in
January 30th, 2005
Chapter 16
His Secret Past
"But....but Sarah Hannah Velisunssa is.... is dead!" I stammered. I
felt weak, and clunched the chair tightly.
"What are you talking about?" Uncle James asked.
Dad shook his head. "And how do you know anything about the
Velisunssas, anyway?"
"I went to her house...." I began counting on my fingers, but
couldn't remember anything. "It was when I ran away. Sarah Hannah had died at
eight or nine..... not nineteen."
Aunt Molly's mouth formed a "O", but she didn't say anything. She
seemed shock.
"Honey, you probably saw that name in the newspaper," Uncle Harley,
soothed.
"No, I didn't. She wanted Helen and I to stay the night. I told Aunt
Molly about it." I pointed at Aunt Molly.
She began shaking her head. "I didn't realize you said Velisunnsa. If
I'd known...."
"Yup! Red told me the story, too. And she said that Carla Velisunssa
had try to get Red, herself, and Helen to stay with her. Said something
about Carla Velisunssa saying that Red was her daughter."
Dad buried his face in his hand, and groaned. "Why didn't you tell me,
Red?"
"You didn't ask," I retorted.
"And they did, right?" He nodded at Aunt Molly and Rochell.
"Yes, sir."
Dad groaned again, but looked up at the ceiling this time.
"Yer sins finds ya out," Grandma laughed lightly, tapping Dad's
shouder. But no one else laughed with her.
"So how you figured out that Sarah Hannah was dead?" Uncle James
asked.
"That's what she told me. She said that Sarah Hannah wouldn't wake
up."
Uncle Harley shook his head sadly. "She had the looks, but Carla sho'
do need to be in an instution. I can't believe you were there.... at
her house. She got a big house, eh?"
I just nodded. I was too confused.
"How do y'all know Carla?" I asked. "She said she wasn't from South
Carolina. Actually, she said she was from West Virgina with her husband,
Neil."
"She said she was married to Neil? Neil Johnson? HA!" Uncle Harley
and Uncle James burst into laughter. Dad even had a small smile of
laughter of his lips.
"No, Neil Velissunsa. They moved down here when Carla found out she
was pregneat with Sarah Hannah..... they didn't want Neil's parents to
find out."
This time, Dad laughed with Uncle Harley and Uncle James. Aunt Molly
and my other aunts joined them.
"What's so funny about that?" I asked.
"Honey," Aunt Sally said, touching my arm, "Carla is nothing but
lies. That's all she told you. Sarah Hannah isn't dead, as you can see.
What she is is your..... well, I'll let your dad explain that."
"Explain what?"
She looked at Dad, and he nodded, his head down. "She's your big
sister. Half sister."
"Why didn't you tell me before?!" I screamed. "You lied to me.
You..you said that Suzie and I were your only princesses."
"I didn't say only," Dad mumbled.
"Well you sure didn't say you had anymore."
"So?"
I covered my face in frustration. It didn't seem real. I had another
sister. What about Neil? Sarah Hannah was his daughter.
"Why am I always finding things out about my family on my own? Why
can't you ever be the father that you're supose to be? Don't you even
try?"
"Look, she never knew that I am her father... and she'll never know.
Hopefully."
"I hope she doesn't find out. I mean, a father who would lie to me
for years? I'd rather live on my own."
"Really, huh? Maybe I should send you to your grandmother's house. Or
maybe someone can adopt you. Would you like that?"
"Yes and no. I really would like to be loved by my own real family.
My own real daddy. I can't pretend that you're not my dad.... or maybe
you ain't. Who knows? Whoever do will surely tell me last. I'm always
the last to find something out."
"Red, you know I'm your Dad. You know it. Now just shut-up and wait
for her to come out."
We were in the hospital waiting room, alone, now. Everyone had left
after I had found out about my half sister. Suzie had gone home with
Aunt Molly. My perfectly good day, rather night, was ruined.
