Outside the Box

by H. M. Montes

  “Oh that is great! Thank You so much, I will get in touch with her today.” I smiled and put the sticky note in my wallet. Sherry and Brenda hugged us before Destiney and I left.

  As we walked out of the building Destiney’s phone rang, she said a few curse words then answered. “Yes daddy?” she looked at me and mouthed ‘Sorry’. “Okay, just let me go grab something to eat and get Lexi situated at Max’s then I’ll be there okay?”

  She pressed the end call on her phone then put it back in her purse. We walked to the waiting taxi and drove for about ten minutes. The large red brick building was in the middle of numerous other shops along the strip. Small wicker tables and chairs were placed under a large maroon canopy outside, people were talking and eating, typing on their notebooks and laptops, reading newspapers and some were sipping on coffee.

  “You know, you never did let me have a cup of coffee no wonder I’m so tired.” I said and nudged her elbow with mine.

  She laughed, “Tomorrow I PROMISE, we’ll go to Starbucks. AFTER our workout of course.”

  We walked inside the décor was rustic but beautiful. Plush chairs were against the tables and booths were in each corner. “You’ll be able to get on your laptop in here, the apartment is only two blocks away. I don’t know when I will be home if you want to go sight-seeing I’ll send a driver to take you.” She told me then stepped up to the counter. She ordered an ice tea and told me to order something to eat and drink. I ordered an Orange salad and an iced tea. We sat down in a booth in a corner Destiney smiled, “I really think you’ll love it here. I know it’s a HUGE change and everything is still really new but just know that I’m here for you no matter what, so are my parents.”

  I nodded and smiled back at her, “I just hope I made the right choice, what if I’m not cut out for city life? Is this something mom and dad would have encouraged?” I sighed. The waitress brought our drinks and my salad. After she left I looked at the salad in front of me, “It’s almost too beautiful to eat!”

  Destiney laughed, “They are delicious, dig in!”

  I drizzled raspberry vinaigrette over the baby spinach, oranges, and walnuts then mixed it around and took a bite. I leaned back and moaned as I chewed, “So good!” I said around a mouthful of salad. Destiney nodded her head, “I told you!” Her cell phone dinged from inside of her purse, she pulled it out. “Ugg, I have to get to the office I will see you later this evening okay? Do NOT go very far by yourself, text or call me and I’ll send the driver if you want to go anywhere.”

  “Yes ma’am!” I winked.

  She shook her head, “The boutiques along this strip have some adorable clothes, I expect to see numerous bags littering the living room when I get home.”

  “I will buy what I want.” I told her and smiled.

  She leaned down and kissed my cheek, “Get clothes for the weekends too, we’ll go clubbing Friday night.” Then she turned and hurried out of the café before I could say anything back.

  After I finished my salad the waitress came over and cleared the table, “I didn’t introduce myself earlier. I’m Mayla.” She extended her hand and shook mine.

  “I’m Alexia, you can call me Lexi.” I told her with a smile.

  “That’s a beautiful name! Are you new to the area? I haven’t seen you in here before, but I’ve seen Destiney in here. She is SUCH a sweet person!”

  “I am, I just moved here. My parents passed away and Destiney was VERY determined that I needed a “New Fresh” start.”

  “Oh my goodness I’m so sorry to hear that! If you ever want somebody to hang out with or to go see the wonderful city with you let me know.” She told me and wrote her name and number on a receipt and gave it to me.

  I smiled, “I will most certainly do that, Destiney is a workaholic. I better leave you alone so you can get back to work it was great meeting you. Before I forget here’s my number.” I wrote my number down for her. A guy behind the counter dinged the small bell to let her know another order was ready. She hurried behind the counter and grabbed the plates and went back to work.

  I left the café and decided to browse the boutiques and other stores, I wasn’t the type that enjoyed shopping. The strip was lined with old brick buildings, the windows decorated for each shop. The first boutique I went into was a clothing store, I ran my fingers across the fabrics of the elegant gowns that were hanging in color coordination.

