Her Time to Shine

Her Time to Shine

Pamela Weber has had a tough life since she was born. She never knew her biological mother. The only thing the nuns told her was that her mother was a teenage girl, that left her on the steps of St. Mark Lutheran Church in New York. She was adopted by a well to do family named the Morgans. When she was thirteen years old the father Joshua molested her and Pamela told her teacher Mrs. Wilson what happened. After an investigation took place, Pamela was taken out of the Morgans home. The father was arrested and the other three children under their care was also taken away. She was placed back into the system until she turned eighteen years old. She began hanging out with other homeless teenagers on the street. Pamela got arrested for the first time for stealing fruit outside from a local vendor. After getting out of jail she hooked up with an older man named Reese. He was really good to her for several months then started beating her up. Pamela ended up marrying Reese and having two children. After the children were born, Reese started hanging out in the strip clubs. Pamela was afraid to confront him because she knew he would beat her up for the littlest thing. She became for close to her mother-in-law Mary. Her and the kids were over to Mary house daily.

“I don't know why you still with him,” said Mary. “He's no good to you honey.”

“I love him,” said Pamela. I believe he will change his ways soon.”

“He won't change baby,” said Mary. “Karma will get him sooner than he thinks.”

Mary opened up a large pot that was cooking on the stove. The steamed rushed up into her face fogging up her glasses. She began chopping up onions, peppers and carrots for the stew. The smell cast an aroma of goodness throughout the whole house. The children were in the bedroom asleep.

“You are going to stay for supper?” asked Mary.

“Oh, yes,” said Pamela.

Pamela didn't want to tell her mother-in-law about Reese losing his job. She was glad that he had paid the utilities for the month. After supper, Mary sent the children to the bedroom to watch television.

“Is there something you want to tell me?” said Mary.

“No,” said Pamela.

“I already know about Reese losing his job at the plant,” said Mary.

“Really?” asked Pamela. “I was too ashamed to tell you.”

“His friend Royce told me when it happened,” said Mary. “I got a number for you to call.”

Mary got up from the couch and went into her bedroom. Pamela could hear her opening up a drawer. She came out of the room with a piece of paper in her hand. She handed it to Pamela.

“Call this number tonight when you get home,” said Mary. “She'll be expecting your call.”

“Thank you,” said Pamela.

It was after 8:00 pm. Pamela wanted to get home before Reese got there. As she pulled into the driveway, she could see that she was the first one home. She quickly got the children out the car and went into the house. Pamela told Riley and Anthony to go upstairs and change for bed. She sat on the couch in living room and took out the number Mary had given her. She picked up the phone and began to dial the number.

“Hello,” said the voice.

“May I speak to Janice?” asked Pamela.

'Speaking,” said the voice.

Pamela was surprised because the voice on the phone sounded real deep like a man's voice. She went on the tell Janice that she had gotten her number from her mother-in-law Mary.

“Can you start work tomorrow?” asked Janice.

“Yes,” said Pamela. “What is the job?”

“Waitress,” said Janice. “Do you have reliable transportation?”.

“Yes,” said Pamela. “I'll have to see if Mary will keep my kids.”

“I'm sure she will,” said Janice. “My restaurant is called Ruby's.

“Thanks so much,” said Pamela. “I know exactly where it is.”

“See you at 8:00 am.” said Janice.

Pamela hung up the phone and jumped to her feet excited. She was worried about how they would cover next month bills after Reese got fired. Now maybe she'll sleep a bit better tonight knowing everything will be okay.

Pamela was awakened by sound of the garbage truck emptying her trash can. She sat up in her bed and looked at the clock by her bed. It was 7:00 am and Reese still hadn't come home. The kids were already up eating breakfast cereal. Pamela grabbed her clothes to take a quick shower. She dried off and put her clothes on. There was a strong smell of coffee coming from the kitchen. Pamela knew the kids would ever make coffee. She went into the living room. She peeped out of the window and saw Mary's Cadillac Seville parked in the driveway behind her car. Pamela though to herself that she had the best mother-in-law a girl could ever have.

“I knew you needed me,” said Mary.

“I surely did,” said Pamela. “Reese didn't come home last night.”

“Don't worry about him,” said Mary. “You'll be late for work.”

“Have a nice day mommy!” said the kids.

Pamela kissed both her kids and Mary and headed for work. When Pamela arrived a t Ruby's she could barely find a parking spot. The restaurant was covered up with patrons on the inside and some waiting on the outside to get in to be seated. Pamela parked her car and pushed through the crowd to get inside the door. There standing at the front counter was Janice. She was a tall dark complected woman that wore glasses and a bright toothy smile.

“Good morning,” said Janice. “Here's your uniform.”

Good morning,' said Pamela.

Pamela took her uniform form Janice and went into the changing room. The uniform was a firm fitting pick dress with Ruby's written on the right breast side. Pamela came out of the dressing room and was handed a small notebook with a pencil by another waitress.

