ABANDONED

For the Write from the heart story contest. A homeless young woman ends up bringing hope.

Abandoned

Kerri looked up from the soup kettle, brushing back the auburn strand of hair that refused to stay tied up with the rest. As she did, she got a whiff of the so called soup she had been dishing out to the numerous people she'd had stand in front of her, desperate, just moments before.
How could anyone eat this crap? She slung the ladle back into the almost empty pot. We should be ashamed, dishing this shit out, simply because they either eat this or go hungry. She sighed a heavy breath and carried the pot to the kitchen, slamming it on the counter next to the larger soup kettle sitting on the stove.
With hesitation, Kerri scooped the chicken noodle soup out and into the smaller kettle, digging to the bottom, where the chicken and noodles lay. It wasn't exactly soup, just because you take some left over chicken from days ago, throw in some noodles, and boil it till the noodles are over cooked, doesn't make it homemade soup.
It's the thought that counts, right? After all, she didn't have to be there all hours of the day, making sure people who couldn't afford a meal elsewhere, got to eat at least once that day. She could just as easily be at home, curled up on her couch with a plate of spaghetti, she'd made earlier in the day, instead.
Yeah, right, She'd thought, grabbing the kettle and heading back out into the lobby. She knew this is where she would be, day in and day out. She owed it to these people after all they'd done for her in the past. Besides, the hungry and homeless had no where else to go, no other choices, just like her, years ago.
Setting the pot on the counter with a heavy thud, she pushed the strand of hair out of her face, behind her ear, again. Time for a hair cut. One that she could just wash and go without worrying about blow drying or pulling back or up into a pony tail. Yes, manageable. I'll have to call the hairdresser in the morning and see if she can fit me in between breakfast and lunch, when the crowd isn't so big. She took a mental note.
As she was filling bowls, she heard the door creek open, slowly. At first, she thought nothing of it, until out of the corner of her eye, she saw the woman who'd just walked in. A new face, and it was apparent by the way she looked lost and confused. She moved ever so slowly, holding her over-sized purse, tightly to her chest, like she was protecting a baby from the blizzardous cold outside.
Kerri couldn't help but watch her, mesmerized. Everything about her was mysterious. She looked young, maybe early thirties, but her demeanor made her look like she was in her late fifties. She moved like every bone in her body ached. Her hair was long enough to pull back into a tail, though it appeared it hadn't had a brush through it in some time, let alone shampoo. Strands of red hung down, hiding one of her eyes. She obviously didn't care about her appearance. Kerri kind of admired that. Most women would at least try to smooth out wrinkles and try to do something with their hair before even stepping inside the shelter. She'd sat and watched many of them, all walking in, trying to hold their heads high, many not willing to accept or admit what brought them there. But this one, she was different. Kerri figured with the way she looked, she'd given up on a lot in her life, except the most important thing, herself. Otherwise, she wouldn't have walked through that door.
More people started to gather inside. Loud chatter and scrapping of chairs across the linoleum floor drew Kerri's attention away. But, duty called. Still, scooping up each bowl of soup and handing it to every person, she tried to keep the woman in her sight.
A group of regulars had noticed the new woman too and Kerri could hear them chatting among themselves about her. No one recognized her from any where. Everyone had questions, but only one seemed to have the answers, the new lady.
Suddenly, one of the older women, Carmen, that's been at the shelter for awhile, stood and cautiously walked toward the woman, still clutching her bag to her chest. Kerri watched as she approached the stranger careful not to seem a threat. Carmen smiled as she offered her hand and greeted her. Kerri, as well as others, watched to see what would happen. In these situations one just never knows. There have been a few instances where, new comers, once approached, take off for the door and are never seen again. But, Kerri had faith in Carmen. Carmen knew what to say, how to say it and when to make any kind of advances towards another, especially when it came to the women. Carmen was the mother hen around the shelter. She didn't belong there any more, having gotten on her feet years ago, but stayed on as a helping hand, just like Kerri.
Carmen seemed to talk for awhile, not getting any response from the young lady, she just stood there, head hung down. Then suddenly, she looked straight up into Carmen's face, her eyes wide with tears swelling up. Kerri wanted to run to her, comfort her. But then, the woman dropped her bag to the floor and let her tears flow as Carmen wrapped her motherly arms around her and she leaned into Carmen, as if she just saved her life. All any one could hear was the woman's soft sobs and Carmen reassuring her everything would be alright.