"Why do you want me to shut-up? You afraid if I ask another question,
one of your stupid lies would be found out? Or is it you're ashamed?
Ashamed that you-"
"Um, excuse me, but are you Wayne Harris?" There stood in front of us
was Sarah Hannah. She looked the same, just with softer and friendlier
features.
Dad cleared his throat. "Yeah. We're gonna, uh, take you home. This
is my daughter, Red," Dad nodded at me, "and Suzie, my other daughter,
left with my sister, Molly, about thirty minutes ago."
"Oh, she didn't have to go." Sarah Hannah, smiled, her eyes sparkling
with excitment. She seemed so eager for something. Did she know who Dad
was?
"Well, I have a truck and it's fit for only three." Dad smiled, back.
It was more of a nervous smile, than welcoming.
"I see," Sarah Hannah said, "Dad."
Everything was quiet. Sarah Hannah's smile seemed to be frozen in
place. It seemed like she was forcing it. Finally her smile evaporated.
"What's wrong?" she asked. "Was it something I said? You are my
father.... right?"
Dad was quiet before replying, "Yeah, I reckon."
Sarah Hannah ran to him, wrapping her arms around his neck. Dad patted
her back weakly.
I didn't see any reason why she was in the hospital. She seemed okay
to me. Actually, she was laughing, crying, and hugging Daddy, all at
the same time. Dad finally smiled, and hugged her back.
I felt like an outsider, the way the two of them talked together so
freely, as if they were old friends. Why didn't I have that same
relationship with him at all? Maybe he feels guilty, I thought to myself.
Maybe he knows our relationship will never be real.
"Excuse me," I said, my voice craking. "I have to use the restroom."
They looked up at me as if just realizing I was there for the first
time.
"Right," Dad said. "I forgot you were here. Go on to the restroom.
We'll be leaving when you come back."
"In that case, I think I'll be going, too." Sarah Hannah, piped up.
She followed me into the restroom.
"So, sis, how old are you? twelve, thirteen....?"
"I'm fifteen, thank you." I didn't like her for some reason. Maybe
because I was jealous.
"Wow! I'm nineteen years old. How old is Suzie? fourteen?" She
laughed at her dumb joke.
"No. Four."
"Ha! Ha! No. Four. Wow. Get it?" She began laughing at that joke too.
"I love..."
"Aren't you hurt at all. I mean, you don't seem so sick to me. Maybe
you should call a taxi..... save us some gas." I interrupted.
She was quiet a moment. "I want to spend some time with y'all. When Mr.
James told me that Wayne Harris would take me home, I was overjoyed.
You see, a friend of mine helped me find who my real father was, and I
was watching y'all ever since y'all moved back to WesBrige. I wanted to
see y'all close up, so I followed y'all to your, I mean our,
grandmother's house in Hilmore. I drove back and fourth, hopeing y'all would come
out to play in the snow. Well, when I finally could make out some good
shadows, I, at the time, wasn't looking where I was going. And you know
the rest of the story." she finished.
"And you're not hurt at all?"
"Well, I have some scratches and a little bit of bruises, but I'm all
right. It basicly just messed up my car."
"Oh."
"What? You have something against me, now that you know I'm your
sister?"
"No. I really don't care. I really ain't surprise something like this
has happened. My.... our dad lies to me all the time. He'll be lying to
you soon, too." I decided to run her out of my life my own way. I
wasn't lying. "That's right. And he can be abusive when he's mad."
"So?"
"You still want to be around him?"
"Yes. He's my father, and look at you. You're a very beautiful young
lady."
"Oh, brother, now you sound like an adult."
"Well, I am one."
"That's right. Your dumb jokes proved it."
"But..."
"No!" I cut her off. "I'm not accepting you as my sister now, and I
never will. I don't like you! Can't you see that?!" I didn't mean to
sound so harsh, but I couldn't help it.
