State of Mind, chapter 4
I made my way down Pudsey Street and glanced over on the other side of the road. I had noticed the cars were driving on the wrong side. Most people had a weird accent, well to me it was. I saw no trams on the roads, which was a bit weird too.
I swear I was hungry. I could eat a kangaroo, or an elephant. I came across a café or shop, or whatever you want to call it. It was called Rod's Hickory Pit. Weird name. I went in and sat down. I looked across the room, it was quite big. A woman with a menu came over to me.
"How may I help you young lady?" she asked in a soft tone.
"Ohh, I was wondering if I could get something to eat. And please, call me Isabel" I asked with a smile on my face. She gave me a menu, and I ordered a hamburger. She went away and cooked it for me.
I looked over out the window at all of the busy people. It was a Thursday and it was roughly around 6 at night. I was really tired and jet lagged. When I got back to the hotel the first thing that I was going to do was sleep until I woke up. I had made it to America, I am here.
The lady comes over to me with my hamburger and a glass of water.
"Here's you food, enjoy" she said with a smile on her face.
"Hey, what's your name?" I asked, trying not to sound too rude.
"Ohh, sorry, call me Ollie" she said with a polite tone.
"Nice to meet you Ollie" I said while I stuck out my hand and she shook it.
I had finished up eating, that must have been one of the best hamburgers I had ever tasted in my whole life, except the ones at the old billiards place, and they kicked some fine ass. I looked around for Ollie, but I didn't see her. I went up to the cashier but then I heard someone talking on the phone.
"Look I don't want to shut this place down. Yes. If I can't find you the money in two weeks ill have to." She paused.
"Look if I can't find anyone to work here then im afraid this place will be shutting down" I turned away after I heard her put the phone down. I needed a job, and she needed someone to work, it was perfect.
"Ollie, umm I don't mean to be rude but I kinda overheard you talking on the phone. I don't have a job and unless I don't get one I will be living on the streets. Would I be able to work here? If its ok with you that is?" I asked worrying if I had done the wrong thing. She looked up at me and said,
"Of course you can, I would love for you to",
"When can you start?" she asked
"Well, anytime you want, tomorrow maybe?" I asked
"That would be great" she said with a huge smile on her face as if to say I had made her day.
"Ok well, I better be going then, im kinda jet lagged, I really need sleep" I said half in laughter and drowsy-ness.
"Jet-lagged?" she asked.
"Ohh I came from Australia, I kinda needed to get away for a while" I said, trying not to reveal too much of me.
"Ok then, you should go get some rest, sleep is important" she said
"Thank you, ohh, what time would you like me to get down here?" I asked.
"Well we open at 9 but if you get here by 10 that should be fine" she said enthusiastically.
"Great, well ill see you then" I said as I waved good-bye.
I walked out of the store and walked down Pudsey Street again. Wow I had only been here for a couple of hours and already I have a job. That's great. I walked to the hotel and took the lift upstairs. I went to my room and took my key from my pocket and unlocked the door. It creaked open and I walked in. I looked out of the window to see the view. It was pretty cool. I could almost see the whole main street.
I took off my jacket, threw it on a chair and found a single bed then went to sleep. I fell asleep crying. I don't know why, it was just a long day and all I had was myself. I made friends with one person though, Ollie, I hope she can help me out. And with my thoughts, I had fallen asleep.
The next morning I woke up with the sun blaring streaks through my window. I looked over at my watch, it read 9:07. I had managed to sleep for a long time last night. I had an hour to be at Rod's. I got up and went into the bathroom. I needed a shower big time. I ran the water down my body and washed my hair. I put on a Ramones t-shirt and some crappy old jeans. I dried my hair roughly and put on my shoes. I put my wallet in my pocket. I wasn't into the whole hand bag thingo; they were too much of a hassle. I took my key and walked out of the door. I locked it and went to the main street. I walked across the road and made my way to Rod's Hickory Pit. I walked in on time and went over to Ollie.
