Trailer Park Princess

by Steele, Delia

  Turning back to the kids “Ok, now in order” I point at Rio “What do you want to drink?” I get 2 root beers, 1 diet coke, and chocolate milk before I am scared to death by the pop at the window. I jump back around and look out the window “Gesh Clay, you bout made me pee my pants!” I say with a soft laugh. “What are you doing here?” He does the roll down motion with his hand and I laugh again. DUH! “Rome said you were doing a like birthday/big school celebration, so I wanted to hang out with you guys, and he thought it would be ok.” I turn back to Rome who has a cheeky grin and smile in return “Of course” and into the building we go.

  “The noise is so loud” I say to a giggling Saige, she loves the lights and games. I look over and see Clay helping Denver start up one of the games you drive, searching a little further I see Thax and Rio with two big helmets on their heads with a fighting machine and I smile. These kids will be on cloud 9 for days. They don’t have a hard life but they sure don’t get everything other kids do, yet they are grateful all the same. I see Rome at the counter with a tray and I round them all up “Time to eat” I say to each set as Saige and I pass them. We all pile into a big red vinyl booth, Rome sets the tray down and turns to grab the drinks “Get them their plates. I’ll be right back with the soda.” And he is gone. All the kids are giddy and laughing, playing around. Clay takes each plate and slides it around to each kid as they call out what they had. Everyone had a plate and I had sat Rome’s down at his seat, where was he? I turned towards the counter and saw him talking to a guy, I couldn’t make out who it was because his back was to me but I knew the girl. Why was he chatting with Ashley? Clay must have noticed because he broke my thoughts “Why’s Rome talking to Zac?” I turn to look at Clay then back at Rome and realize, it is Zac. That’s weird…

  Chapter Forty-One

  (Rome)

  I turn with my tray full of drinks, the whole family is having a blast, and it warms my heart to see them so content. Rory makes a wonderful mom to the 4 pod even if she doesn’t see it. She’s the only mom they know. I’m so entranced by the scene, I nearly slam right into the guy behind me. “Sorry Man.” I say and go to step around him. “Hey I know you, your Rome right.” He sticks his hand out, I look down at the tray as explanation. “Yea, who are you?” dropping his hand and stepping a little closer “Names Zac” I don’t know the name really but I do know the girl at his side, Ashley has been a thorn in Rory’s side for years. She doesn’t look up, so I don’t acknowledge her. It’s for the best, I may just give her a piece of my mind. I hear the kids laugh and I look over to see Clay making a funny face behind his pizza. “Look I gotta get the kids drinks over.” I turn to walk off but Zac’s next words stop me in my tracks “You know, it’s funny you don’t know m, when I know everything about you. Bum from the park, a couple kids with no mom, you were fucking my best friends girl behind his back, you’re a real piece of work bro.” I turn back to him and Ashley is now looking up, with a look I can only explain as fear. My knuckles are turning white. I am gripping the tray so tight. “I mean, Toby told us all about how she was a freak, and liked it rough. It’s obvious that baby ain’t yours, either. I mean come on dude, she doesn’t look anything like you.” He just kept on “He even told us how that weird red hair was actually natural, you know what I mean.” That was it, I am about to lay him out. No one talks about my girl, especially when it’s nothing but lies. “YOU MOTHER..” a tight squeeze on my arms stops me, I look down and notice Rory. Gripping my arm “Rome he isn’t worth it, he doesn’t know crap.” looking up at him right in the eyes “Zac you think you are better than someone? You sell drugs to freshman and sleep with them. You still live at home with your momma and as far as my kids go, it’s none of your business what I set my twat on, as long as it isn’t you! You will end up over the tracks before it’s all over, sleeping with the super’s wife like everyone else.” She steps even closer letting go of my arm “And if you don’t shut your fucking mouth making a scene in front of my kids, I’ll use that tray he has to bust your nose, just I like I did hers.” She flips her hand over her shoulder and Ashley reaches up grabbing her crooked nose as her eyes bug out. “You piece of crap.” She turns to walk off but not before taking me with her. I look back at him one last time smiling, I know most men would get mad at their girl for an outburst like that but I love knowing Rory can stand up to someone like him. “She’s as much mine as she is Rory’s, to answer your question!