"It's not my fault," she said, her voice just above a whisper. "And I
still would like to be your friend." She turned away before I could see
her tears, but it was too late. She hurried into a stall, and closed
the door behind her.
And strangely, I was satisfied.
"So.... how's Carla?" Dad asked Sarah Hannah.
"I ran away when I was thirteen. Mom was such a liar and pretender
that I couldn't be around her anymore. I hated her for never telling me
about you. So I decided to find out on my own."
"Wow. This little girl called herself running away a couple of months
ago, but she missed me too much." Dad joked, nodding at me.
I turned to the window, fumming. Dad and Sarah Hannah was sitting by
eachother, talking away.
"Dad?" Sarah Hannah looked at Daddy with big eyes. "Why did you leave
us. Why didn't you come take care of me?"
"I didn't know Carla was pregneat and had a baby until you were eight
months old. So I went by to see if I could help, but she closed the
door on me. Didn't want anything to do with me. Didn't want me in her
life. I even tried calling sometimes, but...." Daddy's voice trailed off.
"Whew!" Sarah Hannah let out a deep sigh of relief. "At first I
thought you didn't want me. I knew you loved me. But how come you didn't
tell.....colorful name girl.... Red?"
"What was the use in her finding out? It wouldn't have done any
good."
"I know that's right." Sarah Hannah quietly said.
"What you mean, girl?" Daddy asked.
"Oh, nothing. I mean.... just forget it. Uh, you turn left here on
the bridge." Sarah Hannah pointed to the bridge that led into WesBrige.
"I know," Dad said. "Remember.... we live here."
"Right."
I looked down at the dark, glittering water as we traveled over the
bridge. The latern lights shining down on it making it more the beautiful.
WesBrige seemed like a nice, beautiful place to live, but all the
family history I had stored in it, made it an ugly place for me. My parent's
ugly past made the whole world ugly to me.
I looked over at Sarah Hannah, whose eyes shone with excitment.
"Where do you live now?" I asked.
"I stay with my girlfriend. She's a waiter at Eli's café in the mall.
The best café in WesBrige if you ask me. Best coffe."
"Oh."
"You wanna stay with us a couple of nights?" Dad asked.
I nearly choked. Why was he letting her stay with us. Even though she
was his daughter, so they say, he didn't even know her.
"Really? Sure!" she shrilled. "Just let me stop by my friend's place
to pick up some clothes.... or maybe my boyfriend's place. Well we'll
just go over Vicki's place. She's much closer."
"You gotta boyfriend, eh?" Dad smiled, cocking up his eyebrow.
"Yeah, the name's Zane Moses. He's way too hot."
"He's probably cold in this weather," I retorted.
Dad shot a warning glance my way, before pulling into a gas station.
"Gotta get something to keep me wake," he explained.
"I'll drive!" Sarah Hannah offered.
"I don't want you to wreck my truck, too," Dad joked.
"Oh, Daddy!" Sarah Hannah laughed, patting his arm.
So that's how it went. Daddy on the passager side, me squashed in the
middle, and Sarah Hannah at the wheel driving happily.
She pulled into a small apartment complex.
"I'll be right back," she said, putting the truck in park. She jumped
out, and went inside the lobby.
"What do you think of her?" Dad asked.
"I don't know what to think of her nor you. The both of you make me
feel like an outsider."
"Umph."
"You and I never had that kind of relationship."
"Soo..?"
"Never mind, Dad." I turned away from him, and made myself as
comfortable as I could. Dad sighed, and leaned back in the chair.
"It never seemed to have gotten this cold in December, eh?"
"I don't know."
"Well, not in December. Snow usual comes in January. This time it
came in the last days of November. Of, course little flurries..."
"Dad, making small talk with me will not take away the guilt in what
you did and lied to me about. Why don't we play the quiet game... I
don't feel like talking to anyone."
"You can't blame me for not wanting to hurt you. I thought I'd tell
you all of this when you turned eightteen."
