A Home for Jessa

by Robin Delph

  Jessa was seating on a bench outside of the school thinking about how her life had come to be what it was, when a bag was dropped in her lap. Looking up Jessa say Summer standing over her.

  “What’s this?” Jessa asked.

  “I figured you could use some new clothes and undergarments.” Summer said as she sat down beside her.

  “You didn’t have to get me anything Summer I’m fine.”

  “Relax I know how you are. The clothes are some that I didn’t want anymore. The only thing that is new is the undergarments and socks. I didn’t think you would want to wear anything like that that someone else has already worn.”

  Jessa just smiled at her friend. Theirs was an odd friendship, Jessa the homeless girl and Summer the rich kid. Who would have thought they would ever be such close friends.

  “Come on Summer we’re going to be late for class.” Jessa said standing up.

  “Oh alright mom will throw a fit it I get another tardy slip. She is still fussing over my report card. Can you believe that we will be graduating eighth grade in a week.”

  “I know.” Jessa replied.

  “I cannot wait for summer break!” Summer almost shouted with joy.

  Jessa couldn’t help but giggle at her friend’s enthusiasm. Summer always enjoyed being away from school even when she was here it’s like she wasn’t. Maybe that’s the reason she has a C average. I’m not really looking forward to summer break Jessa thought. I don’t know where I get any food and with Summer going on vacation with her family I won’t have anyone to talk to. Maybe I could see about taking summer school classes.

  “Good morning girls.” Their math teacher Mr. Lewis said as they walked into the classroom.

  “Good morning Mr. Lewis.” They said in unison.

  For some reason Jessa was having a hard time concentrating on her lessons. All she could think about was summer vacation and going to high school. So far her foster family had kept their word about her doing as she pleased and not taking her back to the orphanage. I hope they continue keeping it Jessa thought. I really don’t want to miss out on high school. When the bell rang for the end of the school day it startled Jessa.

  “Hey Jessa mom said you could stay over this weekend if you want to.”

  Jessa knew that Mrs. Greyson didn’t like her. She said she was not the type of person Summer needed to be friends with.

  “How on earth did you get your mom to agree to that?” Jessa asked surprised.

  “I told her what you made on your report card and she is hoping that you can tutor me this summer when we get back. The good thing is you can stay the whole weekend and most of the time when we get back. I thought it would be good for you to stay in a real house for a change.”

  “Geese Summer say it a little louder I don’t think everyone heard you.”

  “Sorry I didn’t mean it the way it came out. Anyway she is waiting for us out front.”

  “How am I supposed to explain this bag of clothes you gave me?” Jessa asked

  “Don’t worry she’ll think it’s what you brought for the weekend.”

  “How is she going to think that when you just told me today and I obviously haven’t had enough time to go home and get clothes?”

  “Well I was supposed to have told you this yesterday. I know what you’re thinking but I didn’t forget. I knew if I told you yesterday you would have had time to think about it and you would have told me no.”

  “You’re something else you know that.” Jessa told her.

  “I know and that’s why you love me so much.”

  Both girls looked at each other and started laughing as loud as they could.

  Chapter Twelve

  This was the first time Jessa had saw where Summer lived. I knew she was rich Jessa thought but this house could hold four families. Jessa didn’t know what to say or think as they pulled in front of the house. She noticed Mrs. Greyson was watching her when they got out of the car.

  “Summer take Jessa upstairs and show her the guest room so she can put her things away. Dinner will be ready in twenty minutes, make sure to get washed up.” Mrs. Greyson said once they were inside.

  “Okay mom. Come on Jessa I’ll show you where you’ll be sleeping.” Summer said as she grabbed Jessa by the arm.

  Once in the guest room Jessa’s jaw dropped as she looked around.

  “What’s wrong?” Summer asked.

  “That is the biggest bed I have ever seen.”

  Summer just giggled.

  “I thought I would be sleeping in your room in a sleeping bag?”

  “Now why would you want to do that, I snore. Plus I thought it would be nice if you slept in a bed for a change and maybe have your own room. This room also has it’s own bathroom so you will have plenty of privacy.”

  Jessa was almost in tears. To think she would be sleeping in a bed and have her own bathroom for a whole weekend. “Thank you so much Summer. You truly are the best friend anyone could ever have.”

  Summer gave her a hug. “Come on we need to get ready for dinner and I’ll show you my room afterwards.”

  When they got downstairs Jessa was still in shock when she saw the dining room table. That’s the most food I’ve ever seen at one time Jessa thought.

  “Summer said you weren’t picky about what you ate. So we have an assortment to choose from.” Mrs. Greyson said as Jessa sat down.

  “Thank you Mrs. Greyson.” Jessa replied.

  Summer just looked at Jessa and smiled.

  Half way through the meal Mrs. Greyson said, “Jessa may I speak to you after dinner?”

  “Sure.” Jessa replied

  Oh no Jessa though what could she possibly want to talk to me about. Did Summer slip up and say something? When dinner was over Jessa followed Mrs. Greyson into what she called a study. When Summer tried to follow her mom told her she wanted to speak to me in private. This can’t be good Jessa thought.

