Chapter 379 - Loralei Part 2

'It was April 10th, 1942, I had only been 18 for two months. I was supposed to be shopping for ingredients for dinner. It was only me, mom and two of my older brothers, Danny and Theo. The oldest John got a scholarship to go to Harvard University for science and research while my older sister Lily ran away from home. She wanted to go and find Rose.'

'She couldn't take life without her anymore. Rose... Rose went missing six months back. We, we had no idea what happened to her and we couldn't look for her either. It was hard enough for us to convince my father to let John go to school and raise the funds for his ticket. So money was always a huge issue.'

'Even though Danny and Theo were bringing in an income it was for them to use to pay for school. While mom still worked two jobs and I was still jobless, a homemaker with no real education or special skills. All I could ever do was sing. I sang when I was cleaning, I sang when I cooked and I hummed everywhere I went. So when Shirely Temple came out with a new movie.... I had to see it.'

....

"What are you doing here?!" A man shouted as a blinding light shone in April's eyes. April panicked, she didn't know what to do. Her small, pink lips trembled as her blue eyes started to water. "I said what are you doing here?! I know I didn't sell more then five tickets for this showing!" The man shouted. April shot up in a hurry and turned, trying to get away.

The man grabbed April's ponytail and pulled her towards the aisle. "Ahh!" She screamed and struggled to break free. "Rats like you sneak into the theatres all the time! Enough is enough! We are all hurting and I need to keep my business a float. Pay for your ticket now or I'm calling the police!" The man shouted.

"Please let me go! I promise to never do it again. I swear! Please!" April cried. "If I had a nickle for every time I heard that I woudn't be hurting so much!" The man spat as he dragged April into the lobby. "Please!" April cried. The man pulled April to his eye level and scowled. "Pay me or I call the police." He said. April nodded her head as she winced. She instantly dug into her pockets and pulled out 50 cents. "Good, you should have just done that in the first place." The man said as he let go of April's hair and watched her fall to her knees.

"Now get out of here before I throw you out." He commanded as he pocketed the money. "You owe me 20 cents!" April shouted as she looked up the man bitterly. "I owe you nothing." He smirked. April shot up and tried to get the money out of his pocket. "You stupid b*tch!" He shouted and then grabbed April by her elbow. "Get out and stay out!" He shouted as he tossed April out of the building and locked the doors.

"No! Please don't steal my change! I need that money to buy groceries! Please!" April cried as she pounded her fist against the glass doors. The man just shrugged and walked away. "I'm in so much trouble." April groaned as she placed her forehead against the glass. "I can't buy liver now." April sniffed as she pulled hersef away. She turned around and saw that a crowd of people were wacthing her and whispered as they gave her cold glares.

April dropped her gaze and walked away. She didn't need anymore people talking badly about her and her family. They all thought of her a some piece of trash anyways, completely worthless, so she hoped that gossip wouldn't reach her mother, worse her father. April shoved her hands into her pocket and cringed when her fingertips touch the three coins and one piece of paper.

"I have to buy dad his alcohol first but then... but then... I can buy the potatoes and oinions." April said to herself. She looked up and saw the liquor store up ahead. She bit down on her bottom lip and chewed. She thought about just not buyng the alcohol and tricking her father again. She could collect empty bottles and fill them with diluted beer but last time he threatened to confiscate her brothers tuition money if she did it again.

With a heavy heart she dragged her feet in and bought the alcohol. With 25 cents left in her pocket, she hauled herself towards the grocery store and bought what she could. With the war going on, the cost of food had gone up and she was only left with 5 cents. She felt miserable, she at least needed 15 cents more to buy a pound of liver. She clutched the small coin in her hand and thought how she could make it work. With a loud groan she gave up, she needed to clear her head. April straightened up her back and started to sing to herself to lighten up her mood and clear her mind.

"Excuse me." A sweet old lady called out. April stopped singing and looked at the old women. "That song you are singing. It's Tangerie by Jimmy Dorsey right?" She asked as her eyes lit up with anticipation. April couldn't help but blush, not many people woud stop her to chat but the old woman stopped her to ask about her singing. April nodded her head enthusiastically.

"I knew it! I knew it! I have to say I am a fan of the song but when you just sang it, well, I fell in love with it even more. I never knew a woman could make it sound so dreamy and sweet. Like a first love that could never be." The old women said with a big smile. "Thank you." April said as she blushed even further. "Tell me are you singing for the groocery store here?" The women asked as she looked around.

"N-no, no I'm not." April said with a heavy stutter. "Oh that's too bad. Your song made me want to buy the produce here. It just made things so appealing." She said with a heavy sigh. A clerk heard the conversation and rushed to get the owner. "Miss, miss!" A thin, older male called out as he rushed towards the women. "Thank you for your hard work today, cough, brining in customers but can I bother to stay another hour? I will pay you over time. I didn't realize a rush would be coming." The man said causing April to look around. 

There was a huge crowd of smiling faces.