Chapter Four

Loading boxes into the back of their station wagon on Friday morning, Noelle still wasn't sure where she and the kids would spend the night. She had already checked the three shelters in town; they were full and it wasn't even noon. Just in case, she piled their blankets and pillows into the back seat instead of boxing them.

Mr. Rossi failed to be sympathetic when she approached him earlier to ask for another week. He threatened to get a deputy if she didn't either pay up or clear out.

Noelle packed their personal belongings and the few nonperishable food items from the cabinet. Placing the kids' favorite toys in a small box, she set them on the back floorboard for easy access. Maybe it would help Rachael and Kenny to know their things were close.

By noon, she and her children were homeless. Biting her lip while fighting back tears, Noelle drove away from the old building. A wreck of a place, it had at least provided a roof over their heads and a place to sleep and eat. Now, they didn't even have that.

Driving aimlessly, Noelle realized she was in front of the diner where she met gum-popping Charlotte a few days before. I know it won't do any good, but I might as well go in and ask if she heard anything about a job. The diner was busy with Friday shoppers, Noelle saw, as she slid onto a stool at the counter.

"Be with you in a minute, Hon," Charlotte called out, bustling from table to table, refilling drinks from the water and tea pitchers she carried.

"Take your time, I'm fine," Noelle told her with a little wave. She watched in awe as Charlotte took money at the register, carried food-laden plates to a table, cleaned another table, and took an order almost without stopping. Her movements told of years of practice and experience. At that moment, Noelle envied Charlotte her sureness of her role in life and her security.

"Coffee?" Charlotte was putting a cup on the counter as she asked.

"I can't today, but... Could I have a glass of water, please?"

"Sure thing, Noelle...was it? Took this old mind a minute, but I remembered." The waitress smiled at her.

Noelle smiled back and nodded. "And you're Charlotte. Did... Did you hear anything about a job I could...?"

"Sorry, ain't no jobs to be had around here right now... But I'm keeping my ears open for you. Never thought I'd see things this bad around here, again. After we got over the textile mills shutting down, we thought things were picking up, 'til lately." Charlotte placed a glass of ice water with a slice of lemon on the rim in front of Noelle and moved away to take care of another customer.

Noelle sipped from her glass and watched people come and go for a while. She and Charlotte chatted whenever the waitress had a minute. Noelle showed her pictures of Kenny and Rachael, and then Charlotte pulled out pictures of four grandchildren. They moved to California for their father's work and Charlotte missed them. There was something nice in sharing a normal conversation with another adult.

"Tell you what, Noelle. Things is gonna be busy here tomorrow. Ed's making his special barbeque and that means piles of dishes from noon 'til closing. Why don't you bring the kids by near noon tomorrow? Ed and I'll feed all of you and give you a few dollars if you want to wash dishes so they don't pile up. All I can offer you right now, Hon."

"I'll... I'll take it, but only if you really need the help. I mean..." Noelle's voice trailed off. She didn't know quite what to say.

"I know exactly what you mean. And I definitely can use the help." She leaned a little closer and whispered, "Ed won't admit it, but he can use the help too. Me and him are getting a little long in the tooth, in case you hadn't noticed." Charlotte winked and blew one of her big bubbles, letting it burst with a loud pop.

"Charlotte! Quit that," Ed roared from the kitchen.

Noelle couldn't help laughing along with most of the other customers. "I'll...no, we'll be here by noon tomorrow... And thanks, Charlotte."

* * * * *

Slipping into the seat of her car, Noelle sat looking at the faded, but clean, exterior of the diner in front of her. Well, that's food and a few dollars I don't have to worry about. Every little bit helps.

The temperature wasn't supposed to get any lower than the mid-forties during the night according to the weather report on the car radio. It will be cold, but huddled together under the blankets and with pillows piled around, we should do okay, Noelle thought, as she made the decision for them to spend their first night without an apartment in the car. The next question was a safe place to park so she wouldn't have to stay awake and watch over them. If she were going to stand up and wash dishes, she'd need the rest. Keeping an eye out for a good location, she headed for the school to pick up the kids.

Down a side street was a large church parking lot with rows of street lights, which she thought looked like a good prospect. Closer to the school was a small office complex with a large parking area at one end. But as she neared, she saw No Loitering signs tacked on light posts and crossed the office parking lot off her mental list.

As Kenny and Rachael pushed stuff aside and clambered into the back seat, Noelle even considered the school as a possible overnight parking spot.

"We got kicked out, didn't we, Mom?" Rachael asked, once she was buckled in.

"I'm afraid so, Rachael. But we've always wanted to camp out, so tonight we're going to...sort of." Noelle tried to make it sound like an adventure. "There are peanut butter sandwiches in a bag back there for your snack and some juice in my thermos. You'll have to share."

"Where are we gonna camp? Are we gonna build a fire? And sleep in a tent? Can I pee in the woods?" Kenny bounced on the seat in excitement.

Noelle couldn't help but laugh at his exuberance. "For tonight, we'll have to sleep in the car. We don't have a tent, you know. And I don't think so, about the fire. The police probably wouldn't want us to do that. But you might get to potty behind a tree," she told him. That brought up an interesting problem. What were they supposed to do about bathroom visits? And washing up? How did the homeless people manage?

"Awww, Mom. That's not real camping..." Kenny complained before stuffing his mouth with peanut butter covered bread.

* * * * *

Noelle let the kids play in the park until dark. Thankfully, they would not have to get up for school in the morning. She stopped at the local market and they all trooped to the restrooms. She gave the kids explicit instructions about washing up while they were there. Then she purchased a large, marked down, submarine sandwich and a quart of milk for their supper. They sat at one of the tables in the deli and ate, passing the milk around. The lady at the deli-counter gave Rachael and Kenny a cookie each before they left.

The streets were fairly busy with cars as Noelle drove to the church parking lot. She found a spot beneath a street lamp at one end of the property where they would be out of the way, and hopefully, unnoticed. Noelle made a bed for her children in the back seat and tucked them in.

When they protested going to bed so early, she told them, "We're not going to sleep. We're going to keep warm and have story-time. Each of us will tell a story until we get tired. I'll go first." After locking the car doors, Noelle settled in the front seat while telling them about the diner, Charlotte, and Ed. Before too many stories were told, the kids drifted off to sleep.

Noelle smiled at the sight of them and snuggled into her blanket. The last thing she saw before nodding off was the cross, backlit from a floodlight, way up high on top of the church steeple.

"Lord," she whispered, "I'm trusting in You to take care of us." She was filled with a moment's inner warmth, even while sitting in an old car, homeless and alone, except for her two precious children.