Sudetenland Tales by Edward Drobinski - HTML preview
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Sudetenland Tales
Page 291
Shoeshiner’s Row
In the broken patchwork of Shoeshiner's Row, Sudetenland, a street now famed mostly for its potholes and pawn shops, the shoeshine shops forgotten in the past, Jolene Archer grew up brushing soot off windowsill plants and dodging the echo of unpaid bills. Her mom worked a menial job, as was required by the Welfare representatives. Her dad was a rumor. Since everyone she knew had a similar experience, she wasn’t the least bit jealous. Jolene also wasn't bitter, but she sure was hungry.
Jolene Archer lived in apartment 3B, which smelled perpetually of wet carpet and fried bologna. Her mother, Tammy, worked the breakfast shift at a dinner diner. Their schedules rarely aligned, Tammy would often leave sticky notes for Jolene in lieu of conversation: "Don't forget your math homework" or "Eat something green today."
They had no car. Their heater worked when kicked precisely on the lower left panel. The neighborhood kids called her "Jo-Patch" because of the duct tape she used to seal her sneaker soles.
Jolene's childhood was marked by small acts of resilience.
Her mom packed juice boxes only on Fridays, like a treat to celebrate surviving another week. The public library became