My mother and her new boyfriend, threw me out of the house. I can’t stay, because they are alcoholics.This was another boyfriend of mom’s. Every few months,there was another boyfriend in the house. Constant abuse,so I left. I was the one that always went food shopping. I was the one that always did the cooking. My mother was too stoned and out of it to do anything.

With $120 in my pocket, which was all the money I had hidden from my Mom. She would go in my room and take my money to buy booze. But this money I saved, was rolled up in my sock drawer.I knew she was too drunk to look there.

So, I walked until my legs got tired. I sat down on a rock and cried. Why was this happening? Why couldn’t I be like a normal child, with normal parents? Aimlessly, I just continued to walk again. It felt like 100 miles.

Out of nowhere, I see an abandoned bus. It was broken down with 4 flat tires. It looked like no one had claimed it for years.

It was a red and white bus with broken windows. Graffiti was written all over in black and yellow spray paint.should I go in? Slowly, I walked towards the broken down hunk of junk.

Carefully , step by step I entered. It stunk of mildew, with stale cigarette, smoke.

I entered the bus because it started to rain heavily. The seats on the bus were colored in red and yellow. They were torn and tattered with dead roaches everywhere.

Having no place to go, I decided to make this my temporary home.

Before I left, I packed a knapsack with clothes,water, and some candy bars. This is where I’m sleeping tonight. On this bus!

I started to cry again.I was so scared, alone and hungry. I was 16 years old.Legally,I was an adult.

But my heart reacted like a little child.I haven’t even begun to live my life, yet I’m subjected to loneliness and heartache with an alcoholic mother.

Why can’t I be like other children who have great parents.A family that sits down every night for dinner. Maybe even having a Christmas tree with lights, glitter and ornaments. Never had a Christmas tree.I never had a Christmas gift.

Christmas was just another day in my household.

Well, here I remain on this bus, I call it my home for now. Let me say my prayers and try to go to sleep.

Tomorrow is a new day!!!