story came on about the escaped murderer?” she asked him.

“ Yes I remember.” he said to her. He was wondering where this was coming from. He hoped she had nothing to do with him escaping. “ I cam across one of the horrific crime scenes. I mean horrific. I saw the blood, brain matter, body fluids, guts, and the body itself. It looked like something out of a horror movie.” she told him as she turned as white as a ghost again and started shaking. Her father had to literally take the cup of coffee that she was holding and set it down. He held her for a while until she stopped shaking. “ I hope you can get the images out of your head.” he said as he continued holding her and letting her cry.

“ I don't want to be haunted by these nightmares.” she said as she continued to cry and shake. Her father then knew that his daughter had to do one thing and go to the police about what she saw. “ Zoe I think you need to go to the police with what you saw. “ he told her. She than sat up. “ No I can't. What if they think I had something to do with it.” she said as she panicked. Her father knew that she had to go and say what she saw. “ I promise you they won't think that.” he told her.

Victor Gray was in the abandoned house and looking at the latest newspaper article that was written about him. He just threw his head back and laughed. He then stood up and brushed the dirt off of him. “ I guess I have to go hunting for food as well as my next victim.” he said as he picked up the knife and stuck in to his waste band of his pants. He thought of killing the same way as he thought of sex. The more he did it the more he wanted and he got off on killing people. He loved killing and he wanted more of it. He needed some food so that he could go out hunting for his next victim. He was so antsy that he could not stand it.

Zoe and her father were sitting at the police station and was waiting to talk to the lead detective on the case. “ Dad I am scared.” Zoe told him as she shifted nervously in her seat. He could tell that she was nervous because of her actions in the car on the way here. “ Sweetie I know you are scared but trust me there is nothing to be scared of. Just tell the detective what you saw and your done.” he told her. The detective than came out and motioned them back to his office. “ Have a seat.” he said as he sat down at his desk. He then took out a blank pad and a pen so he could write down everything she told him about what she saw. “ Would it be ok if I wrote everything down myself?” she asked him. He then looked at her and grinned. “ Sure you can.” he said as he handed her the pen and pad.

She then put her head down and started writing. Can we talk outside while she is writing her statement?” her father asked him. So the two men got up and went outside. Zoe looked up from her writing and seen the two men leave the room and went back to her writing. “ She is scared that she will be charged with the murders.” he told him. The detective leaned against the wall and looked at the man for a minute. “ I can understand why she is scared and thinking that, but I can guarantee that she will not be charged nor placed on the suspicion list.” he told him. He then was silent for a moment and looked at the man. “ Thanks. Can you reassure my daughter of that.” he said to him.

So the two men walked back into the office and set down. Zoe handed the detective the pad and pen back. “ Thanks.” he said as he looked over it. He saw that she wrote what she saw in full detail and it horrified him to know that this young woman had to come across something this horrific. “ Detective are you done with me?” she asked him. She was ready to go because being here right now was not something she wanted to spend her first day of vacation from school at. “ Yes but just know this. You are not going to be a suspect nor charged with anything. You try to enjoy the rest of you break from school. I will call you later on if I need to.” he told her as he took the paper. The detective feared for the girls safety and well being because he had a feeling that Victor was going to go after her next and he wanted to make sure that didn't happen so he would have to spend countless hours on this case. The two got up and left the office and he stuck the paper into the already growing file that was already for this case.

The detective wanted to look at the file that was on Victor before he went to prison but that was not going to be a easy task because since he was convicted the file was put up and locked away. He had to see that file since Victor escaped from prison and was on a murdering spree once again.. He then picked up the phone and made a phone call to see if he could have the file released even though he knew that it would be a lot of red tape that he had to go through to get it released.

Victor was in the woods across from the police station and watched as the girl and her father left. He knew that they were there because of him so he would just have to take the two out. He didn't want to but he had to since he was out for revenge on everyone who had something to do with him being put away before. He would stalk them for a few days before he actually acted out his next gruesome crime.

Chapter 3

Zoe and her father returned home and so she decided that she was going to try to take a nap since she did not sleep very good the night before due to the reoccurring nightmares that haunted her in her sleep. She hoped that she was able to get some sleep and not have those haunting nightmares appear again. “ I am going to try and sleep for a little bit.” she said as she walked in the house and headed upstairs. “ OK dear we won't disturb you.” her mom said to her as she disappeared upstairs.

Zoe laid down and as soon as she was asleep the nightmares came back and she woke up screaming. Her parents heard this and ran upstairs and saw that their daughter was as white as a ghost. Her mom ran over to her and held her to try to soother her. “ Shh baby it was just a dream.” she said as she rocked her daughter. “ I am so scared and I just want these nightmares to go so I can get sleep. “ she said through her tears. “ I could give you something to help you sleep.” her father told her as he sat down on the bed and rubbed her back. “ No I don't want to have to take something to help me sleep and besides it might not help me anyway.” she told him and he held her until she feel asleep. However as soon as she did the nightmares came back as well as the gruesome images she saw.

She finally gave up on sleep and got up. “ I gave up on trying to sleep. The nightmares and the gruesome scenes kept haunting me.” she said as she fixed her a cup of coffee. She knew that it would be awhile before she got any good sleep because as long as he was still out there she would be having these nightmares.

“ Sorry sweetie we can always have the doctor prescribe you something to help you sleep.” her mother said to her. She really didn't want to take anything to help her sleep but she knew that maybe she would have too. “ I guess I am going to have to mom even though I hate taking anything because of the way it makes me feel the next morning.” she said to her. So her mother went down stairs and made the call to the doctor. She wasn't sure he would prescribe her anything but maybe suggest something over the counter that she could take.

“ Well the doc couldn't prescribe anything but he did suggest something over the counter for you so I am going to run to the drugstore to get it.” her mother said when she came back into her daughter's room.

“ I will go with you mom.” she said as she got up to put her shoes on. She didn't want her mom going by herself. “ You sure dear?” she asked her.  