How does she do it? Kerri was amazed. She truly was like a mother to so many, even women her own age seemed to revert to a child like state when Carmen set out to sooth someone hurting. She lifted the young woman's face to meet hers, smiled widely and nodded. She then wrapped an arm around the woman's shoulder and led her to the front of the line. Everyone spread like the Red Sea, allowing the two to come through. A few of the other women patted the young lady on her back or arm, reassuring her that all would be just fine now. Both took a bowl of soup and found a table in the corner to sit. Everyone else went about their business while the two sat there talking for what had to have been an hour.
Once the crowd diminished, Kerri thought to go over and check on the two, but they seemed to be in an intense conversation, so she thought against it. She cleaned up, keeping the two in sight as she did, but told herself before she went home she would at least introduce herself. She had a feeling this young woman was going to need more than just Carmen for a support system.
Kerri finished the lobby and took everything to the kitchen to wash. As she stood there, she recalled her experience her first day there. She'd been so broken and felt so alone, until a woman, like Carmen, had come to her rescue. She'd taken Kerri under her wing and showed her life wasn't meant to live alone, though now Kerri chose to be alone, it was a choice of trusting few, mostly people she'd come to know at the shelter. They all had something in common and have that connection of just knowing they were never alone. Someone, somewhere else, was or went through, something similar that landed them in the homeless shelter.
Kerri couldn't stop wondering what this young woman's story was though. Was it similar to hers? Abandoned by a loved one who swore they'd always be there and there was never anything she would have to want for, she'd have whatever she needed, without ever having to work for it herself. Bastard. She dried her hands, took off her apron and straightened her outfit. Entering the lobby, she looked around at the emptiness. It was quiet, too quiet. She went around the counter and noticed only Carmen still seated at the table. She walked over and sat down in the now empty chair, hoping against everything Carmen hadn't scared the poor woman away. Carmen sat, hands covering her face. Had she been crying? Then she lowered her hands to the table and sighed a deep, heavy sigh, as if the weight of the world suddenly lay on her shoulders. Kerri patted Carmen's hand as she explained the young woman's situation. Kerri sat stunned, yet not surprised.
Carmen told her that the poor woman had just been through so much bad in such a short time. She'd just given up on so much. And Carmen explained how she didn't blame her. Within a months time, the young lady had lost her mother, her job, and her home. Her fiance had been cheating on her and finally came clean just days ago. Her sister was too busy to help, with her own life beginning to unravel. She'd never known her father and had no clue as to how to find him, even if she wanted to. And, to top it all off, the poor thing was now three months pregnant... her words had drifted off.
Kerri sat, speechless. What could she say? The poor thing. What help was that? Kerri patted Carmen's hand once more. They both sighed as they stood, pushing in their chairs, and said good night, promising each other tomorrow would be better.
All the way home, Kerri couldn't help but think of the young woman. How awful it had to be. Having no one and on top of it all, expecting. She thought about how it would have felt had she been pregnant when her world crashed down on her all those years ago. She was thankful that card didn't play in her already full house she'd gone through. Still, she wondered what this woman was going to do.
As Kerri crawled into bed, she promised herself and the stranger, that she would support her, in any decisions she made about her future. That's what she needed, support. No one judging her, telling her what to do or what was best or her and, or her child.
All night Kerri tossed and turned. Sleep evaded her as thoughts circled around, like a tornado in her mind. For years she hadn't thought about her past, yet now that this stranger had shown up, she compared the similarities of their stories. It all came back, every emotional up and down she had been through to get to where she was now. When she slept, it was only for a few minutes as she dreamed about being pregnant and alone. She'd wake up, grabbing her stomach, making sure it was still flat and firm.
Exhausted, in the morning, Kerri climbed out of bed, rubbing her eyes. She ran her fingers through her hair. It was then she remembered she was going to call and schedule an appointment. She then had an idea. She'd make two appointments. Maybe it would be good for both of them. Something new. Something fresh. She grabbed her phone and dialed the hair salon. She explained how she needed two appointments, one for her, her usual cut, and the other would be the full works.
She felt good, confident, excited, as she went to the shelter that morning. She looked into the mirror several times, thinking maybe instead of the same old cut, she'd try something different. She also fantasized about how the young woman would look. Maybe she'd even get the woman to smile. She smiled brighter than she had in awhile and drove on. Yes, today is going to be a better day then yesterday, for both of us.


Word count:1997