You Can Run! But You Can't Hide!

Ch. 1

(Gwendolyn's POV)

Great... that's just great rents due in three weeks. We're gonna have to cut back on television time just have three channels instead of ten but at least A'nyia will have PBS kids to still watch. I think to myself.

I look around our one-bedroom apartment in sadness. Bar windows, paint peeling off the walls, our one old lumpy couch, squeaky coffee and kitchen table, and our small television.

But I can't complain to me and A'nyia made this place look a lot better than when we first got here. My grandmother let me have her old placemats for the kitchen table, our pictures decorated the place, A'nyia's dolls and teddy bears were everywhere, our bedroom was pink, black and purple. There were coloring books everywhere in there and on the coffee table.

We had little food but there was enough to pull us through every month when I got my food stamps. Which weren't very much but enough to get five packs of noodles, four packs of meat, canned vegetables, two boxes of cereal, three bags of bread, two packs of ham, a bag of apples, and the 50¢ packs of Kool-Aid. And if I have enough left I'll let A'nyia get a box of pop tarts.

Today is bring your kid to work day and A'nyia is excited to see what it's like in the white house and to see the First Lady.

I go to wake her up and get her ready. I pick her out an outfit. I'm just happy mommy sends money for me to buy her school clothes. I pick her out a knee-high dress that's white a the top grey in the middle and pink at the bottom with some white tights and pink flats.

"A'nyia wake up baby we're gonna miss the city bus if you don't be ready in 30 minutes". I say pulling my hair in a ponytail leaving out my bang this time.

She gets up rubbing her eyes and smiling. "Mommy today's the day". She said throwing on her clothes.

"I know baby come on and go eat your cereal and we can go". I tell while walking into the kitchen and taking the sandwiches I made last night and putting them in my dad's old lunch box and two apples. She sits and quickly eats her cheerios.

"A'nyia did you take your allergy medicine"? I asked her. She was allergic to peas and I didn't want her going into an allergic reaction at work.

"Yes, mommy I did". She says putting her bowl and spoon in the sink.

"Okay baby come on the bus will be here in five minutes". I say grabbing my keys and ID and lunch box.

"Mommy what about my hair"? A'nyia says walking to the door.

"I'll do it on the bus". I say grabbing two small white ponytail holders on way out while locking the door behind me.

"Okay but mommy why is it still dark". She asks me.

"Because it's 5:30 in the morning and mommy has to be to work around 6:00 o'clock". I say as we get to the bottom of the stairs and speed walk to the front of the complex where the bus stop is.

"Oh okay, that's fine". She says as the bus pulls up in front.

"Hey there Gwendolyn see you taking your baby to work with you". Mrs. Robert says pinching A'nyia's cheeks. And stepping onto the bus.

"Hey, Julius". Mrs. Robert says to the bus driver.

"Sally, Gwendolyn and who is this little drop of sunshine here". He says as we pay our fee.

"This my daughter A'nyia". I say as we take our seats behind him.

"Oh well, she's a pretty little girl you got there". He says and starts driving while having a conversation with Mrs. Robert as usual.

I put A'nyia's hair into two pigtails and put the ponytail holders on to hold them in place.

Other people get on the some say hello to Julius and others just take there seats not saying anything at all.

It's time for us to get off, we say goodbye to Mrs. Robert and Julius.