by Mya West
“Sure,” I say coldly.
My dad places his hand at the bottom of my chin, squeezing gently. “Deliver the package first.”
∞∞∞
I walk down the street without a care. I know that whether I open the bag and peek inside or not, doesn’t matter if I get caught delivering my dad’s products. At this point though I truly don’t give a fuck. I notice a police cruiser drive past me at an intersection. I almost want to wave at them to add even more attention to myself.
Just delivering some drugs to some neighbors, nothing to see here piggy piggy.
The truth is that I want them to catch me, almost. What would it be like to rat out my father as being the community drug kingpin? The number of weird looking people that enter my home on the daily should be enough for the police to raid my home. How my dad hasn’t been arrested by now is beyond me. I suppose it wouldn’t be out of the question that some of the cops that patrol this area could be on my dad’s payroll.
How much would it take to bribe a cop to look the other way?
I cross the street but the sidewalk on the other side of the road is so broken and damaged that it’s easier to walk on the street. A car honks at me as it passes. I flip it off and keep walking. My friend, Candice, I mean Autumn Darling, may have seen that as a business opportunity. I want nothing to do with the scum bag boys driving the vehicle.
I haven’t ever dated a guy, as sad as that may sound. It’s not so much the thought of taking them to visit my family that worries me, it’s just, well - boys are a distraction. I have a goal, to get as far away from here as possible. At my scummy school, I’m sure I could manage to find a nice guy, but then what? We date and break up? Then with a broken heart, I fail an important test, and there go my dreams, all because of some man, who in the future will mean nothing to me.
I could sweettalk a guy, a prince charming, who could save me from this ghetto. I could put on my best attempt at being Autumn Darling myself and leave tonight even.
That’s not me though.
I am going to leave this place and be successful. It won’t be because of what’s between my thighs or being like my father. It will because I’ve earned it.
Candice is right about one thing for sure. Once I leave this hell, it will be as if it never existed to me. One long nightmare.
After another few blocks, I get closer to Townley’s home. It looks ever more decrepit than the rest of the ugly homes on the block. The home just screams that a crack head resides in it. The grass looks like it hasn’t been cut in a few months. It doesn’t stop children playing on it though.
Several children are playing in the front yard, riding their bicycles in circles. When I get closer, a little boy raises his head and looks at me. He notices the brown paper bag in my hand and continues playing.
I look at the children, and the front door of Mike Townley’s home behind them. I can hear the social worker speaking to me as if he’s on Mikes driveway with me. My family is responsible for a lot of trauma around here. My father’s products provide nothing but nightmares, after a brief moment of escapism.
How much better am I than my parents? Just because I’ve been the delivery girl for a few years, doesn’t make my contribution less than my father’s.
When I was thirteen, my dad would make it a game. Go hand out all the packages or bags around the neighborhood, and I get a prize at the end. It felt like my father was Santa Claus for the ghetto, bringing happiness to all the beat-up looking adults, and I was his little helper. It didn’t take me too long to figure out what was in the bags and packages. The first time my dad hit me was when I confronted him about it. I knew better than to do that again.
I look at the children one last time before continuing down the street. I jam the drugs down a large sewer hole a few blocks away. I take out the cash my dad gave me and start counting. He probably was too high to realize that he gave me over four hundred dollars.
I take my cell out of my pocket and call Candice. “Hey, steak diner on me. You in?”
She replies with an immediate yes. There’s a restaurant downtown known for their amazing porterhouse steaks. Candice and I eat like we never had food before. During dinner I tell her what happened during my recent delivery. I laugh but Candice doesn’t think it’s so funny.
“What the fuck Elle?” She says, with a serious face for once. “Your dad’s going to beat you.”
I wave my head no while taking a large bite of delicious steak. Some of the juices run down my face and I wipe them quickly with a linen napkin. “I’m not staying another night there. I’ve got enough money left over for a night or two at a motel. I’ll figure something out after.”
“Stay at my house. My parents won’t care.”
I wave my head again. Candice’s house is probably even worse than mine. So much so that I’ve tried to drag her to the same shelter I went to today more than once in the past.
“I’m going to go home, grab a few things, and go find a cheap motel.”
Candice’s face sours. “I’m serious. Your dad has probably killed people for less.”
I continue to eat my steak without a care in the world. I know my dream of finishing high school and sucking it up in this hell is over. I might as well eat my fucking steak with peace of mind.
Candice reaches into her purse and puts some crumpled bills on the table. I look at her coldly.
“This isn’t charity.” She says. “I’m paying for my steak and giving you a loan, interest free.”
Candice offers to go to my home with me while I grab my things, but I decline. It’s not a good idea for her to be around my house with a guy like James Richardson around. I know I’m close to my home when I can hear the music blasting. The lights upstairs are on and I see a group of people partying.
I pray that I won’t disturb the party too much by sneaking in and running out. I open the front door slowly. I peek inside and see no one around. It looks like the party is upstairs for a change. I open the door fully and almost jump when I see a man and a woman making out on my living room couch. They seem to have no clue I’m in the room and I walk past them without them noticing.
