Wigs and Wings

                                      Wigs and Wings

Time is on her side she thought this time. Hiding behind her wig, she places the long eyelashes on and dashes some eyeshadow and lipstick to quickly disguise herself. No more running, and as she looks at herself in the mirror. It is as if the mirror talks back to her nodding that it is time. Her suitcase lay on the motel bed. The sheets are folded neatly so there is no trace that she even slept here last night. She grabs a coffee from the local gas station. Making sure to pay with cash, she places the money into the cashier’s hand. She nods and smiles. You don’t look familiar, the attendant says. Just passing through and I needed some coffee for the road. She quickly dashes out. Gracie, as she goes by this time, places her coffee cup in the cup holder and starts on her way. Looking in her rear-view mirror, she makes sure she’s not being followed. Then she looks at herself all made up and says, girl it is time to end this run. 

The next town looks delightful as she looks at her map. Turning down the music on her radio, Gracie uses the turn signal and makes a left. Roadside Motel looks good. Putting her hat on and glasses, she walks into the office and buys herself a night to rest and make a new plan. She unlocks the door and another room just like before. Tired and hungry, she finds a restaurant nearby. Who am I going to be tonight? Mary this time or shall I be Margaret? What does it even matter this time? These people don’t know me. Taking her wig off and letting her own hair fall, she pulls it into a ponytail, she walks to find some food to eat for the night. The light on the restaurant is flashing off and on and she thinks this is just like my life. So many names and places that she has lived. There is a sign that says wait to be seated and so she waits. A kind waitress with her hair all up in a bun, asks her if she is alone. Assuming that she is, the waitress takes her to a corner booth. Will this be ok darling? Gracie nods and sits down in the corner of the booth table. I will be back to get your order, and by the way my name is Kathy. What’s yours? Gracie decides on Mary and tells her that she is just here for the night, Alright, well I don’t want to bother you, but I don’t like it when I see a pretty girl like yourself eating all alone. Gracie tells her that she is ok and hangs her head to read the menu. This night was like all other nights for her. A motel, a restaurant, a kind waitress and a new plan. The doorbell on the front door rings as a new customer comes inside. He looks weathered and worn. The old man looks around and gazes at her. She quickly looks down at the table. The kind waitress named Kathy greets him and walks ahead of him and seats him in the booth next to her. Why did she have to sit him there Gracie ponders? Slowly, she slides around the booth so that he can’t see her face. He takes his hat off and places it on the seat. Hmm, everything looks good. What do you think? Who is he talking to? She thinks to herself.  Gracie just wishes that he would be quiet. Aren’t you tired of running? What did he just say, she thinks? Kathy delivers her food and she begins to eat quickly. Now, he is singing in his booth. Just eat your food Gracie she tells herself. Don’t you like music little lady? She stays quiet hoping that he will leave her alone. She sits and waits for her ticket praying that it comes fast. Well, I don’t know about you but this weather sure is looking bad. I hope that you will be safe tonight and I’m just going to say a prayer for you that your plan for tomorrow takes you to a safe place. Her little hands begin to shake, and she holds them together, so it does not show. Her back is still to the older traveler but that does not seem to bother him. Kathy brings her ticket to her and it shows that it has been paid for. Kathy tells her that the gentleman next to her paid for her meal. Now, she is placed with a decision to simply leave or show her gratitude and thank the man.

She knows that it is the right thing to do to show her gratitude and she stands to her feet and walks over to his booth and tries to hide her tears and thanks the nice man. Reaching for her hand, he tells her that it isn’t a coincidence that they met. I want you to take my card and if you ever need anyone to talk to help you, call me. Grabbing the card, she goes on her way. Back in her motel room, she gathers her thoughts. Maybe it is time to start over. Stop running. As she lays down on the bed, memories run through her head of the past. So many names and so many places. She has almost forgotten who she really is. Gracie reflects to her childhood. There she is playing in the yard, laughing and playing. The smell of warm pie from the kitchen fills her mind. She is young and so innocent. She was born with a name. Her given name was Elizabeth Sue. She was named after her grandmother. She loved her grandmother so much and looked forward to going to her house. She was taken from her little life far too soon. But those memories still flood her mind. She can still see the day that she had to say goodbye. The family stood dressed in black while they placed her into the ground. Momma never told her why she passed but told her that her grandmother got her wings and flew to heaven.  

Her grandfather was a truck driver so she never really saw him much. He was a quiet man who kept to himself and when he lost his wife, he found the roads to be his new friend. He used to pick her up and exclaim, Elisabeth, you are my little angel and he would soar her around the room making her feel like she was flying. Her momma would always say, be careful Ralph, she might fall. I got her, he would say, I will never let her fall. Momma would catch her breath and sigh. She only saw him once in awhile when he would come home from the road. Her childhood years were good ones. But that was cut short when she was only 13. The day that she will never forget was the day that the school principal visited her classroom. After speaking in private to her teacher, she was asked to go with them. That was the longest walk to her office. She wondered what she had done because no one went to her office unless they had done something bad. The principal opened the door and asked her to sit and closed the door behind them. Sweet Elizabeth, I need to tell you something and I want you to know that I am here for you and anything that you need. Your momma and daddy were coming home from the store and were in a very bad accident and I am so sorry to tell you, but they have not made it. She wept so hard that the office personnel heard and were crying. Principal Carol hugged her and held her for quite a while. Carol was truly there for her, she remembered. She helped her through it and even let her stay with her until a foster home was found. 

