Category : Notes/work

Sub Category : N/A

Rich slowly woke me up at the crack of dawn. We needed to get into the city, cash in our material and get it out of our possession. When Rich said he wasn't sure if the metal sheets were  placed outside to be disposed of or not, I already knew that was a bunch of bullshit. I went into the bathroom to wash my face, brush my teeth, apply a little make up and finished getting dressed. Fifteen minutes later and we were out the door.
 
Twenty minutes later, we pull into the salvage yard. Rich backed the utility trailer onto the weight scale and turned off  the engine. "Okay so I'm  going to run inside and give them my drivers license for ID so they can print my ch---" Interrupted 

"Who's check, Rich? I busted my ass too." Lashing out in frustration.

"Will you just stop! You get everything you need Holly and not one time have you gone without anything. Am I right? He asked, grasping onto the driver's side door lever, anxiously trying to get out. "Look, I'm sorry I'm not a walking  debit card like your husband, ok? I'll be right back!" Rich opens the driver's side door, gets out and slams it shut. This time a little harder than the norm.

A few minutes later, Rich walked out of the small cinder block building with a slip of paper in his hand. He jumped into the truck, closed the door after getting inside and started the engine. We began to drive past the building and through a tall chain linked fence to what appeared to be a huge junkyard. To the left of us was an automobile crusher smashing down vehicles into square blocks. Someone was operating a crane up ahead, moving piles of metal from one place to another. I can see people working all over the mud-filled area, some of which were working and others unloading their materials. "So Rich, how'd we do"? I questioned out of curiosity.

Rich put the truck in park and examined the check as if the amount had taken him by surprise. I was becoming more curious by the second.  Were we going to get into trouble over this?" Was my first concern. As much as Rich enjoyed to brag and listen to himself speak, he just silently handed me over the check with a dumbfounded expression on his face. When I perceived the amount on the check, I about choked on my gum. The amount was far more than what I anticipated it to be and I handed it back over to him. "Oh my God!" I exclaimed! This was insane. I was dumbfounded just as much as he was and I didn't know what else to say. "Listen, I'm going to ditch this shit so just sit tight and I'll be right back." He puts the check in the drivers side visor and preceded to make his way to the unloading area. We ended up with $1,500 It was a little more than that but I can't recall the precise amount. Once the material was unloaded we drove to Northwest Savings and cashed the check. The teller cashed it without question, counting out large bills. It was shortly after 9am and we were on our way out of Erie.

Once we got to Millcreek Township Rich pulled in to this little diner and parked. "You want some breakfast honey because I'm starving?" As he shut off the engine and turned to look at me with a warm smile

 "Yes,  sounds great!" I agreed 

We sat down and ordered our food and beverages. As I was finishing up my strawberry waffles my phone began to ring from inside my purse. "Who could that be?" I muttered, as I began rummaging  through my purse to retrieve my phone. I pulled it out, then glanced at my screen to check the number. I couldn't believe it. "Who is it?" Rich asked,  Seemingly jealous by the curiosity in his voice.

"It's either JJ or John or both now can I please take this call outside? Asking for permission because it's what I had to do.

"Yes!" He answered, you need to talk to your son, I'll pay and be out." He said.

I grabbed my purse and answered my phone as I was sprinting to the door. 
"Hello" I answered with excitement in my voice. I was astounded and  certainly wasn't expecting this.

"Hi Mommy, I miss you! He said to me in that sweet voice.

"Hi baby! I miss you too baby. How ar-" JJ interrupted.

"Mommy guess what? Guess what? Guess what me and daddy are doing?" He said in his cheerful voice.

"What's that baby?"  Tears began to emerge from my eyes and I could not hold it in no matter how hard I tried to control it. Choked up and unable to speak, all I could feel was this lump in my throat as the tears rolled straight off my face and onto the pavement.  I walked over to a bench close by to sit down and pulled a  cigarette from the inside of my purse. JJ was mumbling into the phone, but I couldn't allow him to hear the painful longing in my voice.

"I'm here baby boy, mommy had to blow her nose." Sniffling "So what's the big surprise you wanted to tell me ? I asked, trying to collect myself so I could speak to my son without losing it again. Easier said than done. 

"We're in Linesville visiting Grandma and I wanted to come see you."  Linesville is a small town about fifty miles away where John's mother still resided.

Rich came outside after paying the bill and sat next to me on the little park bench that sat on the right side of the diner entrance along the wall. He put his arm around and whispered into my ear "Are you alright honey?" I just looked at him and nodded my head. That's one thing Rich would never do is put a barrier in between my son and I. He is a father himself, which one of the two children despise him. His fifteen year old son, Jayden, had not spoken to him in nearly two years and I knew deep down it had an immense affect on him.  That's why he always emphasized my relationship between my son and I and how crucial it was to have that bond. I gave him props for that.

"We want to pick you up tomorrow and take you to the zoo. Then ummm we might go eat somewhere, after the zoo mom. So, you want to go? He asked anxiously.

"I wouldn't miss it for the world baby. Does daddy want to talk to me? I asked, my heart sank and I became weak as Rich was sitting right next to me smoking his half burned Pall Mall Red.

"Hang on - daddy here, mommy wants to talk to you." Trying to hand over the phone to John.

(In the background of the phone call I hear John)

"That's really not necessary J,  just have her text me the address and tell her to be ready at noon tomorrow" 

Subsequent to the nice conversation I had with my son, I was crushed again.

"Mommy has to get going but I'll see you tomorrow ok." I said 
.
"Mom I wish you were here, I don't like not having a mommy like all the other kids do. It makes me sad."

"JJ I have to go for now but I'll see you tomorrow at noon ok? Listen, mommy loves you very much and we'll figure this out, I promise you baby. We'll talk tomorrow. I can't wait! I explained. 

"Bye mommy, see you tomorrow. 

Phone hangs up. 
  

I push the end button and toss my phone into my purse. I was happy to hear my son's voice. John, not so much. I ended up going to what was now home and napped for the rest of the day. 

"Are you ready to go honey? Come on let's get you home, you look exhausted." Rich said to me as he slowed pulled me up and walked me to the passenger side of the truck and helped me in. He was treating me better and hasn't hit me since that night. He promised to never hurt me again. That's what they all say though.

Thanks for reading! More to come.

                                    Holly 🌷