The similarities between the Lincoln and Kennedy Assassinations

Now I know that there are alot of similarities between the two as well as between the two assassinations. Some people say it is just a coincidence that there are all these similarities and also some say that there aren't as many as people claim there are or according to snopes that is but I for one beg to differ on that. Now I know that I am not big on conspiracy's but this one I am. There just too many different versions or wittiness accounts on to what happened. Plus the history books don't exactly tell you the whole story on the two as well. I am fascinated by the two and always have been and the more I learn the more I realize that something just doesn't add up with the two.

Ok first I will put some of the similarities on the two. Now keep in mind that people are saying that some of these as just coincidence and nothing more. Others are saying that there aren't that many similarities as people may think but as I said I have discovered some as well on my own.

The similarities:

1: Lincoln was elected to congress in 1846 and Kennedy was elected to congress in 1946. Ok now they are saying that this is a coincidence because of how the elections take place but I for one think that ii is more than just a coincidence. Ok that may be true but however 100 years apart that both presidents were elected to serve in congress just happens to be both assassinated. Um ok sure if you wanna say that it is just coincidence and nothing more but I am not buying that.

2: Both were for the civil rights movement. Lincoln abolished slavery and Kennedy did away with desegregation. Another coincidence um I highly doubt that because both being killed because they were for the civil rights movement um I don't think it is just a coincidence. I think it is more than just a coincidence that both men who were assassinated were for the very same thing. I also think that it is too much of a coincidence that both were assassinated for almost the same thing.

3: Both were shot in the back of the head and had their wives present. Ok now reports have said that the only guaranteed way to kill someone is to either shoot them in the chest or the back of the head which I can see but however is it just another coincidence that both were shot in the head with their wives present? Hmm I highly doubt it. I mean I can see why people would say it was a coincidence because of course they would have their wives with them and insure that they were dead but again I see it as something more.

4: Lincoln was elected president in 1860 and Kennedy in 1960. Again they are saying it is the way an election falls on but again a hundred years apart? Um ok again I am not buying the fact that it was just a coincidence that both men just happened to be assassinated elected as president a hundred years apart due to the way that the election was held.

5: Both were shot on a Friday. Again reports have said that there was a one in seven odds that both killings were going to occur on the same day of the week so yes it is still yet another coincidence. Um again it is too much of a coincidence that this occurred on the same day.

6: Both were succeeded by men with the last name Johnson. Lincoln successor was Andrew Johnson was born in 1808 and Lyndon B Johnson who succeeded Kennedy was born in 1908. Now they are saying that this is a coincidence because most presidents or vice presidents were 50 to 70 years of age. However explain the coincidence that both men were name Johnson. It could be because Johnson is s popular surname in the U.S. However I think it is more than a coincidence because there are a lot of people with that nickname and for two men with the last name in the White as vice president is more than that.

Now there are a lot more similarities about the two that just doesn't make sense but of course they are being called just that coincidences. Also both assassinations were done because of a conspiracy plot to commit murder. I highly doubt that we will ever find out the truth as to why both men were assassinated nor will we find out why there were so many coincidence between the two.

Am I saying that John Wilkes Booth killed Lincoln? Who knows if he did or not nor do we know if Lee Harvey Oswald killed Kennedy. I just think it is too much of the coincidence between the two to even say that it was just a coincidence and nothing more. I highly doubt it that we will find out the “real” story. The Kennedy assassination is a whole entire blog on its own that I will be glad to type about at a later date so stay tuned for that,

Lincoln

The other day I was watching a biography on Abraham Lincoln ans learned some interesting stuff that I did not learn in History Class. As well as some things about his assassination too. I love American History and so this was very interesting to me to find out this information

His childhood:

He was born in a log cabin in Hardin County, Kentucky to Thomas Lincoln and Nancy Hanks Lincoln. He had two other siblings a sister Sarah who died during childbirth and a brother Thomas who died in infancy. In  1817 the Lincolns were forced to move from Kentucky to Indiana because of a land dispute,  They "squatted" on public land to scrape out living in a crude shelter. His father hunted game and farmed a small plot but he was eventually able to buy the land.

When he was nine years old his mother died at the age of thirty four from a disease commonly known as milk disease. He then grew more and more alienated from his father and resented the hard work his father placed on him quietly. A few months later after his mother died his father remarried a Kentucky widow with three children of her own and Lincoln formed a strong bond with her because she was a strong and affectionate woman and even encouraged him to read even though both she and his father were most likely illiterate.  He received his formal education while growing into manhood. An estimated eighteen months-a few days or weeks a month. Since reading material was scarce in the Indiana wilderness he would walk for miles to borrow a book and would read anything including the family bible.

Law Career:

In March of 1830 the family migrated again to Macon County , Illinois. He was 22 at the time so he ventured out on his own and did manual labor. He was sis foot  four inches tall he was rawboned and lanky but muscular and physically strong. In 1834 when the Black Hawk War broke out the volunteers asked Lincoln to be their captain and it was after the war ended that he started his political career and was elected in the state legislature as a member of the Whig Party in 1834.   He supported the Whig politics of government-sponsored infrastructure and protective tariffs. This political understanding led him to formulate his early views on slavery, not so much as a moral wrong, but as an impediment to economic development. It was around this time that he decided to become a lawyer, teaching himself the law by reading William Blackstone’s Commentaries on the Laws of England. After being admitted to the bar in 1837, he moved to Springfield, Illinois and began to practice in the John T. Stuart law firm. 

 It was soon after this that he purportedly met and became romantically involved with Anne Rutledge. Before they had a chance to be engaged, a wave of typhoid fever came over New Salem and Anne died at age 22. Her death was said to have left Lincoln severely depressed. However, several historians disagree on the extent of Lincoln’s relationship with Rutledge and his level of sorrow at her death may be more the makings of legend.  

Political Career:

he only served in the U.S. House of Representatives which was from 1847 to 1849 so his political career seemed short lived. He was the lone Whig of the state and showing party royalty but found few political allies.  he used his time in office to speak out about the Mexican-American War and even supported Zachary Taylor for president. His speaking out against the war made him unpopular back at home and he decided to opt out of running for a second term but to go back to study law instead. A year after the death of Anne Ruthledge he started dating Mary Todd the two saw each other for a few months before marriage was discussed and the two became engaged but that engagement was short lived because in 1841 Lincoln called it off and most likely from his initiative but the two later met again at a social function and later married in 1842. They had four children but only one survived to adulthood. 