To cope with her pain, she began to imagine being someone else. After graduating high school, she took a job at the town library. She would check out books on people who took on new identities. If she could erase her memories with a new identity. Every night, she read about people from the past and studied them. In time, she decided to move out of her hometown and make a new life for herself. A day at the thrift store would be just enough to gather items for her plan. 

The sun peeked through the curtains and woke her from her nights rest. She had fallen asleep during her thoughts. Noticing that she had a message on her phone in the motel room, she moved over on the bed to listen to the message. The message simply said, your room has been paid for another night if you would like to stay. Oh, it must have been that old man again. Who is he and why is he being so nice to me? Entertaining the thought of staying, she turned on the television set and sat up in the bed. Well, I need to eat so I guess it couldn’t hurt to go get some breakfast with the money that I saved. Looking at all the wigs that she has worn to hide who she truly was, it hit her hard. Drying her hair, today she decided not to wear make-up and not to wear a wig. She was just going to be Elizabeth Sue. The sun was shining today, and the weather channel said that it was going to be 70 degrees!  Taking a light jacket with her, she walked to the restaurant where she ate her dinner last night. Wondering if she was going to see the old man, she looked around, but he wasn’t in sight. It was a different waitress that met her that morning. Her name badge said, Marge. Well, good morning to you, she said. How many? Elizabeth told her that she was alone and that she would like that corner booth and she pointed to it hoping that it was available. Sure thing, Marge replied. Marge led her to the booth and handed her the breakfast menu. I will give you some time to look it over and I will be back.

Elizabeth nodded and began to check out the menu. Looking around, today seemed quite different as she decided to begin again. No more fake names and personalities. Marge returned as she promised and wrote down her order. It was a little busier today and the parking lot had a few more cars. When Marge brought Elizabeth the ticket, she asked what are you doing in our little town? Traveling though she replied. Is there anything to do while I am here? Oh, darling there isn’t much to do here but I can tell you that we have the best hiking trails around in this area and it’s not far from here. Taking that thought in, she paid her bill and walked back to her room. Still pondering about the old man, she decided to take a try at the hiking because what could it hurt? Her room was paid for another night. 

Finding some tennis shoes to wear, she gathered her things and drove to the trails that Marge told her about. It was a perfect day. The sun was out, and the trees were a bright green and she could even hear the birds singing a tune. The road turned into rock and she could see the signs ahead that led her to the different trails. Cars were parked and so she felt that this was a good one to try. Water in hand, she began to walk. People passed her by, and some said hello. If you keep going, one lady said, there is a waterfall down there. Thank you, she replied. The trails were easy to walk and a but windy, but it was pretty, and she felt as if she was meant to come here today. She was Elizabeth today and that felt good. The sounds of the waterfall were gaining, and she could sense that she was getting closer. Her heart was beating faster from her walk and she knew that soon she could sit down and take a rest. The sign said waterfall ahead. Each step almost felt as if she was erasing the past. It was like a new journey was upon her. The sound of the waterfall was very near. Taking another drink from her water, she said a prayer, if there is a God, please help me find my true self and forgive me for trying to be someone else. She could hear the waterfall and suddenly, there it was just as the signs said.  She stepped onto the water and refreshed herself from her walk. Finding a large rock to sit on, she rested.

 It was quiet. Just the stillness of the water danced around her feet. Suddenly, she heard feet. Turning to see what it was. There stood the old man from the restaurant. I hope that I didn’t scare you. I just wanted to come and say hello. I heard your prayers as you walked, and I wanted to reply. Elizabeth is short of words as she listened. He reached out and held her hands. I have a great plan for your life, and I have been there all along. Trust the plan and throw away the past and I will help you rebuild your life. As soon as he said his last word, he was gone. She stood up straight. Where did he go? Was that God? She listened to the birds sing and she looked up to the heavens. She closed her eyes and said a prayer. If that was you, thank you. Her walk back up the trail was easy and not difficult as she had thought it would be. She felt happiness that she hadn’t felt in so long. On her way back to the motel, she decided to take all her wigs and donate them to a local charity. It felt like she was releasing the pain of the loss of her parents and the names that she carried were gone as well. He heart felt lighter and she began to smile. I don’t have to hide anymore. There is a plan, a new plan and I am going to embrace it. 

Elizabeth made the town her home. It was where she belonged. She works at the restaurant on the weekends and whenever she sees a weary traveler she pays for their bill and on the ticket, she writes, God has a plan for your life, and I pray that you find it. Find your wings and fly!