Maternal Absence

by Jamie Ott

  “You look nervous. Are you sure you want to do this?” asked Linda.

  “Heck, yes!”

  The women’s clinic was an old grey building in a rundown neighborhood. They pressed the button on the heavily bolted door, and out came a little voice.

  “Please, state your purpose.”

  “I have an appointment,” said Molly.

  There was a buzzing noise and the door opened.

  They walked up to a thick bullet proof glass window with a circular metal grill.

  “Why are you here today?” asked the woman on the other side.

  “I need to get an abortion pill.”

  “Fill this out,” she said and slid a clipboard through the window. “And what about you two?”

  “We’re here for our friend,” Linda replied.

  The woman made them wait in the front lobby while Molly was taken inside to another waiting room. About two hours later, she came back out looking strangely happy with a brown bag in her hand. She sighed and looked mighty relieved, and it was at that moment Piper knew she was making the right decision.

  Down the street, they stopped at a local drugstore and picked up some other necessities. When they made it to Pipers place, they put on the television and watched movies and hung out for the rest of the afternoon. It wasn’t until the next day when Molly had taken the other pills, as instructed by her doctor, that she started to feel real pain.

  Linda went on to school that morning while Piper stayed with Molly. Although she sat moaning for a few hours, it was pretty much over by early evening. Linda stopped by for a few hours after school, but Molly was only interested in sleeping on the couch. Then, it was almost 9 pm when it all begun.

  Piper just got out of the shower and was in her pajamas when her cell phone rang. A strange number appeared; it was a local number but she didn’t recognize it. Too tired to care, she let it go to voicemail, but then it rang three times, more, in a row.

  She turned her phone off and went to bed. But right as she pulled the covers over her, the apartment phone rang. It was at this time that Piper got nervous.

  After the third callback, Piper walked into the living room. Molly sat up, looking terrified.

  “Whoever it is, they called my cell phone, a few moments ago. You don’t think Linda told your parents where you are, do you?”

  “No, I hope not.”

  “Did you tell anyone else about your coming here?”

  “No, I swear!”

  The line phone rang again. Piper walked up and pushed the little button on the hand set, setting it on silent for the evening.

  “Well, just go to sleep. We’ll worry about it in the morning.”

  But just then, Molly’s cell phone rang.

  “What was that? I thought your phone was turned off.”

  “It was!” she shrieked. “It’s my mother! She must have turned it back on just to talk to me!”

  “Molly, I think they know you’re here, which means they may be coming for you.”

  Molly looked really scared and said, “I know but let me just stay here tonight. Tomorrow, I’ll go to my cousin’s house and I’ll call my mother from there.”

  Although Piper sort of wished she’d leave more immediately, she figured it would be better for her to remain. Besides, she couldn’t very well toss her out on the streets, as she was still in a delicate state.

  For the third time, she crawled into bed and this time fell asleep. Unfortunately, it didn’t last too long because a loud knocking came at the door. She sat up and found Molly sitting at the end of her bed with eyes widened in terror.

  “Someone is at the door!” she said in a loud whisper.

  Then the knocking became fierce.

  BAM BAM BAM!

  “Oh my god,” she mouthed.

  Then, CRASH.

  Both, Molly and Piper jumped and screamed.

  A bright white light shined through the apartment living room, moving all over the floor and walls in a circle motion. Then a man in black faced the door of the room, pointing the light into their faces.

  Back Home

  Chapter 17

  Piper and Molly flinched and covered their eyes as the officer shined the light into their faces. The officer reached for the wall and turned up the little switch, and then turned off his flash light. Molly and Linda just sat there, frozen, not saying anything.

  “Molly?” asked the man.

  They just stared.

  “Get your things, get dressed. I’ll wait for you both out here.”

  He walked out, shutting the door.

  “Did he say both of us?”

  “Yeah, I hope I didn’t get you in trouble.”

  They got dressed, and Molly re packed her bag.

  “Well, at least my problem is taken care of, and my mother can’t stop me, now,” she said as they walked into the living room. “Thank you.” She leaned over and gave her a hug.

  “Okay, I’m officer Williams. Molly if you will go with Officer Bea, she will take you home.”

  Molly walked toward the woman officer standing in the door way, and they disappeared down the hall.

  “Piper? Is that you?”

  “Yes.”

  “Why didn’t you answer the door?”

  “We were scared.”

  “Do you have identification?”

  Piper went and got her wallet. Then he told her to get her keys and anything else she would need because he needed to take her down to the station.

  “Am I being arrested?”

  “Yes.”

  “They’re pressing charges,” she said in a higher pitched voice.

  “No, although Molly’s mother wanted to. We weren’t able to find any grounds, but there is an outstanding warrant for you. If you’ll please turn around and place your hands on the back of your neck, I’ll read you your rights.”

  Before she knew it, she was being cuffed, crying and cold and walked down to the police car. She knew that this was it. She’d finally been caught and was going to pay for her crime. Not for helping Molly but for being a thief, and everyone was going to know what a phony she was. Her life was now over.

