A story I am writing.

And I said," "For hope is but the dream of those that wake." by Matthew Prior, "Happiness is not a state to arrive at, but a manner of traveling." by Margaret Lee Runbeck, and "Energy and persistence conquer all things." by Benjamin Franklin." I coughed. "And those are my three quotes." I'm just thinking about how this is important to me, I've wanted to become a preacher or a writer, but I've never stood up to people. I sighed.

My teacher was pleased, but frankly said, "What's your goal? You had to write that as well." I thought to myself, Drats, I didn't write the rest of my speech! What am I supposed to say? I mean, I do have a goal. I'm an A student with a goal, no other goal, though a secret goal, the goal that would actually let me pass this class; but a stupid goal. "Unless if you wanted that C. That goes on with you for---" and I stopped her there. My sore throat, I coughed again. "My goal is... is to find my father." The students were silent, didn't seem like they cared. Some though, that I got our of hand.

Gripping my paper, "Usually I have to do chores, write homework assignments, but not like a regular student." I'm shy, I don't talk in front of the class, but this is a requirement. "Though my father, a few years back, had to go to California for a meeting. A short meeting, for a promotion. When he did, for 7 years he never came back. He never called or anything, and my dad was such a special man."

The students yawned or coughed, like I thought, they don't care. " That special man was a poet, a preacher, a director. He was so sweet, so carefree." That's when I had to pause, a student raised his hand. Mrs. Miller picked him out. "So what? All dads should be like that, they leave to war, coming back in 10 years. When they get a promotion, they hardly visit, you have to expect that." This guy was Jeremy, how I hated him. We weren't friends, he never liked me, nor cared about me, no one in this class liked me much. He goes back to fiddling his pen.

This is where my mom comes it. "My mom... oh my mom" I'm pretty upset "She's the one that KILLS me enough that I want him back. By this I mean, when I do chores, I am forced to. I hardly take breaks, unless if I NEED to, which is probably once a month" I'm not sarcastic, I'm serious. "She'd slapped me if she caught me resting without permission. She works at home, so when I'm done cleaning, she makes me work for her. I miss my dad, and want him home, because he stopped her from doing all this stuff she makes me do for her. I never regretted him, and now that he left, I'm living in hell!" The students are looking at me, I don't really yell like that, but I need my emotions out like this. "Pfft, like she even liked him anyway."

I guess I can say I was too dramatic on my speech. Eh, right now I'm just thinking to not say anything. It's the last period, so everyone always leaves at 2:55 PM, or some for their club activities.

It's my homeroom, so I decide to take my book bag right off my desk, and hop it on my back. I give my essay to my teacher, in front of her desk. "I'm sorry I was so dramatic in class" even though I don't feel like I was, I said it anyway. "Usually home life is twice as difficult then at school" I give her that “heheh” tone. Only because it's true, and I really need to go.

She slips the paper into her palm, and places it into her black folder. This is where she keeps the essays and compositions from these students. I wouldn't say there are many, most of these students are lazy, for a fact. My teacher respond, "That was a nice speech, you must be brave, eh?". I wouldn't know how to respond to that. I didn't think it was brave at all, more like forced. "Though, it's kind of shaming. I never knew someone like you would struggle like that". I don't just struggle, but go through excruciating pain. "And I won't let you stay like that". She stands up while moving her chair back, and takes my hand, almost like in those movies where a man would grab the girl's hand in a passionate way. This was just more serious. He would be the man who wants me to focus; I'm just confused.

"I've known a child or two who had gone through this kind of thing, now they are in a foster home. After talking with them after a few weeks, they feel there best ways. You can, too." And I take my hands away. My heart is beating, I'm in shock, "Woah, woah, woah. Just wait, wait, wait! I don't need any care, I'm fine at home". "It didn't sound like that in your essay, unless if you lied" a response from her, sounds kind of sarcastic. "I'm telling the truth". I admitted it, why would I lie? If I lied, I wouldn't be where I was now, and now I wish I did lie.

Mrs.Miller sat down, and rolled her chair under her desk. "You're one of my favorites student Dakota. Though every student needs a good place to sleep for their new day." What a passionate feeling she gave me, but the problem is, I already knew that. What's the point of this? "So... also as a teacher's rite, let me take you somewhere today." Out of no where, we were distracted. The principal comes into the classroom from the doorway. He quickly spoke, "Mrs.Miller! We need you for the meeting, you were told about this from a student I consigned, weren't you?". She frozed, blinked, thought, then remembered. In that exact order, I didn't know what was going on. Oh well, at least I got away from her.

It's 3:15, I actually hope my mom's worried. "Fine, you may go now, I'll talk with you tomorrow", and Mrs.Miller let me go and ran to the office. It felt so pointless to me I thought walking out of the class, right out the door. I'm just so desperate to get out of the school, out of the way of work. This is my only free time, and now I hardly get to stretch. Jeremy pushed me, "I've been waiting to see you" Like I hardly talked to this guy, not like I will be any time soon. "I overheard you talking with Mrs.Miller." "Yeah, so?" I'm starting to think why. "Well, you guys are friends it seems. And she is also one of the hottest teachers around, how about yo--". My second pause to someone today, I'm on a role!

