June 14th, 2009

Dear Diary,

Last week, we got a new employee in the department. Her name is Brittany.  Brittany is just about the same height and size as I am.  About 5 foot 7,  petite, caramel-complected with freckles, and curly red hair.  She's only twenty years old, but she looks as if she's a decade older.  It must be because of all the stress she's been put through at such a young age.

Since my boss felt that I'm the most knowledgeable out of the bunch, she has me teaching her all the ropes.  As you may know, I don't get along well with people in general.  However, this woman is different.  It's almost as if we were siblings in our past lives.  I was a little nervous having to explain everything, but she made it all less "painful" with her sarcastic humor.  She could even sense how ruthless our fellow co-workers could be. After I showed her the normal routine of checking e-mails and answering voicemail, she said "So how often am I supposed to change the diapers of our co-workers?"

Last night, she invited me over for dinner.  She served baked chicken, oyster dressing, macaroni and cheese, soft, moist cornbread muffins, and spicy, ham hock flavored collard greens.   There was plenty to eat.  I made a comment about how she may have cooked way too much.  Her reply was "I know, but I had to make it to where the kids will have something to eat for the next few days, while I figure out how I'm going to get food on the table afterward. I don't get my paycheck until another week from now."

She lives in poverty, surrounded by the typical drug dealers, addicts, and liquor stores that may come with its package. However, despite all the untidiness on the outside, her apartment is kept very neat and clean.  She's soft spoken.  She's raising three kids on her own. All in which walk all over her, despite how gentle she treats them.

Although all of her kids have the same father and he's to the only person that she's ever been with, people from the outside looking in perceive her as promiscuous.   This makes her prey to rude men who spew out sexual comments towards her in front of her children.  She spoke on how she feels resentment towards Chris (their father) because of this and that if it weren't for his neglecting her and the children, she wouldn't have to put up with the rude remarks and stereotypes.  According to Brittany, Chris would only come around when he wanted something.  Her statement proved true when he dropped by unexpectedly, after being missing in action for four whole months, interrupting our dinner with a loud knock on the door.

This took Brittany by surprise, as they usually don't have visitors on a regular basis, and she almost forgot about Chris.  "Daddy!" The kids screamed, as they ran away from the dinner table without asking to be excused.  It was almost as if they favored their absentee dad more than they did the mother who was always present.  That must really be a smack in the face for Brittany, as she works her behind off to make sure that they're taken care of.

Brittany got up from the table and made Chris a plate.  She then sat back down at the table and made the kids sit back down as well, staring at the empty chair as if she were expecting Chris to sit in it.  The kids probably would have refused to sit down, if they didn't assume that their dad was going to sit down at the table as well.  Rather than sitting at the table, he took his 6'4, 260lbs frame into the living room and made himself comfortable.  The children left the table a second time to keep him company, and Brittany sighed.  They didn't even care to finish the rest of their food.

Brittany then got up and went off to the bathroom and I was left at the table eating by myself.  She was in the bathroom for a very long time. When Chris finished his plate, he walked back into the kitchen and made several more plates for the road.  He took so much that there wasn't going to be any left over for the kids.

"Come over here and give me a hug, youngin's.  I'm about to go." Chris said while carrying two plastic bags full of the dinner that was meant to feed the children.

"Nooooo, daddy!  Don't go!" sobbed the children.  He gave them quick hugs and went on his way. He didn't even wait until Brittany came out of the bathroom.

He stayed no more than an hour.  Like Brittany said, he just took what he wanted and left.

I guess Brittany and I have much in common.