Mira is a rich woman who owns a coffee house,

with a husband that pays no attention to her

so her life is the coffee house and the people who come there Mira. Was glad to be at work,

this is where I belong she thought.

I have nothing at home all of the money in the world

wouldn't give that man a personality.

why I married him I will never know.

Myra's thoughts went back in time to when she was a child she felt alone and that no one loved her

Mira thought back to her childhood. to the drunken fights between her mom and dad. when she hid under the bed. until they passed out. then fixed her food at the age of Five.she remembers crawling out on the fire escape and setting there all alone lesting to the fights and noise on the street.the funny dressed lades calling to the men that drove by. not knowing until later what those women were selling. drug dealers on each corner. and people yelling about guns. finely going in and sleeping on the floor because sometime 5 year olds wet the bed when they have bad dreams. so she would curl up on the floor some times it was wet for days and not changed.she knew not to sleep on the couch. if it was wet dad would take the belt to her and tell her how nasty she was. tears came to her eyes as she thought about the frightened little girl she was back then.Then one day when she was twelve she came home to her mom crying at the kitchen table.for once she was not drunk. Mira thought something must be real bad. your Dad was killed today. in a drive by shooting. it was later she found out it was a drug deal gone bad. Mira's heart dropped now what were they going to do, her mom never worked. I should be sad she thought its my dad,but she felt numb and cold and could not even cry ****************************************************************************

Mira stood in the middle of the kitchen.Looking at her mother she wondered what the future was to bring. she had the feeling she would always remember this day as the turning point in her life. her life would never be the same it has to be better she thought. it was as if she had been the parent. to do the washing cooking and looking after the house. if she didn't do it. the work wouldn't get done, beer cans and wine bottles all over the house over flowing ash trays.the clothes all over the floor just as they were stepped out of. her dad made fun of her for a while calling her little miss home maker. she learned to do the work when they were gone. now he wouldn't be there to taunt her mom would say look at her, Phil she thanks she is so much better then her own parents. mom was not that way when she was not drinking. she looked so little setting at the table her face red from crying. Life was good for a month Then one day when Mira come home from school and her mom was gone. she set about putting chicken in the oven and pealing potatoes. dinner got cold Mira ate but there was a lump in her throat and she felt like crying. late that night she heard the door open and her mom stumble over the coffee table. and it started all over again, after a while she brought a man in. they came in late at night. her mom giggling then the noises from the bed room Gena put a pillow over her head and tried not to think about what was going on in there.after a while the man her mom called Jim moved in .and it was like having her dad back. he said mean things to her about her being miss prim and proper. the men came and went over the next two years.all of the looking at her with a hot gleam in there eyes never missing a chance to rub against her in the small kitchen.Then one one night she was asleep when she heard the front door open mom's home she thought.going back to sleep.she awoke to someone in her bed. one of the men had came in knowing her mom was gone she tried to scream and he put his hand over her mouth.talking to her about how pretty she was and how long he had wanted her.forcing his self on her. he had undressed while she was sleeping. he now got out of bed completely naked. she pulled the covers up to her chin and moved as far away from him as she could.after he dressed he took out his billfold and lay 20 dollars on the pillow by her head.Tell your mama next time she runs short of drinking money just let me know again.

Ginas heart thumped so heard she thought it would burst out of her chest.her mom new.... and sold her for twenty dollars.to buy drinks. Gina set at a table in the coffee house. thinking about the past and found herself shaking so bad she could not drink her coffee. If that was all there was to it but there is more so much more she thought.

Mira, Was taking her brake with a hot cup of coffee. Remembering her childhood.Whem Shari came into the coffee house. she was so glad to see a good friend Wish i could Talk to someone about those days she thought. But she didn't want anyone to know. and it was to painful to talk about. Mira talked to Sharie about Sharies life. Will you sing for us tonight ?? Sharis face lit up all the sadness seem to drain from her face as she thought about singing she hugged her and said yes i would love to. Shari drank her coffee ate a portabello mushroom and cheese sandwitch.mira noticed the good looking man watching Shari. Better get some work done in the office she thought.setleing down at her desk with the payrolls and again her thoughts to wonder back to that little apartment in the Broncs with her mother. After she was raped by her moms friend she stayed away from the apartment as much as she could. she did her home work at the libury.but staying out was hard because when she came home after dark she was so scared. people wanting to sell her drugs or pimps trying to tell her how much money she could make on the street. One day at school a woman counselor called her into her office.Mira some of the teachers are worried about you she said.Mira glanced out the window. A blue bird set singing on a branch of the tree. what do i do she thought if i tell her my whole life will change they will put me in a home.Mira? Mira? Mrs.Lancing said,are you with me? yes Ms Lancing I am Fine but it is good to know the teachers care you have nothing you want to talk to me about? no mame she said as she let her head drop. she couldn't look Ms Lancing in the face and lie to her. are you happy Mira? no not really but i don't want to talk about it. ok hunny, it's ok but remember if you ever need to talk, im here for you ok? yes mame thank you.on the way home mira thought about her future I will make something good of my life she thought I will. The next morning Mira woke up with a feeling of doom. She felt bad she couldnt tell Ms.Lancing how sad she was and why. When her feet hit the floor, she got a dizzy feeling.and had to set down fast on the side of the bed.what is wrong with me,oh i hope i am not bad sick i have no one.but as she stood again she was ok. and was very hungry she got out the bacon and eggs and bread for toast. and started frying the bacon as the smells filled the room she lost her appatite.she put the things to the back of the stove. picked up her books and went to school.With so much time to study Mira was a honer roll student. she had Janet newhouse and Mary Sommers as friends but she could never ask them to her home. andthey didnt ask her anything about her home it was almost like they knew it was bad.

The coffee house smelled of fresh flowers just placed on the tables. and fresh coffee. As mira came through the door.her best waiter Marco was behind the counter. and all looked great. she smiled at Marco and he brought her a steaming hot moca lataie. um Marco thanks she said.people started wondering in mira knew most of them.Thisis the life she thought. if they knew where she came from, would they still come here she thought? But this is now and i can hold my head up high.Miras thoughts ran back to the little appartment with her drunken mother. She was sick every morning ,and even tho she had lost weight her clothes were getting tight.and she was a lost little girl no one to talk to