I pushed this guy back "Who do you think I am? I'm in a situation, I have to get home before my mom get to me, and your talking to me about this kind of thing? She's married, so I can't ask her anything about what you'd be thinking." And I push him again "Is this what you are seriously thinking about? A first time you talk to me, and you tell me she is hot? You are just sick" And I dash back home, before he gets back at me.

Let me explain myself to you. My school is a wreck, a community middle school pretty much. I'm centered around the classic Asian and Latinos community, most of them get along, in a boisterous way with the teachers. While I'm Native American, and as you may have known, I'm Dakota.

I walk back home when I'm at my last street to the house. I'm just feeling horrible. Why? It ended up with this morning, too. I came to school late, I'm going home late. Some yucky stuff was being gossiped around school that I heard, and this afternoon was the worst of them all. Especially when I have anger issues, I really just shake thinking of bad stuff. I'm just not in the mood to work today, and once I stepped through my home door, it gets even worse.

It's 3:20, and my mom is right in front of that door, and bam she goes with the shoe. "Do you NOT know who is coming here today?" she bawled. I'm so afraid, so I just said, "No... but I would have come earlier to know who it was." "Oh just shush, you've already caused trouble, just come with me." and she grabs my ear and hauls! I'm used to it, but I still don't know what's the deal.

She goes forward, then right, to the living room. It's a mess, a mess on purpose, and a mess meant for me to clean up. "You see this mess? This was me looking for the item I needed YOU to find for me. But nope, since you weren't here, I had to, and now ALL this mess is for you to clean, now clean it!" She let go of my red ear and went straight to the basement for some reason, after slamming the door of it.

This place is filled with clothing, I start picking up the shirts left all of the table and couch. Next the pants left on the floor and chairs, socks including. And once I have that done, I head to my bedroom to finish my homework, which was shockingly done quickly. "What a RELIEF. A bad day turning out with my resting PEACEFULLY? How unexpecting!" So I sit on my bed, and take out the camera I found while cleaning up. And once I turn it on, such beautiful pictures of my mom are in these pictures.... and I don't want to see her. I skip through the album and none of my dad's pictures are there. Where could they be?? I'm upset, I haven't seen my dad for years, and I want to see him now!

I decide to go down to ask my mom something about the album, the last time I've seen this camera it was stocked with fatherly welcoming depictions, and I want to know why it's all about my mom! I open the door to my room, step down, and go the the next room, which is the living room. But right before I go in, I hear my mom talking to a man, he sounds rather rough, but amiable. She joins him in, and I'm just wondering who is he?

Arggh, my throat! I cough again, very loudly, that man hears it. I take a few steps back. "Who's back there?" He looks to see if there is someone behind mom. I glance, but not to show my face, but to see who is he. And my mom glares back, turning her head side ways and her arm turns, too. Everyone seems like they are trying to look at someone, me. She shakes her hand once once she turns her head back to him, he looks at her, too. He puts his arm on the large chest of nothingness. "Oh it's nothing, I do have the television on, it was probably a girl who randomly coughed." She was not what I'd called worried, but felt more tense. "You said you wanted to invite me for dinner"

Now I'm just thinking, her?? For dinner? Is he nuts? Or am I going crazy? She's in total celibacy for goodness sake! or I hope she's not, but still in contact with dad. "Why of course! Why would I be here if it's not to see you?" he, in such a fancy cowardly way, said. Pfftsh, I mean, I'd LOVE to give free time to myself, but come on, this guy looks like he's going to kidnap us! Unless if that's her plan, for him to kidnap me? Mom is whispering to the guy now. I'm so suspicious, I decide to go closer.

Now I'm just going CRAZY with what I just heard he say. And I'll repeat, "You have your own servant TOO?!" She sounded so excited, ew, her excitement. She slapped both her thigh like 5 billion times, pretty embarrassing if you ask me. She's to excited, right after... oh gosh. Oh my, ew, ew, ew. Even my dad's kisses looked sweeter and acted sweeter than that. "Bon appetite! Let's roll!" She grabs his hands "Okay." He said, they left, leaving me alone. Now I'm free from her hands for the day, I guess. "What just happened here?? They held hands and left? Leaving me alone? Gosh this family..." I cross my arms. I didn't even give a change to ask her why can't I see dad again... Aiee. And I get a text on my phone, The T-mobile g1 android, one of the first androids ever. I look to see what it said... and... Oh did I 4get 2 tell u that I'm on a date wif a luxurious man? Hah, not just a date, but I'm staying wif him for a cuple of weeks. Hur hur hur. Anywaysand... I'm just pissed.

I sit down, stretch out my arms like the lunar finally flung into the sky, and fall in the couch.... and the power went off..... so I set some emergency candles up. I put my fragile, tan hands on my face, I'm about to tear, because I've wished for her to leave ever since I acted like her drudge, but I guess I could say I never meant it. I mean, I dislike her, HAH, I actually hate her, but I already have no one in my life, and what if she ends up leaving for over 6 cu-trillion weeks?! Then what, what am I supposed to do?

