by Lisa Glenn
We both jumped in the truck and quickly closed the door. Silence met us as the old man glared. His hair was all white; his face weathered with bushy eyebrows to match.
The man pulled out slowly, watching the road through the heavy downpour that seemed to have no intention of letting up. “What in all that is holy are you young’uns doing out in this storm? You lost or something?” He grumbled.
I didn’t know what to say, but José did.
“No, sir. We were catching butterflies when the storm caught us instead. We're sure glad you’re giving us a ride! My sister got scared," he hooked a thumb at me to drive the point home. “Oreo here was sure to drown, too!” He grinned wide, showing his crooked teeth. I exhaled slowly and slumped back into the seat. I reached for Oreo, who suddenly decided to speak up with a loud, “Bock!”
The old man guffawed, “Well, you sure wandered off a way from home. It’s about nine miles to Cheyenne. Is that where you two live?” he asked.
“Yes, sir.” I spoke for the first time. I was learning to lie. The heat from the truck was making me tired.
“Well, it’s going to take about thirty minutes to get there in this weather,” the man said. I leaned my head back and closed my eyes. I could hear the tiny splats of water dripping onto the floorboard of his truck.
"That's fine," I mumbled. Then amazingly, dozed off.
Chapter Seven
The Fight
When we reached the town of Cheyenne, the rain had all but stopped to a light drizzle. We thanked the old man after he let us off at the first stop sign. José told him we lived just around the corner. He waved and drove off, leaving us to wonder still where to get a map.
This town was much like the rest we had passed through; small, a tiny strip mall and about all of one traffic light. I spotted a gas station, and we headed in that direction, first needing to get out of our wet clothes. I could only hope what was in my bag stayed fairly dry. Looking at José's sad, ragtag pillow case, it was obviously drenched as he was. Maybe I had something not so girly I could loan him for now.
The gas station was small with only two rusty pumps and signs hand-scrawled in the window that looked faded and yellow, as if they hadn't been bothered with for years. The red sign flashing through the window glowed ‘open.’ I walked in and asked the toothless guy behind the counter if I could use his restroom. He handed me a key on a stick and pointed outside. I thanked him and walked back outside, taking José in tow while digging through my bag.
“I will be right back,” I told José.
The restroom was small, with just one toilet and a small sink stained a reddish brown. Water dripped continuously from the faucet, and I quickly changed into a pair of dry clothes. They were dirty, but a lot better than wet. I quickly did my business and washed up as well as I was able with no mirror. I took out a ten and a twenty-dollar bill for later and stuffed everything back into my pack. I met José out front.
I pulled out a shirt that had an AC/DC logo on it and handed it to him.
"Here, change into this. At least it's dry. I've got nothing you could use for pants, though," I finished a bit apologetically.
"No skirts?" José said grinning at me. I laughed a little... apparently, being wet did nothing to dampen his sense of humor.
"I do, but you'd be prettier than me then!"
"Nothing is prettier than you," he said, then turned quickly away heading to the restroom, but not before I saw his cheeks burning a scarlet red. I sighed, knowing he had a crush on me. Girls could always tell when a boy does. It's written all over their faces like it was in bright, neon paint. I sighed again, wondering if that would complicate matters in the future.
When he came out replenished in my shirt, I tugged at his arm lightly. “Come on, let’s find a map and maybe we can get some food.” I took Oreo out of his arms, and we went back inside the station. I asked the attendant if he had any maps. Without speaking, he pointed to a rack full of different maps.
I whispered to José, “Which one do we need?”
“Well, since we’re going to Florida, we better get the whole United States map,” he answered, nodding his head at his own, wise advice.
We both decided on a map showing all the detailed routes then went in search for something to eat. I found a bag of mixed nuts and fruit for Oreo, then grabbed some jerky and crackers and added a couple of candy bars and soda. José did the same, adding to our small pile of booty. I gulped my sprite while the attendant told me in a bored tone the total was seventeen dollars and fifty-four cents. I didn’t realize how much stuff costs, never purchasing my own food before in a convenience store. Momma always paid.