Presidency:

In 1856 he joined the republican party and in 1857 he was elected president. As you all know he was the one who abolished slavery. However n 1857, the Supreme Court issued its controversial decision Scott v. Sanford, declaring African Americans were not citizens and had no inherent rights. Though Abraham Lincoln felt African Americans were not equal to whites, he believed the America’s founders intended that all men were created with certain inalienable rights. Lincoln decided to challenge sitting U.S. Senator Stephen Douglas for his seat.   Now from what I gather and understand the ladies didn't like Mary Lincoln and the couple really didn't love each other and in fact she threw a cup of coffee at him and stormed out of the room. The couple was not strict with the children and pretty much let the children run amok. Mary often kept house with either a relative or hired servant girl. 

After the death of one of the couples sons Mary swore she seen his spirit and so they would hold saonces , but that got short lived because it looked bad. 


His Assassination

Now everyone knows there are similarities between his assassination and Kennedy's. However even though the history books says that John Wilkes Booth killed him but the whole assassination was a murder plot and there were several who were arrested for the conspiracy to comment murder. Four were murdered and one of the four was a woman. After they were executed they were not spoken of again and were hidden in time forever, There were several others who were arrested and imprisoned and one that even escaped to another country but was later extradited back here. Now the history books says that he  escaped his pursuers and subsequently died many years later under a pseudonym. However he was shot in the leg and ran to a local farm in rural Virginia and 12 days later he was tracked down and while his companion gave himself up Booth refused and was shot after the barn in which he was hiding was set ablaze. 

Now I don't know about you but I since that the assassination and the whole thing is almost a conspiracy and covered up for ever and that there are more things to this than anyone knows. 

After Lincoln died his widow suffered from depression from the loss of three of her children and the loss of her husband, Her only surviving son locked her in a insane asylum for awhile. His last surviving relative died in 1985.  His body was lying in state in the East Room and then the Capital Rotunda from April 19th to April 21st.  For his final journey with his son Willie, both caskets were transported in the executive coach "United States" and for three weeks the Lincoln Special decorated in black buntingbore Lincoln's remains on a slow circuitous waypoint journey from Washington D.C. to Springfield, Illinois stopping at many cities across the North for large-scale memorials attended by hundreds of thousands, as well as many people who gathered in informal trackside tributes with bands, bonfires and hymn singing^[ or silent reverence with hat in hand as the railway procession slowly passed by. 

In 1900 the Lincoln Tomb located in Oak Ridge Cemetery in Springfield, Illinois, was in need of repair and underwent a reconstruction. Construction of the present tomb took 15 months, and during that time Mr. Lincoln's coffin was in a temporary grave a few feet away. The photograph to the left shows the temporary grave after being opened, and the pine box holding Mr. Lincoln's coffin is clearly visible. In May 1901 Robert Lincoln visited the tomb and decided things needed to be changed again. In 1876  had failed in an attempt to steal Mr. Lincoln's corpse and hold it for ransom. Robert didn't want a repeat of that possibility. This time the coffin would be buried in a huge cage ten feet deep and then encased in concrete. In the photograph below, Mr. Lincoln's coffin is in the center. The outer pine box that had been broken away lies to the right of the coffin. Many of the men removed their hats out of respect.

Both the cage and the coffin would be hardened forever in a solid block of rock. Robert's idea for this had come from the burial procedure employed for George M. Pullman (inventor of the Pullman sleeping car).Finally, on September 26, 1901, all was ready. Because of the permanency of this burial, a discussion arose among those present as to whether the coffin should be opened. Some people argued that the remains should be identified due to rumors around the country that Mr. Lincoln was not the body in the box. Other people thought opening the casket would be a violation of privacy. In the end, it was decided to open the coffin. Two plumbers, Leon P. Hopkins and his nephew, Charles L. Willey, chiseled an oblong piece out of the top of the lead-lined coffin. The piece these two men cut out was just over Mr. Lincoln's head and shoulders. When the casket was opened, a harsh, choking smell arose. 23 people slowly walked forward and peered down. Mr. Lincoln's features were totally recognizable. His face had a melancholy expression, but his black chin whiskers hadn't changed at all. The wart on his cheek and the coarse black hair were obvious characteristics of Mr. Lincoln's. The biggest change was that the eyebrows had vanished. The president was wearing the same suit he wore at his second inauguration, but it was covered with yellow mold. Additionally there were some bits of red fabric (possibly the remnants of an American flag buried with Mr. Lincoln). All 23 people were unanimous in their agreement that the remains were indeed those of Abraham Lincoln.  ' I find this information interesting and it makes me even wonder more if perhaps the whole thing is a conspiracy and bits and pieces hidden away as well. I now know and realize that the  assassinations between Lincoln and Kennedy were too much similar that to me that it isn't just a coincident that there are so many similarities but in fact a huge  conspiracy  between the two. I don;t know about you but something doesn't smell right.

We All Bleed Red

This story takes place in the small town of Harrison Arkansas and located smack dab in the middle of the Ozark Mountains. You can take a scenic drive and enjoy the beautiful scenery that we have here. There are a lot of places to explore here and in the surrounding area. Despite the history of this town it is still a friendly place to live and one couple was hoping that this would finally be the town they could settle in after two weeks of traveling and being kicked out of every town just because their skin was a different color. They had no idea what troubles they were going to have just moving there though but they were bound and determined to live there given the history and past. 

Chapter 1

Cornelius and Corinne Johnson had just pulled in to the hotel on the outskirts of town where they were going to be staying for a while until they both can get jobs and get money saved up to get a place. The couple had sold most of their belongings and only brought with them what they could haul in the vehicle. “ Do you think we will be welcomed here or ran out of town because we are a different race?” she asked her husband as he parked.
They had been going from town to town for two weeks just searching for a place to settle but was ran out because of their skin color. They were tired of the looks they got everywhere they went. People did not want anyone of a different color other than white in their towns. When they got to the towns people would shout racial slurs and people through things at them and their car. When they tried to go into a restaurant or gas station they were turned away and refused service. He grabbed his wife's hand and squeezed it.
“ I don't have an idea but I don't intend on leaving any time soon. I am tired of driving and trying to find a place that will accept us no matter what.” he told her as he pulled into a parking place.