I feel so alone. I don't really have wi-fi like other people do, I just work. This family doesn't really have tv like a lot of families do, just the radio, which is TOTALLY dead. I don't have ANY modern technology, except my phone, with apps that aren't available anymore. This is when I'm really bored, so I just stand up and go to the kitchen to wash the dishes. I take a plate, some ajax soap, and pour the liquid on the sponge, and wash. Wash wash, and wipe with a tissue, and place it in the container. And do the same to the other kitchen utensils. And I go back to the living room. My hands just want to move, but to do what?

And I start thinking to myself, where is my dad? California, right? For his job? And I'm in Phillipsburg, New Jersey. If I could find him, wouldn't that take... months? Months and months, 7 specifically? Definitely months. Mneh, I don't think traveling there would be good. And my family isn't that rich AT ALL, only for a phone, so not taking a bus. A boat maybe? But wouldn't that take longer? No. So I can't go there. I'm stumped, tapping my brown couch, kind of sweaty, I guess my plan for these weeks is to find my father like I wanted to. I won't leave a note for my mom, she'd probably know I'm dead, there isn't food here anyway.... or money for rent. Oh well.

Bills aren't my problem right now, just this plan, the plan I finally get to independently achieve! But the problem is, how am I so sure that I would find my father? Oh yeah, the possibility of actually finding anything is 5%. I've just got to think hard on this. I have bags right? Yeah, my mom has a bunch of them from the markets she buys from. And a little food, that could help. I'm getting excited from thinking of bags and food! I love the feeling of enthusiasm in my mind! That's what I'll collect.

I open the door to the basement, and close it. I go down the stairs, it's dark. I yank on the string to turn on the light bulb and look at the square basement I see. There is a table with a brown marble counter top and a chair, it's a pretty wide table. There is a closet behind this, so I head right, forward, then left to the closet. The closet is huge, but filled with books and pencils and pens. I come down here for school supplies, and other personal stuff. I bend down and see the bags, so many bags to carry so many things. Everything in this closet is useful, so I purloin everything (it's my mom's stuff, too) and take a big bag and stuff notebooks and pencils in here. I'll take random other stuff just in case I get sick. I head to the living room.

"I have so many things! Good thing I brought more bags" I spoke. Now I head for the kitchen. Another, but smaller, table with a red marble top. From the back of it is a drawer, I open it and it's filled with stuff my mom wouldn't love to give me, which is why she's chubby; I'm really thin, so I'll take THESE anyway. I snatched these cookies and chips, no wonder we're so poor!. We have no fruits or 'veggies', I need to buy some, so I go to my mom's room and snatch her second wallet. She has 30dollars and 56 cents, not much at all now adays, but definitely something.

My mom has a lot of stuff that I never knew she had in here! Jackets and shoes, "I'm taking them all!" I exclaimed. But why would she leave these here if she is leaving for weeks? Does he have something special in mind for her? I'm thinking, Pfft, of course. "I'm taking all her shirts and pants, especially these denims!" I'm thieving like crazy, from my own house at least. Mnehe, she should've expected. I give an evil smirk, and put all her clothes and equipment in another bag. Each bag is giving me mass in my arms, but hey, I was being raised like that anyway. I head back to the living room, put down my bags on the couch, head to the living room to wash my hands since I touched too much around here. I rest for 50 minutes on my couch. After those minutes, I stand up and then take the rest of my bags and put them outside, then more than more bags. My mom has this rolling cart that she fills bags and items in right beside the door, so I'm taking that cart with me. I place the cart outside, put the bags I set outside in it, and I'm finally on the move!

I'm already eating oreos, vanilla kind, and I spit it out. Not as tasty as I expected it to be, at least to me. I have a bitter and spicy flavor of taste, just like the way my mother treats me. But it does have a bit of flavor, the way my mom treated me. And a flashback aroused in me, I'm walking towards the next street distracted with it. It's safe to think, there are no cars around, and I just keep walking and walking, my head is tilted down, and the cart is kind of bumping on the sidewalk, and I just keep strolling down the lanes.

Within my head, I am walking down the street with mom. I was about 3 years of age, and my mom was by my side. It was pretty late at night, about 9 PM. The garbage back is rustling and my mom grabbed my hand tight. The most disturbing, dangerous creature appeared out of that. And my mom pushed me back, it was a rat. The size as big as a baby cat, a huge one of course. It was walking towards us. And suddenly, a moment I didn't even know would happen, my mom lifted me. Courageously the rat touched her ankles and her shoes. I knew she was scared, but I don't remember exactly. It was only 13 years ago of course, and the rat disappeared. I can tell it was big and black, red eyes and vampire teeth, small wings and green goo dripping from its tail... I shook my head, I read to much books. The point of my thought is that my mom did care for me once. She didn't let me go walking back home, she carried me all the way there. It was that huge of a rat that she protected me, embracing me, and I still didn't know how.

