by D. R. Grady
She answered the phone on the fourth ring. “Hello?” Great, she sounded all breathless.
“Macy?” Savannah’s voice sounded flat.
“Yes, Savannah what’s going on?” Macy used a liberal amount of soap and warm water.
“Can you come pick me up?”
“Sure, where are you?” She could hear cars in the distance and what sounded like raucous teenagers nearby as she tore a paper towel off the roll and dried her hands.
“I’m at school, but I missed the bus,” Savannah said and her voice cracked. She sounded like she was on the edge. Macy wasn’t certain which edge, but it launched her into full protective mode.
The hamburger got thrust into the refrigerator. “I’m coming, hold on.”
She saw the other kids tromping up the driveway, so she packed them into the car and Riley jumped in with them. “Where are we going, Macy?” Starla asked.
“We have to pick up Savannah.”
“Why wasn’t she on the bus with us?”
“Because she missed it so we’ll just go pick her up now.” Macy kept her foot heavy on the gas and barreled through a couple of clearly orange lights.
When she pulled up in front of the school, the first thing that stood out were the teenagers she’d heard when Savannah called. At least eight boys all in age close to Savannah loitered around the area with skateboards and bikes. Their shorts were a little too big, their hats on backwards, and Macy didn’t like what she thought she heard spewing from their mouths.
“Yo, Savannah, why don’t you come with us?” one closest to Savannah called out as he rearranged his sagging shorts. There was something threatening in the manner in which he used.
“You could be my girlfriend, Savannah.” The boy drew her name out, like taffy. The effect was enough to raise the hairs on the back of Macy’s neck. The other boys seemed to like the way the boy said her name because it set them off in a chorus. Their subsequent gestures churned her stomach. Macy couldn’t imagine how Savannah felt.
“Savannah, baby, call home again.”
Savannah’s shoulders hunched in and she crept further and further away from the boys and their comments. Each comment growing increasingly risqué and wrong. Savannah looked like she was about to burst into tears.
Being a female, Macy understood the hair rising at the back of her neck. Every feminine instinct she possessed shouted at her to scram. But Savannah hadn’t been able to leave until she could find a phone to call home. What if Macy hadn’t been there? What if the other kids hadn’t come home when they had?
Savannah could have been in danger, because Macy didn’t like how the boys spoke to her. It didn’t take a genius to realize this situation could spiral out of control with little assistance.
Macy leaned over and opened the passenger door of the van. “Riley, go get Savannah,” she said quietly and watched with satisfaction as the wolverine-like canine bounded out the door and across the pavement to Savannah. The boys parted like billiard balls.
Savannah’s shoulders straightened as the dog danced around her. One of the boys got a little too close and Riley, aptly judging the situation, growled. His canines showed to their best advantage with his snarl. The hairs on her arms rose and Macy smiled. Good for Riley. Each of the boys backed off and Savannah flung her hair away from where it had fallen in her face.
She slung her pack over her shoulder and sent the boys a look that promised them teenaged suffering. Macy was proud of her. Savannah climbed into the van, Riley right behind her and Macy set the van into drive.
“Why don’t you have a cell phone?” she asked Savannah as she merged with the street traffic and stopped for a light.
Savannah shrugged. “Dad says I don’t need one.”
“What?”
Macy’s exclamation earned her a semi-grin. “Honestly. Dad said I’m too young, and I don’t need a phone.”
“Has he ever picked you up from school?” Macy’s voice sounded grim, even to her ears.
Savannah shrugged. “Yeah,” she said and jerked her shoulder. Her hair slid forward to hide her red face.
“And is the situation usually like we just found it?”
The teenager used a not quite steady hand to sweep the hair back. She glanced at Macy from the corner of her eyes. “What?”
“Have you had trouble before like you did today?”
Her shoulders hunched again. Savannah’s chin nearly rested on her chest before she answered. “Usually.”
Macy nodded. “Yeah, that’s what I thought. You need a phone.”
Hope lit up Savannah’s eyes. “Do you think so?”
“Yes. I don’t think you’d have had near the problem if you had your own phone. You could have talked to me the entire time, which I think would have kept the boys off your back.”
“Dad’s not gonna go for this,” Savannah warned, and Macy saw the eagerness die as she settled back into her seat. A subtle air of defeat emanated from her.
Lips firm, Macy returned her attention to the light that changed from red to green. “You leave this to me.”
“Macy got us new clothes, Savannah,” Starla piped up from the middle seat.
“Yes, I did. And you need a phone, so your father is going to buy you one,” she said, in a voice forged from steel.
“I don’t know, Macy. Dad can be stubborn,” Savannah said, and bit her lip.
We’ll see who wins this battle. “So can I.”
***
“Savannah is thirteen. She does not need a phone.”
“Yes, she does,” Macy spat out in rebuttal. “Your refusal to buy her a phone is going to get her hurt!”
Nick swung around to stare at her in disbelief. “Do you hear what you’re saying? Or accusing?”
“Yes, do you?” She wanted to rip his head off, place some sense inside, and readjust the fit. The man was the limit.
