The Fall

When your stomach hurts truly hurts from lack of food you'd be surprised what you'd do. Layla gets to her feet than yanks the blanket away from the side of the couch. Her younger sister April is still sound asleep on the other end of the couch. Layla yawns. She heads into the narrow kitchen which is directly across from the living room.

The microwave clock reads 6:15 but its blinking. Layla passes it on her way to the sink. She wonders if the power went off while they were sleeping or if her Mom stopped billing the bill. Layla is sickening by the brown water dripping out of the faucet but its all they have lately. She reaches for a nearby paper cup, turns on the faucet and fills it up. She takes a drink and its much worse than it was yesterday. Layla starts to cough. She spills the rest of the brown sorta gray liquid down the drain. In the bathroom Layla runs a brush through her head of black curls.

She can hear someone cursing outside. Its most likely the couple next door. A man and woman who seem to go at all the time. He is older than Layla and Aprils Mom. He has streaks of gray running through his hair and a long messy facial hair. The woman is tall, skinny as a rail with a pointy nose, thin lips and flaming maroon hair. Layla sometimes talks with her in the alleyway or in the laundry room of the apartment complex. Today she just wishes they would shut up so April can sleep little longer.

Layla coughs again. The water should help with the hunger pains but its far too filthy to enjoy. Layla opens the pink hamper beside the bathtub and reaches inside for a shirt. She puts it to her nose takes a whiff and then tosses it on top of the dirty vinyl floor. She reaches inside again and pulls out a black tee shirt. It has one small stain from pizza they shared days ago but it doesn't smell rank. She strips out of her green tank top and pulls the black tee over her head.

Layla covers April with the blanket they shared the night before. Then she finds the remote for the TV puts it on cartoons, lowers the volume and walks to the front door. She looks back at her little sister. Today is the day. No more listening to April cry herself to sleep at night. Layla takes a deep breath. She unlocks the door looks back at her sister and then heads out for the day. She locks the door behind her.

****

A man is snoring on the stairs as Layla passes him. She walks slowly and tries not to disturb him. He has slept in here before. He wears an green army jacket that smells of smoke. She is outside on the sidewalk and its much hotter today. Its hard to know what time it is without a watch. Layla picks up the pace as she notices some shady characters on the street up ahead. She turns right and continues until she spots the deli slash grocery up ahead. Layla stands beside the window and chews on the skin around her finger nails. She waits until a woman arrives with two small children beside her.

Layla enters directly behind them. The four of them walk down an aisle together. The mom has a red basket in her hand and picks up a box of cereal that both children desperately want. "Please Mommy, please.?" They sing in unison. The woman reads the sticker price and places in the basket. "Ok, you can both have one candy bar each. Go pick it out and don't take too long." The boy and girl take off for the candy aisle. Layla stays close behind the woman. Layla reaches in the pocket of her denim shorts and pulls out two dimes, a quarter, three pennies and one nickel. She makes sure the Mom notices.

On the candy aisle, Layla's mouth waters at the sight of chocolate bars, gummy bears, fruit roll ups and packs of bubble gum. Layla walks passed a pack of M&Ms and her stomach growls. Its so loud that a few customers look in her direction. Layla clears her throat out of pure embarrassment. She touches a few more candy bars on her way down the narrow aisle. "Hi, I hope your not here by yourself." Layla looks up and realizes its the Mom of the boy and girl. Layla shakes her head. "Would you like me to buy you something?" Layla looks nervous. "No, that's ok. I'm just here to get bread for my Mom and milk she said we needed some."

"Ok, your a big help to her. She must be very proud. Do you think you have enough?' Layla shakes her head. "I forgot the wallet she always gives me. I had to walk and I only have this much." She opens up her hand and shows the lady her pocket change. "What can I get with this much?" "Well, no milk sweetie. Come with me ok, I'll pay for your things today. Its ok, we can pick it out together. Go on its fine, I have enough." Layla looks scared but reaches for a quart of milk from the nearby freezer. Then she goes and gets some bread as the lady follows making sure Layla can carry it all. At the register she faces her. "Do you need anything else? Maybe some cheese or deli meat? how about some juice?" Layla shakes her head. "No, this is enough. Thank you."

The woman hands Layla a chocolate bar at the counter as the man bags the food. "Is your mom outside? Maybe I can speak with her." "No, she's home with my little sister. They both have the flu so she asked me to come. Thanks again." Layla smiles up at her. The lady pays and tells the children to wait by the door. She hurries down an aisle and returns with two cans of soup. "Here you make sure your Mom and sister eat this. I wish I could've done more. Don't forget your wallet next time." On the sidewalk Layla thanks her again.