"Good morning`" I said.
"How did you sleep last night?" Ollie asked me.
"Ohh, just fine" I said.
"The hotel blankets were washed so it wasn't too bad" I said again.
"Hotel sheets?" Ollie said looking confused.
"Yeah im staying in a hotel until I can pull myself together and make some money" I said in silence.
"I don't think you should be staying there, there are weird people around those places, and you could get hurt" she said in a caring tone.
"I would go somewhere else, but ive got no where else to go" I said as my voice started to shake.
"Look, I don't do this to all of my workers, but if you want, you can stay with me, I already have 5 children, I can cope with one more. And it looks like you're a fan of the Ramones, you'll fit in fine" she said. Wait the Ramones, fit in fine? What did she mean by that? I don't know.
"Ohh im not too sure about it" I said.
"Nonsense" Ollie announced.
"Your gonna come whether you like it or not, hotels aren't the place you should be staying at. You can even have your own room" she said enthusiastically.
"Ok then, ill stay" I said.
"But I think it's only fair that if you let me stay at your place, I can work here and you don't have to pay me" I said.
"Well, ok then" she said
She told me after work to get my bags and my possessions and meet her at the store at the end of the day.
At work, I was assigned to clean down the benches and do the dishes, sweep the floor, clean the windows, just stuff like that. I didn't cook, mainly for 2 reasons,
1: because I can't cook, and
2: if I even tried cooking I would blow something up or burn down the joint
I went back to the hotel and packed up my stuff. I asked the lady at the checkout desk to cancel my other reservations cause I was eave. So I got my other $40 back. I gave them the key and left back for Rod's.
I walked across the road holding my two bags and my guitar. I walked past the telegraph pole and into Rod's. I walked in and placed my bags on the floor. But I kept my guitar in my hands. Ollie looked at me weird.
"You play guitar?" she asked curiously
"Yeah, I love it" I said enthusiastically.
"Well follow me, we are going to walk down to my place and then ill introduce you to my kids, it's not too far away. But may I suggest that you give me one of your bags, I can't see you carrying them the whole way" she asked helpfully as she took one of my bags from me and put it over her shoulder.
Ollie had to be one of the nicest person I had ever met. She cared for me, she took me in and she now kept a roof under my head. What more could I want?
We walked for a couple hundred metres, thank god she was carrying my other bag, and I was struggling with just one including my guitar. We walked and walked. And then we walked some more. And then we came across a small street. I walked down it and into the middle of it.
"Here we are" she said pointing to a small house, similar looking to my old one.
"Now when you get inside I will show you around, my children won't be home until another hour, they are at school" she said smiling.
"Ok" I said nervously.
I walked in. it was quite nice and petite. Small and cosy, I liked it. Ollie sowed me my room. It wasn't too small, it did the trick, and I didn't have much anyways. I was very grateful. I asked her if it was ok if I went to sleep for a while, the jet lag had caught up with me again and I was tired at 3 in the arvo. She laid down some new sheets and I went in. I felt a bit weird being welcomed into a stranger's house. It was quite stupid of me. I hadn't even known this woman for more than a week and I was already living with her. But there was something about her that made her different. She felt like my mum, I had a feeling that things were going to be alright. And then I fell asleep in my own thoughts.
I woke up 3 hours later to my stomach rumbling. I woke up and fixed my hair. I looked over at my guitar. It was just sitting there in the last place I had left it. I hadn't played it for a while. I decided to get it out. I played some random things. My guitar made me happy, the only talent I thought I ever had. I loved it. I continued playing, but then I heard a knock on the door.
"Come in" I said nervously thinking it was Ollie, but it wasn't. A brown haired boy, who looked around my age, opened the door. He looked at me and my guitar.
"You play guitar?" he said.
"Yes, ever since I was 6" I said nervously. I assumed this guy might have been Ollie's son.
"Ohh sorry, how could I forget my manners, im Billie Joe" he said with a smile
"Ohh, im Isabel, how ya doin?" I asked.
