“Lonnie!”

I raised my head and turned to see my long time friend, Claire, running up to my side as I sent at the park bench.

“Claire…”

Claire came to sit beside me and without a word hugged me tight. 

“After everything that you told me on the phone, I bet that you were desperate for a hug right about now.”

She’s not wrong.

Not too long ago, I told Claire over the phone about all the issues happening at my house right now. My dad got laid off from his job and has been hiding the fact from me and my other siblings for about a month now.

Not too mention the debt collectors have been sending letters and voicemails to the house at least once a day. As the days go by, the messages that they leave get more and more aggressive. This morning we got a letter saying that if we don’t somehow at least start paying the minium payments for the house then it’ll go on foreclosure.

Its already hard enough getting enough money for gas and food for house of eleven.

Oh yeah! Did I forget to mention that I have nine other siblings?

One of them already moved out already, so I’m oldest sibling in the house right now. I help with paying the bills by working at a cute, little cafe as a barista that is right down the street from school.

What I make there doesn’t even scratch the surface of all the money we owe to the bank.

I could feel tears starting to well up in my eyes.” I don’t know what to do anymore. Maybe I should move out and make it easier on them.”

Claire let go of me.” Do you know where you’ll go? Can you even afford it?”

“I’ve been saving up some of the money that I have been making while working at the cafe. Pretty sure, I can find something…”

Even as I told her that, I didn’t feel confident that it would work. We live near the city, so even apartments the size of a closest cost and arm and a leg. The money I saved so far would only last about two months at the most.

I felt Claire’s hand grab my shoulder. “ You know, your always welcome to stay at my place for as long as you want.”

I wiped my tear filled eyes and gave her a small smile. “ Thanks for the offer, but their is no way I can be a burden to you or your parents.”

Claire paused for a moment and laughed.

The sudden sound made me jump with a start. “ Why are you laughing?”

“ Oh sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you. Its just that when you said you didn’t want to be a burden to my parents, I got confused for a second there.”

Huh? Why would she be confused?

“I must have forgotten to tell you, but I actually was able to move out and get my own place.”

Well, I wasn’t expecting that. 

Claire’s family had money troubles too in the past, but unlike my family they were able to fix the problems and have a healthy, stable financial lifestyle. Granted they currently aren’t the richest family in town, but they weren’t swimming in constant debt either.

I had so many questions. “When? How? Why didn’t you tell me this sooner? Where is your place anyway?”

Claire held up both of her hands in a stopping gesture. “Who, whoa there. One question at a time, please.”

“Sorry, its just I wasn’t expecting you to move out or at least not yet anyway.”

Claire giggled. “Yeah, me neither. I was able to get a job that actually pays really well and after saving up a bit, I was able to afford a little place of my own.”

“Oh, wow.”

Claire grabbed both of my hands as she looked me in the eye. “ That’s why I want you to come live with me. Of course, you wouldn’t be a burden to me. Your my best friend and friends help friends when their in trouble, right?”

I could only nod. 

She wasn’t wrong and living with her for at least a little while my dad found a new job would help us quite a bit. But, I already knew the guilt would eat me up inside if I wasn’t struggling with them, making sure everyone ate everyday, helping my siblings with their homework, helping around the house and many other things.

I sighed deeply at my own thought.

“Your not coming with me, are you?”

I shook my head while giving her a sad smile.

Claire let go of my hands with a sigh. “Well, I can’t say I didn’t see that coming. Your too nice for your own good, you know that?”

I laughed at that. She’s been telling me I’m too nice since we were kids.

“Just so you know, that offer is always open if you ever change your mind.”

“Thanks Claire. I’ll keep that in mind.”

We sat in silence for a moment or two as we watched the sun start to set. I tried not to think about my current problems as I enjoyed the scenery. Until I heard a loud clap sound from beside me.

The sound made me jump again.

“Geez, will you stop doing that?”

Claire gave a slight, quick laugh. “Whoops, sorry. I just came up with the perfect idea.”

“Really? About what?”

“About how to help you, duh. You don’t want to live with me and you need a lot of money fast, right?”

“Yyyeeaahhh.”

Where is she going with this?

“Well, it just so happens that I know a place that can pay you a ton of money and the jobs; I can guarantee are easy as pie.”

Hope sparked in my eyes. I was already considering getting another job, but if Claire says that this place that she’s talking about pays that well then I’ll give it shot.

“That sounds like exactly what I need at the moment. So, what I need at the moment. So, what is this place called and where can I find it?”

Claire’s eyes lit up with my enthusiasm as she scooted closer to me.

“ Have you heard of a place called the Silver Cloud Foundation?”