“Wow, dude! Where did you get that kind of money?” José asked me as we left. I looked at him and shrugged, and he only nodded, not repeating the question. If anything, my new friend knew the art of others discretion.
We found a perfect spot at a small Park in the center of town. A cement path led to some benches with trees adorning all sides giving us at least a bit of cover from the town's main road. Wild flowers grew in abundance around us, giving me a sudden sense of nostalgia from taking walks in the park with Mamie in the spring. We found a spot and sat down to eat, both of us ravenous as we tore into crackers, cheese and snicker bars, both of us making audible, yum sounds as we munched. I let Oreo roam on the ground and watched as he pecked at his treat.
“My momma left me some when she died,” I answered suddenly with a mouth full of chocolate. I loved chocolate. I couldn’t remember when the last time I had eaten any. Candy at my house was a rare treat.
“How much did she give ya?” he asked, looking at his candy bar and not me.
I eyed him suspiciously. “Why are you asking?” I wasn’t going to tell him...not yet anyways. “I don’t have much more.” I finished, perhaps a bit too quickly by the way his eyes sharpened as he started at me.
"I'm not gonna rip you off, Shelby," he said now, his voice reflecting some hurt. "I don't want your money, okay?"
I was about to apologize to him when goose bumps popped up on my arms. I shivered and glanced around. Two older boys and a girl around our age were watching us. José followed my stare and glanced over.
“They look like trouble to me, Shelby. Let’s go.”
“No, José, we aren’t bothering anyone. Besides, my feet hurt, and I like it here”. I wearily watched as the trio walked toward us. The girl was dressed in a pair of shorts that sparkled and a half shirt that showed her belly. The boys wore jeans with holes in the knees. They were cut on purpose, I observed... not like mine that were worn thin and in places all but tatters. The tall boy had shaggy black hair while the other was chubby with a short-cropped buzz-cut. I straightened up with half my body stiff. I watched Oreo from out of the corner of my eyes.
“What are you two doing in our park?” the tall boy asked, crossing his arms and looking down at me while the chubby one moved in closer to José.
“This isn’t your park; it’s a public park.” I told him, not showing any fear.
The girl moved in closer and snarled, “This is our park, and we don’t allow trash in it!”
José jumped up. “We aren't bothering anybody, leave us alone.”
The girl started to laugh hysterically. “Look, Jimmy, it’s a midget!”
Something in me blew like a volcano that over-heated. I didn’t think; I just attacked. Everything that had happened to me in the past few days that was always close to the edge exploded in rage as I grabbed the girl’s hair and yanked her down onto the ground and jumped on top, punching her in the face.
I heard her call out as if from long distance, “Stop!”
I didn’t stop. Swinging my arms back and forth, using my fists on her face, I kept hitting her. I felt myself being lifted, and suddenly I was flying through the fragrant air. I landed hard into the park bench. I heard a crack, and sharp pain raced through my side. I shook my head and started to get up.
“Stay down, dog!” The boy spit and stepped on my l
eft hand. He bent down and lifted my head up by my hair. His fist landed a solid blow to my left eye. Lights flashed behind my eyelids as my head exploded in murky stars. He let go of my hair, and I slumped to the ground.
I felt the pressure of his shoe leave my hand and then it connected with my stomach. I grunted. I couldn’t breathe. I heard one of them holler, then the sound of running feet echoed in my head. Bile rose up in my throat and gagged me. Pain, sharp and fierce pounded at my face.
José was on the ground, holding his nose. I stood up painfully while holding my side with my arm and went to help him up. Blood was pouring out of his nose. I needed to find something to stop the flow. He was bleeding all over my shirt now and was generally nothing but a mess. I went to grab my bag, but it was gone. I quickly scanned the area. Oh no! I fell on my knees, retching violently in the grass.