"Yeah, but you didn't think I'd hear of any of this before I turned
eightteen, right?"
"Well, Londa was old news. It was me and Caroline. No one was talking
about Carla nor Londa.... I didn't think you'd find out."
"Things don't always turn out the way you think," I said bitterly.
"Shut-up, Red. I don't feel like hearing your whining and complaining
now. You make me feel like I'm cursed or something because I had you."
"Cursed?! Yeah, you are cursed... and you cursed everyone else around
you, too. Both of your wives are dead. Suzie and I are motherless. I'm
under a huge cloud of threats. And I just found out about another
sister Suzie and I have. You are cursed. And because of you, so am I."
Dad closed his eyes and began to shake his head slowly. "I told you
to shut-up," he said more firmly. "And if you don't...."
Sarah Hannah knocked on the window. "Open up! It's freezing out
here!"
I unlocked the door, and sat back, not bothering to open the door.
Sarah Hannah hurried in, slamming the door behind her.
"She's not home," she explained. "So we'll have to go by Zane's. He's
only a couple of miles away. Yes, he is."
"Maybe you could sleep in the clothes you have on... they could pass
for your night clothes."
WHAM!! Right in front of Sarah Hannah. Dad slapped me in the mouth,
causing a little blood.
"Watch your mouth, girl," he sneered. "And keep it shut. Remember the
old saying.... if you don't have nothing nice to say, don't say nothing
at all."
I covered my trembling, bleeding lips and nodded softly. I was trying
hard to hold the tears of frustration back when I looked at Sarah
Hannah's face full of pity, but my eyes didn't agree, for the tears sled
free.
"Oh, Daddy! It's okay.... these clothes are pretty old. So I reckon
she has a point." Sarah Hannah offered.
"Yeah, but you weren't in here when she was sitting here
complaining."
Complaining? I was telling him my thoughts. The real turth!! As for
Sarah Hannah, the scum came into my life to cause more disaster. And
when Daddy finds out.... it'll be too late. My thoughts were rolling as
fast as my tears. My body shook with rage that I felt for them.
"I see," Sarah Hannah smiled. "Complaining about what? I hope you
don't mind my asking."
"You know kids.... just the shock of it all. But there's more, she
has a attitude, and rebellious too."
Rebellious?
"Told her to shut-up twice. She wouldn't listen. She'll be all
right.... this happened before. Never seems to learn her lesson."
"I see..."
I sat back and crossed my arms, my body still shaking. Keep cool before
he slaps you again, I told myself. Runaway. Abby can go with you. You
can't stay in this situation.... this mess. Take his money and leave
this very night. Leave WesBrige. Find out about Londa Harris. Find peace.
Find love. Daddy's gonna keep repeating hisself over and over and
over. Do something about it, and you'll never have to see him again.....
I sat up quickly. The thoughts that were raceing through my mind
lingered. It sounded good. It'll make Dad sorry. I pounded my fist in my
palm, as my determination took the best of me.
"He'll regret it," I whispered. "Yes, he will." I laughed gleefully
to myself, despite the pain in my cracked lips. I would never have to go
through it again. Never.
"Good night, Red." Sarah Hannah singed, yawning. I grunted in return,
turning on my side. "You're not angrey with me, are you?" she asked. I
still didn't reply. "Why do you hate me so? It's not my fault our daddy
is the same person. I can't help it if I were born. Be angrey with
him... not me."
She did have a point. I had no reason to mad at her. It really wasn't
her fault.
"I know," I said, softly, turning toward her. "It's harder on me,
because I just found out about my mother. And now you."
"I know," Sarah Hannah replied. "Wayne told me how sorry he was when
you were taking your shower. Just give him another chance."
"No. I hate him for what he's done to me and Suzie. What he's done to
you. If he cared so much for you, why didn't he even try to call and
check on you. Why didn't he try to make friends with Carla. Why didn't he
tell me?"