Corrine loved her husband and would stay with him no matter what because all she needed was him beside her.  She grabbed her purse and they got out. She hoped that they let them stay here because she could not travel anymore. She had just found out a couple of days before they moved that she was pregnant and she hadn't found the right time to tell her husband. She didn't want to tell him yet because of the current situation but she knew she had too. “ I have something to tell you before we go in.” she said to him as she stopped walking.
“ What is it baby?” he asked her. He knew that she was keeping something from him but just didn't know what.
“ I am pregnant. I found out two days before we left.” she told him.
“ Why didn't you say something then?” he asked her.
“ I knew if I did then we would have stayed and I couldn't let us do that because we both wanted to make a fresh start.” she told him

He knew that she was right but he still wished that she would have said something because now they would have to fight tooth and nail just to stay here. He took her hand and the couple walked in the hotel entrance holding hands. They walked up to the front desk and right away they were scowled at. The clerk didn't even greet them as they walked up to the desk.
“ We need to rent a room for a while.” Cornelius told the clerk.
“ Sorry we don't have any left.” she said to him
“ The sign outside said that you have rooms available.” he said to her.
“ Well we just rented the last one.” she said to him as she continued to do what she was doing and not making eye contact.

He wanted to stay and argue with the woman but instead he and his wife turned and quickly walked away. Corrine could tell that her husband was fuming and she was too but there was nothing the two of them could do. As soon as they exited the motel lobby a white couple entered and gave them the stare down and moved as far away as possible from them so that they could pass.
“ I can't stand racist people.” he said as they got into the car. His wife felt the same way and she knew that the white couple they saw would get a room. He didn't understand why people had to be racist just because they were black, They all bleed red and were just like them except their color was different.

She had to use the restroom but at this moment all she could think about was the same thing every time. She looked out the window and watched the road pass and cars drive by and the people staring at them. She even seen some of them flipping them off too. Cornelius wanted to cheer his wife up but he didn't know how too. He hoped that he could get a room someplace.  He spotted another motel and turned in. “ I need to use the restroom.” she said as he parked and they got out.
“ Ok and I will see if I can get us a room.” he said as he headed towards the desk and she went into the nearby guest restroom. The clerk looked up and smiled. He hoped that was a good sign and not just a fluke.
“ I need to rent a room for awhile. I will pay extra if I have too.” he said to her as he took out his wallet.
“ I do have one room available that is way in the back and towards the end.” she said to him as she typed on her computer. He didn't care where it was just as long as they could get a room.
“ That's fine. I don't care where it is at as long as it has a bed and running water.” he said to her.
“ Ok how long will you be staying?” she asked him.
“ I'm not sure a month at least or two. Just need to be able to stay until I can find a job and get some money saved up to get an apartment or a house.” he said to her.

He spotted his wife coming out of the bathroom and smiled as she was walking up. He put his arm around her and squeezed her shoulder. “ Ok the cost will be $ 1,450 If you end up staying longer than just come up and pay some more. If it is shorter than we will refund the rest.” she told him.

He slapped down fifteen hundred on the desk.” Keep the change.” he said to her as she handed him the key. “ Enjoy your stay.” she said to him. The couple than walked out and out to the car. He couldn't believe they had gotten a room. “ I guess she was feeling generous tonight.” he said to her.  He backed out of the parking space and drove until they found the room. “ She wasn't lying when she said it was way in the back.” he said as they found the room.

The room was on the back of the hotel and secluded. He didn't care because he knew that beggars can't be too picky. “ I hope the room is at least decent.” she said to him as he parked.  They got out and walked up to the room. “Here it goes.” he said as he unlocked the door. The room didn't look that bad with it being located where it was at. “ The room looks ok.” she said as she stepped inside.
“ I will be right back. I am going to go get the two bags we will need for at least a few days. I don't wanna haul all of them in.” he said as he turned.
“ Grab the big blue cloth one and the medium dark green one because those are the two that we will need right now.” she said to him as he turned and walked out the door.  She laid down on the bed and looked up at the ceiling. She was glad that they were able to get a room even if it was secluded it just made it more romantic. She also knew that the reason why they got this room was so no one would see them coming and going.
“ Here you go sweetie.” he said as he came back into the room and set the two suitcases down. Corrine than went over to one of them and opened it. “ I think I am going to get comfortable.” she said to him as she got out a pair of shorts and a t-shirt as well as some other items.
“ While you are doing that I think I will see if I can find us some food.” he said to her as he opened the door. She then watched him leave and went into the bathroom. She hoped he would be able to get something to eat without problems because of the fact he was a different skin color.
Tomorrow they were going to go looking for jobs but knew that it was not going to be easy because no one was going to hire them because of their color regardless of their references, resume, and work history. She knew that the position was going to go to a white person regardless of their experience. She then laid on the bed and turned the television on and waited for her husband to get back, She wanted to do some research online but she was too tired and drained to care tonight.
Cornelius had just got rejected from ordering at yet another place and was trying to figure out where to go. They were hungry and all he wanted was some food even if it was just a burger, but he was yet scoffed at, had racial slurs shouted at him, and almost thrown out of numerous places tonight. They had some junk food in the car that they could eat but that would only due for a few nights until they grew tired of it but tonight he was tired of driving so he drove back to the hotel.



As he was driving he was almost ran off the road but none other than a local cop. He was able to keep the vehicle in control and pulled off to the side of the road and set there until he regained his composure and started back to the hotel. He hoped that it wasn't going to be like this and that people warmed up to them once they got to know them because they weren't going anywhere. They were tired of being ran out of town just because they were black. They were tired of the scowls and looks, of the mumbling of racial slurs under people's breaths, and the things people threw at them. They wasn't going to run anymore. Even if it killed them they were staying here.
He then turned into the motel and drove back to the back where the room was located. He then parked, grabbed the bag of snacks, got two bottles of water, and went inside to where his wife was. The two then forgot about the days events and enjoyed each others company. They would worry about tomorrow when it came. 

