Story
Driving Miss Crazy
I had had issues with my mental health ever since I was a teenager. I was diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder. I was disabled and started collecting Social Security in my mid 20s. Home growing up, for the most part, was whatever little apartment I shared with my mother. She worked full time as a CNA at a local nursing home. In addition to Mom's job and my Social Security, I also got a part-time job to help things.
We did our best with what we had. I didn't really want to work the part-time jobs for the rest of my life. I really wanted to write and be an author. At one point, I had saved a little money and I quit my job to work on the writing full time. Three months later, mom had a fit at her job and walked out. She realized her mistake. Went back. Begged for her job back. Was given her job back. And two weeks after that, she had another fit and walked out again. Mom gave up after that.
Things were tough. I blew through my savings to try to keep us afloat. But I knew that I would have to do something to help the situation. My little check from Social Security was nowhere near enough to pay all out bills. There was a Domino's nearby.
I walked over to put in an application. They needed drivers. I interviewed and I was hired on the spot. I have family that drove professionally and delivered all across country. This was my first time driving as a pro, even if it was just local. I struggled at first, but didn't give up. I learned how to do the business and I made good money at it. It still wasn't enough to take care of everything. Mom and I needed to downsize.
When I wasn't working at Domino's, I went around. I looked for apartments that I could afford that could accommodate mom and me. I eventually found some low income housing apartments. I found one that would work for me and across the street, another one that would work for mom. (I was planning to pay Mom's rent out of my tips.) I got the applications for both apartments. I filled mine out, mom filled hers out. I was persistent and talked to my eventual property manager to get my apartment. Mom wasn't.
We ended up evicted from the place we were living. I had a place to go. Mom didn't. I had to take mom to a homeless shelter. I didn't see any other way.
I remember panic when I dropped Mom off at the entrance to the shelter. I was terrified that I wouldn't see her again. I gave mom instructions to call me the next day. Then, she disappeared into the building and I drove away. I don't know what more I could have done.
I kept kicking myself for not being stronger. For not taking better care of her. Why did I have to quit my job? We both were doing fine. I could have continued to work part time to make money until the writing thing took off. I blamed myself. I didn't sleep at all that night. The next morning, I went to work.
The Dominos I worked at, delivered for school lunches. There were a lot of schools and a lot of lunches to deliver. On school days, all employees were required to show up and help out. Drivers who were not on the road or up to take the next delivery to a school, had to help either on the oven or the makeline.
The morning after I had dropped my mother off, it was a school day. I wasn't okay at all. The Managers knew what was going on. I had told them about everything that was happening. They were concerned, but we all chose to keep things professional until the schools were taken care of.
The only ones I didn't tell were my dad and his family. I didn't think that they would be interested in helping mom and me. Mom and Dad's separation was messy. Things had been difficult after he left. But they were worse when dad was there.
At one point, after working a whole year as a telemarketer, I had saved a little money and was trying to take a break and get some things written. I didn't realize that mom was about to break, too. Three months later, Mom lost her job. I blew through whatever savings I had to try to keep things afloat. I got a job delivering pizzas with Dominos, but it still wasn't enough to cover everything. Mom and I would have to downsize and go our separate ways. I couldn't go to Dad or Grandma
Adventures In Vacation Sitting
Harry had been a good sport to come along this far. He stated from the beginning that he was just going to support Mary. The most man did not understand the trip. The man did not want to be on the trip. He had wished that they all could've just stayed home. Mary promised him a vacation, once they were done with Grandma's visit.
It had been years since Mary had seen the elderly woman. Mary had missed her.
Mary dragged her husband all the way from Michigan to Florida. After a successful visit that left everyone with more laughter than I tears. Mary and her husband started on the return roundabout trip.
"So, my love..." Mary wanted Harry to pick. "Where do you want to go?"
"Home." Came the sullen reply.
"I know, " Mary sighed in sympathy. "In-laws... could be worse. At least you married the pick of the litter." Mary's bright smile faded when she glanced at the miserable expression on her husband's face from the driver's seat.
Ninjas
Lillian works in a chicken fast food type place. One of her favorite things to do at this restaurant is to play ninjas. It's a fun game that she invented for herself for when she gets bored at work and don't feel like doing her job. Her full job, with title is dishwasher. She is only supposed to wash the dishes. Nothing more nothing less. actual job is to wash the dishes. The stainless steel counter looks like a vast silver wilderness, when the dishes were cleared. Her boss knew that Lillian liked to play games of make believe and pretend. One day, her boss set out a plate of food for her. He called her on her phone while she was in her dish area. He said that he had a very special assignment for a very special ninja. The ninja was to hunt down and kill an evil plate of chicken. Such a task would require a ninja skilled in the art of stealth and cunning. Lillian was given a plastic spork as her hunting weapon. She tiptoed to mask her footsteps from the beast. It looked like a crafty one. All fried, golden, and delicious-looking. Lillian wiped some drool away from the side of her mouth with her sleeve. She crouched, ready to pounce. Her boss watched with gay amusement. Suddenly, Lillian let out a war cry to wake up the dead. The chicken lay frozen terror upon the plate. Lillian stabbed for all she was worth. The plate of chicken went to it's grave never knowing what hit it. Huzzah! Her boss cheered with her. "What's next?" He asked.
"Nothing much," Lillian replied. "Just dinner." She ate her dinner without much more of a thought. The pair laughed until they puked.