“You’re telling me that I’ve placed my daughter in danger because I won’t buy her a phone. That’s ridiculous.”
“Savannah said you’ve picked her up from school before when she misses the bus.”
“Yeah, which she shouldn’t do.”
“Those boys made sure she missed the bus, Nick. She’s not doing it on purpose.”
Her comment sidetracked him for a moment. “What?”
“She didn’t purposefully miss her bus. The boys wouldn’t let her get on. They’ve formed this sort of anti-Savannah forum and they harass her.”
“Why?” There was a parental edge to his voice. Finally.
“Because they’re experiencing hormones, and Savannah is attractive and available to separate from the pack. Her friends all have phones, so the minute the boys start on them, they yank out their phones and call their parents.”
Nick looked disbelieving, so she kept going.
“Savannah has to rely on the school phones, which are hard to find. Most kids have their own.”
“She called home, and you went and got her.”
“What if I hadn’t been home? What if I’d have had to wait for the other kids to come home first? Savannah was scared. Scared, Nick. I felt threatened.”
“You felt threatened?” he sounded really skeptical, and she wanted to brain him.
“Yes. I’m a female. We have instincts for a reason. We have to develop them. And in Savannah’s situation, she wasn’t in danger yet, but it was escalating there. Those boys have probably been harassing her all year.”
“Did she tell you they were the reason why she missed the bus?”
“No.”
“See, there you go.”
Macy leapt from the chair she’d been occupying and raced to the door. “Savannah?” she yelled.
Savannah lurked near the doorway and she slouched into the room. “What?” Her voice hovered between sullenness and hope. Macy’s heart went out to her.
“Did you miss the bus today because of those boys heckling you?”
“Yeah,” Savannah whispered and looked like she was about to
dissolve into tears.
“And they’ve been harassing you all year?” Macy kept up the grim questioning. Nick’s oblivious nature was placing his daughter in danger. He had to understand that his daughter was more important than whatever prevented him from protecting her.
“Yeah. I was scared today, Macy,” Savannah whispered, a raw note to her voice that pierced Macy to the core.
“I know, Savannah, I was too.” Macy slid an arm around her and tugged her close.
“Why were you afraid?” Nick kept his voice level, which was good. Macy wasn’t convinced they had managed to convince him yet.
“Because they say trash to me all the time.” Savannah’s teenager attitude popped out, at an appropriate time, Macy thought.
“Trash?”
“Yo, Savannah, let’s go under the stadium. Savannah, wanna find out what it’s really like to be a woman? Hey Savannah, you wanna do me, I know it.” Savannah’s voice rose with fear and agitation, and Macy thought she presented a pretty good case for herself. She tugged the shaking teenager closer. Savannah huddled against her.
“The boys at your school say that stuff to you?” Nick’s eyes had grown, and he stared at his daughter like he’d never seen her before.
“All the time,” Savannah said firmly. “They grabbed me today right before I got on the bus.”
“Where did they grab you?” Nick’s tone bordered on heated. Macy nodded to the teenager in the hopes of encouraging her to answer.
“Just my arms, but I was scared,” Savannah said and stared at the floor. She pressed closer though.
Macy, her lips firmed, sent a speaking look to Nick. See, she tried to tell him with her eyes. She didn’t speak out loud, but she was very afraid the boys hadn’t just grabbed Savannah’s arms.
“They physically wouldn’t let you get on the bus?”
“Yes.”
“Where are the teachers at your school?”
Savannah sent him a typical teenager look. “They watch, but it’s not like we’re little kids anymore.”
“There’s so much going on that these boys could bother Savannah, and they’d never see it.”
“Why not?” Nick still didn’t sound exactly convinced.
“Because kids are good at remaining under adult’s radar. There are eight of these guys, and one of Savannah.” Macy answered for her.
“Savannah, why didn’t you tell me these kids were bothering you?”
“I did,” she said to her chest.
Nick thrust a hand through his hair. “When?”
“A few months ago when I asked for a phone.”
“Honey, do you really believe you need a phone?”
Savannah made an exasperated noise. “Dad, they pick on me because I’m the only one who doesn’t have one. If I got one, they’d probably leave me alone.”
“Are you sure it’s a phone issue?”
“If she got a phone, she could talk to you or me or even the police and the boys know that. They’re not going to bother her if there are witnesses,” Macy inserted.
“Let me think about this, Savannah,” Nick said and his hand swept across his face this time.
“Now is probably the right time to mention the other kids could use kid friendly phones, too,” Macy said.
Nick stared at her, disbelief and denial etched across his face. “What?”
“Think about it. Savannah needs one for her protection and safety. Well, what about Bryce? When he checks out of reality and goes his merry way, not paying attention to where he is, then checks back into reality...”
“He can call home at least so one of us can help him,” Nick finished.
“Right. And Brandt has been good about not going into the woods without me, but what if he does get nipped by one of his dangerous interests?”
“He can call for help,” Savannah said, rousing a bit.
“Exactly.”
“And Starla?” Nick sounded resigned.
