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Sleeping in the Car

© Bea Sheftel

My friend Melody lives in California. We have met the last two years for one week in the summer at Skidmore College where we attend a writer's conference. Melody is an adventurous woman and I love to read about her exploits. I would never travel anywhere unless I had emergency money, and knew where I was going to stay. Not so, my friend Melody. Thankfully, the universe does seem to look out for her. Here is her story of how it felt to spend one night sleeping in a car since she couldn't afford a motel. I've included her email with her permission.

Brief background: Melody moved to Porterville, California, from the San Francisco Bay Area. She missed her friends, and her writing and guitar class. She decided to drive the 3 hour trip to rejoin her class and meet with her old friends. Her 9-year-old daughter, Megan, went with her.

Melody's Adventures in San Francisco

On Tuesday afternoon, I headed to the San Francisco Bay Area – with Megan in my Toyota Corolla. I should have known that something was wrong when we heard that weird banging noise coming from the tire on the right, front side on Highway 101. But, we made it to Mountain View just in time for the writing class taught by Floyd Salas. Class had already started, and Rocky the dog was very happy to see us.

It was great to be back in class again. I just had to do it, had to go back and take the class once a week, as well as my guitar class. I told Floyd I needed him to yell at me a few more times about the "five-point plot plan." I guess the bottom line is this. They need me, and I need them! After all, I had to get email addresses from all of the new students.

After class, as usual, a bunch of us would meet at the Boardwalk, the Pizza and Beer place on El Camino Real around the corner from Middlefield Campus of Foothill College. Claire asked if I would give a ride to a young gentleman in the class who had walked to campus. I said sure, no problem.

Noah is new to class, a nice, young guy who just wanted a ride to the Boardwalk. Little did he know what he was in for. We all got into the car, and I apologized for all of the stuffed animals, dolls and stuff on the floor of the front seat where Megan had been sitting.

The copyright of the article Sleeping in the Car in Homelessness is owned by Bea Sheftel. Permission to republish Sleeping in the Car in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.