  “Good afternoon, I’m Sally, can I help you find anything?” the young college aged girl asked with a smile.

  “I’m just looking, I think.” I laughed slightly, “Actually, I don’t like shopping at all. My roommate demanded I buy some new clothes, if I don’t do it she’s TAKING me shopping.” I told Sally.

  She laughed, “Well, I’ll make it as painless as possible. What are you looking for?”

  “I need interview clothes, every day clothes, oh and clubbing clothes.”

  She smiled big, “Follow me!”

  She pulled clothes after clothes off of the racks until they were piled up in her arms as we walked to the back of the store. I was pretty worried about the sizes until I glanced at the tag, ‘Size 6-7’ the tag read. I thought to myself that I hadn’t seen a size like that before but I didn’t say anything. Sally pushed through the dressing room curtains and laid the close down on the small bench. “Try these on and come out so I can see.”

  “Thank You.” I smiled at her, she walked out and slid the curtain closed. The first thing I did was look at the price tag expecting to see outrageous prices. The first pencil skirt I picked up had a price tag of fifteen dollars. I wrinkled my eyebrows together and looked at the tag brand ‘Benigi’ I shook my head, slipped my skirt off and pulled the silky black material up. I zipped it, looking at myself in the mirror I couldn’t believe how it hugged my curves perfectly and still gave me room to be able to walk. There was a dark pink tank that had large ruffles that gave it a flowing look. The price tag on it was seven dollars. I slipped my shirt off and pulled the tank top over my head I turned side to side looking at myself in the massive mirror. When I pulled the curtain open, Sally quickly folded the blue jeans she had in her hands and hurried over to me.

  “Wow, you look GREAT! Do you like the outfit?” she asked and held her finger up making a circle with it so I would turn around.

  “I do, it fits perfect. I do have to ask why the prices are so cheap though. These are all name brand high dollar designers.”

  She smiled, “Well, this is a quote un quote second hand store, BUT, everything is NEW. It’s all stuff that the “Richy Rich” people clean out of their closets. We buy it from them or they donate it to us, this store was started by a group of us college women.”

  “Oh wow that’s Great! I love this outfit so I’ll for sure be getting it.”

  “Shooo, go try the others on.” Sally said and laughed as I hurried back into the dressing room.

  Memories of my mom flashed before me, “Lexi you HAVE to go shopping, I can’t buy you clothes without you there. Come on beautiful we will have fun, I promise!”

  “I don’t like shopping!” I whined.

  She laughed, “I’m pretty sure you’re the only female alive to say that, now come on!”

  We spent almost an entire day walking around the mall, in and out of clothing stores, in and out of shoe stores and finally ended up in the movie theater watching ‘The Silver Linings Play Book’

  I ended up buying EVERYTHING Sally had pulled off of the racks, along with a few pairs of my very own stilettoes, flats, and some flip flops. When the total flashed up on the register I smiled, “Your total is $249.22” Sally told me. I walked out of the boutique with three massive clothing bags on each arm. I hurried in my sky high heels to the curb to hail a taxi, there was no way I was going to make it back to the apartment building with the bags and the heels. As I was trying to make my way through the crowd, a guy shoved a black post card in my face “Job Lady, Job!” he yelled and stepped back disappearing into the crowd. A taxi pulled up within
minutes of me waving my hand, I quickly pushed my bags into the back seat and gave him my address.

  He raised an eyebrow at me, “Only two blocks?”

  “Yep, I wasn’t going to make it that far in these shoes and with those bags.” I said with a laugh.

  “Okay then.” He grumbled and punched the accelerator.

  Within just a few minutes he was pulling up in front of the beautiful apartment building. I thrust twenty dollars through the plexi glass separation and hurried out of the car. I shut the door with my hip and the driver sped back into traffic. I blew a lock of stray hairs out of my face and situated the bags again, “Miss Lexi let me help you!” I looked up to see Clancy rushing towards me.

  “Thank You Clancy!” I breathed out as we walked through the doors, the lobby and to the elevators.