Sarah Hannah was quiet.
"You don't know, do you. You stay with him long enough, and you'll
see him just the way I see him. Always making false promises, and false
commitments. I don't believe anything he says now. He's a lair. You'll
see."
"He seems really nice.... he's just struggling. You know, with you
finding out about Londa and all. He told me that he was going..."
"It's a lie," I interrupted. "I don't believe it, and you shouldn't
either."
Sarah Hannah yawned, and turned away from me. "You should believe in
him. Really."
"How can you say that and you don't even know him? You spied on
him.... so what? That don't mean you know him. What seems good on the
outside, isn't always good on the inside."
"That's why you're planning on running away?" Sarah Hannah asked.
I looked up sharply. How did she know?
As if reading my thoughts, she nodded at the duffle bad that I had
thrown under my bed... half-way. "I looked in it while you were
showering. There's everything a runaway would have in that bag.... including
your dad's wallet. Remember, I'm a runaway."
My heart seemed to have stop beating. "I...I'm not running away.
That's just...."
"Just what, Red? A bag in case of a fire?"
"You took the words right out of my mouth." I smiled, sourly.
"Don't do it, Red. Where will you go in this freezing weather? And
you really can't get out of WesBrige without someone seeing you. And you
know everyone knows everyone in WesBrige."
"I didn't know you, and as I said before, I'm not running away. I'm
too smart for that."
"You weren't too smart for that before," Sarah Hannah remarked.
"Shut-up," I shot, squeezing my eyes shut in frustration.
"No, no. I'm not trying to be mean or anything," Sarah Hannah, said.
"I just don't want you to leave, because I wanna develop a relationship
with you."
"So? You should know that things aren't always gonna go the way you
want..."
"Which is an excellent reason why you shouldn't run away." Sarah
Hannah interrupted.
"Yeah, and you should know....ending up with us. Why didn't you just
stay with Carla? Weren't you satisfied? Wasn't she rich enough?"
"Mother couldn't buy me a father. And she couldn't buy me love."
"Some people have to do without."
"Yeah, but I knew my father was alive. I knew he was somewhere in
South Carolina."
"And he just happened to be in WesBrige, huh?"
"It's not my fault. Don't you want the love of your real mother?"
Bitter tears filled my eyes, and my voice choked up. "As I said before,
some people have to do without."
"Don't you think I know that? I mean I've been disappointed plenty of
times. Over and over and over again. I know Dad's not perfect, but then
again, who is? He's trying to be better... I mean at least he's
trying. Mother didn't make any effort whatsoever. Please Red, Dad will only
fall back into his old routine."
"That'll be better. He was much better being the old person. No! I
take that back. He'll never be good. I'd rather not have him in my life
at all."
"But Red," Sarah Hannah pleaded, "that's impossible. He's your birth
father. He'll always be apart of you."
Her words stabbed my heart like a sharp butcher knife. Weather I
liked it or not, Dad would always be apart of me. Always.
Even though the thoughts seemed to have come hundreds of times that
night, I didn't run away. Sarah Hannah's words lingered in my ears and
heart. Dad could be a good man.... when he wanted to.
So instead of running away, I woke up to the smell of bacon and
freshly brewed coffe. I yawned and streched until I was positive the sleep
was out of me. I looked over to Suzie's bed, where Sarah Hannah once
laid. The bed was made, and the pillows nice and fluffed. As if in a
competition, I decided to do my bed better.
After making my bed, showering, and dressing, I happened to look out
of the window. The ground was cover with a pure, white blanket of snow.
Than the realization hit me. It was Christmas Eve! I scrambled down the
short hallway and into the kitchen, where I met Dad and Sarah Hannah.
They both were dressed for going out.
"Morning!" Dad greeted me with a big smile. As if nothing happened
the night before.
"Morning," I smiled back. I decided to get in a happy mood. It was
Christmas. "Had a good nice rest?" I asked, looking at both of them.
