Free Last Diner Standing by Terri L. Austin Page A

on the counter. “Have you called the doctor?”
    She shook her head. “No, I don’t think it’s that bad, but I don’t want him to get dehydrated. And I couldn’t leave the kids to run to the store.”
    I stepped into the living room and walked to the sofa where Damon lay, looking tired and drawn. His lips were dry and large purple circles ringed his glassy eyes. “How you doing, kiddo? You want a little 7-UP?”
    He shook his head.
    “We’re going to have to get him to drink,” Sondra said. She went to the kitchen and returned with a glass. “I mixed the electrolyte drink with the soda.”
    “Damon,” I said and stroked his forehead. He felt warm to the touch. “I want you to drink a little bit of this, okay?”
    He tried to sit up. I held the glass to his mouth and he sipped before letting his head fall back onto the sofa pillow. “I want my mom.”
    I stroked his short hair. “I know, sweetie.” The lights of the Christmas tree in the corner mocked me with their cheery blinking.  
    “When is she coming home?”
    “Soon.”
    “Promise?”
    Those sad brown eyes got to me. It was Christmastime and the kid was sick. He needed his mom. I took a deep breath. “Yeah, Damon, I promise.”
    Sondra shook her head in disapproval. But I was going to get Janelle out of jail, if I had to break her out myself.
    “I need to make a quick call,” I said over the blaring cartoons.
    “Up the stairs, first bedroom on the right.”
    “Thanks.” I took the short flight of stairs and stepped into a bedroom. The queen bed, with its blue and green striped comforter, took up almost every square inch of space. I shut the door behind me and with a shaky hand dialed Sullivan.
    “Hello, Rose.”
    I took a fortifying breath and blew it out. “I need a favor.”
    Long pause. “Are you sure?”
    No, not at all. “I need ten thousand to get my friend, Janelle, out of jail. One of her kids is sick and they need her. I don’t know how I’m going to pay you back.” I couldn’t even afford to buy a used car right now. Ten thousand? It might as well be a hundred thousand.  
    Another one of those long ass silences. “All right,” he said. “I’ll have her out tomorrow.”
    “Thanks.” I hit the end button and wondered if I’d just signed my life away.
    I left the bedroom and trotted down the stairs to Sondra and Damon. “I got someone to post bail. She should be out tomorrow.”
    Sondra stared into my eyes. “What did you do? If it were this easy, she’d be home by now. Who’d you get the money from?”
    I smiled. “It’s fine. Don’t worry about it.” I glanced down at Damon. “He finally fell asleep, huh?”
    “Yeah, I got some fluid down him. I’ll wake him up every thirty minutes and give him a little more.”
    “You need me to stick around and help out with the kids?”
    She hesitated a moment. “If you don’t mind.”
    I spent the evening making macaroni and cheese, reading bedtime stories, and washing a sink full of dishes. As I scrubbed bowls and spoons, my gut clenched in anxiety. I knew I had done the right thing for Janelle, but how was I going to pay back Sullivan?

    The next morning I met up with Roxy in the diner parking lot and told her about my debt problem.
    “How are you going to come up with ten thousand dollars? Does Sullivan expect you to sex him up?”
    “I’m not having sex with him, jeez.” At least not for money. I mentally slapped myself.
    “Just asking,” Roxy said.
    When we walked into the kitchen, Ma was waiting for us, looking as excited as a kid on Christmas morning. “Girls, come with me. I’ve got something to show you.”
    Exchanging glances, Roxy and I followed Ma through the dining room and into the office. At the green metal storage cabinet, she opened the door and waved her hand with the flourish of a game show hostess. “Ta da!”
    “Forget it. I’m not wearing that,” I said.
    Roxy shook her blue curls. “Me, neither.”
    “Of course not,” Ma said.