  We make our way back to the table and notice Clay waving at Ashley with a concerned face. “She ok?” he asked as we sat down. I look back at her “Yea she’s fine. Rory just laid into Zac and brought up the fight they had a few years ago.” Clay laughed, no doubt he had been there that day and saw it all. “Dude that was epic, no one saw it coming.” Rory shook her head letting us know to close it while the kids were there. Another 20 minutes had passed, all the kids were back at the video games, using up the last of the tokens. Saige in true form was asleep with a slice of half eaten pizza stuck to her cheek. Clay broke the silence “Ashley isn’t so bad. I know she was mean to you I school, but Toby was really to blame for that. I mean one day he was so sweet her whispering things in her ear, touch her arm, and making her laugh; then he would see you coming and would shove her off, calling her names and stuff. He was so hot and cold with her. She was heartbroken, hell she still is.” I can’t believe he just sat here with us and said that. “Dude seriously, she almost made Rory lose Saige when she was pregnant. She tricked her into drinking.” Clays face turned white as a ghost and he looked at Rory “I am so sorry, I never knew that.” She didn’t say anything just kept drinking her soda. “Yea, so forgive us if we hate the tramp.” I was pissed. “She couldn’t have known, Ashley is mean but she would never do anything like that. EVER. I learned after high school about her, she wouldn’t do something like that to anyone.” I didn’t respond, just stared at him. “Look Ashley is a good friend now, she wasn’t in school but afterwards we hung out. Everyone moved off except us. She’s a good girl, trust me. Maybe, Rory should talk to her?” shrugging my shoulders, I stand up. “I’m going to take Saige to the car, round up the boys, will ya?” I walked off, I can’t listen to that, Ashley treated Rory so bad and I had held her crying so many times, because of that horrible girl.

  Chapter Forty-Two

  I look around to find the boys “Walk with me Clay?” I made sure Rome was out of hearing distance, and we set off to get the boy,s so we could leave. “Look I don’t hate her, I just rather not be around her. Rome doesn’t hate her either, but when it comes to anything to do with Saige he flips out ok. And Zac just had him worked up. So don’t worry about it. As far as talking to Ashley I doubt that happens, but if she ever wants to talk to me. I will listen! I promise.” He smiled “Come on boy’s time to go.” He said loudly enough they all 3 heard and headed towards us. “Thanks Clay.” I wish Mando would have stuck around a little longer this summer. She would have loved to see Clay. I can’t help but think he reminds me of her in a way, despite them being complete opposites.

  Chapter Forty-Three

  (School starts back up)

