The Yellow Suitcase

by L. W. Clark

  “Could you please drive her to the family today?” Julia asked. “Who knows, if they like her they might keep her on. You never know with these people.”

  “Yes, of course,” Lora said to Julia as she turned to me. “Get dressed and pack your things. You’ve got a temporary job, but I hope they hire you permanently.”

  As we drove up, the house looked enormous, surrounded by woods. It looked like such a peaceful place. A woman opened the door and she and Lora had a conversation about me as we walked in. She just looked at me every once in a while.

  “You’re going to help her out for a few days,” Lora said. “Don’t worry about anything. Her name is Susan. She seems kind and she’ll explain what to do.”

  “Ok, thanks,” I said as Lora left.

  I feel like a kid being dropped off at school by her mom.

  “Hi Alyssa,” Susan said.

  “Hi,” I said.

  “I should tell you about our family and the help I need,” she said. “We have three children. A six-year-old boy named Steven and four-year-old twin girls, Sara and Susa.”

  I guess she likes names that start with S.

  “I’ll need you to clean the children’s rooms and do the laundry,” she continued. “I’ll be in the house, but on the phone.”

  “OK,” I said.

  She showed me the children’s rooms and the laundry, which I started on right away. Then I made my way to the children’s rooms. She was on the phone all day. Later she asked me to help in the kitchen, but the phone rang, and she was gone again. She seemed distracted. She came back, apologized for disappearing, and then asked me to check in on the children. The boy was in his room playing quietly, while the girls were playing with their toys in the den.

  Susan seems nice. I feel comfortable here. The day went by so fast. I don’t understand what she could be talking about for hours on the phone. Maybe she’s a businesswoman?

  I put my stuff in the basement where she showed me a room to sleep in. I went with her as she put the children to bed.

  “Thanks for your patience today,” she said as she closed the bedroom door. “You’re free for the evening. Let’s talk in the morning about tomorrow’s chores.”

  “Ok, goodnight,” I said.

  It was 7:30. I went to the basement. It was too early to sleep so I watched TV. I flipped through the channels but there were only five of them. I found a show where pretty girls and guys were playing.

  Well, even if I don’t understand the dialog at least I can try to figure out what’s going on. This room is right under the kitchen and I can hear Susan walking back and forth, like she’s stepping on my head. Wait, is that another person walking? Great, now there are four feet stepping on my head. They sure do stop and start walking a lot. And that other person’s footsteps are louder. Maybe it’s a guy?

  I assumed her husband came home from work. I heard a normal conversation at first, and then an argument, and then screaming. Then it went silent, and then she’d start screaming again. I got a little stressed, but I told myself not to worry about it. It was probably a typical wife and husband fight. When I heard her scream even louder, with slamming doors and breaking dishes, then I freaked out. But there wasn’t anything I could do, so I just stayed where I was.

  This is weird. Susan seems warm and nice. What’s going on? She had such a kind, delicate voice when she was on the phone or when she talked to me. But now her voice sounds so loud and deep. It sounds like someone else. I hear steps. Oh, she’s coming down to the basement.

  I jumped from the bed as she came to my door.

  “I’m sorry. You’ll have to get dressed and go,” she said.

  What? I don’t know what to say. What’s happening and where am I going?

  “Can you be ready in ten minutes?” she asked. “I’ll meet you in the kitchen.”

  I dressed, grabbed my suitcase and went upstairs. She had her kids up and dressed. It seemed like we’re all about to go on a road trip.

  “I’m going to drive you to the train station,” she said. “I’ll call Lora and she’ll pick you up OK? Don’t worry, I’ll explain it all to you in the car. Let’s go now.”

  She was in a hurry. She grabbed the girls, I grabbed the boy and we left. I never saw her husband or whoever the guy was. She was shaking so much I was afraid she wouldn’t be able to drive. She had a car phone and dialed someone. I heard some familiar words. She called her mother. It sounded like she had a fight with her husband and decided to leave. She was going to her mother’s.

