| PART 3 |
| Part three, now remember I have some control at this point, but not all. I claim no credit for the dreams I dream though...I didn't do that part... I saw a peninsula across the bay. A small port town was perched on it. I swam for a while until I found a fisherman's ship. I grabbed onto the rope on the side as he took off for shore. Climbing carefully only the dock, I headed for town. Men in their ships looked at me, wondering from where I had come. I looked down and noticed the puddles I was forming. That would be easy to follow. I needed clothes. But where? The beach had people swimming, but I didn't want to steal. I headed over there anyways. I found some clothes hanging up. I checked the size and noticed the jeans were the same as mine. I left on my button up shirt and traded jeans with this girl. Mine were nicer anyways. And they would probably be dry by the time she left the beach. I also borrowed her towel to dry my hair and body a bit before I headed up the hill to town. I wasn't leaving a trail anymore. I was fortunate enough to find a string on the road. I pocketed it and found a nearby store. It was a general store I guess. I found the brushes on an aisle and took the opportunity to test them. I pulled my hair back in a simple ponytail. I was now more normal looking. Except my soaking wet shirt and my lack of shoes. I put the brush back after removing the hairs. I headed to the back of the store and found a bathroom. I was in luck. It was a single person bathroom. And it had an electric dryer. I closed the door and locked it. After removing my shirt, I held it under the dryer and spent a while drying it. I only worried that a line would form. When I left there was only one person waiting for the restroom, she hurried in and I left the store. Now I just needed some shoes. As I explored the town I considered my options. It would be stupid to stay here, but they would know that too. It was actually the perfect place to hide in the fact that they wouldn't expect me here. I just needed money and a place to stay. That was going to be difficult. I eventually found a thrift store. Instead of going in, I went around to the back where the donations were. I picked out a pair of shoes from the boxes that wouldn't seem to obvious. I didn't have any socks, but no one would notice that unless they looked. I headed back towards the port, thinking that that would have the most job opportunities. Maybe I could work on a ship. Something, anything would do. I passed a small diner and noticed a Help Wanted sign. I felt the urge to check this out and went in. It was a broken down diner. A few sailors were scattered around, but it didn't look like the diner was surviving very well. I inquired about the job anyways. The job turned out to be perfect. The woman and her husband ran this diner by themselves, and couldn't handle the work load. They needed a waitress and dishwasher, but they couldn't afford to pay anyone. So they offered me an exchange of room and board for my services. This was perfect. I applied using my dead mother's name and was hired. She apologized several times on the way up the stairs to where my room would be. It was tiny. The bed sat beneath a small window and took up most of the wall. I didn't mind. She apologized for the conditions, but I assured her it was perfect. I loved it. She showed me where to find the soap and aprons. "I wish I could pay you, but you'll get tips. And I'll try to give you whatever I can in payment. It won't be money, but...my dear don't you own any clothes?" I was embarassed, and didn't know how to answer. I felt guilty for lying. "I'm on summer break," I said. "I forgot all my clothes on campus. I'll get them later. I'm sorry." She smiled. She had some old things I could borrow until I could go get my clothes. I thanked her. The job was actually very entertaining. The customers were all sailors who came in regularly when they were in port. They had wonderful stories. Once they learned I was an actress they insisted that I preform for them daily. More people came after my first performance. I wasn't famous or anything, but I brought in enough people to keep the little diner going. One particular young gentleman came in everyday. He always ordered the same thing, but he never spoke more than to order. Once I learned his order, he had no reason to speak at all. He always tipped very well though. So I always smiled. One day while I was working, the sailors insisted on a performance. "Sing!" they said. I shook my head. "No I don't sing very well. Please no." They were all in on it now. I loved my sailors. "I...I can't play the piano. You guys don't want me to sing without accompaniment now do you?" I was being backed toward the small piano in the corner, where I usually did my stand up routines and monologues. I heard a beautiful tune and turned to see my silent patron playing. He smiled for the first time since he had entered the diner. I didn't know what to do. I was out of excuses, and my sailors kept up their pleading. "Alright, one song! But never again!" I said. I asked the man if he knew "Brandy". He nodded that he did. It was one of the few songs I knew all the words too that had anything to do with the ocean. I sang alright, but not spectacular. Then again I never thought I sang very well. The sailors loved it though. They applauded very loud and I got extra tips that day. I used the money to buy more clothes and to pay back the stores I had borrowed from. Including the thrift store. The man still never spoke, but he smiled back at me now when he came in. But the sailors were true to their words. They never asked me to sing again, but they sure would enjoy it iffin I felt the inklin' to do it again. I wasn't sure what my plan was, but I knew I would need money. And I just wasn't making enough on tips. So morning I woke up early and went in search of a second job. No one was interested, but I begged anyways. I eventually made my way to a bar. The sailors always came here at night, and a few of them were my "friends" from the diner. The barkeeper had heard about me, but he didn't need a waitress. "I hear you sing. I'd be willing to pay you to sing. It'd just be for a few hours every night. Say 10 to 1? That's when we are busiest anyways," he asked. I really needed the money, but I didn't have the confidence nor the experience for this job. "I don't know that many songs. And I'm not very good," I said. He shrugged. "You can learn. They're all too drunk to notice how good you are anyways. They just to see you." I agreed. He made me sing "Brandy" for him once just to make sure, before he agreed. I now was working two jobs, and my silent patron started showing up at the bar one night and keep coming every night after. The dreams started at one point, I don't remember when.... Ack I need more room! Part Four I guess... |