  Denver starts this year, this should be fun. One kid left in daycare and we are done. Maybe one day I will have another kid. Rome doesn’t have any, yet we have four. Wow. Yea no more kids for a long long time for sure. “Wash your face.” I say as I pass the bathroom headed to Denver’s room to give him his special happy. He loves the skyLanders thanks to Mando’s Christmas gift, so we got his first backpack with them on it. He will freak. Rome planned on taking him but he threw a fit for me to, he might as well be mine he is hooked to me at my hip. I’m excited, it’s a changeup. I rarely get to help get them ready, by this time I am at work powering thru my first round of customers. One thing I didn’t plan on missing was seeing all the faces of my regulars. I have come so close to them over the years. I run my shift, with the help of a few older ladies. It works for us because Mrs. Raiz needs a break. She spends lots of time with her mom now that Mando can�
��t go over as much. I have a huge problem going back to the park. I wish she would move away from there as well. “Come on guys we need to go.” I pull up to the school and they all jump out. I was grateful to Rome for taking Saige to daycare, these kids would have ran her over. Thax heads towards the bigger of the buildings “See you this afternoon Ror.” He high fives his buddy Jamie and slide through the doors marked high school. I am glad the school is small enough to house k-12 not many school do that now. We drop Rio off by his class and head to Denver’s “I’m so scared” I barely hear from him. I bend down so I am at his level and hug him tight. “Denver you know I love you and I would never leave you somewhere, if I didn’t think it was safe. Besides Rio is just a few doors down.” I point down the hall where we just came from. He has unshed tears in his eyes and I almost lose it. I want to scoop him up and run home with him. I never want any of them to be scared. “My job is to protect you and I always will.” I hug him again and stand up ready to push the door open. He beats me to it, and when he gets through it, walking right up to the teacher with a smile on his face “Are you my teacher?” he ask boldly, never batting an eye. She looks down at him and smiles “Well if you’re name is Anna, Jennifer, or Denver then yes I am, my name Is Miss Stewart.” And she reaches to hand him a tiny bag of candy “These are for you, just something to say hello and welcome.” He looks up at me and I smile down at him, he then hands the bag back to the teacher. “Sorry Miss Stewart, Princess doesn’t allow us to take candy from stranger, and she’s my protector. If she trusts you to leave me with you, you better make sure no strangers try to give me any starting with you.” Looking back at me, I smiled and hugged him again. “I love you Denver.” I whisper in his ear. I stand back up and he heads to the desk she pointed at standing tall, he looks more like Rome than Rio ever will. “Thank you, he will be a good boy, I promise.” I tell Miss Stewart. She shakes my hand “And I am guessing your Princess?” I close my eyes and shake my head laughing, I should beat Rome for that. “No ma’am I am Rory, I am Denver’s, well, I guess I am Denver’s princess” ha “I mean his older brother has custody of him and I am his girlfriend. We have raised the kids as our own over the years.” I smile again happy with the way it came out. “Nice to meet you but I really need to get to work.” I turn to walk off and wave at Denver. I hear her telling the kids as I leave. “Ok class we can all start this year out together because this is my first year of teaching, so we are in this together.” I feel so full of joy, as I make my way to work. I can’t help to think of Carol again, it’s been so long since we have seen or heard from her. How can a mother not want her kids? These boys aren’t even mine and I love them just the same. Their Princess, I have to laugh at that because I am not their mom but I am more than just a girl to them. To them, I am their Princess. Thax being the only one who calls me Rory, I can only pray Saige never picks up on the princess gig.

  Chapter Forty-Four

  (Ashley’s Story)