I'm already 4 long blocks from where I was. Wow! That was a quick walk. I proudly thought. I kept going until I reached the last street of New Jersey, heading onto a bridge. That took me about 15 blocks, not much... at least not for now. Walking down that bridge led me to Philedelphia, Pennsylvania, and right at the minute I step off that bridge, a guy teased me. "Hah, you rather walk than afford to take a taxi? What a loser." He was rich and snobby looking, "Com'on, you little hobo! Even though you look good, but you don't got the skills?", gosh he got me at my best and worst mood. Who does he think he is? I take a bag from my cart and pow!, I swing it right at his chest when he was trying to hide a riant. "No one messes with me!" I just try to sound smart. "You don't look like you have a skill in you palms you jerk!" and I hit him again. What is up with people these days?

I looked back at him. He's being pathetic. Most guys are now a-days, just plain fools, but they are just learning they are. Some are females, but people have to learn that not all females are sensitive. Nor that all guys are tough. But what he was doing, it was just rude.

I'm walking, sauntering through the city at 9:00 PM. Everyone is inside, it's foggy, I don't really know if that boy is in either. And I keep walking with my cart, and wind is hitting me, hard. It felt like someone was pushing me, that hard, and it was blowing. The leaves were dashing through the wind, having me follow them, through them. I turn around and a newspaper hits my face. The wind keeps blowing, and I'm struggling to get it off. It starts drizzling, I might get a cold, but I'm not paying attention. More papers are coming to me, but the cart, I don't even know where it is. I feel leaves, I don't know about flies or bugs, but I feel something. I'm frightened! I'm squealing and I'm yelling, "What is this?!" I moving the papers around, they just won't stop! "Somebody help me!!" It's pouring rain now. The city lights are on and it's just so foggy to see those bright lights. I feel that... I'm going to pass out.

I brace myself. I go to the floor, there is nothing for me in sight to hole. The papers, all over my body, I hug the papers, and I'm crying. I bending my body, no one can see my face. My brown hair is flowing back, and so are my tears. I think my tears are in my hair, and my hair can't even hold it. The wind it going to tear me, I feel it. The blood in my flesh is bubbling. I feel paper cuts, I can't hold it anymore. I didn't expect this, I don't want to expect it, I don't want to be in this madness. I'm going berserk! I stand up, strengthen myself, I don't see anything, even if I need the cart. I think I was going to die anyway, this is my moment, and this is the plan, I'm going to do this! I jumped and I'm flying back. I hit a pole, and now I really did pass out, not know why I would do this. And I feel.... the wind.... going out. Even the papers are falling down on me; I just feel it, there is still rain pouring. I am alive, I just can't move.... and I just sleep on the sidewalk, waiting for this nightmare to end.

My head was down, now up. Blink blink my eyes go. I'm extremely scratched up. and I'm not even kidding. My right arm, bruised and scratched, my other arm as well. "That wind blew most of my blood away." I sorely said, and I still have a cough, and that really hurts to do. I attempt to stand up, I sit right back down. My eyes took a sharp glance underneath the eye lid. My buttocks feels... stiff? Every time I fell my whole back hurts and the I felt less of my legs. Some people are around, but it seems everyone looks at me as some kind of hobo.

I do have my phone, I hope, so I check; I indeed have it. My hands are the only ones with strength, I guess the newspapers gave it a massage.
"Warning: low battery, get a charger immediately. 2%"
And I'm just looking at this thing as if I'm going to shrivel quickly. My voice is also very low, I can't yell for help. Giving myself strength isn't going to help, I have no idea how I'm going to get myself some help. And I thought of something, something I see a bunch of street people do for drugs and such -- stare. Stare right into the hearts of people, especially that gang by me, about 5 feet away from me. There are two girls, and girls usually are the nicest one around my city. So I stare...

My eyes are glistening, it's pretty bright, my prediction is as if it was 8:00 am. And I stare right into those girls, but not too accurate, could scare them. So I'm just sitting here, looking at them, hoping they'll look at me. I hear one of the girls, afro, but curly brown hair starts staring at me. She whispers to her friend, blonde one. "Hey look, an orphan. She's staring at us, too. Creepy lookin' fella." and I'm kind of offended. But this is the only way to get some people to look at me. The blond woman states, "Aiee, I wouldn't get close. Maybe /it/ was outside in that storm. So bloody, lets get away." "No" her friend replied. "We should help /it/ out." and I'm really offended, keep my calm I though. Can't believe they don't see my gender in their eyes.

"Well I'm going to help" says that afro girl.
"Well okay, but don't look at me if you get germs, wash your hands before you meet me, okay?"
"Actin' like my mother, jeez."
"Oh whateverr" and blondey walks away. And the afro girl comes up to me.

"Why helloooo~!" herself says. While it's hard for me to speak, I just nod my head. "Oh so you can't speak, can you?" and then I shake my head, though I can, but I kind of struggle to do so. "Well don't worry sweetie, I'll help you!" and she lifts me, but it's hard for her to do as well. "Eh.. your heavy." but that's because I'm 16, it seems as if she is as well; I am pretty short, I see why she is saying this. "Well hmm... I don't know what I can do. Maybe turn you one other way?" and that's the bad part. My mom turns me around all the time, I left to this trip to not remember of her. Ah, well this shouldn't be bad though.

