The God That Never Came
After School Program?
I walked out of school and back to the house to get ready for work. Thank god today was a relaxing day with our new music teacher. Mr. Sanders wants us to write a one page letter telling him more about ourselves. He says it's a better way for him to get to know all of us individually. I like the idea but I have to think of something to tell him on paper. Maybe I can figure out something while I'm on break. I walked through the door and Sabrina was already ready for work. I went up to my room and changed and fixed my hair a little and went back downstairs. I grabbed my bag as we left the house and got into the car and she drove us to the diner. Sabrina pulled into a space and we went in and put on our aprons and customers started flowing in.
The people who came in on a regular basis always gave me compliments and gave me great tips. It feels so good to get a positive comment that a negative one. I sat down at the bar and Sabrina came over.
"I meant to ask you how Ms. LaBeck is."
"She announced her retirement today." I said popping my knuckles.
"Retiring? She's such a great teacher and I certainly didn't think she would ever retire. Who is replacing her?"
"A Matthew Sanders." I said as a customer came through the door. I walked over to the table with a menu in hand.
"Hello my name is Octayne and I'll be your server for this evening. What can I get you to drink?" I said politely as I set the menu down in front of him.
"I'll have water please." he looked up at me.
"Mr. Sanders?"
"You work here?" he asked smiling.
"Yeah. I needed a job somewhere and this place is great."
"Seems like it." he said picking up his menu.
"Hey Octayne! How about a refill over here?" I looked up at a customer as he held up his glass.
"Excuse me." I said and I walked over to the table and took the man's glass. Before I could walk away he pulled me down on his lap.
"What time does your sweet ass get off?"
"Just leave me alone." I said trynig to stand but he squeezed my side which made me wince.
"Why? You're such a fine peice of ass." I could feel his breath on my neck and I just couldn't take it anymore. I stepped down hard on the man's foot and he roughly pushed me to the ground.
"You stupid bitch!" He yelled while hovering over me.
"No! Get away from me!" I yelled scooting back away from him. He had the same look as Earl did everytime he would come in and beat me.
"Sir you need to leave." I looked up to see Donny in the man's face and pulling him out of the diner.
"What happened Octayne?" Sabrina said helping me up.
"He grabbed me and....I'm sorry..." I walked out of the diner and sat down on a bench outside. I grabbed my cigarettes from my pocket and shakily lit one. I didn't want anyone to see something I've kept hidden for so many years. Why can't I just get over what they done to me and live my life as normal as possible?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~MATT'S POV~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"What happened Sabrina?" I asked watching Octayne leave the diner and sitting down and smoking a ciagarette.
"I have no idea. I've never seen her freak out like that."
"She wouldn't freak out like that unless...." I said stopping in mid sentence.
"Unless what Matt?"
"She's either been abused or she is being abused." I said looking down at my drink.
"She can't be getting abused."
"Why do say that? You seen the way she just freaked out." I said looking up at her with confusion riddling my face.
"Octayne lives with me."
"She's what?" I questioned.
"She's living with me Matt. Maybe I should explain."
"Maybe you should." I said crossing my arms over my chest.
"2 years ago she walked through that door and sat at the counter. I gave her something to eat and drink and started talking to her like I do with everyone who walks in here. She told me the reason she came out here was because of her parents dying due to a tragic car accident and foster home life wasn't something she could fit into so she packed her things and came here to start a new life."
"And you offered her a place to stay?" I asked drinking some of my water.
"Matt I couldn't let her be on the streets. Besides she a sweet young girl. She helps me out around the house and helps pay for food."
"Yeah I know. Here's an idea. You talk to Donny about her coming in later to work and I'll talk to her about joining my after school program." I said looking out the window. She hung her hed as she smoked and it looked like she was thinking about something.
"After school program?"
"Yeah. I've already talk to the principle about selecting one student to help me after school with things and he thinks it's a great idea." I explained.
"Do you think she'll go for it?"
"I'm pretty sure and maybe...just maybe I can get her to talk to me and open up about what happened today." I stated.
"If you think so. I'll get Octayne and then talk to Donny."
"You still have my number?" I asked smiling.
"Yes and I'll call you." I smiled at Sabrina and watched her go outside and get Octayne. I'll try my hardest to get her to open up about what's bothering her.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Octayne's POV~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I threw the cigarette away as it burned the filter black. I felt a tap on my shoulder and I looked up at Sabrina.
"Time to go back to work?" I asked smiling slightly.
"Yeah and Mr. Sanders wants to talk to you about something that has to do with school."
"Oh...okay." I said walknig back in with Sabrina and went back over to Mr. Sanders table.
"Are you alright?"
"Yeah I'm fine." I said smiling.
"Good."
"Sabrina said you wanted to talk to me." I said grabbing my notepad and pen from my apron.
