Laura got to East Central Florida at exactly 9am. She had slept most of the way so she hadn't seen the road the train took to get to Florida. She had never come out before so she had been hoping to see places as she left. Oh well, so much for that. She alighted from the train with her bag firmly on her shoulder. She breathed in the fresh florida air and took in her surrounding. The sunshine state!!! She stopped a taxi, getting in she requested the driver to take her to the Lake Buena Vista. She asked the driver to take her to a motel there. She would crash in a hotel for a couple of days while she scouted for a place and job. She had it all planned out.
The taxi stopped infront of an old building. LOLITA'S MOTEL was written in bold letters on a board very close to the building. She paid the driver and got out. When she walked into the motel the fresh aroma of pancakes and bacon hit her nostril. It suddenly reminded her that she hadn't had any decent meal since she left Colorado.She wasn't sure what she was supposed to do so she just stood there for a little while until a woman came out of one of the rooms and walked towards her.
"Hello dearie. How may I help you" the woman asked her. Laura noticed that she sounded Mexican.
"I need a place to stay. Is there....a...uh..a spare room" Laura stammered.
"Of course dearie. There's enough room. Bless your soul" the woman replied. She smiled the whole time.
Well I don't feel blessed right now, Laura thought to herself.
"I'll like to stay for a couple of days"
"That's no problem dear. I can get that arranged for you". Laura heaved a sigh of relief. She was glad she wouldn't have to find somewhere else. "Come with me" the woman added. Laura followed her down the hall.
"Are you new in town?" The woman asked as they passed different rooms.
"Yes" Laura replied nonchalantly. She wasn't ready to engage in conversations with people just yet.
"What's your name dear?"
Bloody hell!
"Suzanne" she replied hoping the woman wouldn't hear the lie in her voice.
"Okay Suzanne this is where you'll be staying. Does it look good enough?" The woman said as soon as they stopped infront of a particular room. She didn't seem to notice the lie, if she did she didn't show it.
"Yeah. I guess this could work"
"Just relax dear. I'll send someone up to get you something to eat. Do you like pancakes Suzanne?"
"Yeah I would love some"
"Good. Just get settled. I'll send some in"
"Thank you"
"You're welcome miss Suzanne....?"
"Burndy. Suzanne Burndy".
It had been three days since Laura had lodged into the motel. The woman who'd ushered her in had made sure she was comfortable. She had also found out that the woman's name was Lolita, Lola for short and she was the owner of the motel. Laura hadn't stepped out of the room in the three days she had moved in there. She didn't want to get into any kind of conversation with any stranger. Lolita had tried holding longer conversations with her but she always shrugged or replied in monosyllabic words. She knew lying to Lolita about her name wasn't such a nice thing to have done but she couldn't risk everyone knowing her name. Words could get back and if she ever got caught she would suffer bitterly.
I'd rather die than let that happen, Laura thought to herself.
As much as she knew that it was nice to just stay indoor forever and do nothing, she knew she couldn't. She didn't have the luxury to just stay indoor. She had to find a place to stay and then find a job in that particular order before she looses all the money she came to Florida with. She had already freshened up for the day and she already had breakfast. She decided to go talk to Lolita. If she needed to start afresh in this new town she needed all the help she could get. But she reminded herself not to fully trust anyone. Lolita was taking down a steaming kettle from a gas cooker when Laura walked into the dinning. The room was filled with lots of chatter from people she had never met before. Everyone turned to watch her as she stepped into the room. She ignored the pairs of eyes watching her and headed straight to Lola.
"Hey there" she greeted. She really didn't know what to say.
"Hello dear. I thought you'd never come out of that room of yours. How are you doing today?" Lola replied cheerily.
"Am good. Thanks for asking" when Lola just nodded and kept on with what she was doing Laura realized that she had to start this conversation herself. Lola must have gotten the hint that she wasn't ready to hold conversations over the past few days. "Um..Lola...I have something to ask you....do you know if there's any place I could rent. I need a place to stay. I can't keep staying here forever" she asked. Besides it would be easier for me to get caught if I stay in a motel, she mentally reminded herself.
"Of course there is. Down the lane. There's a house up for sale there. The owner moved to another town. Am sure you'll love the place"
"Wow. Ok. Thanks"
"Are you starting afresh here?"
"Yeah. But first I need to settle before I get a job"
"But you came with just a small bag?"Lola queried. Laura sighed. This was the reason she didn't want to start a conversation with anyone. Questions could be asked.
"It's all I need" Laura replied.
"Don't worry dear. Everything will be just fine. You have Jesus with you. As long as Jesus is with you, you are gonna be alright" Lola told her.
Laura did her best to maintain her smile. This was another reason she didn't want conversations. She certainly didn't want to hear anything about Jesus. He wasn't for her anymore. She didn't want Jesus. She just wanted a house and a job.
"Thanks Lolita" Laura said and walked away.