“José, they took my bag! All my money was in that bag! Everything I owned in my bag!” My mind exploded in panic. They could have the money, for all I care! All could think about now were my Mamie's things she had given to me that were in it.
I swung around and looked in the direction they had run. No sign of them anywhere. I couldn’t help the tears that ran down my face unbidden.
Everything I owned was gone. Every piece of me that even hinted at my existence and my Mamie's... gone. The necklace she had given me, the money; my clothes and the rest of our food. I would never be able to get on a bus now. All I had left was eight dollars in my pocket and the crumpled-up letter Mamie had written to me. I bent my head in shame. I had wet my pants. I sat back on my heels and cried harder.
All I could think about was what were we going to do now? I had nothing but the dirty and now smelly clothes I was wearing, my chicken, (who thank God was still here, pecking away as if nothing had happened) and a companion who had beaten up because I couldn't control my temper. I was embarrassed and utterly ashamed.
José sat down next to me. “Shelby,” he said softly through his plugged up, poor nose, “It’s going to be alright. Listen, I have an idea. Have you ever heard of the Salvation Army or Goodwill?”
I nodded my head, “My momma, I mean Mamie used to shop for us there.”
He wiped the last of the blood off his top lip. “Well, we can see if they have one here and if they'll help us. They help people, right? We could get some clothes and maybe get you a new bag. Come on, let’s go look.”
I shook my head, feeling pity for myself. “I can’t, José. It's not the bag...it's what was in the bag.” All I wanted to do was hide. My side throbbed something fierce. Pain shot through me every time I took a breath.
“Why not? They'll help us; I know they will!”
“I can’t!” I hollered, then felt instantly contrite and petty; just a little girl throwing a tantrum. I might as well have thrown myself on the ground and started kicking my feet in the air.
“I’m sorry,” I said, more subdued now but still crying, now in mortified embarrassment. “I can’t because, I... well...” I bent my head, my hair covering my face. “I wet myself, José.”
It was silent for a few minutes. I peeked at him through my layer of hair and saw he was sitting on his knees; anger etched onto his face.
At first, I thought he was mad at me until he said, “I should have fought them harder, Shelby. I’m sorry. I wasn’t much help.”
“There were three of them, José!” I exclaimed angrily. God help him if he had fought back harder. They probably would be talking about a hospital instead of the Salvation Army.
José nodded his head. “Yea, maybe... come on, let’s find a place for you to hide until I can find you some clothes. Don’t worry... I won’t say anything.” With that, he suddenly leaned over and pecked my cheek, his face glowing more than it had when he called me pretty and then dashed off to search for a quick place for me to hide.
****
Later, I sat huddled in some bushes just outside the park. I could hear other people walking by, but no one could see me. José had once again delivered on his promise. I had to smile a little. If anything, and despite his size, he was fiercely protective of me.
My eyes teared up a little, wondering what I had done to earn such loyalty from such a gentle soul. I waited for José to get back, and I could smell my urine strongly as it wafted up, making me crinkle my nose. It was difficult to breath, and my left eye was swelled almost shut.
I lay down on the soft mound of grass; so tired now. I was so tired. My eyelids were heavy, and my eyes felt gritty. I soon became oblivious to the pain in my side and drifted off to a troublesome sleep.
****
Jack stood at the end of the bed.
“Wake up, missy girl! It’s time to play with Daddy!”
“No!” the girl cried from under the blanket. “I don’t wanna play tonight. I’m tired!”
“Shush now! We don’t want to wake up your momma, do we? We both know how sick she is. Don't be a selfish little brat.”
“No!”
"It'll be fun! We'll play, 'I touch, you touch'. Ready, Shelby? Shelby?
Shelby!
“Shelby! Shelby? Shelby!”
“What?” I mumbled at José. I sat up disoriented, the pain coming back immediately.
“Hey, I found you some clothes.” He handed me a brown sack, which I eagerly grabbed. I dug in and pulled out a pair of faded jeans and a blue t-shirt.
“Wow, thanks!”