"Yes. I need a helper for an after school program and since you're the best student in class. I would like for you to help."
"I don't know...I mean I have to work." I said shrugging.
"Sabrina is talking to Donny as we speak about you coming in later. I know you've helped Ms. LaBeck after school every now and then."
"Yeah....well I guess I could." I said nodding.
"Great! I'll see you tomorrow."
"Okay. Now do you need a few minutes to decide?" I asked smiling.
"No." I took down Mr. Sanders' order and took the menu back to the counter. I gave the cook the order and waited on some more tables as his food was being prepared. Soon my other customers left and I collected my tips and wiped down the tables.
"Octayne, I talked to Donny and he wants you in for work on Monday at 7pm. Don't worry you'll still be getting off the same time I do."
"Alright." I said smiling as the bell rang. I grabbed his food and took it back to the table along with a pitcher of water. I set his food down and poured him another glass full. I went back over to the counter and sat down. I watched as Sabrina wiped down tables and collected her tips and came over and sat down with me.
"I've been meaning to ask you something." I said rubbing my tired eyes.
"What?"
"Can I have the car tomorrow? I need to go to the store and get some more food and I need some comfortable shoes." I said looking down at my feet.
"Yeah. I'll let you drop me off here before 5 and I'll text you when I'm off."
"Cool." I said getting up and going back to Mr. Sanders table and taking his empty plate and taking the money to pay for his food. I watched as he left the diner and I went back to his table to clean it off. I picked up the 50 dollar tip and I looked up to see him drive away. I stuck the tip in my pocket and finished cleaning the table off. April walked through the door and I never more happy to see her in my entire life.
Sabrina and I took off our aprons and put them on the hanger and walked out of the diner saying goodbye to everyone. We got in the car and headed straight for home. I still got to write that letter before I go to bed. Sabrina pulled into the drive and we went into the house. I went up to my room saying goodnight to Sabrina and I grabbed some clothes for a relaxing shower. After my shower I felt so much better. I sat down on the bed bringing my bag up to me and starting to write the letter. Everyone else in the class will be writing the truth and my whole life will be a lie.
I can't tell anyone because I would be sent back to those monsters and I know I wouldn't be alive more than a minute after setting foot inside the house. I finished the letter and put it back into my bag and setting my bag off the bed. I plugged my phone into it's charger and laid in bed pulling the covers up to my neck. That man in the diner made me show a fear I never wanted anyone to see. I hate that I have to keep my real identity a secret and just tell Sabrina but I can't. I don't want to go back there ever. I closed my eyes and sighed deeply and started thinking back to when my parents were still alive. The memories of them taking me places when I was younger made a smile come to my face. I wish they were still here. If they were, maybe none of this would've happened.
The people who came in on a regular basis always gave me compliments and gave me great tips. It feels so good to get a positive comment that a negative one. I sat down at the bar and Sabrina came over.
"I meant to ask you how Ms. LaBeck is."
"She announced her retirement today." I said popping my knuckles.
"Retiring? She's such a great teacher and I certainly didn't think she would ever retire. Who is replacing her?"
"A Matthew Sanders." I said as a customer came through the door. I walked over to the table with a menu in hand.
"Hello my name is Octayne and I'll be your server for this evening. What can I get you to drink?" I said politely as I set the menu down in front of him.
"I'll have water please." he looked up at me.
"Mr. Sanders?"
"You work here?" he asked smiling.
"Yeah. I needed a job somewhere and this place is great."
"Seems like it." he said picking up his menu.
"Hey Octayne! How about a refill over here?" I looked up at a customer as he held up his glass.
"Excuse me." I said and I walked over to the table and took the man's glass. Before I could walk away he pulled me down on his lap.
"What time does your sweet ass get off?"
"Just leave me alone." I said trynig to stand but he squeezed my side which made me wince.
"Why? You're such a fine peice of ass." I could feel his breath on my neck and I just couldn't take it anymore. I stepped down hard on the man's foot and he roughly pushed me to the ground.
"You stupid bitch!" He yelled while hovering over me.
"No! Get away from me!" I yelled scooting back away from him. He had the same look as Earl did everytime he would come in and beat me.
"Sir you need to leave." I looked up to see Donny in the man's face and pulling him out of the diner.
"What happened Octayne?" Sabrina said helping me up.
"He grabbed me and....I'm sorry..." I walked out of the diner and sat down on a bench outside. I grabbed my cigarettes from my pocket and shakily lit one. I didn't want anyone to see something I've kept hidden for so many years. Why can't I just get over what they done to me and live my life as normal as possible?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~MATT'S POV~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"What happened Sabrina?" I asked watching Octayne leave the diner and sitting down and smoking a ciagarette.
"I have no idea. I've never seen her freak out like that."
"She wouldn't freak out like that unless...." I said stopping in mid sentence.
