by Sophia Rey
After sitting down to dinner, Dad asked how things were at Gardens. “Actually,” Marta replied, with a look at her husband, “I’m not working there anymore.”
“Really? What happened?”
“Well, there was this boy – Andrew was his name – sweet kid, but easily led. He stole my key fob and escaped the facility with another boy. I don’t blame him; I think he was desperate and being threatened by the other boy. But, you know how it goes. There’s no forgiveness for the BHT.” Ediberto grabbed her hand and held on to it. She gave him a smile and told us, “It’s okay, though. I have a few leads on jobs and it shouldn’t be very long before I find something. I just hope I can make a difference somewhere.”
Dad told her he’d be happy to act as a reference. And maybe she’d like to do the same for him, he asked.
“Oh, are you not going to return to Gardens when you’re back to normal?”
“No, it’s too stressful. And too dangerous. I’ve been looking online at possibilities in law enforcement. I don’t think I’ll ever be able to run and chase down bad guys again…” he gave a wink to Mom, “but I can help in other ways. There are a couple of things I’m looking at, like a detention officer – you know, the kind that transfer prisoners from one place to another – and the online trafficking agency. I think Donna would be happier if I were behind a desk with no actual contact with the bad guys.” Everybody laughed.
Marta changed subjects, asking Dad, “What else have you been doing?”
“I’ve been taking some low impact fitness classes for people who are trying to get back into shape. It helps move the physical therapy forward a lot faster. And I need to be walking really well by next week.”
Ediberto spoke up. “What happens next week?”
“Only the most important event of the year. Emily graduates.” Everyone turned to look at me and congratulate me. It was nice to be the center of attention for a moment, but I was glad when it was over.
“I’m just glad you’re getting back to normal. We were all so worried about you,” Marta said.
“Well, normal for Greg,” joked Mom.
Marta and Ediberto left by eight so that Dad could get to bed. His body may have been recovering, but it still required a lot of sleep. Still, I was happy to see Dad back to having fun and just being the happy person I remembered from before our lives changed two years ago.
************
The day of Graduation dawned early and hot. May was normally warm, but today was expected to be over 100° by noon and nearly 110° by the time we were expected to be at the school football stadium, dressed in cap and gown. Carol and I helped each other get ready – I helped her choose clothes that were allowed by the school, and she helped me with my make–up. Kai and Maurine bounced around until after breakfast and then headed to school, which made us all breathe a sigh of relief. The excitement of one eleven year–old was enough. Two was impossible! It was Carol and Maurine’s last week with us, as well as the last week of school. I was grateful that today was Senior Ditch Day because I was too nervous and excited to sit through any classes today.
Carol and I had the day alone, since Dad had physical therapy and Mom had school, so we decided to spend the day talking about our plans for the future and dreaming of possibilities while we made brownies for the family. “I’ve spent two months working on this recipe,” Carol told me as she measured chocolate chips into a bowl. “I think I’ve finally hit upon the world’s perfect brownie. I sure hope your dad likes them. He’s been so nice to us. He and your uncle are the first two men I’ve ever met who haven’t tried anything on me or Maurine, or creeped me out at all. You’re really lucky, Em.”
I paused my stirring and told her, “You know, there’s a lot to be said for having a good dad…even adopted. Have you thought about Uncle Tim and Aunt Tarin’s offer at all? It sure would be nice to have you for a cousin. I’ve gotten kinda used to you the last couple of months.”
Carol stopped what she was doing and became really serious. “Em, I need to apologize to you. I’m sorry I’ve been so rude to you and your family. You and your family have been nothing but good to me and my sister. You gave us a place to stay when nobody else cared. Your mom and dad have been more parents than my own mom ever was.” I was stunned into silence. “It freaked me out when your uncle and aunt offered to adopt me. You know I’m not good with authority as a general rule. But the last few weeks I’ve been really thinking about things. I didn’t have anyone to teach me proper choices, and I know I messed things up trying to fix things for me and Maurine. But I’m going to try and act like a fairly normal 17 year–old while I can. I want to set a better example for Maurine and baby Dahlia. I want to be a good sister…and a good cousin to you and Kai.” The last part she spoke with some hesitation. “Do you think Tim and Carol will want me if I change my mind?”