  “Have a seat Jessa.” Mrs. Greyson said once they entered the study.

  Jessa was so nervous she almost missed the chair.

  “Summer says you got straight A’s on your report card.”

  “Yes ma’am I did.” Jessa replied.

  “As you may know Summer hasn’t done very well in school. I don’t understand why I have hired tutor after tutor for her, but none of them have seemed too gotten through to her. Jessa I was wondering if you would tutor her after we get back from vacation. I will pay you and you could stay over to help her some if you want. I mean if your parent’s wouldn’t mind.”

  “I would be glad to help her and my parent’s won’t mind at all, but you don’t have to pay me.” Jessa replied.

  “Thank you for agreeing to help her and I will pay you. I insist on it. So with that out of the way, what are your plans for summer Jessa?”

  “I’m going to go to summer school.” Jessa told her.

  “Why? You have very good grades why would you want to spend your vacation in school?” Mrs. Greyson asked.

  Jessa knew she couldn’t tell her the real reason why so she decided to tell her the second reason why she had decided to go to summer school. “Well as you know we will start high school in the fall and I by going to summer school it will help me be more prepared. The summer classes aren’t like the regular school year classes, you only go three days a week for a month.”

  “That’s very good thinking Jessa. You are a very intelligent girl. Maybe I should cancel our vacation this year and send Summer. Jessa when does summer school start? She asked.

  “It starts a week after school lets out and is for the first month of summer vacation. That way everyone still gets a month off before school starts back.” Jessa replied.

  “That’s perfect. I wouldn’t have to cancel our vacation I could just postpone it. Instead of going at the beginning of summer we could go for two weeks after summer school.”

  Oh no what did I just do Jessa thought. Summer is going to be so mad when she hears she has to go to summer school.
/>   “Thank you Jessa. I think Summer is waiting for you in her room.”

  Jessa headed upstairs to tell her friend what had happened.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Jessa found Summer in her room going through her closet.

  “Hey Jessa. I was just looking to see if I could find you some more clothes.”

  “You may change your mind about helping in a minute.” Jessa told her.

  “What happened?” Summer asked.

  “Well just like you said she wants me to tutor you and she said she would pay me. I told her no but she wouldn’t have it any other way.”

  “Jessa that’s great! We can spend time together this summer and it’ll give you some money for foods and school. Mom always pays my tutors top dollar.”

  “That’s not the bad part. She asked me what I had planned for this summer and I told her I was going to go to summer school so I would be more prepared for high school. When I told her that she said it was a good idea and that she was going to postpone your vacation and send you to summer school to. Please don’t be mad Summer I didn’t mean to get you roped into summer school.”

  Summer just started laughing.

  “What’s so funny?” Jessa asked.

  “The principal told me that my teachers insisted on me going to summer school, so I had to go anyway. This way though mom thinks it’s her idea and she want get mad at me.” She explained.

  “Summer are you ever going to take school serious?”

  “Let’s see high school will have more boys, so probably not.” She answered with a grin.

  “So what do you have planned for us to do this weekend?” Jessa asked.

  “Well I thought we could go shopping and then to have our hair done. If that’s alright with you?”

  “Summer I don’t have any money to go shopping with let alone to have my hair done. What’s wrong with you?”

  “Nothing is wrong with me. I never said you had to have money to go.”

  “So you’re going shopping and I’m going to watch?” Jessa asked.

  “No. You’ll just have to wait and see. Now let’s go watch a movie and eat a lot of junk food.” Summer replied

  Jessa didn’t say another word she just followed Summer downstairs to the T.V. room. It was already set up for them, there was popcorn, soda, candy and they were told that they had ice cream in the freezer if they wanted any.

  “Hey Jessa.”

  “Yeah.” Jessa replied.

  “Thanks for being my friend.” Summer said.

  “Thank you for being mine.” Jessa replied.

  Jessa had never ate so much popcorn in her life and when the movie was over she was glad to head to bed. Once inside the guess room she went to take a shower that’s when she noticed that Summer had put a silk pair of pajamas, a robe and a pair of house shoes in the bathroom for her. I don’t know what I ever done to deserve a friend like Summer she thought as she got in the shower but I’m truly thankful for her.

  The next morning Jessa woke to Summer standing over her.

  “I thought you were going to sleep all day. Come on breakfast is waiting for us. I’m pretty sure mom made chocolate chip pancakes.”

  “Okay let me get dressed first.” Jessa told her.

  “You can get dressed after we eat. Come on I’m starving.”

  Jessa got up threw on the robe and house shoes and headed downstairs with Summer for breakfast. Jessa could smell the food as soon as she was downstairs. On the table were chocolate chip pancakes, bacon, scrambled eggs, fresh fruit and a cold pitcher of milk. The sight of all that food made her stomach growl so following Summer she took a seat and started eating.

  It felt like she had been eating for hours when Summer said they needed to get dressed. The girls went upstairs to get dressed and as soon as Jessa went into her room she noticed her clothes were gone.

  “Summer can you come here.” Jessa called.

  “What’s wrong Jessa?” Summer asked.

  “My clothes are gone.” Jessa told her.