"Unless what Matt?"
"She's either been abused or she is being abused." I said looking down at my drink.
"She can't be getting abused."
"Why do say that? You seen the way she just freaked out." I said looking up at her with confusion riddling my face.
"Octayne lives with me."
"She's what?" I questioned.
"She's living with me Matt. Maybe I should explain."
"Maybe you should." I said crossing my arms over my chest.
"2 years ago she walked through that door and sat at the counter. I gave her something to eat and drink and started talking to her like I do with everyone who walks in here. She told me the reason she came out here was because of her parents dying due to a tragic car accident and foster home life wasn't something she could fit into so she packed her things and came here to start a new life."
"And you offered her a place to stay?" I asked drinking some of my water.
"Matt I couldn't let her be on the streets. Besides she a sweet young girl. She helps me out around the house and helps pay for food."
"Yeah I know. Here's an idea. You talk to Donny about her coming in later to work and I'll talk to her about joining my after school program." I said looking out the window. She hung her hed as she smoked and it looked like she was thinking about something.
"After school program?"
"Yeah. I've already talk to the principle about selecting one student to help me after school with things and he thinks it's a great idea." I explained.
"Do you think she'll go for it?"
"I'm pretty sure and maybe...just maybe I can get her to talk to me and open up about what happened today." I stated.
"If you think so. I'll get Octayne and then talk to Donny."
"You still have my number?" I asked smiling.
"Yes and I'll call you." I smiled at Sabrina and watched her go outside and get Octayne. I'll try my hardest to get her to open up about what's bothering her.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Octayne's POV~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I threw the cigarette away as it burned the filter black. I felt a tap on my shoulder and I looked up at Sabrina.
"Time to go back to work?" I asked smiling slightly.
"Yeah and Mr. Sanders wants to talk to you about something that has to do with school."
"Oh...okay." I said walknig back in with Sabrina and went back over to Mr. Sanders table.
"Are you alright?"
"Yeah I'm fine." I said smiling.
"Good."
"Sabrina said you wanted to talk to me." I said grabbing my notepad and pen from my apron.
"Yes. I need a helper for an after school program and since you're the best student in class. I would like for you to help."
"I don't know...I mean I have to work." I said shrugging.
"Sabrina is talking to Donny as we speak about you coming in later. I know you've helped Ms. LaBeck after school every now and then."
"Yeah....well I guess I could." I said nodding.
"Great! I'll see you tomorrow."
"Okay. Now do you need a few minutes to decide?" I asked smiling.
"No." I took down Mr. Sanders' order and took the menu back to the counter. I gave the cook the order and waited on some more tables as his food was being prepared. Soon my other customers left and I collected my tips and wiped down the tables.
"Octayne, I talked to Donny and he wants you in for work on Monday at 7pm. Don't worry you'll still be getting off the same time I do."
"Alright." I said smiling as the bell rang. I grabbed his food and took it back to the table along with a pitcher of water. I set his food down and poured him another glass full. I went back over to the counter and sat down. I watched as Sabrina wiped down tables and collected her tips and came over and sat down with me.
"I've been meaning to ask you something." I said rubbing my tired eyes.
"What?"
"Can I have the car tomorrow? I need to go to the store and get some more food and I need some comfortable shoes." I said looking down at my feet.
"Yeah. I'll let you drop me off here before 5 and I'll text you when I'm off."
"Cool." I said getting up and going back to Mr. Sanders table and taking his empty plate and taking the money to pay for his food. I watched as he left the diner and I went back to his table to clean it off. I picked up the 50 dollar tip and I looked up to see him drive away. I stuck the tip in my pocket and finished cleaning the table off. April walked through the door and I never more happy to see her in my entire life.
Sabrina and I took off our aprons and put them on the hanger and walked out of the diner saying goodbye to everyone. We got in the car and headed straight for home. I still got to write that letter before I go to bed. Sabrina pulled into the drive and we went into the house. I went up to my room saying goodnight to Sabrina and I grabbed some clothes for a relaxing shower. After my shower I felt so much better. I sat down on the bed bringing my bag up to me and starting to write the letter. Everyone else in the class will be writing the truth and my whole life will be a lie.
I can't tell anyone because I would be sent back to those monsters and I know I wouldn't be alive more than a minute after setting foot inside the house. I finished the letter and put it back into my bag and setting my bag off the bed. I plugged my phone into it's charger and laid in bed pulling the covers up to my neck. That man in the diner made me show a fear I never wanted anyone to see. I hate that I have to keep my real identity a secret and just tell Sabrina but I can't. I don't want to go back there ever. I closed my eyes and sighed deeply and started thinking back to when my parents were still alive. The memories of them taking me places when I was younger made a smile come to my face. I wish they were still here. If they were, maybe none of this would've happened.
3/18/13