Candles are lit throughout the house. My mom thinks it’s fun lighting up parties with as many candles as possible instead of lightbulbs. She thinks it brings a certain aura to a party, but if you’re not high like them, it comes off eerie as hell.
I open my bedroom door and sneak inside, closing it behind me. I grab my backpack, and stuff some clothes in it. I stuff my fantasy book inside as well. I search my room and make sure I have all the important things one would need before running away.
I almost run over to my bed in shock. I can’t believe I almost didn’t bring it. I reach my hand between my mattress and boxspring and fish out my journal. I’ve written in it since I was fifteen. I’ve written every great and terrible moment in my life in it. It’s been a friend to me in times when I was too shy to speak to even Candice. It knows my deepest secrets. Somehow in my haste, I almost forgot it.
I look behind me and notice James Richardson looking at me with a smirk, his head tilted. The candles from outside my room give him a dark silhouette but his smell gives him away.
“Now where are you going, little birdy? Are you leaving the nest?”
“James, just leave me alone.” I whisper back.
James looks up. You can hear the muffled footsteps and music from the party upstairs. “Your dad knows you didn’t go to Mike Townley’s home today. He’s pissed. I can help you. I can sneak you out. You can stay at my place for a bit until things cool down.”
“No thanks.” I say carefully.
“Oh, come on little birdy. I don’t bite.” He gets closer to me and I take a step back. He takes another step and I take another step backwards, hitting the side of my bed frame. His grin grows larger. I quickly grab the kitchen knife under my bed and point it at him. He laughs again as if my actions are meaningless. He backs away and leaves my room completely.
“I
guess I have no reason to protect you.” He says. He turns and walks towards the stairs. “Hey Ron! Ron!”
I quickly run out of my room. “Wait!”
He looks at me playfully. “Yes?”
“Please James, don’t tell my dad I’m here. You’re right, I need your help.” He smiles at me and walks closer. He looks at the knife firmly in my grasp and I lower it.
“I’m glad you came to your senses, little birdy. Now, I can help you, but I need something from you.” He walks closer to me, his smile wider than ever.
I look at my father’s workstation. Several candles are lit. The large canister labelled ‘extremely flammable’ is above them on a shelf.
I smile back at James.
Chapter 3
A social worker is looking at me strangely, sitting on the side of his fancy desk, wearing a suit. Unlike the last social worker I met, he isn’t smiling. He is also much older, and not as handsome. He introduced himself as Ted Silvers when we first met. When he looks at me all I sense is his pity for my situation.
Ted Silvers fixes his thick dark-framed glasses on his nose and hands me a form. “This is for your release of your parent’s bodies. The coroner’s office will cremate them at no expense to you. Since you’re an adult you can sign for this instead of an uncle or aunt.”
I look at him, not knowing what to say other than thanks. I don’t feel like letting him know that I don’t have any aunts or uncles, or any family left in this world.
Ted Silvers looks at me again, the pity more evident. “Would you like their remains?”
I shake my head no. He nods his head. Ted asks me if I know if my parents had a will, but I’m pretty sure they don’t. The home was rented, and my dad despises banks. Any money or important belongings burnt up in the house with them.
“One of the detectives said they wanted to talk to you again. Apparently, there are several bodies who they can’t identify, and nobody is coming forward with any missing person claims or anything like that.”
I don’t know most of my parent’s friends. They are mostly junkies, who I try to not affiliate myself with unless forced to. I tell him I’ll call the detective back.
“Do you have a place to stay tonight?”
I nod my head. “I’m staying at a motel. I’ve got a little cash on me for a few more nights.” He asks for the address in case he needs to follow-up with me again.
“Do you have any family or friends that you can stay with?”
I wave my head. “I’ll be fine.” I say with confidence.
“We have emergency psychologists who I’ve arranged to speak to you.” Ted says.
I wave my hand. “I’d just like to leave to be honest.”
Ted shakes my hand and offers to pay for a taxi to get me to my motel. I thank him but decline. On my way back to the motel I stop by what remained of my home. The top portion exterior of the home is completely open for all to see. The light blue walls are now charred black.
My neighbor’s home has signs of fire damage at its edge closest to my home. I was told by police that my neighbors didn’t require any medical attention, which made me feel better.
Guilt strikes me hard, and I can feel tears welling in my eyes. I quickly wipe my face with my sleeve.
The police described the fire as an accident. These kinds of things happen when you run a meth lab in your home after all.
I know what really happened though, and I kept it to myself. Nobody would understand.
I walk past the burnt remains of my house and continue to the motel. Candice is waiting for me. When I shut the motel door behind me I fall into her arms, bursting with tears. She consoles me the best she can. She doesn’t say anything, and I don’t either. She just lets me cry. I could feel my soul become heavier with every tear dropping. Candice promises to stay the night with me.
I wake up in the motel bed, not feeling refreshed. I feel like I could sleep all day and still have no energy. The sun filters through the light curtains giving just enough light to see the whole room, and Candice Owens who’s drooling into a pillow on the other side of the bed.