  Why on earth is this happening now, at this moment? I’m not having any luck with this job thing. I finally get some work and the first day, I’m done and going back to Lora’s place? The very first day?

  Susan called Lora but she didn’t answer. She tried a few times and she started to get nervous about it. She left a few messages. I had Viktor’s office phone number and gave it to her. She called him and he picked up. She apologized, told him about the situation, and asked that he pick me up at the station.

  “OK, I spoke with Viktor so there’s nothing to worry about,” she told me while she was driving. “I’ll get you the train ticket and you just get off at Newark Penn Station. Here’s a pen and paper. Just write everything down please. Go to the waiting area and stay there. Viktor will pick you up there. OK?”

  “OK, but I’ve never been on the train and I don’t know anything about it.”

  “You’ll be alright. It’s easy. It’s just a train. Just make sure to get off at the right station.”

  Soon I was on the train with two male strangers. Just the three of us. One was sitting in front of me and the other was sitting a few seats behind me. As the train slowly started to move, I slowly started to cry.

  I feel so sad, and lonely. It’s so dark outside. I can’t see a thing and I don’t know where I am. The train is stopping already? The next station. I hope more people come into the car. I didn’t know why I wanted more people around. Maybe for security? But it’s not like I’m afraid. It’s safe enough. It doesn’t matter. No one came into the car anyway.

  I was looking around constantly for the conductor. I saw him once when I got my ticket. I wanted to see him again, just for comfort, but I never saw him. I didn’t even know what town I was coming from. All I knew was after eight stops or so I had to get off.

  Finally, Newark Penn Station. I got off and walked so fast to the waiting area. I was in a hurry to see Viktor. I’d feel bad if he was standing there waiting for me at this time of night. He was usually in bed by now. I followed the signs and went to the waiting area. I looked around but couldn’t see Viktor.

  He’s not here yet? I guess I got here before him. Maybe he has a long drive from his house, and it’s longer than my train ride. At least there are a few people in the waiting area. See? Nothing to be concerned about. That makes me feel better.

  An hour passed and I was still waiting for Viktor. Fewer people were waiting now. But I was confident and feeling a little proud of myself for taking the train and being by myself at the station. I waited, keeping an eye on the entrance doors.

  It’s three hours now, and I’m not so proud anymore. It’s after midnight and I’m getting nervous. Hardly anyone is here, except the homeless, and some kind of weird looking people. It’s not comfortable, but it’s OK. I’m in America. I’ll be fine. All I want to know is how much longer do I have to wait. Maybe his car broke down? Maybe he got into an accident? Maybe something went wrong. I hoped Viktor’s OK.

  I started to become irritated. I was sleepy but awake. I felt safe and unsafe at the same time. I was nervous and I was brave. I didn’t know what to think. I never moved from my seat until someone sat right next to me, even though there were plenty of empty seats around. He was talking loudly, to himself. I was talking to myself too, but not out loud. He looked at me twice. He said something that I didn’t understand, so I just slowly moved to the end of the bench. I didn’t move fast because I didn’t want to draw the attention of the others. Some
of them gave me strange looks and were freaking me out. They looked like homeless alcoholics. When I looked at them, I saw glassy eyes. Who knows, maybe I looked the same way to them.

  I put my head down and stopped looking. I was starting to hallucinate. I went to that place in your mind when you don’t even know or care where you are. I didn’t know the way to go and I had nowhere to go. I had zero energy. I had no emotion or desire. I didn’t see anything or anybody. I was totally indifferent and exhausted, when I heard my name. I opened my eyes. Viktor was standing in front of me. It was 7:00 in the morning.

  He just forgot about me.

  NINE

  It was a Saturday morning when Lora told me her relative Anna on Long Island might be looking for help. She had called and told her I was looking for a job. Lora told her I was experienced and promised she wouldn’t regret hiring me. It was nice to hear that from Lora. Did she really think that, or did she just want this whole thing over with? Who cared? At this point I was willing to take any job.

