my+story

Chelsey Simmons Class 824 Wagner M.S.167 2/26/09 __ Hidden Purpose- The Diary Entries of Jennifer Campbell __ ** Monday, January 18, 1929 ** My parents are gone. I have no idea where they went, if they will be back, or if I’m supposed to stay somewhere with someone. No one has called so I guess I’m on my own. I’m scared. I have no money, job, or a place to live since my parents sold the house without my knowledge. The super of my building gave me a letter they wrote to me before they left. It read “Jennifer, we are heart broken and very sorry that we left you in England but there was no way for us to take you with us. We didn’t have enough money to take you because they raised the price because of the Depression. We just want you to know we love you and hope you can find us one day. Stay strong and don’t give up hope. Love, Mum, and Pop.” As I read this note my bright green eyes tear up and, my pale skin is warm and sweaty. I ran out of the apartment building crying and wanting to die. My stomach had butterflies and my heart was as flat as a pancake. //Will I ever see my parents again?// Last night I slept in an abandon building I found walking around crying. I didn’t even sleep because I was afraid that a rat or something would come and try to sleep with me under the dirty brown steps. As I laid there in the blackness I think of Mum. She was probably the one to think of this horrible plan to leave me here. She never liked me nor wanted me to be her child. Dad was the one who loved and told me that often. When I think of dad I smile and know I will be okay because I begin to think that he will come and rescue me. That thought was pushed out of my head when a man burst into the hall letting in the cold winter air. He was screaming about some granddaughter who had died. He said he wishes he was never born. I feel like that right now. Well, I got to go find something to eat. Today will be a long day. ** Later on Tuesday ** I found a burnt hot dog in the trash can next to a hot dog stand. It was horrible but the only thing I’ve eaten since lunch yesterday. So I ate a portion of it and spit the rest out. A man on the street gave me $4 for cleaning his shoes. He looked like a wealthy man but I couldn’t be sure because he acted so nice. “All wealthy are stuck up and spoiled. They don’t deserve their fortune, they deserve to be in a cage.” My Pop told me one day. He never liked wealthy people. He never took any hand outs from them. That’s one thing I loved about Pop he was very independent. I bought some McDonalds with the $4 I got from the man. Well I must be getting back to my stairs. I hope I can sleep at least an hour tonight so I can go out and try to get a job. ** Wednesday, January 20, 1929 ** I tried to get a job today. No one would even give me the time of day. I told them I would do anything but they didn’t care. “Listen kid, I got a lot to do I don’t have time for foolishness! The depression is going to put us out of business if I don’t get down to the office so buy a gift basket on the way out.” Said one man named Mr. Brown. People don’t have any manners these days. I overheard a man talking to someone on the phone about a job he needs done and needs to find a young girl to do it for him. So I went up to him and asked if I could be any help. He looked at me and smiled. His chocolate eyes glimmered in the sunlight. “Actually you can. You can be a lot of help to me and my business. I’m Ryan Jones.” He said. “What do you do?” I asked he was still smiling and I was feeling like he could see into my soul. “Let’s just say I mange teenage girls in a profitable business. Are you interested in the job or what?” He replied. I thought about how bad I needed a job and what a job can do for me in the future. The thing was I didn’t know what the job was. I later found out that it was a mistake to take the job. ** Later on Wednesday ** He brought me to the place he told I would be staying. I walked by the first room and I was surprised at the sight of people in the beds doing… stuff that children our age shouldn’t do. My first reaction was to stop walking. “Oh My God! You can’t be serious. You want me to be your prostitute! Oh no no no no no no!!! I’m soooooo out of here!” I screamed and started to walk away. He grabbed me. “I know you need this job. I saw you sleeping in the hallway the other night. That’s where I get my fresh meat. When I saw you I knew I had my girl, the one that would make me a fortune. You need this job. So either you take it or I’ll tell the police your sleeping on public property.” He whisper in my ear. The words slipped out of his mouth like water through your fingers. My eyes watered as I turned back towards the place where he was taking me. I knew it was wrong but I needed the money so I did it. ** Thursday, January 21, 1929 ** I got my first customer today. He was a man in his 30’s said his name was Jim Thompson. Ryan brought Jim to my room and says “This guy is here to have some fun. Show him a good time.” I got right to the point. When he was finished he got up and left, I stayed there and waited for my next person. Jim gave the money to Ryan but he was $24 short. He said it was because his boss cut his pay because of the depression. As the days rolled by more and more guys came up short and we had less and less money. We were starting to miss rent checks and other bills we needed to take care of the house. We were kicked out 3 months after I joined the family. The depression put me and all the other girls out of business. The girls were getting very upset because they had no where to live. We had money but not enough to buy another house. We decided that we would move to America with the money we earned. We put all the money together and had enough for all 16 girls to get to America. ** Friday, January 22, 1929  ** When we got to America, it was crowed and hot. All of us were still trying to make money. We didn’t make much but we had enough to go eat something. That’s exactly what we did. While we were eating I saw someone who I could have sworn it was my Pop. I didn’t go up to him but I just had this feeling that it was him. Well I guess we’ll never know… Or will we? THE END!!! <3
 * Tuesday, January 19, 1929 **