Angel's Point of View
Knock Knock.
Knock Knock.
Knock Knock.
The world around me blurred as my eyes refocused from my nap time. I jolt my torso up, stretching my arm across my body as I shift my legs off the bed. Dangling from the bed I push up with my hands leaping off the bed. Rubbing my eyes I shuffle my exhausted body towards the door where someone is knocking.
Knock Knock, the noise echoed throughout the room louder than before.
I start to hurry myself along, reaching the door and twisting the waxed knob I open it revealing an older-looking woman with dark grey hair put up in a braided ponytail. The dark brown eyes of the lady moved her judgemental eyes up and down studying my body. My yawn breaks the silence letting me ask a pivotal question to start the conversation, “Hello, is there something you need?”
“Yes dear, are your parents here?” The lady asks.
“If I may ask why do you wish to speak to them?”
“The checkout time was several hours ago, you will need to leave now or pay for another night. Now may I ask to see your parents?”
“Um…So my parents aren’t actually here my older brother and I checked in together last night but he is fast asleep.”
“Wake him up I need to speak with him.”
Starting to get a spring in my energy I respond, “Yeah so you see I would rather not do that if that's ok. My brother had a very bad day yesterday so I think he needs some extra rest. How much is it for another night?”
The flat tone of the lady said, “I think it would be better to speak with someone older.”
“Haha, I promise that I’ll be able to handle it! You see my brother got hurt pretty bad last night so I really don't want to wake him up. Please just tell me how much we owe.”
The face of the old hag contorts into an annoyed reaction, why? Why is my money not worth the same because I am younger? What type of stupid logic is that?
“Ma’am I promise I can help you with whatever you need please just tell me what we owe.”
Relenting the hag lets out a sigh, “$150.”
The shock on my face could not be more obvious! I forgot that this place is expensive! Like how can it be this expensive? Maybe it is smarter to wake Jack up and we just find somewhere cheaper….that is so much money holy molly. Glancing at my brother I make a decision, hopefully he won’t be mad… “Give me one second ma’am.” I gently close the door and walk further into the room. Searching the pockets of the duffle bag I find all sorts of clothes, food, and my mom’s jewelry. Why did my brother pack my mom’s jewelry? Oh my God, these earrings are so pretty! Wait is this my birthday gift? Is Mom finally letting me dress up?! Oh no, I’m getting sidetracked. Where is that money?
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I search high and low in every nook and cranny but I just can’t find any money. Defeated I look at my brother watching his stomach rise and fall as his breathing quickened for a moment. I walk towards the door.
Sulking I walk towards the door, “Ma’am I can not find the money that my brother had earlier.” Hesitantly I pull something out of my pocket, “Would it be possible to pay with these earrings instead?”
A piercing gaze swept over me, my anxiety going through the roof. Moving her hand to her chin the lady is in thought for a moment, almost as if studying my every movement. She opens her mouth, “Did you steal this young lady?”
“Steal? STEAL? No way I stole this! These are my mother’s earrings! Why would you think I would steal?!”
“Calm down. You and your brother walk in here in the dead of night and you have expensive jewelry it is not out of the ordinary to believe you are thieves based on your age. You mention your mother if this is her jewelry where is she then?”
“I don’t know ok?! The last thing I remember is my Mom tucking me in bed and wishing me an early birthday next thing I know my brother on the outskirts of town wakes me up! Did you know my brother was dripping blood everywhere? I don’t know what is going on all I know is that my brother is hurting and I am begging you just to let us stay until he wakes up. I know these earrings are expensive but $150 is a lot of money I don’t have that just lying around and I don't know if my brother has it and if he does I don't know where he is keeping it! I do not want to wake him up so please just take the earrings and let him sleep in he needs the rest. Just please.” Gasping for air I nervously look at the lady making long-winded eye contact with her lifeless eyes. A pin drop could break the silence that rose after my pleas.
My restless body began to move on its own under the lady’s gaze. My discomfort and anxiety just make me want to scream and shut the door. To run away from this lady. She still hasn’t answered me yet all she is doing is staring at me, studying me, intimidating me. Eventually, that pin drop finally came but it was no pin, it was the same flat-toned voice I have heard time and time again, “You can put the earrings away. Go get dressed I’ll be keeping an eye on you for now and you can help me with some chores to pay for the extra night. When your brother wakes up I’ll be having a much-needed chat with him. Now hurry up I’ll be waiting right outside this door for you.”
Relief floods my body I would burst into joyous tears right now but I do not want to give this lady another thing to judge me on. Putting my chin up I look up at the lady and move into a bow,
“Thank you! Please give me a few minutes.”