Chapter Two
The alarm insistently blared into the morning light of
Amanda's room right on time the next morning. "All right, I'm up" she said
as she reached drowsily over to switch off the noisome object. Rolling over she
greeted the ceiling with a slight groan. "Okay time to get up and see what your new
hometown looks like," she said to herself.
She got up and dressed in her favorite blue shorts and white Kentucky T-shirt, tying on
her tennis shoes as she sat on the edge of her king sized bed. Standing in front of
the mirror over her dresser, which the movers had actually put in the right place
yesterday, she brushed her long brown hair and thought of how she had gotten some weird
looks back in her home state of Tennessee by wearing a Kentucky shirt until she had
explained how her best friend worked in the state at Churchill Downs. Actually, she
loved the basketball team too, and she only hoped no one would give her a hard time with
it here. But she really didn't care she thought, it was her favorite shirt, it still
looked good after all this time and it fit her well. Tying a blue ribbon around her
ponytail, she grabbed her keys off the dresser, and her purse off the kitchen counter as
she walked out her front door.
The day was just right for walking, just warm enough while not being too overly hot.
Amanda got a good look at her neighborhood as she strolled around, especially the house
with the very tall fence which was only five blocks from her apartment building. As
she paused to look at it, a woman came out of the front door, dressed in a jogging suit
with the obvious intent to do the same thing Amanda was now doing.
"Hi there!" the lady waved
"Hi!" Amanda said with a smile which was quickly returned.
"Just move to town?" the lady asked.
"Sure did and I like it already, its so beautiful here," Amanda said.
"Well welcome to Tampa-my name is Jane Carter." said the lady as she walked out
her front gate and joined Amanda on the sidewalk.
"Amanda Pugh-pleased to meet you Miss Carter."
"Oh its Mrs. Amanda, but you can call me Jane."
"Okay Jane pleased to meet you," they both laughed as they both walked down the
street. The two women spoke like old friends, chatting over all sorts of things, like the
best places to shop and other vital information for a new resident. Amanda told Jane
about her job and Jane seemed very impressed. Jane also mentioned she had a son with
a highly demanding job that while in a different field than Amanda's was almost as
demanding.
"Oh really-what does your son do?" Amanda asked.
"He's a singer," Jane said with motherly pride.
"Wow-does he have any albums out? I'd like to hear him sometime."
"Well he'll be home tomorrow, why don't you come over and meet him-we're having a
welcome home dinner for him and his group."
"Thank you I'd love it!" Amanda said with a grin.
"Okay we'll see you about seven then?" Jane said
"Seven it is," replied Amanda.
The two women waved goodbye as Jane turned one way on her walk and Amanda continued her
exploring in the other direction. As Jane disappeared from sight, Amanda thought to
herself that Florida people sure were nice. Here she was a
resident for only forty eight hours and already she was invited to a party.
Chapter 3