A smile crawled across my face and I gave Carol a big hug. “Of course they want you! And your sisters are going to need you around. I’m so glad you want to change your mind about becoming my cousin!” We both went back to our tasks. I confided, “You know, I know it’s been a hard for you. You and Maurine were given a rough ride. But I’ve seen you do everything in your power to protect your sister. You should be proud of that. You’ve been more of a mom to Maurine than your own mother. I’m just glad that now you can go back to being only a sister.”
We got the brownies in the oven and sat down to wait while they cooked. Licking the last part of the batter off the spoon in my hand, I asked Carol, “So, what are your plans for the summer and fall then?”
“Well, the principal was really nice to let me walk with the graduating class today, but I still need to make up some of my lost credits during summer. I’ll be working on that and keeping up with my job and spending as much time with my sisters as I can. Then come fall semester, I can enter the culinary program at MCC. I’d really like to get into Le Cordon Bleu and become a chef. I never thought that would be possible for me, but now I can see possibilities for the future I never knew existed. It’s really amazing to actually have a future! What about you, Em? What are your plans?”
“I’m headed to Prescott for that conference in a couple of weeks. This liaison thing with the police department is right up my alley. I’m super excited about it. And I’m taking a couple of summer classes at CGCC to get a head start on the fall. I should be able to transfer into a detective program. I’ve decided to learn as much as I can about trafficking so I can help save as many girls from men like Mason and women like Mamma Laura as I can. I feel like I can make a difference.”
“I’m sure you will, Em. After all, you made a world of difference in not only my life, but the lives of my two sisters. I bet you’re going to be amazing.”
I didn’t know if I would be amazing, but right then I felt amazing. When I had first met Carol, she had been my enemy. Then she became something more like my burden. Then she morphed into my friend. And now she was going to be my cousin.
CHAPTER 44
SITTING IN THE CHAIRS at the stadium, watching my family – Dad, Mom, Kai, Maurine, and Uncle Tim, Aunt Tarin, and baby Dahlia – walk in to take their seats in the handicapped section (probably the only perk about Dad’s lack of proper mobility) I thought about the last two years. Moving cities, losing my best friend (Junie never did text me back), finding some friends at school through color guard, meeting Mason, meeting Carol, distancing myself from friends and family, losing myself in Mason and that relationship.
Was I sad? No…I was more angry with Mason than sad. When I thought about it, there were definitely a lot more downs than ups in my relationship with Mason. Who needs a relationship that? It’s totally not worth it. It was time to leave the past buried with that GI Joe doll in our backyard and look forward with what the commencement speaker was calling “a spark of intelligence, a flash of wisdom, and a flash of inspiration mingled with the brightness of hope in the future.”
I determined to play a mental game with myself as I walke
d across the stage. I could think about the past only until the tassel was switched to the other side of the mortarboard. Once the tassel was switched, I could no longer think about the past, but only think about the future. Ten steps, twenty steps, grab the diploma, shake the hand of the principal, one step, switch the tassel, breathe deep and smile at family, forty steps to the end of the stage and then back to my seat. I felt wonderful. And I felt free.
I waited for Carol’s name to be called, and when they announced “Carol Myers” I whooped and clapped for her. The smile on her face was as large as the crescent moon as she held up her diploma for everyone to see. I could see a tear slide down her cheek and I hoped that she was finding this moment as freeing as I had.
The rest of the graduation ceremony may have been good, but it was so hot that none of us listened. When the final word was said, we threw our mortarboards high in the air and let out a cry. Then we raced to find our families for pictures so we could escape the heat of the rented robes.
On our way to meet our family, we were intercepted by none other than Detective Isaaks. “Hey there, Emily! You didn’t think I’d miss the graduation of one of our best teen helpers, did you?” His smile was mesmerizing, as usual.
I smiled back. “Thanks so much, Detective Isaaks. I can’t believe you came!” A nudge in my ribs reminded me. “You remember Carol, don’t you?”
“Of course.” He stuck out his hand. “Congratulations. Quite an accomplishment. Listen girls, I have someone I want you to meet, too.” His left hand pulled a petite woman with wild curly black hair close to him. “This is my girlfriend, Lana. Lana, this is the girl I was telling you about. My favorite teen helper at the department.”