  “Busy day?” He asked with a smile.

  “I put my application in for Accounting at the college, had brunch at Max’s, then decided to go shopping. Now I’m going to call a lady about cosmetology school and look for jobs in the paper.” I told him.

  “I’ll help you any way I can.” He told me.

  When we got back to the apartment Clancy carried the bags to the bedroom and tipped his hat then walked out. I pulled the clothes out and pulled the tags off of all of them, they were all new with tags so I was very proud of myself and my savings. I separated them then started laundry, Frank made figure eights through my legs no doubt thinking if I didn’t feed her she would starve. After I had her fed, I grabbed my purse and pulled the paper out that had the number on it to call about cosmetology. An overly hyper woman answered, “Bronze Beauty this is Julie how may I help you?”

  “Hi, Julie. My name is Alexia Davenport, your Aunt Sherry gave me your name and number when I was enrolling at the college today.”

  “Okay, how can I help you?”

  “Well there’s a waiting list for the Accounting class and I mentioned to her that I had started cosmetology before I moved. Sherry told me to get in contact with you about resuming so I can finish the classes and hopefully do hair and nails while I’m waiting to get into the college.”

  “Oh that sounds GREAT! Can you come to the shop so we can visit some more about it? Say tomorrow around ten or a little after?”

  “Sure that sounds great, Thank You!”

  She gave me the address of the beauty salon and we exchanged phone numbers. I switched the laundry from the washer to the dryer, started another load, and decided to call Carol and Harold.

  When Carol answered she sounded so happy to hear from me, “How are you doing sweet heart?”

  “I’m doing good, this apartment building is AMAZING, it’s so beautiful. We live on the twentieth floor so we have the best views ever.” I told her.

  I told her that I had been to the college and about the waiting list, then I told her that I was meeting with a lady the following day about finishing my cosmetology classes.

  “That sounds wonderful, please keep me posted I will put off getting my hair done just to come have you do it.”

  “It’s going to be another few months so you might not want to wait, plus I’ll have to find a salon to rent a space from.”

  “Well you just let me know when you are finished and settled into a salon, Harold and I both will come see you.”

  We visited for about another twenty minutes, I told her about the amazing salad (yes I was officially in LOVE with a salad) and about my shopping spree. After we hung up I text Destiney that I was back at the apartment. I sat down with my laptop and started searching for jobs, there were a few close by so I decided I would just print the applications off and take them to the stores tomorrow before I met with Julie. When I pressed the ‘Print’ button I realized that I couldn’t hear the printer or even find the printer. So I text Destiney.

  L: Do you have a printer? I’m trying to print job apps.

  D: Yep, where are you at in the apartment.

  L: Living room on the couch. (Such a weird question to ask.)

  D: Walk towards the kitchen, open the door to the left just as you step onto the tile.

  I stepped into the kitchen looked to my left, opened the door. “Seriously?” I said out loud.

  L: That’s a broom closet, why is the printer in there?

  D: Doesn’t match the décor duh!

  L: O.M.G

  D: Gotta get bk to class. Luv u .. Muah!

  L: Luv you!

  I printed off the job applications and filled them out, the dryer buzzed so I went and switched the last load of clothes around. After I hung up and folded the clothes, I shook the bags out to make sure that I hadn’t missed anything. The black post card that the guy had shoved into one of the bags fell onto the comforter. I picked it up and looked at it, it was a glossy black post card on the front it had a what appeared to be a 3D square with the word ‘Live faded into the top of the box like it was a glowing sign in a recording studio so people wouldn’t interrupt during a session. On the back of the post card it had nothing besides and address on it. “Well that’s a little more weird than the printer in the broom closet.” I said. Frank had jumped up on the bed and made herself comfortable inside one of the large shopping bags. I put the postcard on my desk so I could ask Destiney about it when she got home. It was getting close to five thirty so I decided I would make supper for us. Destiney’s all-time favorite meal was chicken alfredo, I rummaged through the overly large pantry and found some noodles and the ingredients to make the sauce. Just as I was finishing up mixing everything together and put it in the oven, a rattling bag and a screeching Frank came barreling down the hallway. “You’ve lost your mind since we moved!” I said as I chased her down. I stepped on the bag causing her to flip back. The apartment door swung open and Destiney walked in.

