am running to cool my red, burning face, running from the gym, like an idiot. Well, what's really happened? I kissed a man because of revenge, and he tore my panties from me. Particularly nothing. Although I really hope, that Savannah Moore feels a little bit of my bitterness from this morning. I need to go back to my favorite forest. I have decided not going to school today. Otherwise there is no meaning in going. I have to pick up my bag, I have lost my panties, and I need something else, than scholastic education. The science, the theory and the practice of living independent would be preferable instead of what the school offers to me.
Very very preferable, because arriving to the forest I have to recognize, that my bag is lost. Or stolen. Better stolen. It is a good, safe neighborhood, but don't be so naive, there are thieves everywhere. So my bag is stolen, inside with all of my money, I have collected, and have planned to use for living alone. But now, I am without. It is hard. I don't know, how to escape without having some money to cover my expenses. It is okay, not to buy clothes, or led tv, but I have to eat, I need some roof above my head, and winter is coming, so need a heating. All of them costs.
"Somebody help me!"
I cry this loud, and leave the forest. I don't really know why: my family is not religious, I have never thinking about existing a god, or something like that. Maybe the spirits of the forest, I believe. Or not. They are cruel, don't give that bag back to me. I am immersed in self-pity, so I don't watch the road, loud honking, and braking make me wake up from the heavy haze.
"Vanessa! Don't scare me to death!"
Uncle Pascal is sitting behind the wheel. He is yelling a bit angry, but his face is anxious
"Are you all right?" He asks, but I shake my head. He doesn't hesitate, and this is one of his good feature. I have to answer him sincerely. Basically he is my only hope in this world.
"There is not a single thing, that would be all right."
I tell him the truth in the straight way. He stares at me for a moment, then nods his head.
"Jump in! My ears are all yours until lunchtime!"
I sit into the car, next to him, and only this gives me some hope.
"Have Ivo told you?"
"What should he have told me?" I recognize quickly: Taylor Moore. "No, he didn't tell me anything."
"What didn't he tell you?" Uncle Pascal asks me, confused.
"He and Taylor Moore." He nods. "He didn't have to tell me, because I ran into them, while they were kissing in the schoolyard. I recognized the situation immediately."
"I am sorry." He says with saddened eyes.
"I suppose Yvonne also doesn't like me very much nowadays."
"I am so sorry."
"It is not your fault."
"Time heals, and hopefully, you will be getting together again in a few weeks. Just give them time."
I really like to be close to him, he is always self-confident, strong, and kind. Reliable. Not to mention, he is older than me, so he should have better ideas. I don't want to disappoint him, that there won't be a getting together for me and his children. I also don't have time to tell all my worries in the car, the Hillards live close to the road to school. Arriving to my favorite house, he gives me a stuffed bag, and he gets the other two, and we are half-blinded sailing into the kitchen.
"What do you want with all of these ingredients?"
I ask him gasping, because my bag was very heavy, and I have just one arm to hold. No wonder it is heavy, my bag is full of groceries, like the other ones. Vegetables, fruits, potatoes, pasta, eggs, and such basic ingredients are in the bags.
"Ivo has asked me to make a lunch, he and Yvonne want to bring guests for lunch."
I don't need to asks him, who will be those guests, Uncle Pascal avoid to see into my eyes. The Moores.
"I wasn't so happy to give a sudden lunch to a bunch of people, but I can't let them loose their faces to their friends."
" You don't have to explain yourself." I try to soothe him. I like him, and it is not his fault having such relatives, like Ivo and Yvonne. My relatives are also so inconvenient.
"Help me a bit, while you are telling me your problems."
He picks out some vegetables, meat, and potato from the bags, and put away a the remaining things to the pantry. I start to peel the vegetables, he makes the meat. Like in the old times, but in the old times we were four, instead of two.
"Start, if you are ready." His hands are busy, but he is paying attention to me. I sigh. "Is it so hard?"
"Harder. I am deep in trouble, up to my ears."
He remains silent, but listen to me.
"My parents want me to marry Andrew Harris."
"Damn… Do you want it?"
"Who would want to marry that pervert? Of course I am against it, but my parents told me, I was living on their money, so I have to pay back some to them. Anyway, Andrew is in love with me, and he is rich, or at least his father is rich, so I will be happy on his side, so I don't have a reason to refuse his offer."
"Do you want to do it?" He is amused by my calm voice, and logical explanation.
"No, I don't want to, but I will be forced."
"When?"
"The engagement would be tomorrow, on my birthday-party, and the wedding is after finishing school."
"Vanessa!" My important man looks at me with serious eyes. "I love you, like you would be my own flesh and blood child, but I could give you only one advice: run! Run, if your life is dear to you! Now!"
"It was originally my only idea. I have wanted to, but..." I start to cry, and tell him, that I lost my bag. He hugs me and rocks me, like a baby, waits for my tears to dry up. "I am unable to be alive without money!"
"I could give you some. Don't refuse!" He says firmly, when I open my mouth to refuse his offer. "Not much, but enough for two month. This would be enough to live while find a work and make your arm strengthen again."
"I can't work! I don't have any skills, or working experience. Who would hire someone like me?"
"So you can't have any skills? Really? You can cook, bake, doing the laundry, cleaning… You don't need a university degree to do these work. Well, those are not overpaid jobs, but you can make enough for the living."
Meanwhile he puts the meat and the potato to the oven.
"You can't help me to do the washing up, so let's gather some things to you. Fortunately, you left your sportsbag here in the beginning of the summer."
I have my training clothes, and the spare judo clothes, training shoes, toiletries, and a little bit of money. Enough for the train ticket and a few meals. Uncle Pascal brings out a big black plastic bag from the pantry.
"Chose some clothes! Yvonne selected her wardrobe and I forget to bring them to charity. You need some casual clothes."
Two pants and t-shirts, a pullover is chosen. Uncle Pascal reproachfully watching me and adds socks and panties.
"Those are also not cheap, so you need them. Use some protection when wearing them."
He gives me two colorful plastic bottles.
"Washgel and fabric softener. Enough for a few wash, so you don't have to buy until you got your first salary."
Uncle Pascal adds cutlery, two small saucepans, washing up gel and a sponge, and my sportsbag is already full. I hardly able to zip it, when he gives me to packages of sanitary pads. Damn. Those are really needed. I try to hide my reddened face, while I push them to the sidepocket of the bag. I can't see into his eyes for a while, and he is aware of my embarassement. He starts to pack the mess we have made, checks the dishes, puts my bag into his room. He doesn't stop, until there is a single thing from me in the living room. It could be my giveaway.
"Where do you plan to go?" He asks me next, and turns on his laptop.
"Maybe the capital..."
"Good choice. The town is big, there are a lot of opportunities for having jobs, and practice martial arts."
He helps me to find accommodation, gives me hints and tips about living alone. I start to be confident, that my plan will be successful. I am able to escape from here.