"Well I just got back from school with a detention, so not too good, but I heard your gonna be living with us for a while?" he said fumbling around.
"Ohh yeah, your mum offered and I accepted. Your mums a great woman you know?" I said happily.
"Trust me, she's like Superwoman. She can multitask!" Billie said.
"HaHa, you're lucky, ill tell ya that" I said
"Yeah, I know. So I hear you're from Australia. Ive never met an Australian before" Billie said.
"Ohh. It's not all that big of a deal. Only that we eat vegemite and speak with slang and a lot of swear words" I said proudly.
"Ohh and we watch the footy" I said
"Footy, you mean football" he said unsurely.
"Well, AFL, Australian Football League" I said fidgeting.
"You gotta teach me more on that, but for now, seeings we have another guitar player in the house, I thought if you're not busy, you could come watch my band play tomorrow?" Billie said with a smile on his face.
"Your in a band, you play guitar?" I asked. No one I had ever known had played guitar let alone listened to my music.
"Hell yeah, it's what keeps my world spinning" he said laughing.
"But now I think we have to go and eat dinner, I can hear you stomach rumbling from here!" he said as I blushed.
We went out into the television room and we grabbed a plate and took some food. I sat on the couch next to Billie. I had made a new friend, and he played guitar, how cool was that. After we ate I felt a bit tired. I felt stupid about falling asleep when it wasn't even night time. But I had to. I said good night to everyone then made my way back into my room. I sat on my bed, got changed and went to sleep.
I woke up in the morning. It was 7:30, this wasn't normal. I didn't feel tired
'Stupid jetlag!!!!!' I thought. But it was ok I guessed. I was getting up early now. I got up and got changed and went to the kitchen. I saw Billie up at the table eating some toast.
"Morning`" I said raising a hand to Billie
"And good morning to you, why are you up so early?" he asked
"Ohh jetlag, I feel so tired sometimes and then sometimes when it is late at night I feel like I could run a mile" I said
"Take a seat, have some toast, wave got butter or jam" he said passing me a knife and some toast.
"Hold that thought a second" I said as I got off the chair and made my way back to my room and got my jar of Vegemite. I came back to the kitchen bench with my jar of Vegemite and Billie Joe looking curiously to see what was in my hand.
"Screw Jam and butter. Vegemite is more of my kinda thing!" I said. I opened the tub and grabbed a knife and took a decent amount out. I grabbed a piece of toast that had been buttered and spread the Vegemite over it. I put the knife down and looked at it in accomplishment. I looked over to Billie Joe to find he was staring at the piece of toast.
"Hey I don't want to be rude or anything, but ive always wanted to try Vegemite" he said eyeballing my piece of toast.
"Ok" I said as I ripped the toast in half and handed the other piece to im.
"But I guarantee that you wont like it" I said. I knew he wouldn't like it; I had never come across a person from another country who liked Vegemite. It was an Australian thing. Other people would never understand.
Billie took the toast and put it in his mouth. I looked at him for a second and thought, 'maybe this guy DOES like Vegemite, that's weird'. But then a couple of seconds later I could see his face scrunching up and his eyes giving me the "this is disgusting' kinda look. He spat it out and ran for a tap.
"Ohh come on now, it wasn't that bad was it?" I said in fits of laughter.
"That is the most horrible thing I have ever tasted in my whole life. Ok maybe im just being too bitter. Why is it so salty?" he asked as I was still laughing.
"That's just the way it is" I said
"Are you sure it's not off or anything?" he asked worried.
"Don't worry im sure. It's an Australian thing, you wouldn't understand" I said being in an Australian mood.
"Ohh crap its 8 o'clock. I gotta get going before my teacher gives me another detention." Billie said as he rushed for his coat and school bag.
"Ill meet you back here after school" he said.
"Ok" I replied" waving him a good bye.
"Ohh be ready, don't forget I want you to meet my band after school" he said rushing around.