  Anna was anxious to meet me so she asked Lora if we could come by the next morning. I was so excited and nervous at the same time. Even though my previous interviews didn’t go well, I was feeling confident about getting this one. But Lora told Anna she and Viktor had plans the next day, so they weren’t able to take me.

  I need to go there. I need to get this job. It’s all I want.

  Lora hung up the phone and sat down at the kitchen table staring out the window like she was thinking. After a while she went upstairs. She came down a few minutes later, grabbed her glass of water and went back upstairs again.

  This is torturing me. I don’t know what to do. I’m becoming irritated and impatient. I want to ask her if there’s any way I can get there but now she seems distracted.

  I was about to go upstairs when she came back downstairs. “My father, Alex, will pick you up tomorrow morning and take you to the interview with Anna,” she said.

  “Really?” I said as I jumped up and gave her a big hug. “Thank you for everything you’re doing for me.”

  “You’re welcome,” she said with a smile. “It’s all good. You’ll be fine.”

  Her father, Alex? I’m not complaining but once again I’m about to take a ride with a stranger to some place I don’t know? But it is nice to hear that Lora communicates with someone other than Viktor, especially a family member. I’m excited that I’ll see someone new coming into the house. Hey, maybe I’ll finally see the front door in action.

  I was ready two hours early the next morning. Once again, I made myself look simple. I put on the same outfit, which made me laugh every time I looked in the mirror. The pair of jeans had become even baggier since I had lost weight over the last few weeks. It looked like I was wearing a man’s jeans. Alex showed up exactly on time, which was nice. I heard him come into the house through the garage.

  Even he comes into the house through the garage? I don’t understand this system where everyone comes through the garage. What about the front door? Wait. I need to stop thinking about these silly little things. I’m going to leave this house soon anyway. Alex looks like a nice guy, maybe in his early seventies.

  He had greeted me warmly and I hugged him. He said some things with a big grin. I thought he made some joke, so I smiled and pretended he was funny. Lora greeted her father with a nod. There wasn’t much affection between the two of them. No hug or even an air kiss. Viktor came downstairs and said hi to Alex as he passed him on his way to the kitchen.

  It seems strange that Alex and Viktor didn’t hug or even shake hands but maybe every family and country has its own way. Maybe this is their way. I feel a little weird after hugging Alex, but he seems pretty delighted about it.

  Lora gave him directions and told him what to do, so we were ready to go. His car was old and big, like the cars I’d seen in American movies. I got into the car and felt so tiny.

  “Seat belt on please,” Alex said.

  “I’m sorry, what?”

  Did I do something wrong? Was I not supposed to sit in the front?

  I opened the car door to move to the back when he pointed to the seat belt, and I got it. The same thing happened with Lora when I got into her car. I kept forgetting to put my seat belt on because I wasn’t used to it. No one used seat belts back home. They didn’t even know they existed.

  I put my seat belt on as I smiled at him. He was chatty as he drove. Since the radio was on, it was even harder than usual to understand what he was saying. He wanted to communicate, and I responded when I could. I always tried to be happy and friendly. I appreciated the ride, even though I knew he was doing the favor for his daughter and not for me. It was going to take about two and a half hours to get to Anna’s house because of all the traffic. We were driving for about an hour when his phone rang.

  “That was Anna,” he said after a quick conversation. “She asked that we meet with her later because she has something urgent to take care of.”

  “Oh, OK,” I said.

  “It doesn’t make sense to take you back to Lora’s place since we’re more than halfway there,” he said. “I live about ten miles from here. We can just wait there for Anna’s call.”

  “Alright,” I said.

  Like I have a choice? I really don’t want to hang out with him, but this is what it is. I just have to deal with it.