“I spotted those kids across from the Goodwill store where I snagged these. We need to get out of here. Let’s get to the next town and then find some more clothes and stuff. I don’t want those kids coming back.”
"No."
José looked at me and blinked. "No?"
"No. Not without my bag."
“Shelby, it’s just money. We can find more." José said cautiously.
"It's not about the money," I stated firmly. "There's more in there that's a thousand times more valuable to me. Money won't replace it!"
"Okay, okay!" José said, seeing he obviously wasn't going to win this argument. "Well, we need a plan."
"Plan or no plan, I'm getting my bag back," I said with a growl.
José shrugged and shook his head. "Okay, c'mon then. I swear, either you're really brave or a bit of a nut."
We found them just where José said they would be, hanging out in front of the closed store. I saw my bag at the girl's feet as they talked, her still nursing her wounds from the beating I had administered to her.
"Okay," I whispered. "As soon as they start to leave, we'll…"
That was as far as I got before my eyes widened seeing José slinking through the bushes towards them.
“José!" I whispered harshly after him.
If he heard me, he completely ignored me. Stunned, I saw him creeping up to a town patrol car parked about a block away. The cops inside were dozing, apparently bored with another night in their tiny town and catching up on rest.
José picked up a good size stone and aiming like a pro ball-player, winged it as hard as he could, smashing it into the cop’s car rear window and cracking the glass. The two cops inside jumped, startled, as the teenagers looked on with mouths gaping open and scanning the area to see where it came from.
"Hey! You three, stay right where you are!" One of the cops bawled. The teens did as they were told, paralyzed with fear. I could see and hear everything as the cops walked briskly towards them.
"Let's see those hands up! Now!" The cops now had their hands on their side arms. Obediently, six hands shot in the air as if on marionette strings.
"Who threw it?" The larger cop barked at them.
"None of us did... sir!" tall-boy gulped. "I swear!"
The smaller of the cops, (who, by definition was really not small at all) was studying the girl closely.
"What happened to you?"
"She fell," came the immediate response from crew-cut boy.
The cop whirled in his direction. "I didn't ask you... did I, pudgy?"
"No sir!" he squea
ked.
"Well, lookie here, Sam," The larger cop said, holding up the hands of tall-boy, "bruised and bloody."
Officer Sam inspected the hands of crew-cut boy now. "Same here, good buddy."
He pulled the teen roughly around and got out his cuffs while the other did the same with his own suspect.
He looked hard enough into the eyes of the teen to make him shake. "I guess they like hitting on girls... what say you, Mike?"
"Looks so to me," Mike drawled, nodding darkly.
The girl spoke up. "They didn't do it! I swear! We saw some other kids in the park and we---"
"Shut up!" tall-boy hissed at her.
She shut her mouth immediately as Sam the cop consoled the girl gently. "It's okay, honey. You don't have to be afraid. We'll get you someone to talk to."
All the while, José had snuck around one of the few, parked cars near them and was now reaching for my bag.
"There he is!" crew-cut boy suddenly cried out, spotting him. "There's the kid who threw the rock!"
The cop spun around while my breath caught in my throat like a snare. Almost magically, José shrunk himself even smaller and made himself disappear behind the rear tire of the car.
"Nice try, kid... get in!"
Now both handcuffed, the teens were stuffed in the back of the patrol car while the girl was placed in front. As crew-cut and tall-boy turned to look out the window, they saw José swinging my backpack on himself, then turning around...he flipped them both off with his middle fingers, a huge grin on his face.
I could see their mouths first drop open, and then shouting obscenities only they could hear, and I finally couldn't help myself. I rolled back as tears of hysterical laughter burst out of me, making my side ache even more but I could care less.
José was back within a minute. "Here ya go! Merry Christmas from Santa José!"
He smiled widely and plopped my bag down beside me, and I couldn't help myself. I jumped up and grabbed him up in a huge hug, lifting him off his feet. José made an Ooof! sound as his breath was all but squeezed out of him.
"Thank you!" was all I could say.