The Forbidden Lover.

Chapter 1

Marissa Thompson was sitting in the passenger’s seat and watching her much older boyfriend as he was driving. They had Joan Jett blaring through the car stereo speakers and she had her feet propped up on the dash. Her boyfriend was quite a few years older than she was and they had met at a party that one of her friends was throwing. She was a cheerleader and a sophomore in high school and he was twenty one and a high school dropout. She was attracted to his bad boy image and he was attracted to her good and wholesome girl persona that she gave off.

“Do you want to get something to eat before I take you home?” Ricardo asked her as he put his joint out in the ashtray. “Sounds like a plan.” she told him. They were on the way home from a concert. “That band was bad ass.” she said as she lit a cigarette and cranked up the stereo when the song Bad Reputation came on. “Yes they were. They are an up and coming band and plan on having a record out soon.” he told her. Ricardo was a promoter and worked with new bands as well as working with up and coming bands. “I can’t wait either because I will buy the record.” she told him.

They reached a local diner and he pulled in. “This is a popular place to scope out new groups.” he told her as he found a place to park. They had only been together for a month and a half and were going strong. Her parents did not approve of him because he was older and because of his appearance. They didn’t try to stop her from seeing him because they knew she would anyway. “Cool I have always wanted to see you in action.” she said. The couple entered the restaurant and found a booth in the back. The waitress came and brought them some menus. They ordered a couple of beers and burgers and fries. “She isn’t old enough to drink.” the waitress said to him.

Marissa than opened her purse and took out her fake identification card that Ricardo had made for her. “Sure I am.” she said as she handed it to her. The waitress looked at it and smiled. “Girl you look young for being twenty one.” she said as she handed it back to her. The waitress walked away. “Babe I am so glad that you had that made for me.” she said to him as she stuck it back into her jeans pocket. The waitress came and brought them their beer. “Your food will be out in a few minutes.” she said. “It was no problem for my girl.” he said to her as he flashed his smile.

He then picked up his beer and took a sip. “Are there any bands playing tonight?” Marissa asked as she lit a cigarette. Their food was brought out before he got a chance to answer her. “Enjoy.” the waitress said as she set the plates down. “Thanks.” they said. Marissa then put out her cigarette. “Yeah a new band called The Dollies.” he said to her. The Dollies was an all-girl punk band and he had heard them play a few times. “Cool.” she said as she picked up a fry and bit it. He finished his beer and asked for another. “Yeah I have actually heard them a couple of times and I think you will like them.” he told her. He was then brought another beer and he took a sip. “I am sure I will.” she said just as the band was coming up. “Are you guys ready to rock?” the lead singer asked.

The lead singer had short hot pink hair and wore leather. The band then started playing. “This song is called All Around.” the lead singer said. Marissa listened and loved the band. They played some of Joan Jett’s songs and even some of their home. She noticed that Mark was recording the band. “I am going to get them a contract and get them signed to a record deal.” he told her. She was glad to hear that because this band was a kick ass group.

The couple than got done eating and the band finished playing so they got up and he paid the bill. “I better get you home before your parent’s flip.” he said as they held hands and walked to the car. She then took out a cigarette and lit it. “Yes you do. I also need some gum to cover up the beer smell from my breath.” she told him. He took out a piece of gum and handed it to her. “Here.” he said as she took it.

She opened it and put it in her mouth. “Thanks. I’m not too worried about the cigarette smoke because they know I smoke and they smoke as well. They then got in the car and she cranked on the radio. He then roared the engine and peeled out of the parking lot. He drove an older model corvette that he vamped up. She loved his fast car. “I am glad that you got to go with me tonight.” Mark said as he took her hand. She propped her feet up on the dash and smiled. “Thanks and I am so glad that I did.” she said. He then lit up a joint and took a drag. “How about tomorrow night you and I go out to see the new movie Footloose?” he asked her. “I can’t tomorrow night because I got a game.” she said as she cranked up the radio. “Ok babe then I will come to your game and cheer you on.” he said as he smiled. She knew why he wanted to come and was not going to object. “You just want to see me in my cheerleader uniform.” she said.

They reached her house and he pulled in. “See you tomorrow night babe.” he said as they kissed. She got out and he smacked her ass. She then turned and smiled. “I will see you tomorrow night.” she said as she walked away rubbing her ass. He smiled and made sure she made it in the house and he drove away.

Chapter 2

The next morning Marissa woke up and got up. She put on her robe and slippers and went downstairs for breakfast. Her mom and dad were sitting at the table when she came down. She walked over to the fridge and grabbed a can of soda and then grabbed an apple. She went over to the table and set down. “Morning sweetie.” her mother said to her. “Morning.” she said as she took a bite of her apple. Her father was a manager at a restaurant and was always gone before she got up. “Do you have a game tonight?” her mother asked her. Marissa took a sip of her soda. “Yes of course.” she said to her. Her mom finished her coffee and got up. “Sorry I won’t be able to make it tonight.” she said as she left the kitchen.

This was the same conversation every Friday night. Her parents never attended any of the games to watch her cheer. She got up and threw the apple core away and went back upstairs. She then took a shower and got ready for school. Since it was game day she wore her cheerleader uniform to school. She finished getting ready, grabbed her things and left. She really wished that she had her license because she hated riding the bus but next year she would have it because Mark promised that he would help her get it.

The bus pulled up and she got on and walked to the back. She found an empty seat and set down. This was her usual routine every morning. The afternoons she got a ride home with friends or Mark. She took out her cell phone and sent Mark a text. She loved her parents but here lately they have has a strained relationship. It started even before she started seeing Mark. She tried to talk to her parents but they were always so busy with whatever as well as drunk that they hardly paid attention to her. She was glad that her brother and sister were older and moved out months ago. Her sister asked her to move in with her but she lived an hour away that she would have to switch schools and it would be hard to see Mark.

