Date: Mon, 14 Jul 2003 08:11:39 EDT
From: BK
Subject: Pizza Parlor

If you are not 18, go away, you shouldn't read this.  This story is a work
of complete fiction. None of its characters are real. Please enjoy.

			       Pizza Parlor
				 Chapter 1

Jenny
Dear Diary,
    I'm sick of it. My life, my family, my school, everything. My friends are
shallow and self-centered, and if my dad tells me one more time about how he
doesn't understand why I don't appreciate all our family's money more, I'm
going to shoot him. Why can't he see that's not what I want? Him and my mom think
money solves everything. So do my friends. They never talk like they mean
what they say. They say whatever they can to benefit themselves. None of them
have to work for anything, because their daddy's pay for whatever they want, and
I'm ashamed to be in the same category as them. I feel like my life is being
handed to me on a silver platter, and I don't want that, because I know I'm not
living. You have to have something to work at, work for, to truly be alive,
and at 15, I've never had to work a day in my life. I wish things weren't the
way they are. I have no one that I'm close to, because I don't trust my friends
and my parents are too despondent to realize I'm here.

Dear Diary,
    I read something today, and it made me think of my last entry. It said
something like, 'if you can do something about it, you can't complain about it'.
It makes sense. All I do is complain. I need to do something about my
problems. My life isn't going to magically fix itself. My friends will never become
less self-centered and shallow, and my parents will never realize I want more
than to be given everything I need. At least I know now I have to do something.
What, I'm not sure...

Amy
Dear Diary,
    It was a hard day today. I seem to be getting more and more tired lately.
It must be all the extra work I'm putting in at the pizza parlor. Plus, I've
got a ton of homework! I swear, my entire Algebra class will have gotten
through the whole book of problems by the end of this month if Mrs. Johnston has it
her
way. Oh well, not much I can do about it but try my hardest. Not that that is
ever good enough.
    It's so cool! Kristie says she might get to work at the parlor with me
soon! Since she now has her license (she's a year older than me), her parents
finally consented. I've been working here for years, since my dad owns the shop,
but it has never been fun. Now, I'll have my best friend to waitress with!
How cool is that!

Dear Diary,
    It was a pretty good day today. Kristie has a lot to learn about being a
waitress and stuff, but she'll learn quickly enough. She got some of the drink
orders mixed up, and didn't put on all the toppings one group of regulars
asked for, but she did well enough. We have a lot of regulars in this town. A
small urban place in southern Indiana always will. One of the most frequent
visitors to our parlor is Joe, this boy that likes me a lot. He's funny, and smart,
and nice, but I just don't like him that way. He's just not my type, but I
don't really want to put him down, so I'm just going to stay as friendly as
possible to him, and nothing more. I hope he doesn't get the wrong idea.

Jenny
Dear Diary,
    I've got it. I'll leave. Not run away from home, that's something bad
kids do, but run to greater things. It's not like anyone will miss me. The thing
is, I'm glad my parents won't miss me, unlike some kids might be. It doesn't
bother me that they don't care. I personally think both my parents and me will
be better off if I'm gone. Seriously, we'll both be a lot happier. They'll
have their nice life of distanced conformity, and I'll be able to truly live my
life like I want to. All I care about is that everyone is happy, and we both
will be. The place I leave to has to be perfect though. It can't be like New
York, where someone might notice me. It will have to be a small town where I can
get an easy job, but not so small where an outsider will be unwelcome. I have
the money to afford it, in a bank account I live near I can withdrawal up to
five hundred dollars. I can take a cab right after I say I'm going to bed,
arrive at the airport, and be in some new town by morning, before my parent's even
wake up. It could work. It will have to work. If I spend much more time here,
I honestly think I might kill myself.

Dear Diary,
    I found the perfect place. Actually, it was just by chance. In social
studies we learnt about the war of 1812, and a lot of those battles were fought
in southern Illinois. It's perfect. I found that southern Illinois isn't highly
populated, but does have quite a few people. Plus, Illinois is notorious for
having a lot of fast food joints, so it shouldn't be that hard for me to find
a job. I'll get a flight to Chicago, call a cab, head south, and see where I
end up. It has to be better than here. Anything is better than here.

Amy
Dear Diary,
    I'm so excited. My mom is finally taking us to Chicago this weekend to go
shopping. Actually, it hasn't been her fault we haven't had much money
lately. The parlor hasn't been doing to good. Even with Kristie there, we're still
slow, and if our service isn't good, we won't have customers for long. The
thing is, we don't have the money to hire on a new person right now. I guess
Kristie and me will just have to work a bit harder. It's sort of hard, working with
your best friend. At least, it's harder than I thought it would be, because
I'm always wanting to talk to her and stuff.

Jenny
Dear Diary,
    I'm finally here. Away from my old life, and from my old ways. Currently,
I'm driving south from Chicago. I wonder where I'll tell him to stop. At the
first fast food place I come to? Wouldn't that be a laugh! Hey, does this guy
see the car that's coming up...?

Amy
Dear Diary,
    I'm on my way up to go shopping! I'm so excited! My mom said Kristie
could come too, so I know I'll have even more fun. Kristie could have driven
herself, but it would have just been a waste of gas, since were all headed the same
direction. Right now, we're heading down I-95, singing car songs, and really
acting silly. My mom's even getting into it! She's turning around in her seat
even! I hope she sees that car coming though...-

Jenny
Man, he better turn fast, or he's gonna...

Amy
"Mom, Look Out!"

Jenny/Amy
Oh my god.