Wedding Invitation

Just months ago I was in strain searching for a roof over our heads, scrambling the town for an affordable rent which ended up in a dish washer. My phone had gone died from all the calls to people I thought were closed but was to no avail.

"I'm sorry Alice, but I already have a lot in my plate I can't help" one had killed the call on my ears, well I can't say I didn't complained but what was their fault?. Just because I was there for them when they needed help didn't mean they were going to be there for me, plus they owed no obligations to me, it just that the heart expected the same kindness it showed to be done in return.

"Sorry Alice am out of town" that one left me with closed lips, his hands were serving his mouth the sour cream of vanilla extract, shutting his eyes to million experience of the heart. A sweet grin faced on his lips as he called for the waiter to bring him more of what he was having.

Definitely the heart talked the mind from doing anything stupid but it was dead on to a plan. Stabbing my hands on my hips I cleared the throat for attention "Hello again Mr. Sky" his eyes fell on me weaken his nerves to drop the spoon. "Out of town, are we" a tasteless scorned let out, groaning at his stiffed face that was covered in ice cream. He should have at least been honest like the others and tell of his detest in my offered. I was never gonna compelled him even if he owed my father thousand of dollars, I just needed him to refund a thousand of what he owed dad so I could add to the little I had and paid the rent, the due date handed to them after lots of pleads was up. Yet there he was getting a laugh of our situation, taking me for a ride.

" Listen the money I owe your father has been accounted for so don't push my limbs. And I told you I was out of town so you won't be a bug in my bed" the truth finally came out with a blad lie, accounted for, that one lie from a store owner. With all the supplies he got from the company nor he showed account to, but dad didn't pressed on it cause he was a family man of many and him at the time was in constrain with no aid.

The legs retired the hotel without much words from the mouth, the job I had gone there for wasn't given to me as they feared of the stain their hotel would have for hiring the daughter of a fraud.

I couldn't be more thankful to Author, in just a blink of an eye he was able to get an apartment that was to my wallet.

Thou the apartment was located in a crowdy environment with tiny rooms, there was not much to store so the rooms were just enough. Not gonna lie it was hard adjusting at first, the environment was unfair. Crazy neighbors with loud screams, damn it was annoying. Loud music with loud arguments.

"Get your ass over here Tom or I swear your face is gonna get it" even the bag of cotton was exhausted from all the stuffing in my ears, not to measure the constant knocks and kicks of kids on our apartment door. A rock had come trashing in mom's soup through the window, I snapped my eyes out to see the sweetest devil on his feet with crazy hypnotized eyes "sorry" he said running his legs to another path.

Funny how they used to annoy me but didn't anymore, it felt so warming to see their claps of hands in circles, the hop of feet on the drawn boxes with figures. The couples arguments became the rock instrument to my ears, the children pranks were like the first ray of sun, it both beautiful and harsh when contact in the eyes. Guess all I needed was more understanding of the community and its people, unlike the high society that values status the people below valued relations, they lived every moment they had. Not much pressure they placed in earning a wealthy life, they just seek a healthy, average happy life.

"Alice" the husky tone slapped the soul in me, flinching it on its toes. My reflexed hand clapped on my left chest, clutching the heart to rest a slim sigh let out as I titled my head for the kitchen door "yes Mrs. Linda" a frantic smile registered on my lips in picture her graceful face covered in flour, the head covered in bonnet. Odd caused she always in glamorous look.

"Don't address by Mrs., am not that old" her hands pampered her cheeks, scrolling a finger under her bags in check of any wrinkle. "Sure big sis" I said in sarcastic tone earning myself an eye fill of glares.

"I'm only twenty-four, don't make me sound so old" yeah I was the guilty the one. Mrs. Linda the sexy never old woman or so she thought, by nature i

was kind and sweet with little flaw of aging, it was aware by all that worked for her that she was phobia towards aging.

"No problem miss universe you're the best of everything, the evergreen beauty" a cherry pink laid on her cheeks as she lit her eyes to moon night spark. No lie in that she was the evergreen, her beauty grace in sync with her age. Her fame was well known by all in town, her friendly attitude attracted more customers to her small cafe.

She was the first of many that had befriended my mom, her constant knocks and dessert offers couldn't take no from my mom's cold that wanted to drift in her own world. I couldn't be more grateful for her late night drink out with mom or weekends cook outs that warmed her cold heart and lifted her spirit from the shattered ground. She didn't only walked as the guiding angel to our family, she offered me a job at her cafe.

