LOLA HORNOF - SHORT-STORIES

Lola Hornof is a passionate writer that writes about her life experiences.  She loves nature walks,gardening, the beach, and reading.  Lola is also an avid watcher of crime dramas.  She lives out in the country and enjoys every minute of it.

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CHRISTINA’S STORY
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Christina’s life was hard, raising two boys on her own.  But she never complained.  She worked two jobs and barely got to see them.  But all her free time was for them.  But they had everything they needed and wanted.  She lived for her sons.
            Then one day, a knock on the door changed her life forever.  It was CPS and there had been reports from the school of her abusing her sons.  She told them this was not true.  CPS informed her that the boys had said she spanked them and punished them.  Christina was in shock, her knees buckled, and she felt faint.  They handed her papers from the court.  Her boys were going to be taken from school and placed into foster care.  This was a nightmare she thought. All she could do was cry. There would be a hearing and CPS advised her to get a good lawyer.
            Christina feel to the floor in tears.  She had never abused her boys.  She tried to pull herself together but it was so hard. She went and got the phone book and started to look up family lawyers, hoping she could afford one.  She made a few appointments to meet with lawyers.  Until then, she was all alone in her house, with reminders of her sons all around.
            Finally the day for court came.  Christina’s lawyer saw no signs of abuse just normal discipline.  Please let this end today and I get my boys back she prayed.  It was so intimidating being in the courtroom.  She tried her best to maintain her composure.  It had been two weeks since she had seen her boys.
            The judge entered the courtroom and the prosecution immediately started in on Christina.  Her lawyer was not shaken by this.  When it was her turn, she presented school records, Doctor’s reports, and statements from family.  All showing that the children had never been abused.
            The judge read over everything very carefully.  He called a recess and went into his chambers to make a decision.  He was going to decide if the children should return home. 
            The judge came out of his chambers and sat down.  He immediately started berating the prosecutor and CPS worker.  Saying that the children should have never been removed.  They were to be returned immediately.  Christina’s heart jumped out of her chest with joy.  Her boys were coming home.

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HER STORY
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          Joselyn lived on the streets of New Orleans.  She had ran away from her awful home.  Her mother was a meth addict.  Her father abused her both physically and sexually.  She had told people but no one believed her.  Her only hope was getting away from it.  So she had ran away to New Orleans.  Being on the streets was way better than being home.
            She survived by begging for spare change and sleeping where ever she could find.  She never knew where her next meal was coming from or where it would be safe to sleep.  She stuck with the other street kids, who showed her the ropes of living on the streets.  She was only fifteen and had no way to get a legitimate job.
            Joselyn found out about a place called the drop -in center for teens.  She could take showers there and wash her clothes.  They also offered a doctor once a week.  Her and her friends went every day so they could at least be clean.  Somedays there was even a meal for them.
            She did not love this lifestyle but was learning a lot about the world and life.  She had dreams that she wanted to achieve.  One day at the center, a man approached the kids.  And talked about education and how to help them get their GED.  Joselyn quickly signed up because she needed to get off the streets.
            She was excited by this new opportunity because she really wanted to go to college.  No matter what had gone on in her life, she had always wanted to go to college. Her dreams were to become a veterinarian.  She had always loved animals and was really good with them.  This would be a big step ion the right direction.  She spoke with the man a the center about getting an ID card.  He said he would help her.
            By the time her ID arrived, she was sixteen and old enough to work.  Finally a step to get off the streets.  She felt so happy.  She would show her parents and everybody she could be something, a somebody.  She soon got a job working in a gift shop.  Saving everything she earned, she soon was able to provide herself a place to live.
            Joselyn got her GED, never missing a class.  The GED center helped a lot and helped her apply for college and financial aid.  She prayed with all her heart that this would work out.  Several weeks passed and then she checked her mail one day.  The letters from the college and financial aid had arrived.  Her hands were shaking so bad she could barely unlock her door.
            She threw her things down and ripped opened the letters.  Oh mu gosh she thought as she read the letter from the college.  She had been accepted.  Next she opened the financial aid letter.  She was going to have her cost all covered.  She screamed excitedly and thanked God.
            Joselyn had pulled herself up from being an abused child to a street kid to a college student.

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LIFE ON THE STREETS
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Jessie had grown up in foster care after her parent’s sudden death.  She had no family to take care of her.  No one would adopt her because she just was not what they wanted or was too old.  So when she turned eighteen, she was kicked out on the streets by the foster care system.  With no family and nowhere to go, she was on the streets.
            She knew nothing about being homeless.  Soon she made some friends with other homeless youth and they taught her how to survive the streets.  Without an address, she could not get a job.  Without a job, she could not get a place to live.  So Jessie slept in abandoned buildings at night and begged for spare change during the day.  Always praying she would make enough for food that day.  This is such a hard life she thought often.
            Jessie would have to find a job but the only places that would hire her were strip clubs.  So one day, putting her pride and embarrassment aside, she went into one.  The manager made her undress in his office so he could check her out.  He hired her and explained the rules.  She started dancing that night.  It was not her dream job she thought but maybe I will make enough money for food and a place to live.
            After two weeks of dancing, she had enough money for an apartment and to keep food in her stomach.  Dancing gave her confidence and a home.  She never prostituted herself out, like some of the other girls.  She just danced.  All for tips and forty dollars in pay a night.  It was where she met her best friend, Sasha.  Soon they were inseparable and got a place together.  This made it easier on both of them financially.
            Soon Jessie decided she wanted to go to college.  She had her high school diploma, so she went to the local community college and applied.  She did not want to be a dancer her whole life, it was just a stepping stone to a better place.
            She was accepted into college and received financial aid. But she still had to dance at night to pay her bills.  Jessie wanted to be a nurse so she could help people in their worst times.  She would keep dancing and going to school until she achieved her dream.
            She got excellent grades in college and was accepted into their nursing program.  She was going to be a RN.  She was doing it she told herself every day.  All on her own with no one’s help and the support from Sasha.  Who seemed to just want to be a dancer the rest of her life.
            Finally, the big day came.  It was graduation and Jessie was in the top of her class.  She even had an excellent paying job waiting for her.  As her name was called, she felt overjoyed by receiving her diploma.  She had pulled herself up off the streets to become a success.  Her heart was full of pride and joy.  She had never felt so happy.