She tries to lift me another style, I'm still heavy. "Ugh, how old are you?" she exclaimed against me. I point at her. "Me?" and I sigh, shake my head, and make my mouth move to exaggerate me talking. "Sixteen." As I tried to show, though I didn't say it. It seems like she kind understood. "Fifteen?" and I'm about to roll my eyes, but I nod anyway. "Oh I see, no wonder you are so heavy, but you really do look 8 to me." And I'm offended once again. "Um, well sorry for treating you as a kid?" and I roll my eyes, can't judge by look you know. And I keep my eyes to the air to show how I feel foolish from her.

We both don't know what to do. She puts her two hands on her two hips, "Well I'm sorrryyy that I mistook you as a young one." and I don't want to argue, even if I could, I need help! I feel my strength tingling back to me. I rested once, and I just needed to wake up to rest some more. My dad has always told me do not stay down, and stand up. I just tried to do that. This girl is looking while I just sit back down from going up. "Haven't you heard of taking someone's hand?" and she puts her hand towards me. I lift my arm and haul my way up. "Dude, calm down!" and I am standing. My legs are bent, I'm standing on my toes, and my head and body is back. I hold her arm, then climb up to her shoulder. Then she heaves.

"Girl, please..." and I am standing up straight, full of joy. I wave my hand. "Wait, you're leaving?" and I nod my head. "I helped you... and you don't at least thank me?" I point at my neck, it is full of blisters. "What about a hand shake?" and I show her my right hand, and she wraps her left hand around it. "Nice meeting you hobo." I let go of her hand, "I wasn't even a hobo in the first place!" and shouted, but held my throat.j Ughh.

I am standing on the side walk, cars are going by the streets. More leaves as well, but not flowing as intense as yesterday. I walk backwards, because this girl is looking for trouble.
"Why didn't you say so then? Since you apparently can talk now!"
"My..." I cough, pointing at my sore throat. "throat hurts."
"And for how long did this last for?"
"Since... yesterday. Out... there, night time."
And she gasped, at least finally. "So you were at that storm?". While I nodded my head. "Oh poor baby!" And I glare at her. "I ain't no baby, and I ain't in need for a hug." She was racing for a hug. "Oh really?"
"If I get a hug, I'd feel worse!" and I hold my neck, because the feeling of saying that, I can't explain. "Listen, I'm in no need of a no body! You ain't even a body, you are a doll. A doll I don't even need help from, okay?" I'd feel glad that I know I didn't mean that, I don't even know what I just said. My throat is feeling better, but my mind if getting worse. Now I feel bad, but great at the same time.

"But you're too cute!" How sarcastic. I am pretty annoyed with this person.
"What is your name by the way, just for, you know, information." Not anything bad, for now, I just want to know her name.
"Kendra, what about you?"
"Dakota."
"Oh what a beautiful name!" She acts like one of those mothers, maybe she has have children?
"Do you have children? Or do you babysit?" Not like /I/ would start trouble. "Oh and by the way, if I was 20 years old, and looked like this, I would smack your face off! I mean, probably not, but I'm not even a child!" And my neck is acting up again. I cough, enough to spit a bit in front of her..
"Oh eww. And yes, I attempted for some. But it's none of your business."
"Yeah, because my business isn't related to you. Actually, my business is disgusted by you!" and it is true. It shows how many people on this Earth are crazy! Have to admit, I shouldn't have done that, but oh well, what is done was done. Only if man-kind was like the 60s...

"Yeah, don't worry about it, girl. That happened months ago! Actually, my children ended up lovely. One of them are 2 years old already! And one is still one years old."
"You are telling me it isn't any of my business, you act like I want to hear this! Guess what, I don't. I mean, I am 16 just like you, or at least hopefully not like you, and I still have no children." and I keep coughing, I coughed up my whole conversation. I couldn't keep speaking.
"Jeez, don't need to be so rough" Ugh, that gets on my nerves "What a loser. I see why my friend didn't want me to get close to you. She can see through people. You have the personality of a nerd." While I take her throat with my hands, my arms are stretched out. It feels good. My face is all wrinkled, like how usual frustrated people look.
"Guess what!" and she isn't saying anything. I am pushing my thumbs beside her throat, but yes, on her neck. "I am too good to deal with people like you! Drugs, sex, makes me realize how I am not a loser compared to you!" and I know, I probably am over-reacting; though it is true. I just met her, and she is talking about how sweet I look, then about her getting children! I only asked, and she reacts back.

"I don't do drugs!" She holds my arms. I might choke her, I just want to hurt someone right now, just for her to feel my pain. "I only had sex once, what should I have expected?" I don't like this girl much, I feel like lifting her. Against a wall probably."Why are you over reacting so much??" I feel her tears. "You are so mean! And guess what, many people have done it, so oh well. I am one of it, it happens, and you think it's disgusting. It probably is to you, but you don't need to hang me!" She's trying to swing off. "Sorry for doing nothing!" I feel pretty terrible. She's also right, people have done it. But come on... I just don't know what to say.