"A complain just came in" oh great what have I done again?', I tried to ring whom I offended in the last few hour I had turned in for my shift. " A customer was dissatisfied with your service to him and his friends" ain't they too demanding, they're always dissatisfied with employees services once you step on their toes.

"I have no clue who is accusing a sweet innocent angel like me" I said framing my hands under my chin with the puppy eyes ever made, company with the pout lips.

"Oh please, what did he do?" Must commend in the last few months she come to know and understand me like that one aunt that knows your devious deeds even before you confess. "He wanted to play with me, so I played along" by played I poured him rich cold coffee on the shirt he claimed to be branded, his eyes went wild as he stood on his legs ,the sneak laugh from his friends added flue to the flame. It wasn't his visit, every time he showed up he would display his abrupt authority over the workers, his filthy hands would slam on female workers butts and would claim to be his reflex and accident, staking and harass calls were his nick names. As he was a notorious small town dealer they feared him and what he would do if he was rejected or reported. "Bitch" he once called a teen after slapping her in the face for rejecting him, the cops were involved in the case but resulted to nothing. He was released the next day of his arrest.

"Was it Bukar?" Her eyes rocked in circles on seeing my nod head.

Those months I came to know a new side of me, I was not the same as before. I wouldn't wait for justice to take course, I would hand it myself.

I was clearly accepting the devil in me and it felt so good.

"That rude brat, he only come here to cause trouble. Next time he comes here with his friends I'll handled them" she need not do that, the street thugs were fund of her and took her as their area mother, with just one call they would put him in his senses and would never have dared to enter her cafe.

We were on the discussion when a man walked in, him in dark short and plain t-shirt with logo on the right pocket. He steadily halted in front of us with a polite look, "Good afternoon, there's a delivery for miss Alice Black" he said taking a brown from his bag, hanged across his chest. "Who is miss Alice Black?" lost ,who could have sent a delivery package to me?, I was certain I did not ordered anything the mind was blurred on anyone that could have send me the package.

"Alice" Linda voice jogged me, taking my eyes on the young man with blank expression. "That would be me" he forwarded his hand to my reach ,revealing a medium slate " please sign here" he said placing his finger to the spot, with that he left the scene with the envelope in my hands. Baffled and

excited I felt, it being long since I received a package. "Go on, open it, let see what's in it".

Just like that I ripped it aparts unveiling it guts within.

"An invitation?" Linda expectation face dropped dead, her tongue clocked with her teeth, strolling to the closet seat to relax her body. I opened the invite card to be flashed with image of them both in traditional attire. My throat gulped a dry saliva with a stingful taste from the cheese burger I had. " Is it your ex and cousin's wedding?" My head nodded in accord.

"They really are something, don't you think?. Clearly they wants to rub salt in your wounds" her teeth squeezed our the highest pitch the ears could bear, stroking her arms on her knee " damn men " her scowled eyes met the invitation in my hand.

"So.. are you attending?"

"I'm not " I told with a trash of the card in the rubber bin.

"Hell no, you're going " her voiced bashed the walls of the Cafe, grabbing the attentions of the few customers that were present. Her feet dropped on the brown rug, stretched her hands for the bin and stole out the card ,with a flicked of the leftover cake that rested on the card.

"Oh look it says you can bring a partner along " she said skimming her eyes through the contents.

When she said she was going to send the invite card I didn't imagine she was going to do it. How did she even got my current address?. "Damn" I cursed my way to the stool.

"Listen child not attending this wedding will have you in regret , go there and show them both what you're made off, show them how strong you've become. Besides such fancy occasions like this must have lots of foods, if not anything let go for the food."

The frown on my face disappeared, I found her jokes little cozy but they were just the right amount to lift the mood. It was that power in her, the ability to find a sliver lining to every situation . I could place her as an optimistic person with her own unique attributes.

"Even if I want to attend I can't, my wardrobe has no dress for such occasion" quick as a fox I found myself a way out, sleeping my eyes to my nails. "Well that those it, am off fur my shift "

"Not so fast" my legs frozen on it pace, turned my eyes to meet the devilish smile ever. " Think you're smart?" her brows crooked, tapping her fingers on her arm " if your only problem is dress then I've gut it covered, you don't have bug your head on it ".

Great, her eyes lit bright like she had waited all her years for that moment. Her hands lent flight to her braids as she leaned for poses in dramatic forms.

"It time the word the world get to see the work of Linda " she said cracking evil laughter which caught up with a hard choke of cough.

" Definitely, this not my role " her words came with a relief breathe and stretch of her back.

"Let go shopping "