"Ohh awesome. Ill be here" I said enthusiastically.
"Ok then. Ill see you later" he said waving good bye.
I swear I was hungry. I could eat a kangaroo, or an elephant. I came across a café or shop, or whatever you want to call it. It was called Rod's Hickory Pit. Weird name. I went in and sat down. I looked across the room, it was quite big. A woman with a menu came over to me.
"How may I help you young lady?" she asked in a soft tone.
"Ohh, I was wondering if I could get something to eat. And please, call me Isabel" I asked with a smile on my face. She gave me a menu, and I ordered a hamburger. She went away and cooked it for me.
I looked over out the window at all of the busy people. It was a Thursday and it was roughly around 6 at night. I was really tired and jet lagged. When I got back to the hotel the first thing that I was going to do was sleep until I woke up. I had made it to America, I am here.
The lady comes over to me with my hamburger and a glass of water.
"Here's you food, enjoy" she said with a smile on her face.
"Hey, what's your name?" I asked, trying not to sound too rude.
"Ohh, sorry, call me Ollie" she said with a polite tone.
"Nice to meet you Ollie" I said while I stuck out my hand and she shook it.
I had finished up eating, that must have been one of the best hamburgers I had ever tasted in my whole life, except the ones at the old billiards place, and they kicked some fine ass. I looked around for Ollie, but I didn't see her. I went up to the cashier but then I heard someone talking on the phone.
"Look I don't want to shut this place down. Yes. If I can't find you the money in two weeks ill have to." She paused.
"Look if I can't find anyone to work here then im afraid this place will be shutting down" I turned away after I heard her put the phone down. I needed a job, and she needed someone to work, it was perfect.
"Ollie, umm I don't mean to be rude but I kinda overheard you talking on the phone. I don't have a job and unless I don't get one I will be living on the streets. Would I be able to work here? If its ok with you that is?" I asked worrying if I had done the wrong thing. She looked up at me and said,
"Of course you can, I would love for you to",
"When can you start?" she asked
"Well, anytime you want, tomorrow maybe?" I asked
"That would be great" she said with a huge smile on her face as if to say I had made her day.
"Ok well, I better be going then, im kinda jet lagged, I really need sleep" I said half in laughter and drowsy-ness.
"Jet-lagged?" she asked.
"Ohh I came from Australia, I kinda needed to get away for a while" I said, trying not to reveal too much of me.
"Ok then, you should go get some rest, sleep is important" she said
"Thank you, ohh, what time would you like me to get down here?" I asked.
"Well we open at 9 but if you get here by 10 that should be fine" she said enthusiastically.
"Great, well ill see you then" I said as I waved good-bye.
I walked out of the store and walked down Pudsey Street again. Wow I had only been here for a couple of hours and already I have a job. That's great. I walked to the hotel and took the lift upstairs. I went to my room and took my key from my pocket and unlocked the door. It creaked open and I walked in. I looked out of the window to see the view. It was pretty cool. I could almost see the whole main street.
I took off my jacket, threw it on a chair and found a single bed then went to sleep. I fell asleep crying. I don't know why, it was just a long day and all I had was myself. I made friends with one person though, Ollie, I hope she can help me out. And with my thoughts, I had fallen asleep.
The next morning I woke up with the sun blaring streaks through my window. I looked over at my watch, it read 9:07. I had managed to sleep for a long time last night. I had an hour to be at Rod's. I got up and went into the bathroom. I needed a shower big time. I ran the water down my body and washed my hair. I put on a Ramones t-shirt and some crappy old jeans. I dried my hair roughly and put on my shoes. I put my wallet in my pocket. I wasn't into the whole hand bag thingo; they were too much of a hassle. I took my key and walked out of the door. I locked it and went to the main street. I walked across the road and made my way to Rod's Hickory Pit. I walked in on time and went over to Ollie.
"Good morning`" I said.
"How did you sleep last night?" Ollie asked me.
"Ohh, just fine" I said.
