Chapter 4

Once they were done with all the exhibits, they went to the car. Max and Melanie climbed in, and she handed Max back his game. He smiled as he took it happily, “You know, you’re almost addicted to that thing.” Jenna laughed. 

Max grinned, “I’m at the 100th level. I need to get to 350 to beat the game. I can smell the victory.” 

Jenna laughed, and Melanie pinched her nose, “ I can smell something else.” She groaned. 

Max laughed, “whoever smelt it dealt it.” He teased.

Jenna plugged her nose and rolled down the windows. “Geez, Max! You stink.” 

Max laughed, “It's a part of my charm.” 

Melanie gagged, “Boys are so gross!” Jenna smirked and pulled out her phone. She texted Evelyn and told her they were done. Today was her visit with her mother. 

Jenna sighed as she started the car, “Your mom is back now. I will drop you two off and see my mom.” 

Both children nodded, “I hope you have a good visit, Jenna," said Melanie. 

Jenna nodded, “I do too.” On the last visit, Jenna's mother had shown up drunk. She actually had Jenna meet her at a bar and then asked her to drive her back to her sober living house; Jenna shuddered at the memory. Her mother refused to help herself, which left Jenna in a bad situation. She just wanted her mom, but she knew now that would never happen. She sighed as she turned into the driveway. Both twins got out of the car, and she pulled back out.

Today she was meeting her mother at a park. She decided to grab them some food on the way; she went by Alvin’s famous sandwich stop. She smiled as she opened the doors; the smell was amazing. Alvin was famous in Pleasantville; he made the best sandwiches in town. When it was her turn, she stepped up to the counter. “I would like the Famous Turkey and the Too Delicious Not to Inhale with two bottled Root Beers.” Root Beer had always been her mother’s favorite drink, maybe because it had the word Beer in it. Regardless, she wanted a good visit. 

The man taking her order smiled, “Of course, miss.” She handed him the money to pay, and he gave her the receipt as she waited In line for her food. Once her number was called, she grabbed the bag and headed out.

The day was perfect, the sun was shining, and there was a quiet breeze. She drove to the park and parked her car. She got out and headed to the veranda where she had told her mother to meet her. She patiently waited; minutes passed by, but her mother was a no-show. She took her sandwich out of the bag and began to eat it. She sighed; it was now 30 minutes past their agreed time. 

She sighed as she took a bite and opened her Root Beer; she was starving. She looked around the park at the different people. Families played together, fathers pushed their children on the swings, and mothers laughed as their kids chased them. She frowned as she watched. 

No matter how much Jenna wished her to be, her mother was never this type of parent. She finished her sandwich and threw away her trash. She then walked to the fountain in the middle of the park; it was beautiful. It had ten different levels that the water rushed down on into the bottom. The bottom had so many pennies; everyone around town considered this a special wishing fountain. 

Jenna smiled as she reached into her pocket and grabbed some pennies; she had three on her. She threw one in at a time, silently making her wishes. She looked at her phone; it was now an hour passed the agreed time. Her cell phone rang, and she looked at the ID, Mrs. Blake, her social worker. “Hi Jenna, It's Mrs. Blake.” 

Jenna rolled her eyes. “Hi, Mrs. Blake, it's me.”

“Are you at the park?” asked Mrs. Blake. 

Jenna sighed, “I am, she’s not coming, is she?” There was a long pause of silence over the phone.

“I’m sorry, Jenna, but your mother is in jail. She was picked up on a DUI last night. I’m sorry, I just found out, or I would have called you sooner.”

Jenna sighed as she felt tears well in her eyes, “Thank you, Mrs. Blake, for letting me know.” 

Mrs. Blake sighed heavily through the phone, “I’m so sorry, Jenna. For what it is worth happy belated birthday. Are you doing okay with the Morgs?” 

Jenna walked in circles around the fountain as they talked, “Thank you, and I am doing all right.” 

Mrs. Blake replied, “Oh good. I’ll tell you what happens when she goes to court. But, again, I am so sorry I didn’t know sooner.” The phone call ended, and Jenna sat on the fountain's edge. Why would this year be any different? Why would her mom come through for her this time? She never had in the past. She wiped a tear from her eyes as she went and threw her mother’s sandwich and Root Beer away.

“Good riddance," Jenna mumbled under her breath. She sighed as she walked back to her car. The time machine, she thought. How silly was that? Time travel wasn’t real, but she had a few hours to kill before being home. She started the car and headed back to the museum. When she arrived, the museum was only open for forty-five more minutes before closing. 

She parked the car and headed to the entrance, passing by the beautiful dragon statues; they looked so real. They were so elegant, even if they were made out of stone. She went and paid, heading back to the clock exhibit. She walked towards the almost black clock and stood before it; a familiar voice came from behind her, “Back so soon?” It was the creepy exhibit keeper that she had talked to earlier.