A shadow in the light around the room gets larger and a sudden knock on my motel room door startles me. I open the curtain slightly and notice Ted Silvers, fixing his dark rimmed glasses, holding a suitcase. He smiles at me when he notices me staring.
I open the door. “Hey.” Ted’s smile grows bigger. Ted never smiled at me yesterday, which made his hard features on his face seem grim. When he smiles it lightens his whole complexion. It’s a bit contagious. I smile back at him awkwardly. “You okay?”
“I’ve got good news for you.” He says. “Can I come in?”
I wave him in. He looks for a desk or a chair to sit on, but all there is, is a large bed and a television in front of it. He notices Candice rolling over on the bed. Candice opens her eyes and stares at him awkwardly.
“So, what’s the news?” I ask him.
“Yes. So, I have connections with a lot of... philanthropists. These guys are rich and like to give back. After our conversation yesterday I reached out to one of them. He’s done some great things for this city in the past. I told him everything that’s happened, and he feels obligated to help.”
“Wait- so some rich guy wants to help me? How?”
Candice lifts herself up from bed and seems more interested in our conversation now.
Steve smiles. “Have you ever heard of Arthur Cain?”
I wave my head no.
Candice gets out of the bed completely, only wearing her bra and panties and stands beside me. “The oil tycoon guy? The one that has a whole state park named after him, and a hospital- and an elementary school?” She puts her hands at her bare sides and waits for a response.
Steve does his very best trying not to notice the beautiful, nearly naked eighteen-year-old in front of him. Besides a few glances, he’s doing a good job.
“The very one. I’m sure you heard of Ryland Academy.”
Who hasn’t heard of the richest school in the state located in the small town of Ryland less than an hour away? I had read something online that some of the graduates of Ryland include one ex-president, many politicians, and multiple millionaires, even billionaires. The article suggested that the gross income of the graduates of Ryland Academy could make up nearly ninety percent of the total wealth in North America. When they talk about the one percent of the wealthiest people in the country, there was a good chance they had roots at Ryland.
I look at Ted Silvers stunned. “What does this have to do with me?”
Ted’s smile grows again. “Arthur Cain wants to give you a scholarship at Ryland Academy, so you can finish your last year.”
Candice beats me to it. “Shut the fuck up!” Ted stares at her with a sour face until he looks at her breast and quickly looks away.
“There’s more.” He says, looking at the corner of the room, avoiding contact with both of us. “He has a guest house that you can stay at on his property while you complete your senior year. I did a little bit of snooping and hope you don’t mind, but I found out that you’re a smart young woman.”
“Thanks.” I say, completely frozen. Free education at the nation’s top high school, while staying at some billionaire’s guest house! What the fuck is going on?
“Mr. Cain says if you maintain your academics at the same level they were at last year, he will pay your full tuition and residence fees to any post-secondary school you are accepted to.”
I start screaming a mix of laughter and shrieks while jumping. Candice joins me and grabs my hands jumping in unison. Ted Silvers stares at us, not knowing how to react.
Over our loud voices the social worker yells. “Get ready! You leave tomorrow!”
Chapter 4
Candice wished me the best with my new life before leaving the motel. I kept telling her to shut up, but she’s right. It’s hard to be humble when it feels like you won the lottery. Free education at the best secondary school in the nation! Free room and
board at what I can only imagine will be a mansion. All I must do is keep my grades and I get a free ride at any university.
I was pretty sure my life was in hell just a few moments before Ted Silvers knocked on my motel room door that day.
I told Candice that I would visit her when I could. She told me to shut up that time. She knows how much I want this. She told me to leave this place and not look back. She said I would truly be an idiot if I even thought of her.
I forced her to text me her address of her new apartment she will be moving to in a few weeks. We made a promise that this wouldn’t be the last time we saw each other. No matter if I made something of myself in school, or she made enough money hooking and bought a car and rode off into the sunset, we would be friends. We would stay in touch.
We hugged before she left. I wiped a tear before she could notice. I looked at her coldly, “I know you’re strong-willed, but don’t do the whole drug thing when I’m gone, please. It’s easy to get into in your... business.” She just smiled reassuringly. She was my only friend who wasn’t into drugs. Most girls probably put themselves on the street to pay for their addictive habits, Candice was doing it to elevate herself out of this shithole. Though I didn’t like what she did with her body, I knew someday she would succeed in getting the hell out of here for good.
I looked at her with a smile right before she left. “And when you do leave this dump of a city, Autumn Darling dies with it, Candice.” She laughed and agreed.
∞∞∞
I spend the rest of the night packing what little belongings I have into my duffle bag and slump into the mattress. Tomorrow could not come fast enough. I google some more about Arthur Cain. He’s a handsome man for his age. You could tell he’s filthy rich with just a glance at a magazine cover I saw online. He was wearing a pinstriped suit with his dark hair slicked back, posing in a crimson leather chair, puffing on a long cigar. In case anybody couldn’t tell he was financially loaded, the caption above it read, Interview with a Billionaire. I wanted to read the article, but a paid subscription was required.