Sarah Hannah's eyes lit up. "Super!" she replied.
"Good," Dad nodded.
I smiled and sat at the table. "Something smells good!"
"Yeah, Sarah Hannah's made coffe, bacon, and the biscuits are in the
oven."
"Wow! You're a cook, eh?" I smiled.
"Yeah... I had to learn to cook some way. I didn't live on easy
street anymore."
"Oh."
She turned toward the oven. "I think the biscuits are ready."
"After you finish eating, Red, go brush your teeth and get your
purse. We're gonna leave right aftwerward."
"Where are we going in this weather? All of the stores might be
closed." I commented, glancing out the window.
"We're going shopping. I checked the mall. Most of the stores are
still open. Now, hurry up."
"You ain't eating?"
"Sarah Hannah and I already ate together." he replied, thoughtlessly.
I felt a surge of jealousy go through out my body. "Why is she making
another batch of biscuits?"
"It's not a batch.... it's only two in there."
Dad was right. I watched Sarah Hannah place the two fluffy biscuits on
my plate. She looked up at me and smiled.
"I'm not hungrey," I said, standing from the table. It was a lie. I
was actually straving. But something inside of me, deep inside of me,
didn't wanna give Sarah Hannah the pleasure of watching me devore her
good cooking.
"Are you sure?" Sarah Hannah asked. "It took.."
"I said I wasn't hungrey," I snapped.
Dad glared at me over his cup of coffe. "Red, sit down and eat. You're
acting really stupid."
"Shut.." I caught myself. I didn't wannna get slapped in the mouth
again.
"What?" he commanded, standing.
"Nothing. But I ain't hungrery. How plain can it get? I didn't ask
for anything to eat."
"I'll eat her food," Dad told Sarah Hannah. "You go ahead and get
your coat and purse and things."
Sarah Hannah nodded, sadly, looked over at me, and walked out slowly.
"Red, you stay in here."
Dad took a huge bite of the biscuit and began chewing slowly, while he
glared at me. I starred back. Finally, he spat the glob in my face.
"Why you did that, you..you.."
Before I could finish my sentance, he walked over to me and smuge it
all over my face. He took another bite and began chewing.
I picked up a napkin, knowing to keep my mouth shut. Dad took the
napkin out of my fingers, and spat the glob in it.
"Open your mouth," he yelled. I shook my head, stepping back. "I said
open your mouth," he yelled again, grabbing me by the neck.
I opened it up, closing my eyes. I felt the gooey glob go down my
throat. "If you can't listen to me when I say eat your feed, I'll just have
to do you like a baby. Chew it up for you, and fed you myself." he
sneered.
I could feel the food coming back up, but forced it back as he sent
another glob down my throat.
"There," he laughed meanly, "that should be enough for the little
baby."
I ran out and threw it all up as soon as I reached the bathroom. I
leaned over the toliet when I was done. How could he be so gross? So nasty?
So mean? So much for Christmas Eve. I couldn't wait to get away from
him.
I squeezed my eyes shut and leaned against the toliet, breathing
heavily. I felt shaky all over. Shaking with anger. I hate him. I hate him.
I hate him. The words kept repeating itself in my mind. I bawled my
fist up, and began shaking my head.
He didn't love me. He didn't care for me. He didn't want me. Sarah
Hannah was wrong. And I was a fool to believe her.
Wayne stayed near me and made sure I brought Sarah Hannah something.
Something expensive. I brought her a purse for twenty dollars. I only
had forty dollars.
We were, at the time being, in McDonalds eating lunch, when I spotted
Jesse.
"Hey, Red!" she cried, making her way over to our table.
"Jesse," I smiled weakly.
She looked at my barley eaten food, and lifted her eyebrows in
question. My stomach still had flip flops when I looked at food. The food
always seemed to turn into the glob Wayne had force down my throat. That's
another thing, I called him Wayne, now. He didn't deserve the right to
be called, 'Dad.'