****

Layla returns to the apartment. She rushes inside and drops the two shopping bags ontop of the round kitchen table. April runs over to see what food her sister has brought home. Layla takes out a loaf of white bread and hands April a piece. Her sister takes a giant bite. Layla takes the cans of soup to the counter. She finds a large plastic bowl, opens the cans and dumps them inside the bowl. Then she places it inside the microwave and turns it on. Layla returns to the table. April is on her second slice of bread.

"Go slow you'll make yourself sick like last time. Plus this is all we have for the next few days. Im making us lunch. "

"I don't want soup. I want bread, it's yummy and fresh too." April giggles. Layla hates to get upset with her but its all they have. "Well we can have more bread tonight. Im making us lunch and your eating it. Hand me the bread April. " April gives it over though she's not happy about it. The microwave dings. Layla goes to get spoons. The two girls share the soup from the green plastic bowl. Its very good. April smiles at Layla. "How did you get us this?"

" I asked a nice lady in the store and she helped me." April is almost done eating. " When is Momma coming back? Is it warm outside?" " I don't know when she's coming home. Im sorry, I wish I did. Its very warm right now. Ok, it's time to watch TV. You pick out a movie for both of us. " April jumps out of the chair and runs toward the cabinet in the living room. She searches for a movie. Layla brings the bowl and spoons to the sink and drop them inside.

The girls watch The Lion King together. A hard knock on the front door makes Layla nervous. "I'll be right back. Stay here." Layla opens the door and Mr. Butler their landlord is standing there. He's heavy set, going bald and wears thick black glasses. "Hi, is your Mommy home?"

"Yeah, she is. But she's asleep. " Layla comments. "Well, I need to speak with her. Could you go wake her?" Layla starts to panic. If he knows they are alone what will he do? " I'm not supposed to wake her. She's very sick it might be the flu."

"Ok, well the rent money is due this Friday. Can you tell her I was here? And remember I need my money. Make sure you tell her. " He marches off. Layla shuts the door. April is worried too. Layla tells April to finish watching the movie. Layla puts her shoes back on.

****

She heads for the laundry room. The machines are running but no one is inside. Layla sits in a hard blue chair and waits. It feels like a very long time. When no one walks in she decides to go find someone. She runs up the stairs to the third floor and waits by apartment 315. After almost ten minutes she knocks. The door is opened by the red headed lady. " Hey Layla, how you been?"

" I'm ok. I need to ask you something. "

" For your Mom? Does she need flour or sugar again?" Layla shakes her head. " No, she needs nothing. I need your help please. We don't have the rent money. " Together the walk downstairs. Kelly the red headed woman tells Layla what they are going to do. Layla agrees. Knowing there's no other choice. They return to the store. Kelly waits on the sidewalk and Layla hurries inside. The owner is behind the counter. "Hey, how come you keep coming in here?" He wants to know. Layla grins. " Its hot outside and I just want some ice-cream. "

She goes to the freezer and takes out a quart of ice-cream. She is walking through the store and then suddenly drops the container out of her hands. Ice-cream goes everywhere

The owner is furious. He runs over and points at the humongous mess. " Look at what you've done! What a bad little girl you are!" Layla pretends she's about to cry. He heads for the stock room. Layla lifts her right hand up and Kelly sees it from the sidewalk. She runs inside and lands in the puddle of ice-cream on the tile floor. She holds her back and screams out in pain.

The owner returns with a mop and paper towels. He tries to help Kelly up. " Don't touch me! I need a doctor. Call someone for me!" He looks annoyed but calls for help. When they hear sirens coming outside, he goes in the street to meet them. Kelly tells Layla " Hurry up. You don't have much time. Go on!" Layla is terrified. But she goes behind the counter and pushes buttons on the register. Nothing happens. "Its not working. "

"Look for a big green button and press it hard." Layla does what Kelly tells her to and it works. The drawer pops open. Layla has never seen so much money. She reaches for a few piles and puts them inside a brown paper bag. Layla hides until the store is full of EMTs and police for Kelly. When it's safe she sneaks out. On the way home Layla does a happy dance.

****

Layla finds a purple duffle bag inside her Mom's closet and puts all the money inside of it. She tells April they're taking a trip. The girls walk to the train station. April waits on a bench with the bag beside her and Layla calls their grandma. "Nanna, it's Layla. We need your help. Momma never came home. Can we stay with you?" "Yes, of course you can. Do you remember how to get here?" Layla thinks.

" I think so. You live in New Jersey. West field right?" " Yes, baby that's correct. Take the train to west field and try and call me when you arrive." " I'll try my best. I borrowed this phone from a friend. I miss you so much. We both do." " I know and ill be waiting for you. Stay together you can't trust people. Ok, get your tickets now. I love you Layla your brave you know that. Don't let go of Aprils hand. Call me later. "

Layla returns to April. "I have the best news. We're going to live with Nanna, she said it was okay. Let's go. We have enough money for the train. We never have to be hungry again. "