"Dirty girl, just where she belongs!" The voice pierced Penny's ears as the ground seemed to swirl beneath her and a group of people began to form. It was at that point she realized the fate she had sealed for herself. Her eyes welling up with tears of fear as she sat up her hand gripping the money and her head held low. She couldn't just apologize....she would be thrown in the slammer and all her hopes of getting out of this mess would be dashed. Her knotted hair starting to fall in her face a bit as she glared at the ground beneath her.

"Now, now...why not drop the subject. As if that small wad would cost you any harm. Why don't you leave here, I'll handle the situation." Came a strong voice that held some gentleness causing Penny to look up catching a snowflake on her nose. The man was of rich standing with a fine warm coat and a strong fatherly personality that seeped from his voice. The people that had gathered looked up at the gentlemen with a smile of respect and began to disperse which untangled the mess that formed in her stomach. The kind stranger spoke softly convincing the men to forget about the stolen money. Unbelievably, the men just bowed their heads in respect and turned their backs on the situation.

Penny's small pale mouth hung open at the turn of events but it was a matter of moments that she was helped to her feet and showed into the luxurious car. The leather seats seemed to transport her to the past as she pondered on when the last time she rode in a vehicle was. Hazel eyes welling up with tears of gratitude as she spoke a soft thank you to the gentlemen. She could not believe the change of events and the great gift she was being given. Her head swirled a bit and she took in the sites of the uptown portion of the city as they pulled into a small court yard like area to the front of a 5 story stone house with elaborate wrought iron windows and decor. Her heart flitted in shock and she slowly go out of the vehicle entering the home her body shaking in the warm temperature. The site of richly decorated rooms and halls greeted her as she mounted the marble steps slowly her eyes swirling and room spinning widely.

Penny felt a gentle hand upon her arm and her holey shoes were slipped from her feet as she was slipped into bed. She still adorned her nest like hair and filthy clothes but it was at that moment she coughed and the room swirled. She slipped in and out of darkness and during one stand point she heard a disgusted voice of a young man. A dream she thought as the darkness enveloped her again. The darkness rested upon her like a dark blanket warming the core of her soul and it was the sound of humming that greeted her that morning.

Penny's eyes opened slowly regarding the surroundings of a heavy layered bed of blankets and huge windows that allowed sunlight to dance through. She slowly sat up catching site of a small maid who jumped up with glee. "How are you miss," her voice chimed gently. "A little tired still but better than ever. Thank you so much," blushed Penny. She was not accustomed to this type of attention and when another maid entered the room Penny's face turned redder.

"Ah, You're up!! It time for us to get you cleaned up," cheered the maid that had just entered.

Clean up.....those were words she had never heard escape the lips in regards to her. They took her arms escorting her to a room across the hall that had marble floors and a warm bubble bath already set. Penny was about to protest at the company in the bathroom but her holey socks and ragged jeans were stripped from her skeletal frame. Exposed she felt a shiver violently shake her petite frame but there was a warm relief in the scolding warm water. When was the last time she had taken a bath....her body seemed raw as she lapped up some of the water and accepted the soap and wash clothes. She scrubbed her legs scratching away at caked dirt and cleaning small cuts that opened up a bit with a pinkness she was not familiar with. She felt her mouth hang open at the sight of the clean skin and ring of cloudy water that surrounded her. Her hands rested on her hair, "Ill have to shave it....its too knotted..."

The maids shook their heads taking out combs and a set of snips. The sprayed her hair with warm water their fingertips working soap in the mass mess as they began to slowly work out most of the knots and trim the untangle out. Wrapped in a clean white towel Penny stared at her ghostly face and body as her hair was slowly cut and then covered in a colorful cloth to protect it from tangling. Then came the clothes a pair of under garments with baggy jeans and a baggy long sleeve shirt. She swam in the clothes and hugged the nurses as they waited for her outside the bathroom. "Thank you so much," she cheered receiving instruction as to where breakfast was.

Penny's stomach rejoiced and she skipped down the hall not realizing the clothes on her back belonged to that of one occupant who was not pleased at her presence here. She was so joyful she slammed into a hard warm wall falling back ward onto her butt only to look up and see a young man turning in disgust to look at her......

(its okay if u take awhile I just thought u might have forgotten me )

O.o? I love it but when is it gonna be finished..........heh

(ill get a picture when she goes to the rich house or something....I was thinking college but right now on winter break that one month break.....but yea hope you like! )


There wasn’t much time for standing around! Absolutely not! It was time to make the epic race that decided if it would be a night of luxuries or a night of hell. The slacker in the pack of racers was no other than Penny Willard. Her legs pumping like a weakened chain quivering but threatening to break under the violent pressure. Harsh winds ripping through the ragged thread bare jeans nipping at raw dirt splattered skin. These legs were that of a weakened soul but they continued to move with envying strength.

Sloushing filled her ears and her feet finally numbed from the access slush that had filled her holey shoes. It was the season where everyday was a battle and for Penny it was a matter of life and death. She had spent the first month of winter enveloped by snow and cold knives proding into every fiber of her body. The donated winter coat had done little to stand up to the weather for the tiny holey had developed into gapping ones that left the garement to resemble a cloak instead of a plump marshmellow. It was the fact that her coat was in ruins that she had to run….she had to make it to the shelter tonight. She’d surely die.

She threw open her frail arms feeling them crack under pressure as they slammed into a casual buisness man in his fancy suit coat. His eyes had narrowed and he made a rude comment that shattered the thin threads of diginity. It was her knotted nest of hair she decided that gave her away, but what could she do. The thickly knitted brown strands would need to be shaved off for there was no hope in untangling. She could only shave her unkempt locks during the summer when it did not get so cool. But Penny shook her thoughts sliding around a corner and skidding to a halt her soft rosey lips falling apart.

The last shelter was filled………There was no hope… The pit of her stomach tightened and curled the walls smacking into eachother as the vibrations let out a wrenching growl. Her head hanging low she caught her breathe her feet feeling detached as trudged through the slush the grey clouds matching her mood. Penny’s spine quivered as she wandered the streets the dank trash and filth slowly disappearing. She never ventured to this side of town…..it was bad for homeless people to venture to uptown parts of the city. They usually got picked up by the cops on suspicion charges and thrown in the slammer for a couple of days.

But….that meant warmth and food…..She trudged through the snowy sidewalks watching the waltzing flakes as she headed deeper into the rich part of town. Her knees buckled and the scent of fine cuisine filled her nostrils. Soft blue eyes turned to round circles as she undressed the plates of food that sat in the resturant window. The high class rolllers shoveling the morsels into their pursed lips. “I could steal…..,” she thought.
Her stomach knotting up as her heart sank.

It was a sign, she had just thought of stealing and there they were! One richly fashion model of a guy and a old hunched over gentlemen, What jumped out at her was the olderman’s wad of cash that sat exposed in his hand as he fiddled with it. No thoughts went through her head. Just a growl of her stomach as she pivoited toward the gentlemen. Her raw hands reached into the hand grasping the thick wad of paper her legs pumping again as she slid about into an alley way her breathe heavy as she tried to hide her head spinning as she collapsed behind a bunch trash cans…..little did she realize that the new falling snow left her obvious tracks……