She put her ear buds in her ears and listened to her i-pod on the way to school. There were a handful of high school kids who rode the bus but no one she talked too. The bus reached the high school and she took her ear buds out and turned her i-pod off. She stuck it and her cell phone in her bag and got up. She then got off the bus and headed to where her friends were at. She took out a cigarette and lit it. “Man I will be so glad when I get my license. “she said as she took a drag. All of her friends had their licenses and a car. “When are you getting them?” her best friend Amanda asked. “Soon because Mark is going to teach me how to drive since my parents are too busy.” she said. Amanda had been her best friend since grade school. She looked like a Barbie Doll and she was the head cheerleader. Amanda was smart too and was dating the quarterback of the football team. She had loving parents and they attended every game.

The first bell rang so she put her cigarette out and headed inside. Her first class was study hall and she was thankful because she did not get her assignments done because after she and Mark went out she studied for a test. “Hey you want to skip study hall?’ Amanda asked her. “Sorry I can’t I really need to do my homework. I got to keep my grades up so I can get a scholarship to college.” she said as she grabbed the books that she needed. She shut her locker and locked it then turned and walked away. She made it to study hall and took a seat towards the back. She then took out her i-pod and stuck the ear buds in her ears and did her homework.

Amanda always skipped study hall because she always did her homework at her part time job she had. She worked at her mother’s work as a phone receptionist and at times it was slow. Marissa wanted a part time job but with Mark, cheerleading, friends, and her homework she just did not have the time. She was not going to give up seeing Mark for a job. Besides Mark bought her anything she wanted and made sure that she had cash all the time. Her parents paid her cell phone bill and her internet usage. She even had credit cards that Mark paid for. When she got her license he promised her a car so she didn’t need a job. She had things made and did not feel bad at all. She then went back to her homework. She got done five minutes before the bell rang.

Finding The Strength To go on

Prologue

Samantha Jones was sitting at her kitchen table and trying to figure out what to cook for dinner. Her husband Conrad has just gotten back home from a 12 month deployment in Iraq. He had joined the military shortly after he graduated high school. They were high school sweethearts and at first almost broke up but decided to just go off and get married so they could be together. Their family objected to their marriage, but couldn’t do much about it.

She was a 6’0” beauty that weighed 150lbs. She had auburn that went down the middle of her back. She had brown eyes and bronzed skin and was the head cheerleader her senior year and had curves in all the right places. Conrad was ‘65” tall and weighed 200 lbs. He had light brown wavy hair that was short. He had brown eyes and was very muscular. He was head quarter back of the football team.

He could of went to college on a scholarship but he became involved in drugs his senior year and had to quit the football team. She wanted to go to college but that changed when she discovered that she was pregnant her senior year. No one knew that she was even pregnant because she hid it from everyone including her family.

She got up and looked outside to where her husband was playing softball with their 12 year old sons. She gave birth 2 weeks after graduating and a week after her and Conrad gotten married. Their four year old daughter was in her room playing. She was worried about her husband because since he came back from Iraq he suffered P.T.S.D. She also suspected he was using drugs and alcohol as well. He started gambling when he was over sees and their savings was dwindling away and she knew that pretty soon he would have to put another mortgage on the house. She did research on PTSD and realized that unless he got help for it he would always be dealing with it. The counselor she talked to told her that he wouldn't talk about it unless he was ready to so she had to deal with him living with PTSD until then. She just had to have hope that she could deal with it and stay with him until then.

She could not approach him with it because every time he did it would always end up in a huge fight. So she just gave up talking to him about it. She decided on tomato soup, grilled cheese sandwiches, and chocolate ice cream for dessert because she was so exhausted both physically and mentally. She looked in the freezer to see if she had any chocolate ice cream. To her surprise she didn’t so she closed the freezer and walked to the back door. “Conrad can you and the children go to the store and get some ice cream?” she asked him. He and the twins stopped playing and looked at her. “Sure.” he said. So he and the boys stopped playing and headed inside.

She saw as he grabbed his gun and strap it on his hip. She hated that he had to carry a gun around but was afraid to stop him. She didn't understand why he had to carry the gun with him but she knew better than to ask him why because it would just make him angry and there is no telling what he would do. She tried not to make him angry because he would always yell and had even come close to hitting her. So she wasn't going to make him angry by addressing him with issues.

“ Maggie do you want to go to the store with daddy and your brothers?” she asked up the stairs. She heard Maggie running down the hall and she ran down the stairs. “ Yeah.” she said. So Conrad kissed her and he and the kids went to the store.

She had just finished the last cheese sandwich and was dishing up the soup when the kids came back in. “ Where’s your father?” she asked Ryan as he handed her the ice cream. “ He said he would be a few minutes.” Bryan said as he followed his brother and sister into the bathroom to wash their hands. They had just left the room when she heard gunshots coming from the garage. “ Stay here kids.” she said as she picked up her cell phone and headed into the garage. She saw her husband hunched over the steering wheel.

She walked over to the car and knelt down to see that he had a single shot gun to the chest. She then dialed 911 and talked to the operator until help arrived. She knew that there would be no use in sending paramedics cause her husband had just ended his own life. She then heard the sirens and must have collapsed because the next thing she knew she was in the back of the ambulance. “ I can’t go to the hospital I have to stay with my kids because I am all they have now.” she said. She started pulling at the oxygen mask and pulling off the IV. She was angry that her husband ended his life and leaving her to care for those kids.

The police looked for a suicide note but could not locate it. The kids were with a family member. “ Ma’am you have to keep this on.” the paramedics said as they tried to keep her from yanking stuff off. “ No I won’t just let me out of here.” she said as she tried to fight them. “ Ma’am you know this is not good for the baby.” one of them said. She really did not care because she just wanted her kids and was somehow hoping this whole nightmare was just that and when she woke up in the morning everything would be fine.

Chapter 1

Samantha was waiting for her kids to get off the bus. She had just put her newborn down for a nap. She had to be hospitalized for a few days after her husband killed himself because they feared that she would harm herself. She was let out the day of the funeral and they told her it was not a good thing for her if she went but she had to and almost had to be hospitalized again. She just gave birth to her daughter three weeks ago and was feeling depressed. She was scheduled for a check up tomorrow and was hoping the doctor could prescribe her something.

