When Bette came back the house was empty…devoid of Angelica. A note was on the table.

“it’s better for all of us if i leave, don’t worry…i’ll be fine, i love you i forgive you….i just can’t forgive myself, i dont know why life has made living so unbearable. i wont hurt myself though love, Angelica.”

Bette would not see her daughter again for four years.

 When Bette had left for tea Angelica had ran in her room and pulled her one-strap cloth pack sack from under her bed. She opened all the drawers and quickly stuffed two pairs of pants, two pairs of shirts, one sweater, one hoodie, three pairs of socks, and a bunch of panties into the sack….opening her drawer she took her stash of sixty dollars…then a worn paperback of Farley Mowats ‘snow walker’, her notebook, and a toothbrush. It was pretty full but not bulging. Tying her doc martens up Angie went into the kitchen and took out two sadnwhiches, she stuck them into her pockets and took  a swig of water. Then she tore a a page out of a book and wrote on the blank side her note. She stuck it on the table and left the house. She looked over to Mr.Benson’s yard and saw him watering his plants, he was so weird, watering his plants late at night. Angie took a deep breath and walked over to his yards, coming through his driveway. He looked up at her, he stood there in shorts, she stood there looking at him. “i need money”. Mr.Benson straightened his back, he walked over to her. In an instant he knew what she was doing, what she was planning…he couldn’t care less. He took out his wallet…..but first took a hold of Angie’s hands, he took them and rubbed them all over his face…he sucked on a thumb….then dropped her hands like they were hot coal. A look of disgust went over his features and he took out a whole stack of bills from his wallet….”now go girl, don’t come back or i’ll call the police”. Angelica left.

 The first place she went, using the bus, was Dina’s. She needed more money..she had around $500 whihc she put in her sock at the bottom of her shoe. Angelica’s head felt like bursting….she was beyond thinking. She was running on adrenalin now. She punched in Dina’s apartment code….dina answered, damn she was still awake! Angelica’s voice must have sounded weird cuz Dina buzzed her right up without asking questions. Dina met her in the hallway. In the living room Angelica told her everything minus the baby, she made up some arguement. Dina looked at her closely…then told Angelica she was a dumb *****. Angie hung her head….answered that she knew that. Dina shook her head…..then gave Angelica another five hundred dollars…money she had won gambling. Angelica was again slightly confused…she could never guess Dina’s motives in anything. “now look…i know some people, around ages 18 and 19 who are driving up to canada..if your desperate to leave….if your stupid then meet them, i can call for you..they’re leaving tonight, they’re night owl people”. Angelica realized what she was doing…still she nodded and the call came.

 Before Angelica stepped in their van she paused and closed her eyes. There was no turning back. She had no idea what the ***** she was doing. Angelica slid the van door shut….feeling the vibrations in her feet.

 Just when Bette was going to call the police her phone rang. Bette picked it frantically….her hand was shaking. It was Dina. Bette was about to hang up when Dina told her something happened to Kirsten. Bette felt her blood freeze…”what…what!”   “Kirsten just called me…she’s on a plane leaving for her reservation..our grandmother passed away, she told me to tell you sorry…she’s very upset”  Bette felt her stomach turn to stone….this had got to be her shittiest day on earth. Bette asked if Dina had seen Angie…Dina said no. Bette hung up abruptly. Kirsten…….WHY!?  Why Kirsten i need you….where is Angelica….god o god where is Angelica…Bette was about to call the police when she rememberd they did not file a missing persons report for 48 or 36 hours or 24 she forgot. So Bette hung up and bit her lip….then she dialled Kit’s number. Hearing the rings go on and on Bette paced around and around…Tina would never had just left. God she missed Tina so much….Bette couldn’t understand why her world had broken up so much.

 What had she done to deserve all this?

 All she wanted was peace and happiness.