Shattered Dreams
Harriet gatherers her belongings and grasps a small assortment of pennies and dimes into her weary brown hands as the bus drew up to a standstill, she slowly makes her way down the aisle carefully handing them over to the driver. As she steps off the bus and into the crisp, dark night she pulls her coat tighter around her body to shelter her from the cold. Ordinarily, the few cents she saves by walking extra blocks is worth the sacrifice, but tonight the frost-bound wind combined with the extra hours spent working makes her tired body and aching and feel older than its 22 years.
She turns down dimly lit street indicating she was almost home and trudges her way across the uneven grass onto the small concrete pathway leading to her door. Harriet pushes open the creaking door, closing it with a loud bang behind her. A small voice followed by the scuttle of feet is heard seconds before two small arms wrap around the top of her thighs. For a brief moment Harriet allowed herself to be caught up in the comforting feeling of acceptance, but as she let go she felt the walls closing in around her once again.
“You look tired ma'ma, how was work?” The quiet voice whispers softly.
Harriet looks down into the angelic face …show more content…
Ya’ll promised me we’d take care of each other through everythin’, no matter how tough it may be, but now you’re just throwin’ everythin’ away because you're disappointed ya ain’t able to support me.” Harriet felt the anger rising up as she took another step closer toward him. “I’m disappointed too you know, disappointed I had to drop out, disappointed I ain’t able to last on my own, but mostly, disappointed I spend my days looking after rich white folk’s children when I can’t even find the time to prepare for the child I am going to
Harriet gatherers her belongings and grasps a small assortment of pennies and dimes into her weary brown hands as the bus drew up to a standstill, she slowly makes her way down the aisle carefully handing them over to the driver. As she steps off the bus and into the crisp, dark night she pulls her coat tighter around her body to shelter her from the cold. Ordinarily, the few cents she saves by walking extra blocks is worth the sacrifice, but tonight the frost-bound wind combined with the extra hours spent working makes her tired body and aching and feel older than its 22 years.
She turns down dimly lit street indicating she was almost home and trudges her way across the uneven grass onto the small concrete pathway leading to her door. Harriet pushes open the creaking door, closing it with a loud bang behind her. A small voice followed by the scuttle of feet is heard seconds before two small arms wrap around the top of her thighs. For a brief moment Harriet allowed herself to be caught up in the comforting feeling of acceptance, but as she let go she felt the walls closing in around her once again.
“You look tired ma'ma, how was work?” The quiet voice whispers softly.
Harriet looks down into the angelic face …show more content…
Ya’ll promised me we’d take care of each other through everythin’, no matter how tough it may be, but now you’re just throwin’ everythin’ away because you're disappointed ya ain’t able to support me.” Harriet felt the anger rising up as she took another step closer toward him. “I’m disappointed too you know, disappointed I had to drop out, disappointed I ain’t able to last on my own, but mostly, disappointed I spend my days looking after rich white folk’s children when I can’t even find the time to prepare for the child I am going to