"The hotel blankets were washed so it wasn't too bad" I said again.
"Hotel sheets?" Ollie said looking confused.
"Yeah im staying in a hotel until I can pull myself together and make some money" I said in silence.
"I don't think you should be staying there, there are weird people around those places, and you could get hurt" she said in a caring tone.
"I would go somewhere else, but ive got no where else to go" I said as my voice started to shake.
"Look, I don't do this to all of my workers, but if you want, you can stay with me, I already have 5 children, I can cope with one more. And it looks like you're a fan of the Ramones, you'll fit in fine" she said. Wait the Ramones, fit in fine? What did she mean by that? I don't know.
"Ohh im not too sure about it" I said.
"Nonsense" Ollie announced.
"Your gonna come whether you like it or not, hotels aren't the place you should be staying at. You can even have your own room" she said enthusiastically.
"Ok then, ill stay" I said.
"But I think it's only fair that if you let me stay at your place, I can work here and you don't have to pay me" I said.
"Well, ok then" she said
She told me after work to get my bags and my possessions and meet her at the store at the end of the day.
At work, I was assigned to clean down the benches and do the dishes, sweep the floor, clean the windows, just stuff like that. I didn't cook, mainly for 2 reasons,
1: because I can't cook, and
2: if I even tried cooking I would blow something up or burn down the joint
I went back to the hotel and packed up my stuff. I asked the lady at the checkout desk to cancel my other reservations cause I was eave. So I got my other $40 back. I gave them the key and left back for Rod's.
I walked across the road holding my two bags and my guitar. I walked past the telegraph pole and into Rod's. I walked in and placed my bags on the floor. But I kept my guitar in my hands. Ollie looked at me weird.
"You play guitar?" she asked curiously
"Yeah, I love it" I said enthusiastically.
"Well follow me, we are going to walk down to my place and then ill introduce you to my kids, it's not too far away. But may I suggest that you give me one of your bags, I can't see you carrying them the whole way" she asked helpfully as she took one of my bags from me and put it over her shoulder.
Ollie had to be one of the nicest person I had ever met. She cared for me, she took me in and she now kept a roof under my head. What more could I want?
We walked for a couple hundred metres, thank god she was carrying my other bag, and I was struggling with just one including my guitar. We walked and walked. And then we walked some more. And then we came across a small street. I walked down it and into the middle of it.
"Here we are" she said pointing to a small house, similar looking to my old one.
"Now when you get inside I will show you around, my children won't be home until another hour, they are at school" she said smiling.
"Ok" I said nervously.
I walked in. it was quite nice and petite. Small and cosy, I liked it. Ollie sowed me my room. It wasn't too small, it did the trick, and I didn't have much anyways. I was very grateful. I asked her if it was ok if I went to sleep for a while, the jet lag had caught up with me again and I was tired at 3 in the arvo. She laid down some new sheets and I went in. I felt a bit weird being welcomed into a stranger's house. It was quite stupid of me. I hadn't even known this woman for more than a week and I was already living with her. But there was something about her that made her different. She felt like my mum, I had a feeling that things were going to be alright. And then I fell asleep in my own thoughts.
I woke up 3 hours later to my stomach rumbling. I woke up and fixed my hair. I looked over at my guitar. It was just sitting there in the last place I had left it. I hadn't played it for a while. I decided to get it out. I played some random things. My guitar made me happy, the only talent I thought I ever had. I loved it. I continued playing, but then I heard a knock on the door.
"Come in" I said nervously thinking it was Ollie, but it wasn't. A brown haired boy, who looked around my age, opened the door. He looked at me and my guitar.
"You play guitar?" he said.
"Yes, ever since I was 6" I said nervously. I assumed this guy might have been Ollie's son.
"Ohh sorry, how could I forget my manners, im Billie Joe" he said with a smile
"Ohh, im Isabel, how ya doin?" I asked.
"Well I just got back from school with a detention, so not too good, but I heard your gonna be living with us for a while?" he said fumbling around.
