Goldilocks sat frail and tired in the city train station. She had spent the last eleven hours sweating over monstrous machinery. She knew that she was underpaid, earning hardly enough to provide a home for her three children. She also knew there was nothing she could do about it. Labor unions were beginning to form in protest, but she could not join them. If she were to jeopardize her employment, she would be jeopardizing the lives of her children.   "Tickets please," the conductor yelled startling Goldilocks to her feet. "Oh my! It is a good thing I didn't miss my train." The train departed and headed for the run down suburb that Goldilocks called home. She could feel her feet throbbing, along with that constant ache in her lower back.   "If only I could be rid of this headache," she said leaning back in her seat. She closed her eyes and anticipated her arrival home.

     She knew that there would be work to do, dinner to make, cleaning to do, but it was a rewarding job. Whenever she entered the work place, she was stripped of her identity. At the factory, she was just another worker, cheap labor to be used up and thrown away. At home, she was Mom, a goddess among women.  

    "Last stop! Last stop! Hey lady, this is the last stop!" She could feel the conductor nudge her arm. "Hey Lady," he said one last time. . Her eyes opened and she leaped from her seat.

"What stop is this?" she inquired frantically.

This is Bear Hill County, our final stop of the evening."

"Oh tell me it isn't true," she begged. "I have missed my stop and I must be hours from the suburb. When does the next train depart?" 

"Not until morning," was the only answer she received as the conductor showed her the door.

    Goldilocks had never been to Bear Hill County and she had no idea what to expect, but she was frightened. She knew that she would have to find a place to stay, but she didn't have money to spend on a room. She was also concerned about her children. She had no way of contacting them to explain what had happened. She had simply fallen asleep that is all. What if they thought she had left them and was never going to return home? "Oh my poor children," she sighed aloud. 

    The road ahead of her was dark and she could feel the moon following her. In the distance she could see the dim light of a house. "I pray that someone is home," she thought as she approached the door.

"Hello, is anyone home?" she called through the cracked door. No one answered. She felt ill as she entered the unfamiliar residence.  

    The house was massive. The artwork on the walls reminded her of a museum she had been to once as a child. She slowly moved forward careful not to disturb anything. "Who could possibly live in such a house?" she asked herself in awe.

    As she entered the sitting room her eyes stopped on a small chair just beside the fireplace. It was a rocking chair. Goldilocks had always wanted a rocking chair. When her children were small, she often held them moving her body back and forth in a rocking motion. If only she had owned a rocking chair! Goldilocks could not resist the temptation and so she sat down. She rocked for a few moments when she heard a woman's voice, "Is someone there?"

    Goldilocks pounced from the chair sending it tumbling backwards. It fell to the floor and broke. "Oh you silly foolish woman, look at what you have done," she scolded to herself as a woman entered the room. It was evident to Goldilocks that this was the woman of the house and her face filled with embarrassment.

"Who are you? And what are you doing in my house?" The woman challenged.

    Goldilocks considered running away. "There must be a back door," She thought. No, she could not. She had to think about the children. She had to find a way home.

"Please, miss I beg your pardon. My name is Goldilocks. I work in the city and take the train home to suburb every night. Tonight, however, I fell asleep and ended up here in Bear Hill County. Your house was the first that I came across and your door was open, and I was in search of a way home, and the chair, well..."

"Say no more," interrupted the woman, "you are in need of a place to stay and I am in need of company, you see, this house can get dreadfully lonely at night."

"Your hospitality is much appreciated, but what I really need is a way to get home to my children," replied Goldilocks.

"Oh is that all you need? Of course! I have a car outside and will be happy to bring you home, just give me a moment to get changed, these shoes are painfully high, and I smell of cigarette smoke. Please, make yourself at home while you wait. Just don't sit on anything," the women said with a smile.

"Yes, certainly... I will, thank you," Goldilocks replied shyly. What a kind woman she thought. She also thought about the extravagant costume the women wore. "Who is this women? Does she realize that she had not introduced herself," Goldilocks' thoughts continued wonder when. . .

The women returned "Come, the car is waiting out front."

    "Thank You, I am anxious to get home," noted Goldilocks. Without hesitation, the two women left the home of Ms. Bear and headed for the run down suburb that housed Goldilocks and her three children.  

    "Do you live alone in that massive house, miss?" inquired Goldilocks as the car left the driveway.

    "It is unfortunate, but I do," replied the woman. "Oh my, did I forget to introduce myself? How silly of me! My name is Ms. Bear, you may have heard of me, have you not?"

    "Of course I have. You are the famous blues singer who entertains in the city clubs! I have often, on my way to the train station, stopped outside the doors and listened to you sing. You have such a lovely voice. But, tell me, how is it that a woman living in such a grand house can possibly sing the blues?" 

    "My dear Goldilocks don't be fooled by money. It means nothing. In spite of all my wealth and fame I am a terribly lonely woman. I have no family and no one to call a friend. I sometimes bring men home from the clubs to fill my hollow space. I long for conversation, comfort, and companionship. However, it never seems to last. I think most of them come just to say they were at the house of the 'famous' Ms. Bear. Then...sometimes, I think it is my strength and independence that scares them away. You see, I am not afraid to stand up for what I believe in and for many that is hard."

    Goldilocks thought of her own situation, her fear of joining the unions, her fear of what the consequences would be if she made a stand.  

    As they drove, something happened, the contrast of the different worlds they lived in brought excitement. It was like exploring the unknown.  

    "Would you like to come in and meet my children?" invited Goldilocks. . Ms. Bear hesitated.

    "Yes, come please, for a bowl of porridge. An exchange of hospitality. Insisted Goldilocks. They walked side by side up the rickety steps into the damp kitchen. The sound of water dripping into a tin pan seemed to echo through the room. The floor was torn in spots and the stove was left open for heat.  

    "Is that a hole in your ceiling?" asked Ms. Bear.

    "Just a small one, replied one of the children, but don't worry I remembered to empty the pan."

    "Would you like a bowl of porridge," asked the oldest child.

    "I would love a bowl," answered Ms. Bear who was quite hungry. Such harship yet this family before her was so kind and warm.

A certain comfort fell upon the two women that night and without hesitation, they began to share their deepest feelings and dreams. Goldilocks was able to tell someone of her hardship and Ms. Bear felt something genuine. The women next to her truly enjoyed her conversation, she wasn't pretending because of who Ms. Bear was or how much money she had and she didn't seem to be bothered when Ms. Bear spoke her mind. In fact Goldilocks seemed to like it, even seemed to be inspired by it.     Ms. Bear left late that night knowing a door had opened between them, a new beginning, a friendship that seemed to help fill the empty spots they each had. Ms Bear gave Goldilocks support and helped her find the inner strength she needed to make a stand and achieve what she wanted. In turn, Goldilocks and her three children gave Ms. Bear what she needed most, a true friend and a family.

    Through the years, they continued to give each other support, show each other kindness, and above all the bond of friendship.

    "What if Goldilocks had not missed her train that night? Ms Bear often wondered. Would they still have met or would the opportunity have passed by?" Strange sometimes how life can be.

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	© Melt Magazine 2001