Samantha's family lived in an old trailer. It had been in the family for 3 generations. Needless to say, it stunk! It had holes in the floor. The trailer was hot in the summer and cold in the winter. The plumbing often was torn up.
Samantha's mother's name was Jane. She did the best she could to make ends meet. Jane worked 3 jobs. None of them paid well, but her lack of education and lack of opportunity in a small town limited her options. Samantha's father died when she was 4-years-old. Jane had hooked up with several men, and they were all losers. One of them had abused Samantha. Fortunately, he moved to a different state. However, these horrific events caused Samantha to not trust adults, especially men. Samantha's Aunt Trudy lived next door--also in a very old trailer. Trudy, like Jane, worked 3 jobs. Since she had no kids of her own, Samantha was the apple of her eye. Trudy bought clothes for Samantha. They were often out of style or the wrong size, but they didn't stink. Due to the plumbing problems and no Laundry Mat in the vicinity, Samantha's clothes often stunk. This gave cause for the girls at school to tease her unmercifully. This began in first grade and it had continued through her present freshman year. Samantha estimated that someone had insulted, pushed, or bullied her in 90% of the days she had gone to school. One would think Samantha would avoid school because of this, but the two meals she received compliments of the government persuaded her to NEVER miss a day. Samantha always bathed--unless Jane couldn't afford the Water Bill, but her clothes were hardly ever washed properly. For this reason, Samantha often wore her coat all day---even if it were 90 degrees. This often resulted in a cold or some other minor sickness, so Samantha often went to school sickly. But, she needed that breakfast and lunch. Of course, she had learned to eat very fast so that she could avoid other students. That leads us to evening meals (or lack of). Jane bought what was on sale and expired items. Sometimes the food was so rotten, Samantha chose hunger. She would go to her room and write in her journal. Samantha was an excellent writer. As a matter of fact she was great in English classes. She had ALWAYS gotten an A in English. She did the minimum to pass the other classes. BTY, weekend meals were often nonexistent. This caused another problem. Samantha would scrape together all the coins she could find during the week, then on Saturdays, she hit the Grubb & Gas (local convenience/gas store). Here she would steal, mostly junk food, while buying one small item with the coins she had scavenged.
Meanwhile, at JoJo's house...
"I am about to bust from that lunch, Hon!" Dan managed to squeak out, while laying on the sofa with his belly hanging out.
JoJo quipped, "Mom, can we quit having steak? That's the third time this week!"
Alice was doing laundry in another room. She yelled back, "JoJo, remember kids are starving in Africa! Be grateful! Bedsides, we have half a cow in the freezer that we need to eat!"
Remi said, "I am thankful for all I have! I know a little boy named Sam. He don't have noooo food sometime. Me feel sorry for him...."
Immediately, Dan and JoJo were convicted.
Dan said, "Thanks Remi."
"For what, Papa?"
"For reminding me how fortunate we are. Plus, we need to help those kids in Africa. And maybe some kids in the United States of America."
"Oh, I see, Papa. Let's help em!"
JoJo knew who he needed to help--Samantha. But how??
Back at Samantha's trailer...
I wonder if JoJo could somehow help me with food?? Samantha wondered.
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