Standing here, holding her up. I do this for a few seconds, and she is turning a bit blue, "Please set me down!" she is struggling. I am just in a bad mood to do anything. I keep my arms up and she is still. And now I am in pain; she kicked me! "I would have done this before, but nah, you took too much time." while she jumped off my arms. Right between the hips, above that rough part. My stomach hurts now, I am pretty hungry and hurt. With an attitude, "Don't talk to me!" and Kendra stomps away. I yell, "Wait!" while I hold my arm against my stomach. She turns around, just dead staring at me, I walk closer to her. "I need you for something." She comes closer to me, kind of suspicious, "With?"
"Well first, I am sorry for almost killing you."
"Yeah, sure." She was kind of being sarcastic to me. She showed one of those grins that mean nothing.
"And well, how can I say this." I don't want to get to the point, it is embarrassing. "Can you help me?"

She responds, not in a nice way at all. "Well, yes I /can/. But will I? How /will/ I possibly help you? Why /would/ I?"
"I, umm.... kind of ran away from home." I'm shy now, I don't know why. Probably because it is true, and like I said, it is pretty unimposing to mention.
"Oh I see... and you want me to take you to my home to be my pet? I could use a maiden." and she winks and sticks her tongue out, to be "cute". I find it offensive.
"Umm, no. Not at all, not to live with you." I am maintaining an attitude right now as well; yet the attitude is acting up a bit since my stomach is growling and suffering still. I ignore the pain. Either way, that wasn't even my mission. "Since you are 16, and well, you look pretty rich" she is gorgeous actually. Very glittery and shiny."I assume you have a car?"
She paused, crossed her arm like a pretzel, and give me one of those are you kidding me? looks.
"You assumed correctly, but of course, it is my car. The car I wouldn't even lend to you."
"And yet, you assumed incorrectly from how I am judging you." and she is still giving me the look. "Can you drive me some where?"
"I don't understand though. Why me?" and I pause her before the lecture. "Well, you did come up to me. And yet, you have a car as well. Why not? Plus, it is not that far. Plus, we can be friends."
"Hah, sure. Of course, friends, after this drama? No problem!"
"Oh just please!" I am whining a bit. "Like I said, it isn't far, plus you wouldn't need to see me any more after the trip." She goes on ahead. I worded my sentence incorrectly.

Kendra responds, "I hope you realize the word trip isn't just an hour from here you know." While I respond, "I know, I know. But just please!"
"Well, where is it?"
"Um... California."
"Cal-California? Are you crazy? Why would you want to go to California?"
"Can I explain in the car?" Of course she would think I am a nut job. She looks like I am! But if she knew what I was going through... she may understand. After Kendra though, she says,
"Must I drive you so far? Not even to the next state?" This sounds like an unsure yes to me! "Well, I mean, do you live with anyone? Do they care if you go so far?"
"I live alone, and I bet they would care. My grandparents died earlier, so I pay my own rent in a small apartment."
I respond with short glee, "Is this a yes?"
Kendra said, "I never said yes. Let me think about it, do you have a phone?"
"It is running out of battery, I can't give you my phone number if you wanted it." I am so excited, Kendra seems okay.
"Ah I see. Be lucky we are starting the weekend today. I will only drive you a small distance, because I am nice like that." she said.
"Thank you so much!" I said in joy! I can get to my father quicker than ever through an auto-mobile. "Do you promise you will stick with me until we reach the destination we can?"
"Yes, but you still have to explain to me why you are going to California." she said.
"Sure thing."
Though, I only spent 2 hours with this person, not weeks. I hardly know her, how do I know she won't do anything bad to me?

We are walking a few blocks ahead, I can since that she doesn't live around this neighborhood, but the next. It is a good thing my mom put me to walk a lot though, I can handle a good walk into Altoona, Pennsylvania. Yet, a walk like that is about a good 175 miles. I can totally walk that in one day. *sigh* "Come on, let us take the bus." and I have seriously never been on a bus before, I do have a metro-card for an emergency though; my mom carries that around you know. We wait at the stop sign for a bus, and when it came, we went on it. It was one of those public buses, white and black, it wasn't filled. It is Saturday and it is only 8:00 AM. I took my metro-card out, placed it in the slot, and took it out and found a seat. Kendra did the same, and she came to where I was at. Of course I am near the window, she is next to me. The bus starts on the brakes, and we dash across different bridges. "The landscape, so heavenly." I said. "I cross here almost every day, I know what it feels like, and I agree." So many buildings we pass, and many people. We did stop a few times, but hardly any people got on. We eventually got to our destination, or at least hers.

We stepped out of the bus, moved passed delis and markets, and find myself stepping on a few people's feet. I am shocked on how many people didn't notice, I guess they are used to it. "Wait here." Kendra says "I am going to get a bag of clothes, just in case this takes a while to come back you know." and she went off into a building. I am willing to just stay here, I have been to a few cities before, nothing new here. I have hardly done anything. I thought sadly. Now that I think about that, I want to get to California, and I need this, but I am just in Philadelphia. I would think I would be at the next state by now, but I guess I was wrong. It has already been 10 minutes, and she comes down as quick as she can. "Sorry it took long, I had to do 'business' and finally got clothes." she was breathing very hard; she eventually calms down a bit. "Okay, we should get to my car, it is on the next block. " We slowly, only because she is tired, but normally walk across the street. When we pass 3 parked cars, I see her car. It is not so old, not so new, it is pretty common but it is perfect for her age. It is a Toyota Avalon, I walk up to it, putting my hands on it. The texture is smooth, I can see my image, and I look pretty dirty. It is light blue, and when I step inside it is black all over. Like any regular car, it has two red lights at the front and back, and 5 seats in the whole carriage. I am at the middle back of the car seat, of course Kendra steps inside in front of the blue wheel she owns. Kendra requests,"Put the bag next to you." and she hands me the bag; I do so, at the right of me.