She was just trying to get their lives back together but since it had only been three and a half months it would take longer. She would have to find a job soon because the money in her savings was running out. She had received a shutoff notice for her electric bill and was on the verge of having her water shut off. The house had another mortgage put on it thanks to Conrad and she sold his car shortly after his funeral. Her kids were having trouble concentrating in school but knew that would pass in time.

They were having problems making friends but was hoping that would pass since the school year just started. Her kids just stayed to themselves and did not try to make friends. She would probably have to take them to a grief counselor to get help with that. She was thinking of selling her house cause the mortgage was so high on it that she could not afford the payments but knew that no one would by it in the condition it was in. She spotted her kids getting off the bus and sighed and tried to put on a happy face. “ Hey kids how was school?” she asked as her kids came in. The kids then threw their back packs on the couch. “ It was ok.” they said as went into the kitchen for a snack. She started to follow them when her cell phone rang so she picked it up and answered it.“ Hello mom.” she said when she answered it. She loved her mom and could talk to her about everything. “ Hello dear.” her mother said. Samantha then picked up her glass of flavored water and took a sip. “ How are you dear?” she asked.

Samantha then peeked into the kitchen to check on her kids. “ Not so good mom.” she said as she went out to the front porch to sit.

“ What’s wrong dear?” she asked. Samantha was silent for a moment.

“ I’m about to be without water and electric. The house needs a lot of repairs that I can’t afford. The mortgage is already at $ 2,000 a month and I can’t take out another one. I have to use Conrad’s pension to pay off his debt’s. I barely have money to pay all the bills and that is quickly going down.” she told her.

“ Oh dear I had no idea things are that bad.” her mother said to her.

She did not want to cry but knew that she was going to.

“ Well they are and I don’t know what I am going to do.” she told her. She knew she would have to find a job soon though because time was running out.

“ You could always come live with your father and I.” she said.

“ Thanks for the offer but no I don’t want to do that I am just going to find a job.” she said to her mom.

“ So soon after having your baby?’ her mother asked.

“ Yes I don’t have a choice.” she told her.

“ You could get food stamps and government aide.” her mom said.

“ I don’t want any help because I don’t want people thinking I can’t take care of my kids.” she said to her.

Her mom did not understand where her daughter got her stubbornness from.

“ No one will think that.” she told her.

“ I won’t get help with anything other than getting food stamps.” she said.  She noticed her kids were coming out side.

“ Mom I need to go I don’t want the kids knowing anything.” she said so the two women hung up just as her kids were coming out and she dried her eyes.

“ Hey kids.” she said as they came over to her.

“ Hey mom we just came out to ask if we can go to the park before dinner.” they asked her. She normally would have made them do their homework but tonight she did not feel like rushing them.

“ Sure but be back by five thirty and after supper you will be doing homework.” she told them. So her kids left and headed to the park.

She went back inside to decide what to cook for supper. She knew her food selection was dwindling because she had not had a chance to buy groceries and her money was running low so she had to try to get more for her buck. She looked and finally decided on fish sticks and Mac and cheese. She knew tomorrow she would have to see about food stamps and also see about getting a job after her doctor’s appointment.

She started cooking and had it ready by the time her kids got back from the park. Her kids headed into the bathroom and washed their hands. “ Kids sit down and eat so you can do your homework.” she said. So her kids set down and ate. She didn’t really like what her kids was eating so she settled on a banana and a glass of water. The baby woke up then so she went to go take care of her.

She then went back downstairs and checked on her kids. She then grabbed her phone, water, and banana and went outside.

She never liked worrying in front of her kids because they were too young to worry. They knew of the suicide but did not understand why their daddy did it. She still loved him and cried herself to sleep every night cause she missed him so much. She then picked up her cell phone and dialed Conrad’s parents since she still had a good relationship with them and she was glad for that. She dialed the number and waited for one of them to answer.

“ Hello.” Mrs. Jones said as soon as she answered.

“ Hey it is me Sam.” she said as she took a drink of her water.

“ Hey Sam. How are you?” she asked her.

“ Not good Cyndi.” she said as she finished her banana. His parents knew what kind of situation she was in.

“I take it things are worse than they was the last time we talked.” she said.

“ Yes a lot worse. If I don’t come up with at least $ 450.00 to pay the past due balance on my electric bill by next week it will be shut off. My water is the same way.” she said. She willed herself to remain strong and not break down and cry.

“ Ah I am so sorry to hear that.” she said to her. Samantha knew that they would help her if she asked but she wasn’t going too.

“ Thanks it was choosing between paying the electric or getting groceries and I opted for getting groceries.” she said.

They knew of their sons illness and the things he was doing and tried to talk him into getting help but he refused.

“ Sorry dear and I know it is a very stressful time but you must not let yourself get too stressed cause you do have kids to think about.” she told her. Samantha knew that she was right but found it hard not to stress.

“ I am going to apply for food stamps tomorrow morning before my doctors appointment.” she said. She did not want to but she had too.

“ Good that should help you out a great deal.” she said.

She then looked on at her kids to see that they were still eating.

“ Yes it will and I am going to look for a job as well.” she said to her. She did not want to go back so soon but she did not have a choice on that either.

“ You only had your daughter three and a half weeks ago.” Cyndi said to her.

“ I know but my money is shrinking fast and the money from his pension is almost gone.” she said to her.

Samantha then noticed her kids get up from the table.

“ I hate to do this but I better get off of here to help my kids with their homework.” she said as she was fighting back tears.

“ Ok dear take care of yourself and I will talk to you soon.” she said. So the two women hung up and she got up and went inside. She was going to go talk to the owner of the small diner that was located on the corner of the square since she knew him and he had offered her a job there witnessing. All the customers were friendly and all the staff knew each other by name.

“ Ok boys time to do your homework.” she told them. Of course the boys groaned but got their homework out and did it. Since Maggie was in kindergarten she did not have any homework so she went up stairs to play before bed. The boys quickly did their homework and she sent them off to get ready for bed. As soon as she got the kids taken care off she was going to call it a night as well.