Carol spoke for me when I didn’t say anything. “So nice to meet you, Lana. Em and I were wondering what kind of woman would snatch up Detective Isaaks.”
Lana smiled and said something cute and funny and perfect. Detective Isaaks leaned toward me so I could hear him over the group of boys who were loudly singing some kind o school song quite off–key. “I thought you’d like be the first to know. We arrested Mason and Grant. We’ve got them on human trafficking, and for attempted murder, now that your dad is well enough to testify. He told us that he remembered them being there with the two boys from the rehab center. Along with the note, that’s going to give us enough evidence to put them away for a long time. Thanks for being so helpful, Em. You’re the greatest!” He shook my hand one more time, congratulating me on graduating and reminding me that he’d be waiting for the conference; then they walked away, arm in arm.
Carol asked me, “You okay, Em?”
I nodded. I knew that I’d exaggerated how Detective Isaaks felt about me. I had hoped that he’d find me attractive, and maybe have a thing for me. Hearing him say things like, “She’s an asset to the Mesquite Police Department” only added fuel to the fire of my crush. But I knew deep down that he was just being nice and watching out for me. I congratulated myself. Sure, I was disappointed that Detective Isaaks wasn’t interested in me like I hoped, but I didn’t fall apart. I said to myself, Wow, Em. Mason’s really going to prison. You dodged a bullet there. And so what about Detective Isaak’s perfect girlfriend. He isn’t the only guy out there. You’ve got a lot going for you. You graduated from high school. You’re going to work with the police department as the student liaison for the suicide prevention group. You have a great family, even Kai. You even have three new cousins. Life is pretty good.
Carol and I met the family and took some pictures in our robes. Carol took baby Dahlia and snuggled her while I received all the hugs the grown–ups wanted to shower on me.
Mom asked us if we were going to head out to some of the graduation parties. Carol and I looked at each other. “If you don’t mind, Mom, we talked about it and we’d really like to spend tonight with all of you. Maybe we could all go out for pizza or something. Reinstate Friday Night Family Fun Feast…on a Wednesday.”
Dad smiled. “We can definitely do that. But I’m warning you, it’s been a pretty perfect day, and I don’t know if even pizza could make it any better.”
READING GROUP DISCUSSION GUIDE
Use these questions as a starting point for discussion.
How are Emily and Carol’s lives different? How are they the same?
Why do you think the author used the name Emily for her main character?
Why do you think the author used a girl with Aspergers as her main character?
How many types of Human Trafficking were represented in the book and what were they?
Were Emily’s parents too strict with their rules about social media? Why or why not?
How can you keep yourself safe online? Do you have to avoid all social media like Em’s family?
Is it possible to share something online (name, details, photos) that stays private? Is it possible to delete all your information once posted? (No, it is not possible to completely delete yourself from the internet; once posted, something will always be available in one form or another.)
Is there someone like The Toad in your life?
Do you think Carol’s being a sugar baby set her up to be trafficked by Mama Laura?
What do you think Mama Laura looked like?
Is your life more like Emily’s, more like Carol’s or Maurine’s?
Assuming Mason’s goal was to eventually use Emily to make money, what was his main means of getting her to depend on him?
How do you think this story would have ended differently if
Emily hadn’t had Aspergers?
Emily and Mason hadn’t gotten into the accident?
Emily’s parents had been less involved?
Why do you think the author put the story about the sink hole in the book? What other examples of symbolism can you think of from the story?
Do you think Maurine would have been trafficked if she stayed at Mama Laura’s?
Do you think the boy who met Carol and Maurine at the bus stop was being trafficked?
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Sophia Rey has a Masters in Professional Counseling and a passion for helping those who can’t help themselves. Human trafficking, especially sex trafficking, is a cause very close to her heart. Though a work of fiction, Trafficked is a compilation of many years of interviews and work with both teens and adults who have been vulnerable to trafficking or have been trafficked. She has worked in a rehab facility, a mental health clinic, and a crisis pregnancy center. In the course of writing this book she even visited the home of a sex trafficker.
Ms. Rey lives in Gilbert, Arizona.
Ms. Rey is available for speaking engagements. For information regarding speaking engagements or to contact the author, please email through Jollington Press at [email protected].