  Forty five minutes later, after the cop made several stops, they finally arrived at the station. The policeman escorted piper in and sat her down near a desk and then walked off, leaving her alone for a bit. Nearly half an hour later, a chubby woman in a horribly stained suit came over.

  “Piper?”

  “Yes?”

  “Hi, I’m going to be your social worker. My name is Missy and if you could come over this way.” She led her to her office and gestured that she sit.

  “Is there any chance these can come off? My arms are starting to ache.”

  “I’m afraid not yet. I’ve had people lose it in here before. We’ll just get you through this real quick and then you’ll be escorted to the waiting area where you’ll be un-cuffed. So are you aware that you’re wanted in Pittsburgh.”

  “No,” she lied, trying to look innocent. She read that it was best not to admit to anything unless advised by a lawyer.

  “Your mother is looking for you. You’re a missing person. Have you been in New York this entire time?”

  Piper’s jaw dropped. She thought for sure she was being arrested for theft. When she got her senses back, she said, “My mother abandoned me. I lived on the street for over a month, pan handling, sleeping under dumpsters and starved nearly to death. I’m, now, a legal emancipated adult.”

  “Well, not according to Pennsylvania.”

  “Here’s my lawyer’s number,” she said, pulling out one of the spare cards she kept on hand. “Call him and get this straightened out. I did everything the legal way.”

  “How did you get out here?”

  She knew the woman was really asking who’s been helping her, but she played dumb and said, “I took the train.”

  Finally, the woman sighed and said, “Well, alright. I got some paperwork to fill out on you. I’ll call your lawyer but
I’m afraid you’ll remain in custody a few days, until the state of Pennsylvania releases your warrant.”

  “But I’ve got so many things to do, and school!” she shouted.

  “I’m sorry. You may go and sit in the waiting room.”

  Piper fell asleep on a row of chairs and was awakened by the social worker several hours later.

  “I have instructions to drive you to Pittsburgh but I’m off duty, so I’m gonna send you with an officer.”

  “But you can’t send me away! I need to get home, I have things to do. Did you call my lawyer?”

  Missy rolled her eyes and told her to have her lawyer call the offices in Pittsburgh.

  Later on in the car, Piper tried to sit in silence as Officer James made polite conversation. At 9 am, they pulled up to a huge lot of land, on which sat several government buildings. After putting in a call to find out which one to take Piper to, the officer walked her inside, and waited with her for some fifteen minutes. Then a woman came down to get Piper and Officer James left. When she realized he was leaving, without her, to go back to New York, Piper’s heart skipped a beat. She wanted to cry.

  The woman sat her down in an office. Her name was Kim.

  “Hi, Piper.”

  “Hi,” she replied glumly.

  “So you’re a runaway.”

  “I’m not a runaway! I’m an emancipated minor, and you have no right to keep me!”

  “That’s not what it says here.”

  She reached into her pocket, again, and pulled out her wallet. After showing her identification, she gave her her lawyer’s business card.

  “I want out of here, immediately.”

  “Well, it’s gonna take some time. I’ll need to get paperwork from your lawyer. In the meantime, you’re gonna have to be patient.”

  Kim dismissed her. She waiting in the lobby until a lady came and got her. She led Piper to a room in a building at the back of the lot.

  After informing her that every resident was placed on seventy two hours of lockdown security, she left her alone in a room. That was okay, though, Piper didn’t feel like socializing.

  She lay on her bed and read.

  ~~~

  Three days later, Piper finally got a call from her attorney’s assistant, who promised to get her released by the end of the week. Piper cried into the phone, begging her to make it happen faster. “Piper, I’m sorry but he’s really busy, and there’s only so much that I can do. This is just how the system works: slowly. But it’s not that bad, I mean, you could be sleeping on the streets again.”

  But true to her word, they called her to the front building, that Friday, and Kim sat her down in her office and told her they’d be releasing her that very day.

  “However, I’ve been asked to hold you until morning. I’m willing to let you leave but only if you promise to return tomorrow.”

  “What for?”

  Kim looked at her a moment, as if she were the most awful person in the world.

  “Your mother is looking for you. What kind of mean child are you?”

  “Kim, don’t talk about things you know nothing about. My mother takes joy in physically and mentally abusing me. She’s done unspeakable things, so how dare you judge me! I slept on the streets for over a month and nearly starved to death because she abandoned me, so to hell with you. I don’t care what you think of me.”

  Check Out

  Chapter 18

  After checking out of the dreary home, Piper having promised that she would return the following day, she took a cab to the nearest hotel. Only having the clothes she arrived in, Piper went to the mall and killed time that day by shopping.

  She wandered through the mall while barely containing anger. How dare they apprehend her, and interrupt her life. And so what about her mother, she really didn’t care to see her.

  So why am I still here?

  Piper stopped for a burger and a coffee, over which she reminisced about her life in Pittsburgh. And as she did that, she got ill. The idea of returning to her old life was scary. No matter what, she had to make sure that the meeting was just that, a meeting and nothing more. There was no way she’d return to her mother.

  And what about the money?

  She’d want to know what she was living on, but there was no way she’d even hint at having her own money. She knew how mom was; she’d pressure her for every cent until there was nothing left. Knowing her mother, it would be gone in less than a month. Then Piper would be stuck in the same situation as before. No, it must remain a secret.

  One thing she needed to keep telling herself was that her mother was not on her side, she was not her friend, and didn’t care for welfare. If she kept reminding herself of these things, she’d be fine.

  How would her mom react, though? When she saw her, last, she was this pathetic, frightened thing. Now, she was a woman and accomplished to be sure, and as it turned out, she was somewhat attractive, too. Knowing her mother, she’d be disappointed. Piper always got the sense that she enjoyed knowing that she was half a person, just one step better than a rat rummaging through garbage.

  Then she wondered about Molly. She wanted to call her but her cell phone battery was nearly dead. She hoped Linda and Molly weren’t worried. And what about Anna? What if her parents were angry at her and kicked her out? She loved that apartment.

  Maybe her life was already over and she didn’t know it.

  The last six months had been the best time of her life. She liked the person she’d become, and the worst that could happen would be for things to go back to the way they were. Just the thought made tears cloud her eyes.

  Yet she stayed right where she was, rather than run off. She’d meet her mother, because the last thing she wanted was Kim not to release her warrant. But if she had to, she swore to herself she’d run again.

  Looking at the clock and seeing that it was almost 5 pm, she picked up dinner and went back to the hotel.