  “My wife just bought one of my favorite desserts, so we can have some cake and coffee while we wait,” he said.

  Well, at least he has a wife. Somehow that makes me feel better.

  Their apartment was really small. A one bedroom with a tiny kitchen. It was clean and neat. The floors were shiny and there wasn’t much furniture. The kitchen was also clean and well organized.

  At least I can enjoy a piece of cake, which sounds good right about now.

  I’ve always been a picky eater, even as a little girl. I wouldn’t eat food from just anywhere, and especially not at somebody’s house if it was messy or dirty. I always thought sloppy people in messy kitchens probably don’t wash their hands much, so I’d be eating the food prepared by hands that have been who knows where. Gross.

  One time a friend from school invited a few of us over to her house for dinner. We all went, and inside I saw a super messy house, and her mother sweating with what looked like dirty hair. I immediately lost my appetite. I’m thinking she was in the kitchen cooking this meal, standing over the stove, with sweat dripping down her forehead and onto the fried food. I couldn’t eat anything when we all sat down for dinner. I made up a story that I wasn’t able to eat fried food since I was taking some medication. It worked.

  “Sit down. Make yourself comfortable,” Alex said.

  “Thank you,” I said.

  I was hoping to meet his wife, but she wasn’t home. I went to the living room, sat on the couch and grabbed a magazine. I pretended to read but my mind was somewhere else. I couldn’t wait for Anna to call so we could leave.

  “Would you like some coffee or tea?” Alex asked.

  “No, thank you,” I said, even though I really wanted a cup of coffee.

  “You’re going to try one of my favorite cakes, right? Coffee or tea would go well with it. Come on, have some coffee or tea.”

  He was so kind. This time I said yes, and it felt great. I think I missed someone looking after me. He wanted me to feel comfortable, which was nice. He went to the kitchen and I heard dishes shuffling and coffee brewing.

  “May I help?” I asked.

  “No, no, you go back. Read your magazine and relax.”

  I remembered my grandfather. He used to like taking care of us too. Grandparents like doing that, I guess. I sat back down and continued flipping the magazine pages.

  “Here’s my favorite cake,” Alex announced as he entered the living room, placing the tray with the coffee and a round cake with slices on the table. “This is a cheesecake. I like this variation because you can have a little bit of every flavor. This is the original; this is chocolate, vanilla, raspberry,
caramel and blueberry,” he said, pointing to different areas.

  It looks like a bunch of colors to me.

  “I’m sorry, what’s the name of the cake?” I asked.

  “Cheesecake. Do you know cheese?”

  “Sure.”

  “And do you know cake?”

  “Yes.”

  “So, this is cheese and cake. Cheesecake,” and he laughed.

  What’s so funny? I don’t understand if he’s offering me cheese or cake? Whoever heard of combining cheese and cake?

  “Here’s your coffee. Please pick any piece of cake you want,” he said as he sat next to me.

  I was sitting in the middle of the sofa and there were a couple of armchairs near the coffee table. But Alex decided to sit on the sofa. Maybe it was his favorite seat, or he was just used to it. It was kind of awkward sitting so close to each other and having a conversation, so I slowly moved a little bit to the right. After a few sips of coffee, I noticed he moved closer. I moved again, and so did he. Then I stopped and grabbed my coffee again for a few more sips. He grabbed the plate.

  “Go on, try a piece. It’s really good,” he said.

  “Can we cut a piece in half? They look really big.”

  “No, no, it’s not that big. Try it and you’ll see. I bet you’ll finish the whole thing.”

  This is getting stupid.

  I just picked the chocolate one, which made him happy. Before I took a bite, I moved slightly to the right again, and then he did too.

  What is wrong with this guy? Why are these weird things happening to me? I didn’t give him any reason to act like this. I was just being friendly. He’s the same age as my grandfather for Christ’s sake. But I don’t want to say anything to him. Maybe it’s just a habit. I’m getting impatient for that phone call.