One thing the little girl was good at, and
that was entertaining herself. Tonight she colored an old 'My Little Pony'
coloring book someone had left next to the trash bin using some crayons Kevin
had bought and kept for her back in his office. When Megan found the book and
brought it to Little Lisa (along with Kevin's crayons) it was like someone had
given both of them a fancy present, reminding Megan for the millionth time that
when you didn't have much, every little thing was important, seen almost as a
gift, and nothing, not even someone else's trash, was ever taken for granted.
When her shift was over, Megan and
Little Lisa were bundling up, getting ready to head outside when Kevin ran up
and stopped them. "Hey you two, don't forget your dinner." He handed
a sack to Megan. After every shift Kevin gave them each a free Full Meal Deal. He
knelt down so he was eye level with Little Lisa, "And I've got yours all
special for you, just the way you like it: six chicken nuggets with no sauce,
small fries, apple slices and chocolate milk."
He really was a nice guy.
"Thank you, Kevin," Little
Lisa said politely, holding her meal tightly to her chest.
"See you tomorrow," Kev, Megan said.
"Yep," he mock saluted,
"Until then...stay warm and don't take any wooden nickels." Megan
rolled her eyes at him, appreciating his attempt at humor. Then he turned and
went back behind the counter to check on the remaining two helpers. They stayed
open until 2am and he had a long three hours ahead of him.
"What did he mean by that,
Mommy?" Little Lisa asked as they made their way to their car. The snow
had quit falling, but there was maybe three inches on the ground and on her
car.
"He was just kidding, Sweetie,"
she said, getting the little girl settled in her car seat before setting to
work sweeping off her car. It took her about five minutes. She was diligent and
careful to get it all removed so she could see clearly. When she was finished
she got in, buckled up and started the car. They chatted together for a few
minutes, eating their dinners while the car warmed up. When they were finished
they dumped their leftover paper and wrappers in a trash can and then pulled
out of the parking lot, sliding a little where the snow had compacted. At times
like these Megan was conscious of every move she made - from making sure not to
fall down and injure herself when walking on icy snow, to being watchful and
careful with her driving - everything she could to be conscientious and safe
and not do anything that might jeopardize the tenuous hold she had on her life
with her daughter. A stay in the hospital or medical bills was something they
could ill afford.
The drive from Minneapolis out Highway
Seven west to Minnetonka took forty-five minutes; nearly twice as long as
normal due to the snow clogging up the roads, slowing the late night traffic to
a crawl. The big box store they were heading for closed at midnight and they
barely made it in time to rush inside and make their way quickly to the women's
room where they washed up and brushed their teeth. Then they bundled up and
headed back outside. The temperature was dropping and the cold was settling in.
It might even dip into the single digits overnight. Megan shivered and held
Little Lisa's mittened hand tightly.
She had parked the car way off to
the side, half way from the store out to the service road that ran along the
far end of the parking lot. She was able to spend the night because the store had
instituted a policy a few years ago of letting people similar to her situation
park their cars overnight as long as they were gone by six in the morning . And
also, most importantly, as long as no one caused any trouble they were welcome
to come back. For Megan, it was exactly what she needed. In the five months
she'd been staying at the lot no one had ever caused her or anybody else any trouble.
In fact, it was just the opposite. More than anything, she was finding that
homeless people like her mostly just wanted to be left alone. During warm
weather there might be up to fifteen cars scattered around, each leaving as
much space as possible between themselves and the nearest vehicle. However, with
the onset of winter and freezing temperatures, the number of vehicles had
dwindled to maybe three a night at the most. Tonight, it looked like Megan's
old Ford would be the only vehicle there.
"Come on, honey," Megan
said, reaching the car and opening the front door, "Let's get you
settled."
Little Lisa knew the routine well: she
climbed into the passenger side while her mom went around and opened the back hatch
where the few belongings they owned were stored (mostly clothes stowed in a single
Tupperware container). She grabbed their blankets for the night and then went
around to the front driver's side where she climbed in, securing and locking
their doors. Then she pulled up the latch that let the seat slide back as far
as possible. She had learned through trial and error that sleeping in the front
seat was roomier and easier on both of them, especially in the winter, where
they could take advantage of the car's heater if they ever needed to. But
running the Ford at night cost money, so they rarely did.
Megan helped Little Lisa get settled
in. She took off her snow boots and set them on the floor in the back. Then she
pulled an extra thick pair of wool socks over her feet, rubbing her toes and
joking with the little girl, making her laugh. Megan always felt it was a good
way to go to sleep - with the sound of her daughter's laugher in the car,
drowning out any depressed feelings they might have about their living
situation. Then she put her in a snowsuit and a kid's sized sleeping bag before finally putting 'Lambie' her favorite
stocking hat on her head and wrapped a scarf around her neck and face. Then she
covered her up with a thick quilt she had bought at a Dollar Store just after
Thanksgiving. By morning the temperature in the car would be the same as
outside, and although it would be cold, at least wrapped up like she was,
Little Lisa would be warm.
When Megan was satisfied her
daughter was all set, they did their final bedtime ritual. "Do you want me
to read you a story?"
"Yes, Mommy, yes," Little
Lisa exclaimed, her breath showing as she spoke. It was already getting cold in
the car. "Can you read me about Elsa and Anna?" Little Lisa was
hooked on 'Frozen' and anything having to do with their characters would be sure
to bring her joy. This book was a favorite.
"Yes I can, Sweetheart,"
her mother said, reaching under the seat for the book and taking it out of the
large zip-loc she kept it in for protection. The lighting from the parking lot
flood lights gave her enough light to read by. She began the story, watching
her daughter's eyes go from excited to heavy almost immediately. It had been a
long day. After a few minutes her face relaxed, her breathing deepened and she soon
fell into a peaceful sleep, transported by the story to a world of fantasy far
away from the one in which she was living.
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