“Dad, come on. If I need a phone for protection, what about Starla? Strangers already look her over in a really creepy way.”
Macy nodded. “She could also use a phone.”
“Why now?”
“Because it’s time. Savannah needs the peace of mind of knowing she can call you or me if she feels unsafe. The other kids deserve that same peace of mind. We can program the other kids’ phones to only call certain numbers.”
“Like which ones?”
“You, me, your parents, the police, and the school.”
“What about Savannah?”
“Savannah is old enough and mature enough to only use her phone to call those same people. We can work out a texting and data plan for her.”
“I have some friends who have the same cellular company you have, Dad. It’d be free to call them. There are family plans and I won’t go over the texting limit.”
“You promise to only call friends who are free?”
“Yes, Dad. All my friends have cell phones and they’re all responsible with them.”
He turned to her. “Do you want to go tonight?”
“I think that’s the best scenario. I’ll make supper and we can go after that.” She turned to Savannah. “Why don’t you tell your brothers and sister our evening plans?”
“Okay. Thanks, Macy,” Savannah said with a shy smile and left the room.
“All four kids?”
“Yes. My phone is through the cellular provider you have, so it’s also free for all of you to contact me.”
“This just seems so... unreal somehow to get these kids phones.”
“I know, but so long as they promise to use them in a responsible manner, which they will all do, it’s a good thing. You’re a parent. Your first priority needs to be your kids’ safety.”
“I understand that, but I just can’t imagine how a cell phone is a safety purchase.”
“All I can tell you then, is to get Savannah a phone and see what happens. Maybe because you’re a man, you don’t pick up the same danger signs she and I picked up today. But Nick, they were there. Those boys are going to start playing rough.”
His jaw hardened. “They kept her from getting on the bus.”
She used her head to indicate he had a point. “They’ve already started playing rough.”
“I never suspected she was going through this kind of thing.”
“Of course you didn’t, but Savannah isn’t the type to mention it more than once, either. You’ve got to understand, Nick, especially now, that males and females are entirely different. Boys can do things girls instinctively would never do, because females have a higher protective instinct.”
“Speak in English, Macy.”
“We as females have to be able to assess a situation immediately – whether it’s safe or unsafe. Our instincts allow us to do that.” She groped about, trying to think of situations she could use to relate what she said.
“For instance?”
“For instance, you might feel a little more aware if you crossed into a dark alley at night in an area of town you knew. You know the area, know it’s relatively safe, but you’re still aware because there’s the potential for danger.”
“Okay.”
“You avoid or get out of the situation as soon as possible if you sense danger.”
“Usually.”
“Okay, now let’s say you’re a female. Try to think of life not as Nick Morrison, a nearly two hundred pound male in his prime, but as Savannah Morrison, as a one hundred pound, petite teenaged female.”
Nick’s lips formed an O and he nodded slowly. “Opens doors I’ve never had to deal with.”
“No. You’re an adult, for one. For two, you’re a male. You don’t have to be as conscious of even the place where you live. A female faces many more threats than a male. And a teenager who also happens to be attractive opens even more doors of possible danger.”
“And you believe her having a phone will help matters?”
“Yes. It’s not going to be the cure-al
l. But I think it will alleviate some of the problems.”
“She’s still got to use common sense.”
“Exactly, and she does. She managed, even through a pretty terrifying situation, to call me on the pay phone today. She should have kept me talking, but she couldn’t because she only had a couple of quarters, and both of them were necessary to make the call.”
Nick nodded and stared at some papers on his desk. Macy thought she finally got through to him. She hoped. He was a good parent, but also one who was in denial of his daughter’s coming of age. Savannah wasn’t a little girl now, and the problems she faced grew with her.
“I just hate the thought of anything bad happening to her.”
“Any parent does. But those parents who are most effective give their kids the tools they need to be safe.”
“What else should I get for her?” Nick sounded suspicious again.
“You need to buy her a phone. Give her a clear policy on its usage. But also she needs to know how boys think. What they might expect of her, and what you expect of her. Because those are two totally different expectations.”
“You’ve talked to her about the female problems...things, right?” He made a whirly motion with his hand.
Macy rolled her eyes, but she grinned. “Yes, we’ve talked about that. You need to let her know that you’ll come and get her no matter what the situation. We discount the power of peer pressure, but we shouldn’t.”
“You mean with teenaged drinking and the like?”
“Yes. She already feels like she doesn’t belong because she’s a teenager. Then you add that some “cool” kid is doing this, and pressures her to do it, she’s going to have a hard time backing down from that unless you’re very clear on what you expect her to do.”
“So we need to give her an out.”
“Yes. If she knows we’ll come get her, no matter what, and we won’t yell until we’ve calmed down – and that she can trust us to help her. It’s an excellent foundation.”
“I like how you think. I never would have thought to talk to her about calling us, even if she’s been drinking or is at a party we never gave her permission to go to.”
“Sometimes the kids involved don’t realize they’re heading to a party. The kids driving make that decision. But Savannah is smart and she’s responsible. If we give her the right foundation, even now, she’ll make the right choice.”