"I'm not really hungrey," I explained to her unasked question.
"I see. You wanna do some shopping together?" she asked, before
looking at Dad and Sarah Hannah. It was as if she'd just realize that they
were there, for she greeted them. "Merry Christmas, Mr. Harris. How are
y'all doing?" She looked at Sarah Hannah and lifted her eyebrows again.
I shook my head at her, to tell her that I would tell her when we were
alone. But I didn't have to.... Wayne did for me.
"Fine," Wayne and Sarah Hannah said in unison. "and Merry Christmas
to you to." Sarah Hannah completed.
"This is my other daughter, Sarah Hannah," Daddy interdouced her.
"Wha....oh!! I...I'm Jesse," Jesse stumbled over her words as she
looked from me to Wayne, than finally back at Sarah Hannah. "I'm Red's
friend. She, uh, didn't tell me she had another sister."
"That's okay," Sarah Hannah smiled. "I'm sure she has a lot of
explaining to do, uh?" she joked, winking at me. Instead of smiling, I looked
away and took a sip of my pepsi.
"Right." Jesse laughed nervously, taking my arm. "Do you mind if I
steal her away for some shopping? She said she wasn't really hungrey."
"Fine with me," Wayne said, throwing me a warning look. "Be back in
thirty minuts."
"Thirty minutes?! Come on, Mr. Harris. We'll have to look everywhere!
Be a sport, and give us three hours."
Wayne twiched his jaw. I knew he didn't want me to be out that long,
but what choice did he have? He was trying to act like a good guy in
front of Sarah Hannah and Jesse.
"Two hours." he sighed.
"Two hours?" Jesse competed. "How about three?"
"Two or none," Wayne said putting on a pasted smile. "Meet us back
her Red. Don't be late," he added firmly, catching my eye."
"Yes, sir." I replied, looking away quickly.
He leaned back in his chair, straw dangling between his lips. Jesse
jerked me, so I stood and hurried away with her, feeling Wayne's cold,
hard eyes burning through my back.
"What was all of that about?" Jesse asked me, when we were out of eye
and earshot. I explained my situation over hot chocolate at Eli's Café.
The one Sarah Hannah told us about. The hot chocolate really was good.
"So you mean you just found out about another sister you have?" Jesse
asked, her eyes wide.
"That's right," I sighed, hating to believe the turth.
"Wow! Ho do you feel? I mean, I know it must be hard with you finding
out about your mother and all."
"Yeah, it is."
"Excuse me, ma'am, but are you Red Harris?"
I looked into the cold eyes of two well built men in black suits.
"Uh, yes sir." I answered.
The second one nodded, as if he knew all along. "Good. You're coming
with us," he said, grabbing me by the elbow.
"Excuse me?"
"Look. It's no biggie. Just coaperate and we'll be done before you
know it. We've been looking everywhere for you."
"For me?"
"Yeah." the first one piped up. "You, uh, were chosen for some, uh,
uh.."
"Trip!" the second one interupted.
"Yes, a trip!" the first one barked. "A trip to Paris, and we have to
discuss some matters with you."
"Go ahead," I said, jerking away from the second one.
"Alone," the first one said, directing his cold gaze apon Jesse. She
stood up, fumbling with her purse.
"No, no. She can take her friend. We need to see you ladies outside."
the second one said, his evil smile almost a grimice.
"That's okay," I said, backing away.
"No, it's not." the second one said, jerking my elbow. "The both of
you are coming with us. And you better keep your lips sealed, because we
have guns."
"Right," the first one said, grabbing Jesse. "Just walk with us like
normal girls with their friends."
"Friends? Y'all grown men," Jesse protested.
"Just shut-up and do what we say," the first one snapped.
Jesse and I exchanged worried glances, as we began walking toward the
exit.
What's going on? I wondered. Why would someone force you to go to
Paris?