“Thank you,” said Pamela.

“You're welcome,” said the waitress.

Pamela quickly went over to one of the tables to take the customers' orders. After 3:00 pm, Pamela finally got a chance to sit down and pour her a cup of coffee. The last customer left at 5:00 pm. It was closing time; the ladies began to clean up the restaurant to go home for the evening. Janice sat at one of the tables counting the cash for the day, placing it into a large plastic bag.

“It was a good day ladies,” said Janice. “I'll see you all in the morning.”

Pamela gathered up her things and followed Janice into her office.

“How did you like it,” asked Janice.

“It was alright,” said Pamela. “Thank you so much for the job.”

“We all take care of our own,” said Janice. “See you in the morning.”

“Good night,” said Pamela.

As Pamela drove into her driveway, she could see two police cars parked in her yard. There was two policemen outside and two inside the house talking to Mary.

“What's going on?” asked Pamela.

“They found Reese dead,” sobbed Mary.

Pamela couldn't believe what she was hearing. She sat down on the sofa and began sobbing. Mary went over by Pamela and comforted her in her arms.

“I hate to ask you ladies,” said Detective Clark. “Is this your husband Mrs. Williams?”

The detective took a picture of Reese from the folder he was holding and laid it out onto the coffee table. Pamela and Mary both took a look at the picture and immediately broke down.

“Okay,” said Detective Clark. “I'll be in touch with you all later.”

“Alright,” said Mary. “I hope you find out who did this to my son.”

“We will Mrs. Williams,” said Detective Clark. “I'm sorry for your loss.”

Detective Clark and the other officers left out the house. There was a lot of planning that needed to be done. Reese didn't bother getting life insurance. Mary didn't have but five thousand dollars in her saving account. Pamela had just started her job and she didn't have penny to her name. Reese's remains were sent to Stanley Funeral home three days after the autopsy was performed on his body. Mary and Pamela met with the funeral director Mr. Stanley. He was a nice short, round man with a big voice. Mary had known him since they were kids in high school. Mr. Stanley understood their hardship and helped as much as he could. Mary had to get the whole five thousand dollars out of her savings account. There still was a balance left of three thousand dollars. Pamela agreed to make monthly payment on the balance until it was paid off. They buried Reese on a Sunday afternoon. It rained all that day until the funeral service began. Mary buried her son next to her husband Robert at Mount Zion Hill Cemetery. The detectives never found the person who killed Reese and his case is still unsolved today. After the burial, the re pass dinner was held at Ruby's Restaurant by Miss Janice.

“You can take off Monday,” said Janice. “I know it has been hard for you.”

“I'll come to work tomorrow,” said Pamela. “I'll just be sad if I stay home.”

“Okay,” said Janice.

Janice gave Pamela a hug. After the re pass dinner, Pamela and her kids stopped at the Sheik convenient store for gas. Pamela went in to buy three sodas and a lottery ticket. She thought to herself it would be a blessing to win some money to pay back Mary and pay off Reese's funeral expenses. She paid the store clerk and left the store. On her way home she stopped by Mary's house first. Pamela wanted to check on Mary to make sure that she was okay. Reese was her only child, and she took it pretty hard at his funeral. Mary was sitting in the living room watching the news when Pamela and the kids arrived.

“How are you doing?” asked Pamela.

“I'm hanging in there,” said Mary. “Y'all got enough food at home?”

“Yes,” said Pamela. “We have plenty of food.”

“That's good,” said Mary.

“We just wanted to check in,” said Pamela. “To see if you needed anything.”

“I'm aright dear,” said Mary.

Pamela gave Mary a hug and she left to take her kids home for the evening. The kids ran past their mother to their bedrooms. Mary turned on the television and kicked off her shoes. She stretched out onto the sofa and pulled one of the couch pillows underneath her head. Pamela picked up her purse off the floor and took out the lottery ticket that she had bought. She sat up and place the lottery ticket onto the coffee table. She took a quarter out of her purse and began to scratch off a few of the dollar signs on the card. She couldn't believe her eyes. On the ticket she matched up three of the dollar's images. It stated that she had won three million dollars. Pamela was so excited that she screamed. It scared the children, and they came running inside the living room to see what was going on. Pamela showed her kids the lottery ticket. They began shouting

and started jumping up and down. Pamela started screaming throwing up her hands.

“Thank you, Jesus!” shouted Pamela.

She called Mary and told her the good news. Monday morning Pamela went to the Sheik convent store to claim her prize. After getting her winnings, she took Mary to the bank to put back her five thousand dollars. She gave Mary five more thousand to add to her saving account. Pamela paid off Reese's funeral expense and her mortgage. When Pamela was a child, she always wanted to go to Disneyland. She could never afford to go, but since becoming a millionaire she can take her own kids and Mary to Disneyland. Pamela, Mary and the kids spent much of the summer traveling. For a young woman who had a hard life in the beginning, she finally has her time to shine in the end.