"You should be lucky I am helping a homeless person" she says, "I come from a nice family you know." and I guess I agree. "Um, thanks for taking me. Thought it is weird you would be helping me out since we argued and I almost choked you though." I replied to the statement. It is pretty sudden that she would bother help me anyway. I wasn't nice to her, but she was being sarcastic at me. Consider us equal. "Okay, I am about to drive, but hold on." She goes outside to adjust the both mirrors, like an expert would know. When she comes back inside, she adjusts the mirror to see what I am doing. Now she locates the horn, making sure it is working. "Okay, finally." Kendra says.

Kendra puts her seat belt on, same with me. Now she places her foot on the clutch, the part on where you switch engines, and pushes her chair forward. Kendra pushes her gear shift to neutral. She takes out her car keys and puts them in the key lock hole, and turns it to the left about 2 times; she leaves it there, meaning she is starting the engine. She releases the foot of her, and places it again on the clutch, moving her gear shift to first gear. Eeeeeh! I am excited, nor have I been in a real car either, at least not for a long time, and now I am experiencing it again. I hear the engine speed rising up, and now going down. She is moving her foot up and down from the clutch so she can hear the accelerator work. Now she is switching to second gear, and she pushes her other foot to the gas pedal very slightly. Her foot is completely off the clutch pedal, and now I feel vibrations. "This feels amazing!" I say. And she is finally ready to move!

I decided to skip a few days, nothing was new, nothing special. Only a bunch of traffic and Kendra kept getting distracted with the malls we were passing by. We planned this out by sleeping in her car when we found a place to park in; we ate in restaurants with her and my money, I haven't gone to a restaurant in years, best 4 days of my 5 years of starvation. Along on the road, the whole time we did talk, and complain, on how we are still just in Nebraska. Usually people are dedicated to get over there in less than 3 days, like me. I just can't drive, at least not well. But let me explain to you this girl; she can drive, but the question is, does she have experience? There is a thing called a mistake, and this girl got into two, involving me. Our 5th day ended up terrible, let me tell you how horrible it got.

It is a Tuesday afternoon, at 3 according to the car clock. We ate a bit of breakfast in IHop at 9, then we got back on the road. We are around the center of Nebraska, heading South East to Colorado, we aren't that far from getting there.
"What day is it?" Kendra asked "I feel like we've been on the road for weeks." I respond with a sigh, since I am tired, "It's Tuesday, it's only be 5 days." she gasps while driving, "We should be at school!" while I say, "It's not a big deal." I can tell by the way her reaction was, she isn't very smart when it comes to time or maps, or like I said, gets distracted. She doesn't respond, she just keeps driving with a good amount of gas is in our car, good thing. "Oh gosh, I can smell traffic from here." I mention. And we already stop in front of a dark gray car, A Toyota car like outs but it is a Camry. And other cars from other companies surround us like Hudson cars and Fords. The line of these cars extend for about 2 miles, and me and Kendra end up extremely impatient. Especially with people honking the whole way.

"Aiee!" Kendra is starting to honk too. Her emotions seem to get high. "It feels like it is 500 degrees! It is too hot to be in traffic!" Kendra is sweating. I can feel her though; and by that, I mean technically. "Why is the south so hot?!" I respond, "Listen. It is only fall, it could be hotter. Besides, it's the car that is burning up a bit, you didn't even wait like a person has to, and we aren't that south."
"I can deal with this." Kendra puts up the air conditioning, it makes us hotter. "Nevermind." She says, pressing a button to turn it off. We are on the third lane of the road, the last lane. "I am going to just skip this traffic. It is too hot to be in it." Kendra says, then I quickly respond, "Aren't you just over-reacting? What are you going to do anyway?" and back to Kendra, "No I do not feel like I am over reacting, I am going on the next lane."
"You mean the one filled with cars?"
"No I mean the one at the right of us, where cars who got into an accident or do not have gas go."
"Wait, isn't that illegal?"
"So what? We have been on the road enough, let's just go ahead."
"Okayy, but if we get caught don't look at me."
"I would blame you though." And Kendra is just stirring up a rough conversation while moving the car into the emergency stop lane. "You told me you wanted to have me drive you somewhere."
"Um no, I never said that. I wanted your help, and you offered someone, me, right away into your car." and she ends up driving there, and we pass by about 30 cars before 5 minutes.
"I agree, but I never would have if you never want to."
"You know what, whatever." I roll my eyes.