"Ohh yeah, your mum offered and I accepted. Your mums a great woman you know?" I said happily.
"Trust me, she's like Superwoman. She can multitask!" Billie said.
"HaHa, you're lucky, ill tell ya that" I said
"Yeah, I know. So I hear you're from Australia. Ive never met an Australian before" Billie said.
"Ohh. It's not all that big of a deal. Only that we eat vegemite and speak with slang and a lot of swear words" I said proudly.
"Ohh and we watch the footy" I said
"Footy, you mean football" he said unsurely.
"Well, AFL, Australian Football League" I said fidgeting.
"You gotta teach me more on that, but for now, seeings we have another guitar player in the house, I thought if you're not busy, you could come watch my band play tomorrow?" Billie said with a smile on his face.
"Your in a band, you play guitar?" I asked. No one I had ever known had played guitar let alone listened to my music.
"Hell yeah, it's what keeps my world spinning" he said laughing.
"But now I think we have to go and eat dinner, I can hear you stomach rumbling from here!" he said as I blushed.
We went out into the television room and we grabbed a plate and took some food. I sat on the couch next to Billie. I had made a new friend, and he played guitar, how cool was that. After we ate I felt a bit tired. I felt stupid about falling asleep when it wasn't even night time. But I had to. I said good night to everyone then made my way back into my room. I sat on my bed, got changed and went to sleep.
I woke up in the morning. It was 7:30, this wasn't normal. I didn't feel tired
'Stupid jetlag!!!!!' I thought. But it was ok I guessed. I was getting up early now. I got up and got changed and went to the kitchen. I saw Billie up at the table eating some toast.
"Morning`" I said raising a hand to Billie
"And good morning to you, why are you up so early?" he asked
"Ohh jetlag, I feel so tired sometimes and then sometimes when it is late at night I feel like I could run a mile" I said
"Take a seat, have some toast, wave got butter or jam" he said passing me a knife and some toast.
"Hold that thought a second" I said as I got off the chair and made my way back to my room and got my jar of Vegemite. I came back to the kitchen bench with my jar of Vegemite and Billie Joe looking curiously to see what was in my hand.
"Screw Jam and butter. Vegemite is more of my kinda thing!" I said. I opened the tub and grabbed a knife and took a decent amount out. I grabbed a piece of toast that had been buttered and spread the Vegemite over it. I put the knife down and looked at it in accomplishment. I looked over to Billie Joe to find he was staring at the piece of toast.
"Hey I don't want to be rude or anything, but ive always wanted to try Vegemite" he said eyeballing my piece of toast.
"Ok" I said as I ripped the toast in half and handed the other piece to im.
"But I guarantee that you wont like it" I said. I knew he wouldn't like it; I had never come across a person from another country who liked Vegemite. It was an Australian thing. Other people would never understand.
Billie took the toast and put it in his mouth. I looked at him for a second and thought, 'maybe this guy DOES like Vegemite, that's weird'. But then a couple of seconds later I could see his face scrunching up and his eyes giving me the "this is disgusting' kinda look. He spat it out and ran for a tap.
"Ohh come on now, it wasn't that bad was it?" I said in fits of laughter.
"That is the most horrible thing I have ever tasted in my whole life. Ok maybe im just being too bitter. Why is it so salty?" he asked as I was still laughing.
"That's just the way it is" I said
"Are you sure it's not off or anything?" he asked worried.
"Don't worry im sure. It's an Australian thing, you wouldn't understand" I said being in an Australian mood.
"Ohh crap its 8 o'clock. I gotta get going before my teacher gives me another detention." Billie said as he rushed for his coat and school bag.
"Ill meet you back here after school" he said.
"Ok" I replied" waving him a good bye.
"Ohh be ready, don't forget I want you to meet my band after school" he said rushing around.
"Ohh awesome. Ill be here" I said enthusiastically.
"Ok then. Ill see you later" he said waving good bye.