  As I walk through the door of the The Diner, I feel this weight set on my shoulders. I know its only right I tell Rory my story. It’s not really fair to her going through all this for so long, alone. Not that she is really alone, she always has that Rome guy with her, even though they swear they are just friends. I see them around town. They are always together with all those kids, smiling, laughing, and just living life. They are actually cute together. Now that I have let my hate and anger go I can see Rory for who she is and not who she is with. I think Toby done the same thing to her. She was just stronger than me. She had someone to fall back on. Just looking at that little girl of hers, I see Toby all over her. She has Rory’s eyes but everything else is Toby, anyone who grew up here would see that. The bell above the door dings and I hear Rory from somewhere behind the counter “Welcome to the The Diner, sit anywhere and I will be right with you.” I walk to my booth, the same I have sat in for the last few years, except lately, I haven’t been surrounded by snarky fake bitches like I use to be. After high school things changed and those girls didn’t see the point in growing up. They went off to college to party and screw around. I stayed to take care of my father. He is a good bit older and needed the help at his pawn shop. I look up and see Rory as she stands with a sleeve of cups in her hand. She looks over and sees me sitting there. A small smile slips into place, I know it’s her job but it says a lot after all this time that she still smiles at me. If she had done the things over the years I have, I wouldn’t smile at her. Job or no job, I wouldn’t care. My childish ways could have caused her to lose her daughter. I like to think, had I known, that I would have never had Kelly give her the alcohol that night. She grabs her note pad and walks over. “What can I get you to drink?” she says as nice as ever and still smiling. “I just need a shake, whatever the daily special is.” I can’t make myself look up at her when I say it. I feel so horrible. She writes it down and turns to leave. “Rory” I call to her back “When you bring it back can you give me a few minutes, I have something I want to talk to you about.” She turns back confusion all over her face. “Um yea sure give me a few and I will take my break.” She goes into the back before returning with my shake and a cup of her own. Sitting mine down and taking the sit across from me, she just waits, patiently. I stall as long as I can, by messing with a napkin, and opening my straw before I decide diving head first is the only way to approach this. “Rory, I think I know… I mean I Know your little girl, she’s Toby’s isn’t she?” she doesn’t hesitate at all, standing up “That is none of your business.” She turns to walk off and I grab her arm, she jerks free and turns around. I see the tears in her eyes. “I didn’t mean anything by that Rory, honest, I just have something I need you to know and when I see her around, she’s just… she’s beautiful. I know when I tell you this it’s something you will keep to yourself if she is. I won’t tell anyone, I swear it. I’ve seen her with Rome, that’s her daddy. I know that too.” She sits back down. “It’s not a secret Ashle.; I just don’t see it being anyone’s business. Toby doesn’t even care.” And the tear slides down her face. “Rory, I need to tell you a story. A few months before you moved here Toby and I, well you know we were dating and he dumped me. Well no one really knows why. Anyways back on track. We had sex one night in his truck and I got pregnant.” I look across at Rory and her eyes go wide. “When I found out and told him he refused to believe me, he even said it couldn’t be true. Like we had never had sex or something. I mean, I loved him and still do with all my heart but he called me a slut and refused to listen, so I talked with his mom. We had been friends since we were kids and they knew we would always get married, she was like my mom with mine being dead and all. So I told her and well she wasn’t happy, but she actually told me she would help. One day she picked me up from school to go to the doctor, told my dad we were taking a long weekend trip. It wasn’t abnormal so he didn’t question it and I was young and had no idea what was going on. Next thing I know we were signing papers and I was in a bed. When I left the clinic I was weighed down worse than when I went in. I never even knew what was going on until it was too late. But I went in a mom to be and came out, NOT a mom anymore.” I wipe my eyes. Rory now has tears pouring down her face. “I spent the weekend at their home, where I never once saw Toby until Sunday afternoon. We had a big meeting with his parents. He had been out somewhere with the guys, he was sweaty and laughing, and I was barely able to move. I just stared at him. His parents sat us down and made a big speech about getting to serious when we were so young. They promised Toby they would let him get his new truck if he broke ties with me, and of course he did. Once he was out of the room, they offered me a monthly payment to help take care of my dad. They knew his medical bills were high and with mom’s insurance money gone, we were struggling. I refused it because I could never explain to him how I got it and they concocted a plan. Every month Mr. West goes in and buys one nice sized item that helps my dad stay in business. They don’t tell him why and he assumes they are being kind. They make the payment and I keep my
mouth shut so my dad can survive.” Rory shakes her head and moves over to the bench beside me “That’s why he already has his truck when I moved here?” I shake my head yes she is simply piecing it all together. “And you hated me because?” I try to smile at her and wipe another tear. “Rory you came right when I was hurting, everyone wanted to make it like he left me for you. He never believed me about the baby. When he asked me about it at school, I told him the test had been wrong. He called me more names and treated me like crap. The reality is, he just doesn’t know his mom made me get an abortion. I can never forgive myself for that. I just want to hold my baby. Even if he never talked to me again, I lost my heart that day along with my child.” She reaches around me and hugs me tight to her. “Rory, I am so sorry for being so nasty to you, I was just so lost.” The hug gets tighter “It’s ok Ash, I am so sorry, too.” I pull back and look at her. “Does Toby really not care?” she shakes her head no and says “He changed his number when he left. He accused me of cheating on him with Rome. I went to his house and told his mom. He never called me, so I assume he doesn’t care. She is so evil and luckily I didn’t trust her, otherwise I may have made the same mistake as you. She tries to send money every month to me as well to leave them alone, but I just return to sender. We don’t need anything from them.” She takes a napkin and wipes her face. “I bet he doesn’t know Rory, I bet she never told him.” She shrugs “Doesn’t matter now, Rome is Saige’s daddy and always will be. He loves her like a daddy should.” And she smiles meaning it. I pull out my necklace and open it up to show her the 2 pictures inside. “This is all I have left to even remind me I am not crazy, that it was all real.” We hug again and I turn to leave. “Ashley come by the house and see her, anytime you’re always welcome. 2 blocks over, the one with the fence. We have game night once a week and Clay could use a partner. ” She says pointing towards the street. I shake my head ok “I’d like that, later Rory.”