  “What? Jessa your clothes are right here.”

  “Not those the ones I took off last night when I went to shower.”

  Summer just started laughing.

  “Summer it’s not funny. Now are you going to help me find my clothes or not?” Jessa asked.

  Summer just kept on laughing.

  “Summer stop laughing at me.” Jessa all but yelled.

  “I’m sorry Jessa. Your clothes aren’t gone our maid just took them to be washed. See she even maid the bed and cleaned the bathroom.” Summer told her.

  Jessa hadn’t even noticed that the bed had been made or that the dirty towels in the bathroom were gone too. She felt her face turn red with embarrassment, all she could do was look at the floor.

  “I’m sorry for laughing Jessa I really am. Now get dressed we will be leaving in a few minutes.” Summer said as she headed out the door.

  Jessa got dressed and headed downstairs.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Jessa felt out of place and silly going shopping, but Summer insisted that they go. They had already been to three different stores, at the last one Summer had hounded Jessa until she let her buy her a new pair of shoes and a new outfit. Jessa agreed so Summer would hush and stop making a scene. Now they were on their way to the beauty salon to get their hair done. Jessa had to agree to that too.

  “What are you going to get done to your hair Jessa?” Summer asked.

  “Probably just get it trimmed up.” Jessa replied.

  “Why don’t you just cut it?” Summer asked.

  “I don’t want it cut I like my long hair and you know that. So before you even think about tricking me into cutting short, I’m not going to do it.” Jessa told her in a matter of fact tone.

  “Okay I won’t say another word about it. Do you want to get your ears pierced?”

  “No thank you and don’t even try it Summer.” Jessa told her as they walked into the salon.

  “Okay I won’t I promise. Oh and before I forget after we are done here we have two more places we have to go to and I promise you you will love it.”

  I doubt that Jessa thought as they were seated. So far I have felt so out of place today Jessa thought. I can’t wait to just get back to Summer’s and relax, but knowing her she probably had something else planned for us to do then.

  The beauty salon didn’t take as long as Jessa thought. She and Summer had their hair trimmed and where headed to one of the other places Summer wanted to go. As they rounded the corner Jessa was surprised they that they were standing outside of a bookstore. Well one thing is for sure I know this isn’t where she wants to go Jessa thought. I would love to go in and see what kind of books they have,

  “Jessa are you coming?” Summer asked holding the door to the bookstore opened.

  “You mean this is where we are going?” Jessa asked puzzled.

  “Yes this is the surprise I have for you or one of them anyway. So are you coming or not.” Summer teased.

  Jessa didn’t know what to say so she just went in. Once inside Jessa saw roles and roles of books, some old and some new. I could live here she thought.

  “Pick out your favorites and we will meet upfront in a little while. And it’s my treat for you being such a good sport about all the shopping.” Summer said as she walked off toward a shelf full of magazines.

  Jessa didn’t know what to look at first there were so many books. She decided that first she would go get a bible since she had left hers at the orphanage and then she would check out all the books.

  After spending more than an hour looking through books Jessa headed to the front of the store with her selection. She had a bible, Grapes of Wrath, Wuthering Heights, War and Peace, Catcher in the Rye and a book of Shakespeare’s plays and Sonnets. Jessa was thrilled with the books the books she had chosen and she couldn’t wait to start reading them.

  “That’s a lot of books.” Summer said.

  “Is it to many?” Jessa asked.
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  “No that’s not what I meant. Do you really plan on reading all of those big thick books?”

  “Not only do I plan on reading them I thought maybe you could read a few too.” Jessa said with a smile.

  “Not likely.” Summer wrinkled her nose.

  “You know it wouldn’t hurt you to read something other than magazines once in a while.” Jessa told her.

  “Oh enough with the books, let’s pay for this stuff so we can go to your next surprise.”

  The girls paid for their books and headed to the next store that Summer had in mind. They had been walking and talking for two blocks when Summer stopped in front of an electronics store.

  “Here we are.”

  “Summer why are we at an electronics store?” Jessa asked.

  “Mom told me while I was out to make sure to stop and get a new laptop for school next year.”

  “Then how is that a surprise for me?” Jessa asked.

  “You’re getting one to.”

  “No Summer I won’t let you do that. Laptops are way too expensive.” Jessa argued.

  “I’m afraid you don’t have a say in the matter.” Summer told her.

  “And why is that?” Jessa asked.

  “I told mom that you needed one too and that your family couldn’t afford one. She said that would never do that you would need one for school as well and told me to make sure to get you one. She also said that we both needed a carrying case for them and no least than three or four flash drives a piece.” Summer said.

  “I can’t let your mom do that.” Jessa replied.

  “Sorry Jessa but if you don’t come back with one to she will be insulted plus she said it was the least she could do for how she had treated you in the past. So come on lets pick us out a laptop and the things we need so we can go home, my feet are tired and I’m getting hungry.”

  “Fine.” Jessa said as she followed Summer in the store.

  “Look at it this way, it’ll be easier for you to work on your novel on the laptop and when you’re done you can just email to the publisher.”

  “You really think it would be easier that way? Plus I guess I will need one for school.”