High Hopes Ch. 1

"How much longer, Mum?" Leyna asked quietly.1

Rosemarie looked down at the child and faked a smile.2

"Not too much longer, darling." Then she winced from the sudden pain in her heart. "I'll have to leave her quickly, to avoid any problems," she thought.3

Rosemarie's heart was cold, but she still held a small spot in it for her little daughter. No matter how selfish she became, she still wanted  Leyna to have a good life...but she didn't want to have to take care of her.4

"Do you think that they will have clowns there, Mum?" 5

Rosemarie's looked away as tears began to fill her eyes.6

"Don't ask me so many questions Leyna...I need to focus on the road."7

Leyna pressed her tiny lips together and sat quietly for the rest of the trip.8

When they pulled up to the carnival grounds, Leyna's eyes became wide as she looked at all the brightly colored tents and interesting people.9

They got out of the car and walked towards the gate.10

Rosemarie handed a man in a very tall red, white and blue hat their tickets. He smiled and ripped them in two.11

As they walked into the carnival Leyna was amazed by the sight. She smiled and looked around as her mother led her by the hand quickly into the center of the fair.12

"Ley, you sit here," Rosemarie said pointing to a bench by a Rainbow striped tent,"And don't move until I come back."13

Leyna sat down, not even wondering why her mother was leaving her. She was too awe struck by the sights and sounds of the carnival.14

Rosemarie walked away quickly and silently, tears filling her eyes. Once she got out of Leyna's sight she began to run.15

She hurried to her car and got in. She sat in the drivers seat for a moment, breathing heavily. "Oh Rosemarie, are you really this awful?" she said to herself. Then she turned the key and drove out of the parking lot.16

Rosemarie was only 17 when she became pregnant with Leyna. Rosemarie was devastated to have to care for someone other than herself, and she often treated Layna coldly, but she never seemed to be bothered by it. Leyna was truly and angel, and Rosemary often felt guilty for resenting Leyna. So one day she decided she had to leave her little daughter and let life take care of her. Rosemarie was selfish, and she wanted to have fun, not worry about taking care of a child. She was young, and she wanted to live life without having to worry about having to provide for Leyna. Soon, she would be starting school, and Rosemarie thought that if anyone was going to take Leyna in, she better leave her while she was young and angelic.17

Leyna sat quietly for almost 3 hours, she was far too used to being alone. She had spent many nights home alone while her mother went out with many different men. Leyna had learned to be alone and take care of herself. She never let herself feel lonely, she always used her best asset, her imagination. She watched the bright neon lights flash, and children with many different types of sweets walk past.18

But as the carnival began to die down and the lights began to go off one by one, Leyna began to wonder where her mother could possibly be. She clenched her stomach as her stomach growled.19

A man in a brightly colored clown suit approached her and smiled. He was tall and thin, and looked around 16 or 17.20

"Hey kid, what are you doing sitting here alone? The carnival is closing down for tonight," he said in a kind voice.21

"My...my mother...she left me...she told me to sit here until she came back," Leyna told him.22

He shook his head. "When was that?"23

Leyna looked down and whispered,"Hours ago."24

Leyna might have been young, but she wasn't dumb. Leyna always knew the day would come, that Rosemarie would leave her behind. She had figured out hours ago that that was the case.25

He sighed,"Okay kid, well, why don't you come with me and get something to eat? I'm sure you're starved. My name's Bert."26

Leyna smiled and hopped off the bench. Bert smiled back and took her hand.27

"You stick with me kid, and you'll be well off."28

They didn't know what they were going to do or go. But they both knew they would be together for awhile.29