Joe sat in his car and tried to get comfortable. He pulled his comforter up and closer to himself. This was just another cold night in ohio for him. The Plymouth Pontiac he slept in was his home. It was just big enough to hold all his life inside of it.
The rest area he slept in for the night was almost empty. Their was about 5 other cars in the lot with him. Since Joe had been there for about 2 hours. He watched allot of ppl go in and out the rest area.
A few parking spots away Joe looked at the mini van diagonal from him.an older couple with Canada tags Sat sleeping. He wondered where they were going. Looking over to the mustang parked behind them.Joe remembered the blonde girl who passed him in the welcome center.
The blonde woman was taller then him with her heels.Her husband or boyfriend seemed to be about 6 feet 5 inches. Joe had sized him up earlier.he was only a few inches taller then him. The blondes husband was also a blonde.he seemed to work out, he was way more buff then Joe was.you could see his muscles through his tight leather jacket.They seemed in love, yet Joe couldnt remember what that feeling felt like.It seemed like two lifetimes ago he maybe once was.
Three car spots next to the mustang was a mini van with a black family.the tags told Joe they were from idaho. They had three kids and we're all knocked out.Joe saw them pull in about an hour ago. It seem to Joe everyone at the rest area was accustomed to the cold weather.
The family all came out wrapped in their north face jackets. The mom and two daughters wore pink ones.while the father and his son wore black ones. The dad's jacket seemed allot older then his sons new thinner one. Joe had wanted kids once.he chucked to himself now thinking about it. The family of hobo's traveling around Ohio and surrounding states.
Joe pulled his comforter up closer and tried to get comfy, shaking those awful thoughts out his head.he loved his car it kept him safe and gave him a reliable shelter. It was all he had left in this world. Being 6'2 made it hard to get comfy at times though. With all his belonging stuffed in the back seat and trunk. Joe only could put his chair back half way. Sleeping at this angle usually kept his back hurting.
The sudden shine of car lights caught his attention. A high way patrol car drove into the rest area and right past him.the cop parked right between him and the old Canadian couple. Joe's heart began to race.his tags has been expired for 2 yrs now and as for his insurance he never had any.
Getting pulled over or receiving a ticket wasn't anything he wanted. Joe had no money and he was sure his license had expired last year. The thought of getting his car impounded frightened him. What would he do or where would he live without his car. The thought of living in a shelter scared him more then the ticket.
Living in a shelter wasn't meant for everyone.Joe had lived in one 3 yrs prior to getting his car. Between Worrying about getting his socks and toiletries stolen while he slept. The way they crammed the other homeless men into their quarters was unsanitary. When he finally saved every penny he had and bought the car. A wave of relief took over him.
Now it had been years of him jumping from city to city sleeping in rest area after rest area. He would park his car during the day and pan handle. Trying to earn gas money and food to survive another day.the thought of finding a new spot in the morning made him cringe a bit.
Joe pulled out a locket from his pocket and held it for a minute. With a deep breath he opened it. It contained a picture of his wife and daughter. Joe's daughter Ana would be about 10 now he thought.he wondered what she was doing.Or if even she thought about him. Ana was about 4 when her mother gina picked her up and left Joe.
Reminiscing on his past Joe let out a sigh.he then looked around at his car and the rest area.his life had taken such a turn for the worst. In just a matter of a year he had lost everything he loved and cared about.he some times wished he had a drug problem.at least then allot of things that had happened to him would make sense.
Thinking back he remembered the first day the ball started rolling down hill. Joe worked for a marketing firm. He was an executive and made a solid $100,000 a year. His life was good.he had a porshe cayenne and a bmw x5 for Gina. They lived in a five bedroom colonial home.on the outskirts of ohio.
They had the perfect life and a child.Joe couldn't of asked for anymore. Then one day his boss walks in and gives him a pink slip.the company was down sizing and he was one of the expendables. It took him a whole month before he could tell gina. Day after day he left the house like he did every morning.Looking for a new job or at least the words to explain to gina what happened.
Finally he could not lie to her anymore. Gina took the news pretty hard but she seemed to be ready to stand with him while they worked through it.Over the next couple of months though as money got tighter. Gina stated to grow more distant her patience grew thinner with him.
They sold his Porsche to help make ends meet. Before he knew it they were completely done with his savings.the mortgage broker was calling them more week by week.it wouldn't of been long before they lost the house.Joe's whole life
Was disappearing around him.he thought to himself it couldn't get worse.
Was disappearing around him.he thought to himself it couldn't get worse.
On the first day of June Joe came back home to find her in bed with another man. Gina got up and put her clothes on and told him the worst words he could ever hear.
I want a divorce Joe. the papers are on the table down stairs.
I want a divorce Joe. the papers are on the table down stairs.
Within a few weeks they had finalized his divorce.Gina had already moved out and took Ana with her. She never told him where they went.Or asked him for anything.Gina just disappeared.
Over the next month he emptied the house.selling everything that wasn't nailed down. He ate micro wave dinners until the marshals came to evict him. From their he slept in a hotel for a few weeks.Finally under a bridge near downtown ackron.
Between the fights for his shoes and food.the streets drive him to the homeless shelter.after a few months in there he realized. the only thing between a shelter and the streets is you got heat and scheduled meals. The people were no better or no worse.everyone was just trying to survive and get over any way they could.
Joe awoke the next morning and realized he passed out. Thinking of the past few years must of wore him out. He looked around and all the cars from last night were gone.as he expected no one ever stays more then a few hours at a rest stop.The cop was also gone.he must of came for a piss break.
Joe got out the car and walked into the welcome area.he went into the bathroom and freshened up. Moments later he came back out and went to his car. It started up and Joe pulled out his parking spot. He looked at his gas tank it was on a quarter tank.
The exit for the Newport south bank bridge was only about twenty miles up the road.Joe had been there before and had good results pan handling. This would be a good spot to start the morning. As Joe crossed over the bridge. He spotted a mall that he was familiar with the security their.
Driving into the mall parking lot Joe parked the car. He began walking back to the bridge. The Sun shined down on him and warmed him up. With his trusty sign under his arm and cup in hand. Joe mentally prepared him self for his first spot of the day.
The sign in his hand read
just want some food please.
just want some food please.
Joe couldn't bring himself to lie like other pan handlers. He still held some pride and dignity. Joe had not even stood for twenty minutes when a car honked him over. It was an Audi q7 with tinted windows. He quickly ran over to the driver side with his cup. You had to be quick at this bridge the light turned really quick.
The driver of the Audi rolled down the window. When Joe saw who was driving his face dropped.
"Joe" Gina said
"Gina" Joe said looking past her and into the back seat. At the girl child sitting next to another child in a car seat.
"Joe" Gina said
"Gina" Joe said looking past her and into the back seat. At the girl child sitting next to another child in a car seat.
Before he could utter another word. Gina pulled off at top speed.once again she left him standing speechless.
