Chapter 3

JENNIE

When you decide to change your life you don’t know if it is going to be for the best or not. When I found that job at the bakery shop in Philadelphia I thought that my luck was turning around. That someone up there really loved us. And as I already said I didn’t care for myself. If my Ella was ok I wouldn’t have a problem if I ate a piece of pizza. I would be happy either way.

A year came so fast. I was still working at the bakery and I was happy. The money was better because they knew my situation and that I had a little child. But it’s not that they were giving it for free. I was working hard to earn these money. I didn’t want them to feel pity for us. I may had a hard life but I was still very proud.

Ella was a beautiful child. Every day I could see Dahee more and more in her. She never met her mom but I made sure she knew who she was and were she came from. She knew that her mommy died and now it was me and her but she couldn’t stop calling me mommy. It felt so warm inside when I was hearing that. I was practically raising her and what is that they say ‘a parent is not someone who gives birth but someone who raise a child’.

We were still staying at the same motel because the money that they were paying me were good but they weren’t enough. I had to pay for Ella’s kindergarden and of course the motel. So it was better than staying on the road. I was working from 7am till 3pm every day. Beside everything that was happening she seemed happy and that’s what mattered the most for me. Maybe she was too young to understand but I could see her smiling and doing whatever a kid of her age would do.

Besides work and Ella, I didn’t have a life. And I didn’t care having one. My old self was nowhere to be found. My co-workers usually asked me if I had someone in my life and all I was saying back was ‘yes. Ella’. They would roll their eyes and tell me that I needed a life because I was still young.

Our bakery was in the historical center of Philadelphia. A very good spot and a lot of people were coming every day to buy their morning muffin or whatever. Mostly business people with their suits and handbags. They seemed so uptied and anxious. Keeping their watch every minute. Some of them were regular clients. Some of them knew us by our names. And other just didn’t seem to care. They didn’t have the time.

Every day at 8am sharp there was a girl or I would say a woman buying three muffins. She was one of the uptied ones. Always checking her watch. From the outside you could see a very beautiful woman. Brunette, nice body but she looked cold. Not easy to talk to. She was always coming inside with her sunglasses, never taking them off. She wouldn’t even say goodmorning. She was asking for her three muffins, she would pay and she would leave. Why she was the one making that special impression to me? I really don’t know. Maybe it was her posture or something. And every day I would be the one who served her. Like today..

I saw her the moment she was outside the shop. She was wearing her grey Dolce & Cabana business suit. Her hair was in a ponytail and of course she was wearing her sunglasses. Sometimes I thought she was trying to hide something.

“Three..”

“I know. Your three muffins. Just a sec. We just got them out.” I said without letting her finish. I couldn’t figure out what she was thinking. If I could see her eyes I would be able to understand but the sunglasses were still on her face.

“7 dollars.” usually she would pay me right away but today she wanted something else.

“Do you make orange juice?”

“Yes, we do.”

“And one of that.” her voice was so cold. From what I could see I would say she was a lawyer. Only lawyers are so cold.

“9 dollars.” she gave me a dollar and told me to keep the change. That was a first and the most I talked to her the last two months.

Of course it was another busy day at work as usual. Nothing exciting happening except my little chit chat with the brunette.

Once I left from work I went to the kindergarden to take Ella home.

“Hey gorgeous. How was your day?”

“It was okay mommy. We painted today.”

“Yeah? And what did you paint baby girl?”

“Our family.” in the sound of that I was scared. But when she showed me the picture I smiled and cried. It was me and her holding hands under a full grown tree. The colors were so bright and even if she was three years old she sure had talent. What made me cry more was when I saw another figure close to the sky smiling. Right next to her she wrote mama and I knew she was talking about Dahee.

“It’s very beautiful sweetie. Very beautiful.” she cupped my face and dried my tears away.

“Mommy why are you crying?”

“It’s happy tears baby girl. Now let’s go. Someone is really hungry because I can listen to your stomach growling”

“No it’s not mommy.” and when she said that I heard her stomach again “Well maybe you are right mommy. I am hungry.”

Since we were still living at that motel I couldn’t cook for us. But I found a Greek restaurant nearby. We were eating there almost every day for a year now and the couple that had the restaurant were the best people I ever met. They loved Ella the moment we stepped our feet inside. I still remember the day.

At that time I didn’t have much money with me. When I looked at the menu it wasn’t that it was expensive but it wasn’t cheap either. At least I couldn’t afford both of us eating well. I remember Mr Yanni, the owner, looking at me and Ella when we were ready to order. Ella wanted spaghetti and I settled with a greek salad. I wasn’t looking good. I wasn’t taking care of myself either. If you could see me you would say that I was starving. If it was for my girl to be healthy I wouldn’t mind. I still remember Mr. Yanni’s words.

“Why don’t you let me make something really tasty for you? What would you like? My wife makes amazing greek meatballs. What do you say? With some fries. Eh?”

“It is very kind of you sir but it’s okay. I am okay.”

“From what I can see you are not dear.”

“I am sorry. I can’t pay for both of us.”

“Don’t worry for that. It’s on the house. So.. what do you think of those meatballs?”

“I.. I..” my stomach growled and I was embarrassed. Last time I ate a real food.. Well..It’s been a while

“I think I got my answer. It won’t be long. In less than 20 minutes Maria will have your food ready”

From that day Ella and I were eating at Apollo’s every day for free. Mr Yanni and Mrs. Maria took us under their wings and I couldn’t be happier.

“Gia sas (hello in greek) my girls. How are you today my little one?”

“I am okay, Mr Yanni. We painted at school today”

“Really? Very nice. Go inside to Mrs. Maria and show her your work.” once Ella left to go find Mr Yanni’s wife we sat at the same table as every day.

“So how are you today Jennie?”

“I am good.”

“How was work?”

“We had a lot of people today. That’s always good.”

“You know that I can help you with finding a decent home you know. I have friends that can help you out.”

“I know and I respect that Mr. Yanni. You don’t know how much it means to me that we are eating here every day. But I want to be able to pay for that house on my own. One day I promise I will pay you for all your kindness. You and Mrs. Maria are really good people.”

“Nah.. It’s nothing. In my village back in Greece we learned to help each other people and give. What Christian-Orthodox I would be? Eh?”

“Not all people are like you.”

“Nonsensess. Now.. Tell me what would you like for lunch today. My wife made an amazing pastitsio today.”

“Hmm.. I can’t say no to Mrs Maria’s pastitsio now. Can’t I?”

“That’s my girl. Maria.. A pastitsio for Jennie and chicken with rice for the little lady.”

I don’t know where we would be if those kind people weren’t there. Things were good for once.