I am almost right next to this forest land in between the lane heading to Colorado and the other lane heading back to my state. I unbuckle my seat, Kendra didn't even notice. She, once again, was distracted with this "hot" guy in the car next to us. Her face is close to the front window of the car trying to look back at that guy. And the car is driving really fast, it's time to stay careful. I am pretty tired I thought, I pull my seat back and try to calm myself. I wouldn't say I was in deep sleep at that moment. After a few minutes, about 10, I suddenly feel something. I mean I can breathe, but I don't know why, it feels like I am closer to the front of the car. I don't even hear Kendra. I wake up to a white air bag in front of my face, almost covering above my head some what above my chest.

I have to bite the white air bag to finally implode it. Finally it goes down after my sharp teeth making a whole through it., losing the oxygen underneath its cover. My eyes are wide open once it's down, I'm shocked; I see glass all around the front of the car. There I see a black car, I can't comprehend the type of car it is, probably a Honda, smashed in front of our car. Our Toyota and that Honda was on a steep hill, we crash hard. I can hardly breath, I don't know what happened when I took my nap. And I slowly look to my left, and then I look to my right, quickly. I have this look on my face, worried, deeply worried. I'm anxious, and yucked out. I don't see this much blood everyday I tell myself. And I look back to Kendra.

Kendra's skin has fallen off. I can see the blue and green veins on her face, or used to be face, and on her brown skin. I seen a bit of bone too. Her hair is somewhat places on where her hair usually is placed, and that is all I see. I actually can not see her ears, it is also covered with red and maroon blood. It is actually scary, her hand is plumped out of the air bag that hit her chest back down to her stomach. I can tell she couldn't breath, and it is too late to even help her. Her hand is sticking out from next to her, and her head is down on the air bag, and the blood is also dripping down. "Okay, I am out of here!" and independently tell myself, "Kendra must be dead, ohh and I almost got myself killed!" so I open the door next to me, stand up and go outside, shut the door, and see glass all over the place! Then I look to the back of the car, it seems like it was just about to climb on the car at the front. "Oh my gosh!" and I repeat that like 6 times, jittery and fast, and the police are coming down this way.

I have to run! I did nothing wrong, and I don't want to explain anything I think to myself, and I just run down the hill. It is probably only 7 o'clock, time runs by fast. I hide behind a tree, bend down, and look at my right side front, where the police are. And I just keep running down, I look like a hobo running down these hills. I'm also crying, I don't know what to do but run, and I don't see why I'm running either. One reason is probably because I almost got myself killed. Two, this is what I was supposed to be doing. I just keep running, I have nothing else to lose but be crazy. And I stop suddenly, "Oh my gosh. Where's my cart?!" I gasped. I am so upset, now I am just cranky and walking, and I finished my trail onto Colorado. I see the sign which says, "Welcome to Colorado", after walking all this way, "Oh I see, I see. I was just so close, and yet I am still so far." I tell myself.

I am walking on one of the bars on the bridge right by me. I put my arm on the bar and another leg on it. "Phew" I say; I look desperate, because if I get ran over by a car, I'm doomed. My arms are on the bars, my legs are in between each. I feel wind passing by me, from the cars. I'm just too mad, like any other person, I regret this. Oh great. Now that I think about it; I regret not staying, I could have stayed with the police and could have asked for help. Oh but nope, I have to walk my whole way to Utah, all my fault supposedly! I steadily put each leg through each fitting, my stomach is right on the railing and my arms are beneath that. So uncomfortable, but if I think about other things I'll get it over with.

If I keep thinking this way, I'll definitely get ran over. Well, I mean, I am tired and stressed, so I need to find my happy state across this 30 yard bridge. I am thinking about being a ballerina. I am walking on a line, making sure I don't fall. Only because the edge failed to deliver anything to touch. I walk, and walk, and walk for minutes on a verge. Now, this is literally happening in real life. I feel like I am in reality and in a wonderful place; even on my tippy-toes! Walking, and walking, and walk. I trip on the line, I squirm around, and I get back straight. My audience, the other ballerines, the cars, keep looking at me try this. The sea sounds beautiful, and the wind is intense. I hear a voice from the distance, from a truck? My coach says, "Open your eyes" and I do, very slowly. My eyes were closed the whole time! I actually walked by this bridge! I think joyfully. "Now what was I planning on doing?" Ah yes, my journey starts here once again, but alone.

I smell something, it smells rather fishy. I keep walking on the side, because as mentioned, there are a rather large amount of cars roaming by. I'm walking on the emergency stop, since this is an emergency.

"What is this stench?!" I quietly exclaim to myself. It isn't a good one, it could be anywhere here though. It wasn't the gas from a car, I know and like that smell, and it wasn't from the forest beside me either, because all I smell over there are leaves. I look under mean, and the smell plunges into my nose. "It's me..." I could have obviously thought. I smell bad, and I also look bad, everything I have is bloody and scratched, torn apart, but I am still covered. Luckily today is a hot day, but not for someone who'll sweat a pit full. I think and feel.

I keep walking ahead, I actually hope there is a hotel near by. Or even a motel, whatever can give me service walking ahead. I turn right and keep on going, go left and keep on going. I get enough "exercise" for today, it is tiring, hot and tiring in fact, to do each day.