I was awoken this morning by pounding at the door.
"Kate?"
"I need your help."
"Obviously, if you're up here."
I brewed some coffee--something I rarely do anymore, due to the cost and scarcity, but this counts as a special occasion. We sat at the kitchen table, as I made some toast and preserves.
"I need to get to Reading."
"Good luck."
"No--I mean it. I need to get home. To my parents."
"Why? What's going on? I mean, other than the end of the world as we know it."
"I was laid off. And I haven't been able to get to class--I can't afford it now."
"Oh."
"Can you help me?"
"I..."
"Mary, please. What choice do I have?"
What choice do I have?
"Take a couple of days and stay with us. OK? We'll figure out how to get you home, but take a couple of days here and rest. Try and get a hold of your mom, see what's going on in Reading."
That afternoon, we went down to my parents' place for lunch; Lansdale has a shuttle going back and forth between the train station and Center Point in Worcester. Kate told my folks about losing her job, and how she needed to get to Reading.
"Are there still Greyhound buses?" Kate asked.
"In King of Prussia, there are," my stepfather said.
"Is--is there any way to get there? I know, I should've gone from Philly, but, I guess I wasn't thinking."
"It's alright, Kate," I said, "I'll take you."
And I will, but not for a few days--I'm going to try and get a collection for gas money.
I've got a bad feeling about this...
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