With heavy feet, I trudge to the downtown area just off-campus, and it’s a nice little neighborhood actually. We’re a college town, so there’s nothing fancy, but there’s a grocery store, a movie theater, and a hair salon that gives cheap fifteen dollar cuts. Oooh, here’s the Ben & Jerry’s. I’ve always loved their ice cream, and I’m going to treat myself to a scoop of Cherry Garcia once this hellish situation passes.
Finally, I drag my roller-board and stop in front of a small storefront. It’s not really a store because when I peer in through the front window, all I see are desks, chairs, as well as posters on the walls for environmental agencies like Greenpeace and Earth Now. Okay, that makes sense since EarthMatters is also dedicated to our planet’s protection. But the problem is that all the lights are off, and it’s only 5 p.m. Where is everyone? Where is Ed, for that matter? Wasn’t he supposed to meet me here?
Dang it. I shiver despite my heavy winter coat because I knew this was going to happen. Did my mom forget to tell Ed that I was coming? That would be just like Nanette, and even worse, there’s no way to reach her now because she’s somewhere in the Arctic, and I guess they don’t have cell service there. Am I going to have to head to the shelter? I suppose I have enough money for one night at a motel, but only one night.
My backpack gets heavy on my shoulder and I set it down on the sidewalk. Again, the storefront is dim, and the sidewalks are deserted because most kids have already left for winter break. Feeling desperation rise in my chest, I try the door, wondering if maybe everyone’s in the back, but it’s locked up tight.
Then, I sit down on the front step and bury my head in my hands, hot tears beginning to sting my eyes. This is a disaster! I’m homeless for the next three weeks and my only shot at having a roof over my head is now gone. What am I going to do for three weeks in the middle of winter?
A few people walk by, bundled up against the cold wind, and I can feel the concerned looks that come my way. I’m obviously distraught, and even if I’m not making any noise, my head is buried in my arms as hot tears flow down my cheeks. To my chagrin, something clinks on the sidewalk and I lift my head slightly to see that a young boy has dropped a quarter there. OMG, I look so awful that even children are concerned.
Okay, that’s it. This is getting too pathetic. I have two feet and I can walk to a shelter. I stand and dust off my jeans before grabbing my phone and shooting off an angry text to Nanette. Of course she won’t get it, but at least it makes me feel better. Then, I begin to run through my options. My dad’s a no-go because he’s also unreachable in Dubai right now. All my friends are gone for the holidays, and again, I don’t know anyone well enough to beg to stay.
With a huff, I gather up my backpack and suitcase, figuring I can at least make it work for a night or two on my emergency credit card. I have no idea how I’ll pay the debt off, but that’s a problem for future Susie to figure out.
But to my chagrin, when I look for cheap motels online, there are no vacancies. How is this even possible? Coleman’s not exactly a happening town, but then again, we only have a few tiny bed and breakfasts that probably only have ten rooms each. Apparently, a lot of people are visiting Coleman for the holidays, which means I might be shit out of luck. What the hell.
I gnaw on my lip. This is a disaster. Why couldn’t my mom and Bernard just help me out? It isn’t like it was going to be any skin off their nose. In fact, they could have just bought me ticket on the Arctic cruise as well. Or a ticket to Hawaii. Or a ticket to anywhere.
But I know they’re not the only ones to blame because I really should have seen this coming. For some reason, I didn’t know that the dorms closed for the holidays. Did the school send emails? Newsletters? Text even? Regardless, I missed it somehow so I had no time to prepare. Now, the girl with no safety net is truly finding out how cruel life can be.
I scroll through my contacts with desperation but once again, I’m hit with the crippling realization that I’m all alone. My old high school friends have gone their own ways, and I don’t know my college friends well enough to ask for this kind of favor. Oh shit. What do I do? I suppose the homeless shelter is my only choice, but to be honest, I’m scared of going there. I’ve heard shelters experience a lot of crime, and that women are sometimes taken against their will even though the shelter’s supposed to be safe. Maybe I should just try my luck on the street, even if it’s bone-cold.