Vanessa Connors, the Grand Island story. Chapter 1.

She woke up on that August morning feeling like she couldn't face the day. She dragged herself out of bed to turn off the alarm so it would not wake the baby. Then she stretched. She checked on Trent, he was still sound asleep.
She walked into her small kitchen. She cleaned it up a little before starting the coffee pot. Then, standing in the kitchen looking at the cereal choices she felt suddenly relieved. She would be getting her check from the young mothers alliance today. It would be a big check, probably about $3000 or so. More than enough to buy the months groceries, pay the bills, and put some money away for the future.
She chose the raisin bran. The super saver brand with the raisins that taste like pebbles instead of rich dried fruit. She poured the milk, then the cereal and pondered while she chewed. 1

2

3

" Mommy!" Came the familiar voice of her daughter. She smiled as she walked down the small hallway to the pink and yellow bedroom where her beautiful little girls were sleeping. Destiny, the youngest was sitting up in bed crying.
" Oh baby! It's o.k. Mommies here, Mommies got you now," she said as she walked quickly over to the small plastic bed. She delicately picked up her 2 year old and cradled her in her arms before going back to the kitchen to finish her cereal.
4

5

After she had finished, she got Destiny, or Des as she is sometimes called, some Malt o' Meal. A runny oatmeal breakfast dish that is loved by all her children, especially the baby. Then she got up Trent, her 8 month old son who looks like his father. A man who, unlike other men faced with the challenge of being a young father, got a job, and started working before he was recruited to Iraq where he died in a roadside bombing. Every day she would see that face on her son and feel a sudden want to be held by her husband. In his big arms with his blond hair, and hazel eyes. She could see him now.
6

7

She then proceeded to get everyone up. Get them fed and dressed, and hair done, teeth brushed. Then, Gen (pronounced Jen as in Jennifer )her 3 1/2 year old daughter,led everyone through the house to the garage where they all got in the car to go to the YMA ( Young Mothers Alliance ) office to pick up the check and proceed to run errands.
8

" Gen!" Call Vanessa, looking for her " Come here this minute!" Vanessa's heart raced, her head pounded she set Trent down in his seat in the car and looked out of the garage. She almost screamed as she ran out into the street where Gen was petting a cat.9

" Genevieve Rose! Come here!" Cried Vanessa speeding down the long driveway. She grabbed her daughter and held her close as she walked back to the car in the garage. 10

" Don't EVER do that again!" She said, close to tears. 11

They all got in the car and drove into town; her town; their town. Grand Island, Nebraska.12