  ~~~

  The next morning, she lay in bed and wondered what she’d say to her mom. Would she have many questions for her? Surely, she’d want to know what she’d been doing all the months.

  Well, I’ll simply say it’s none of your business.

  She stared at the ceiling and imagined the look on her face when she told her that. But it was necessary, for the last thing she wanted was for her mom to try to interfere with her life.

  She got up and went downstairs for breakfast. When she returned, the red light flashed on the phone. She picked it up and listened to the message: it was from the woman at the orphanage.

  “Hello, this is Kim. I’m sorry but I got a call from your mother, and she’s not gonna make it. She has no way to get here. You’re free to go back to New York. Thank you.”

  Piper sighed with relief, and then jumped up and down on the bed, ecstatic.

  She packed her stuff and went back to the city.

  Back at School

  Chapter 19

  Monday morning at school, Piper walked up to meet Linda and Anna, who were standing in the front hall, talking.

  They screamed and embraced her.

  “What happened to you?” asked Linda.

  “Mom’s been worried, sick!” said Anna.

  Piper explained everything from that night on: how the phones started ringing, how the cops showed up and then forced her to go back to Pittsburgh, and how when she’d gotten back, she just didn’t feel like talking. She told them everything, except the bit about the stolen money.

  “Wow,” said Linda. “You never told me how bad things were at home, for you.”

  “When I got home, I was surprised to find my key still worked. I thought for sure your parents would have kicked me out.”

  “No, they understood where you were coming from, especially when they heard it was Mike, again. How do you think I got over being pregnant?”

  “Tell them I said sorry for not checking in.” Then she looked at Linda and asked, “What happened to Molly?”

  “
That’s the sad part, and it’s my fault. Her mom came over and demanded to know where she was. If you’ve seen her when she’s mad, you know she can be scary. She threatened to call the police on me and my mom. I caved and told her where you live. I’m sorry, but I figured it’s too late, anyway, because Molly got her pills. Anyway, she flipped out and sent her away to some boarding school, the very next day. I got a couple emails from her, though, and she’s doing alright.”

  It took a couple days for Piper to feel at home again. The police forcing her to leave New York showed her how delicate her situation was, and how she could lose it in the blink of an eye. Unfortunately, her ordeal wasn’t over, as that Friday, she got a call from her mother. She couldn’t have been more annoyed or angry.

  “Well, hello.”

  She sounded grouchy as usual. Piper was silent, at first.

  “I supposed you don’t want to speak to me, then.”

  “I don’t know. How did you get this number?”

  “From your social worker, Kim,” she answered, sounding incensed. “I came all this way to see you and this is the treatment I get?”

  “You’re here, in town? Where?”

  “In a fucking hotel!” she shouted.

  “Don’t talk to me like that! You’re not allowed to scream at me, anymore!”

  Her mother fell silent.

  “Look, I’m gonna be in town for two more days. If you want to see me, then give me a call.”

  Then she hung up without a goodbye.

  It was typical belligerent behavior from her. There really was something wrong with her. Never had she ever met anyone who acted like her. It was all so confusing. Mom was angry all the time and there was nothing to do about it.

  Finally, Piper picked up her cell phone and called the number her mother’s voice came from. When a hotel clerk picked up, she asked for her room.

  “Hi, mom, I’ll meet you.”

  “Okay, where?”

  “At your hotel, tomorrow.”

  That evening and the following day, Piper was all nerves. She was anxious to see her mother but not because she missed her or cared, but because she had to know what happened to her the day she disappeared. Why did she leave her the way she did?

  But mostly, she was all nerves because she was gearing up to fight. She knew that her mother would try to push her, and there was no way she was going to allow it anymore.

  Her friends noticed the change in her, over lunch.

  “Want us to come with you?” Anna asked.