All Bottled Up

It was a nice, sunny day in Southern Callaloua, near Isol, Tennessee.

The bell had rang and my math class had just been dismissed. "Everybody don't forget your masks, don't forget the pandemic vision boards are due tomorrow, don't forget to get your temperature checked at the door, GOOD-BYE everyone and stay safe" Mr. Labean yelled as we left the class. As Jesian walked out of the door, feeling feverish and having a slight headache, Jesian slightly moaned out in pain. With officers heavily armed, they immediately took her into the school's security unit, isolated themselves and demanded that she take a nasal and oral swab. Jesian fought, and screamed as she stated that she had only had a headache due to the stress of her classwork. The staff and officers insisted that she was lying, and she had been issued a ticket for having had lied about having COVID-22. Jesian, ended up leaving school early, frustrated and wishing that this pandemic had never happened.

Jesian is only 17, and she just lost her parents due to health related conditions, due to poverty. Jesian's parents, unfortunately did not have any life insurance, nor did they have any nearby relatives who would care for their children. Jesian is the oldest of a total of five children. In total, there are the twins who are 11, they are Alan and Abram, and they're always creating something, let's hope it's not trouble they're creating. There is Amor, who is 8 and loves to dance as a ballerina, and she's definitely the best to only be 8 years old, she lives, breathes, eats and sleeps ballet. And finally, there is Lovell, Lovell is 7 years old, and loves science.

Jesian, finally reached home, but where was home? Often times, the children would have to sleep in the car, with one of them, taking turns looking out to steer clear of cops or people looking into the car. Mom and dad were very poor, but managed to maintain a safe car. Lovell and Amor, complained of being hungry, and said there stomachs were talking to the floor. Jesian had no money to feed the children and herself, often having to bring home school lunch. Jesian was very tired from taking care of the children, and plus having to maintain school work as well.

"Shut your mouth! I'm going to find something to eat, just give me a second to find a way to get it." Jesian shouted. Jesian prayed to Alah, she prayed that she would make a way for them to find a better way of life. Jesian, parked the car and put the twins in charge of everyone, while she went to find some food. Jesian realized that she had no gas, and no gas money. She ended up walking 12 whole blocks for the past few hours, she was hoping to find donated or leftover foods. Jesian cried and said that she wished her mom and dad had not left her. During this time she asked at least 5 people to help her with money for food, but she had been labeled by the cops at her school as a risk because they ticketed her for lying about being sick.

As Jesian continued to walk, she began to memorize how happy her parents made her. Jesian, stopped to sit on a bus bench and remembered a time when they ate tree leaves mixed into a mud pie for dinner. Jesian, began to cry and she rushed back to her siblings. This was again, another 12 block walk back to her parent's abandoned car. As Jesian continued to walk, the sun had risen. Jesian neared the car, and the twins rushed to hug her tightly.

"Don't ever leave us that long again. We thought you had been turned in to the pandemic police." Shouted Alan. "I'm so sorry guys, well it's time to get dressed for school. Come on guys." Jesian mumbled.

Jesian and her siblings walked sluggishly to cross the street. Jesian and her siblings all took turns washing themselves in the sink. Jesian stepped outside of the bathroom to breathe from being so tired. Jesian found a trashed cigarette and lighter in the garbage can, it was laying right there in plain sight.

Jesian picked it up and lit it, and took a few puffs until there were none left. Jesian walked towards the Melod Mart in front of her. Jesian then began to circle back and forth in the area surrounding her. Jesian started to walk further away until she reached the lake. Jesian sat by the lake, and as she did she remembered feeling like the lake spoke to her. Jesian walked back to the bathroom and shouted, "alright does everyone have their masks and perfumes and cologne? Out you go, you guys know the drill."

Jesian walks the children to their schools and kisses and hugs each of them. "Remember, our aunt Helen is helping us out at home, and our parents are on vacation if anyone asks" shouted Jesian. Jesian decides to skip school today. Jesian walks away from the school, still wearing her clothes from yesterday. Jesian decides to walk by the elementary school she just dropped her siblings at, Jesian discovers a backpack along a playground. The backpack is old and heavy. Inside of this bookbag, there's a lock. Jesian remembers her mom worked at a fabric store, and finds it a coincidence that this fabric is the same as what her mother sold. Jesian takes the bag and in it, finds the key to the lock on the bag. In it, she finds a little black book.

Jesian, opens the book and begins reading. As Jesian reads each page, she discovers that her great grandmother was a millionaire and handed the money down to her mother. Each page has a letter written to each child, from oldest to youngest, and the book reads as such:

Dearest Jesian:

My sweet sweet strong little girl. I know you have found this book, and well some other nice things in it. If you are reading the book that's in your hand, I want you to always know, I will never leave your side, no matter what happens in life. Please, take my inheritance for you and your siblings and build a new life.

Love Always,

Mom

Jesian started to flip through the next page, finding between journal entries about her family's life, Jesian stumbled upon one more letter. This time it was addressed to the remaining children.

To my youngest Alan, Amor and Lovell:

I know you all do not understand life yet, but I always have loved you, and so does your sister. Be polite always.

Love Always,

Mom.

In the bag, there was 8 million dollars. Jesian took the money, and decided to move herself and the children away.