Chapter 2

The next morning she woke up after a restless night sleep. She could usually go to sleep after drinking some hot tea with cinnamon in it but this time it did not help because she still tossed and turned. She put her robe on and went to wake her kids and to check on her newborn before she went downstairs to fix her a cup of coffee. She then got the cereal down for her kids and got bowls out. Her kids would not eat the same kind of cereal as each other which irritated her because cereal was expensive to begin with. She had just fixed her up of coffee when her kids came downstairs.

“ Morning kids. Eat your breakfast and hurry up and get ready.” she told them as she left the room to go back up stairs to get ready to go. She then fixed her a cup of coffee as her daughter came downstairs. She fixed her daughter a bowl of cereal and set it down in front of her.

“ Hurry up and eat Maggie so I can fix your hair.” she told her as she took a yogurt out of the fridge. She always laid Maggie's clothes out for her the night before since she was still too young at picking out clothes that matched but she could dress herself.

Daisy woke up just as she was finishing her first cup of coffee and yogurt so she got up to go tend to her. Just as soon as she laid her sleeping daughter down she hear her two boys come back up stairs and brush their teeth. So she went to make sure they were finishing getting ready before she went back downstairs to check on her daughter. Since they got free lunches at school she didn't have to worry about making their lunches. They grabbed their backpacks and headed to the front door.

“ Bye guys have a good day at school.” she said as she kissed each one and watched as they headed out to the bus. Maggie got done eating then and she headed upstairs.

“ Brush your teeth and finish getting ready then I will go up there and fix your hair.” she told her as she cleared the breakfast dishes away and cleaned the kitchen. She only ran the dishwasher once a day and it was usually after supper. Maggie was in kindergarten and took a different bus other than the boys. She put her daughters hair in pigtails and handed her her backpack. “ Have a good day at school.” she said as she kissed her.

She looked out the window and made sure she got on the bus before she went to take a shower and get ready to go. She called her best friend up to see if she could babysit today since Daisy didn't have an appointment and she didn't want to take her out. She and Jessie had been best friends since she and Conrad moved here and Jessie had been the first person that she met. Her husband was currently overseas.

Hello.” Jessie said when she answered.

“ Hey Jess it's me Sam.” she said to her.

“ Hey. What's up?” she asked her.

“ Well I was wondering if you can watch Daisy for me this morning. I have a doctor's appointment and then some errands to do and really don't want to take her with me.” she told her.

“ Sure I can. I will be right over.” she told her.

“ Thanks.” she said and the two hung up.

She was glad that Jessie didn't mind watching Daisy for free because she couldn't afford to pay. Jessie loved kids and wanted kids but she and her husband could not get pregnant. Jessie told her that she would watch her kids for free because some day she would need her to watch her kids in return. The doorbell rang and she went to answer the door before it woke her daughter up.

“ Hey come in.” she said as she opened the door and moved to the side so Jessie could enter. Samantha than shut the door behind her and went to get her stuff.

“ I should be back around noon sometime. There are four bottles of breast milk in the fridge and she gets fed every two hours. You have my number in case you need it.” she said as she headed to the garage. She got into her car and stuck the key in. She than cranked it and it wouldn't start. She tried again but no luck. She then grabbed her stuff and got back out. She was hoping that all it needed was a jump or a new battery because she couldn't afford a new car or car repairs at this point and she sold Conrad's truck shortly after the funeral to cut down the insurance payments.

“ What's wrong?” Jessie asked as she came back in and seen that her friend was distraught.

“ Car won't start and I really need to go.” she said to her friend.

“ Here take my car.” she said and tossed her keys to her. She took the keys and gave her friend a quick hug and headed to the front door.

“ Thanks I will put gas back in it.” she said as she opened the front door and left. Jessie was trying to tell her friend not to worry about it but she was already out the door before she could respond.

She reached the doctor's office and pulled in. She was lucky to find one close to the front as well so she parked, grabbed her stuff and got out. She waled up to the receptionists desk. “ Samantha Jones and I have a nine thirty appointment.” she said. The receptionist signed her in and Sam took a seat. She picked up a magazine and leafed through it. She was halfway through an article when her name was called. She put the magazine down and picked up her things. She followed the nurse back to an examining room and the nurse took her vitals and wrote them down in her chart.

The nurse told her to get undressed and the doctor would be there with her shortly. She quickly got undressed and put on the gown. She then set back on the table to wait for the doctor. The doctor came in a few minutes later and began his exam. “ You are doing great Sam.” he told her as he wrote down in her chart. “ Doc can I get released to go back to work?” she asked him.

“ I don't see why not but usually a new mom waits at least six weeks.” he told her.

“ I know but I really can't afford to stay home any longer.” she told him. Her doctor was a friend to her and knew about the situation that she was going through. He then took his glasses off and leaned back in his chair. “ It is that bad huh?” he asked her

“ Yes it is and even though I get a check from the Army every month it goes straight towards his gambling debts, the mortgage, and the bills.” she told him as she fought back the tears.

“ Sorry to hear that.” he said to her.

“ Thanks I have asked for more money from them but they haven't even responded.” she told him.

The doctor than set up in his chair and wrote her a note to release her to go back to work. He handed it to her and she stuck it in her purse. “ Thanks doc.” she said as she got up to get dressed and the doctor left. She then grabbed her things and left the doctors office. She spent the next two hours running around and doing errands. The last place she went was to talk to the owner of the small restaurant to see if his offer for a job was still available. She found a parking place and pulled in. She grabbed her keys and got out.

“ Is Pete here?” she asked as she walked up to the front. Pete was a friend of hers and was a big support through all of this. “ Yes I will get him.” the girl behind the counter said as she disappeared in the back. She ate here with her kids a lot. “ Yes.” he said as he came out and spotted her sitting there. She didn't know if he remembered her or not. “ Peter it's me Sam.” she said to him.

“ Hey Sam what's up?” he asked her as he suddenly remembered her.

“ Well I was wondering if that job offer still was available?” she asked him.

“ Sure if you want it.” he said.

“ Yes I do.” she told him.

“ Ok come in tomorrow morning at ten for an interview and to fill out the paperwork.” he told her.

So she grabbed her keys and got up.

“ Thanks and I will see you at ten.” she said and left.

She drove home with a smile on her face,because she knew things were going to work out.