  “What’s going on here? Is that Alfredo I smell?” She asked and looked from me to the bag to the kitchen.

  “It is! This crazy cat had the string of the handle stuck around her neck and was darting around the apartment!”

  Destiney just shook her head and laughed, “I’m loving that cat more and more, she’s great entertainment! I’m starving how much longer until supper is ready?”

  “About thirty minutes.”

  She looked at the bag I was now holding, “Did you actually go SHOPPING?” she asked with big eyes and a smile.

  “I DID!” I exclaimed and motioned for her to follow me to the bedroom so I could show her everything I had purchased.

  “NICE! These are adorable and HOT!” She told me as she flipped through the clothes hanging up. I showed her the shoes and jewelry, “Wow, I’m impressed! How much did you spend?”

  I smiled, “Not even three hundred dollars!”

  Her eyes got big, “Seriously?”

  “Dead serious!” I told her with a nod and a smile. Then told her all about the boutique I had bought everything at.

  “I’m so going there this weekend, I’ve seen it but never had a chance to go in there.”

  We walked back out of the room and into the kitchen. I checked the alfredo, then leaned against the counter as Destiney and I talked about her day. I showed her the job applications I had filled out, “All of the places are really reputable, you’ll have to let me know how the meeting goes with that Julie gal. You’ll make a great beautician, you’re such a people person and get along with everybody.”

  I smiled, “I really want to do it, hopefully I can do that AND go to school for accounting.”

  “I know you THINK you need to hurry and find a job but honestly just chill, you’ve had so much happen recently I don’t want you to overdo it.”

  “If I DON’T get a job I’ll lose my mind, I miss mom and dad so much, it’s when I have time to stop and think about it all that I start to question my decision on moving.”

  We sat down and ate supper, we visited more about how her parents were doing, how the law firm was growing, and reminisced about my parents.

  “Have you ever thought about your biological parents? I k
now you know who your bio mom was but did you ever find your dad?”

  I shook my head ‘No’, “Nope, he wasn’t on the birth certificate. I didn’t want to go ask her family a million and one questions either. From my understanding she was an only child and her parents were deceased anyways. Finding aunts and uncles would be almost impossible. I’m better off with who raised me.”

  “I understand, at least you had the most amazing family adopt you!” She smiled.

  “I’m VERY thankful for them I just wish time with them wasn’t cut short.”

  She nodded her head and wiped a tear away, “You’re an amazing person, they did an excellent job raising you. If you ever decide to hunt down your biological dad let me know I’m sure I’ll be able to help.”

  I pondered the idea, “Maybe someday but not any time soon.”

  Destiney nodded her head, “God this alfredo is SO good, you are NEVER.EVER. moving out just so you know.”

  We finished supper, “Oh I wanted to show you the postcard I was handed today. A guy shoved it in one of my shopping bags and told me “Job lady, JOB!” I ran back to my room and grabbed it off the desk.

  I handed it to Destiney that was now lounging on the couch with her laptop, she looked at the postcard front then flipped it over and looked at the back. “Only an address nothing else? That’s weird, I’ll Google the addy and see what comes up with.” A few minutes later, “It shows it’s a warehouse about six blocks away. Probably just some boxing company because there’s no business profile or anything. You’ll have so many of these kind of strange things given to you. I just toss them in the nearest trash can.” She tossed it onto the coffee table and started typing away. My Facebook pinged with a new notification, ‘Destiney Lancaster wants to confirm your relationship’.

  I looked up at her, she was trying to hide her smile. “Really?!” I said and shook my head then hit the confirm button. ‘You and Destiney Lancaster are now in a relationship’ the notification read.

  Destiney started laughing, “Let’s see how long it takes before William calls or text me confused as to why that’s on there.”