Outside, they walked us toward a long, shiny white limosine. A
chaffler stepped out as if waiting on us. His eyes were just as cold as the
two men.
He went around the limosine and opened the door. When I saw who it
was, I screamed. And once again, everything went black.
Chapter 17
Revenge
I blinked twice, my eyes ajusting to the darkness.
"Where am I?" I asked aloud. "What happened? Is anyone here?"
"Red! You woke up." I reconized the voice, but was still unsure of
myself.
"Who is it?" I asked.
"Me. Jesse. You fainted when you saw this lady. She didn't give me
her name or anything."
I tried to move my arms, but they were, obviously, tied to a chair, as
were the rest of my body.
"Jesse?"
"Yes, it's me. I don't understand why these people took us, but I'm
scared."
Then it hit me. Dorthy Winkins! She came back for revenge on me.....
but she took Jesse too! My heartbeat sped up, and I broke out into a
sweat.
"It's Caroline's....."
"What?! Caroline's dead, Red. Stop playing. I'm scared." Jesse cried.
"No, no." I tried to laugh, but I couldn't. "It's Caroine's mother,
Dorthy. She thinks I killed Caroline, so she came back for revenge. She
warned me, but I forgot about it."
"Yeah, well it looks like she took me too," Jesse retorted.
"I'm sorry," I murmered. "It wasn't your fault."
"Right. I know that." Jesse sighed. Her voice trembled everytime she
spoke.
"Why did this have to happen to me?" I cried, tears making its way
down my cheeks. Why are my father's sins always falling on me? I didn't
ask for Caroline."
"Look, Red. It's no time to complain. We have to try to get lose!"
Jesse whispered, firmly.
I tried doing as she said. Instead of going how I wanted, the rope cut
deeply into my skin. It must have cut into Jesse's, too, for she and I
moaned in unison.
"This ain't gonna work," I said helplessly. "Why don't we just wait
to see what happens."
"No! We have to work now!" Jesse insisted.
"And how will we get out?" I asked. "We don't know where we are!"
Jesse was silent. "Good point," she said, after a while. Maybe we
should scream. There may be other people here."
"No," I disagreed.
But Jesse was too presisted. She screamed with all of her might. When
nothing happened, she screamed again. Still nothing.
"Look, Red," Jesse managed to get out, after taking a couple of deep
breaths. You're the reason for all of this. I'm trying to help us get
out. Even if they do come, and untie us, we can look for an escape than.
I'm willing to help you....are you willing to help me?"
She was right. So I began screaming with her. Scraping the chair on the
floor, when my body allowed.
Finally after about what seemed like an hour, we heard footsteps
coming our way.
The door burst open, throwing a handful of light in. I squinted my
eyes, trying to adjust to the light. Dorthy stood there, looking taller
and even more thin than before. Her hair was pulled up into a tight bun
in the center of her head.
She smiled her grimince of a smile, and began walking toward me. Her
steps were like little pistols shooting on the stone floor.
"Red, Red, Red." she croked, patting my cheeks. Her hands were cold
and hard.
"Dorthy," I said. It was all I could say. Nothing I said would change
her mind. She still believed I killed Caroline.
"I'll have mercy on you and your friend for a while," she began.
"Make your last days count. You will be a slave unto me for two weeks," she
held up two of her fingers, "and than.... BOOM!" she clapped her hands
in my face. "You'll be gone." She began laughing, as if it was the most
delightful thing.
Jesse squirmed in her seat, which caused Dorthy to turn her attention
toward her. "And you, what's your name?"
Jesse glanced fearfully at me, before replying, "Jesse."
"Jesse, have you ever heard the old saying, 'Be careful picking your
friends.... you never know!!" Without waiting for an answer, Dorthy
began laughing again. She straightened up, and turned her cold eyes toward
me, Jesse, than back at me. "Ralla will be back with your rags of
clothes you'll be wearing..... as if those clothes you have on isn't
enough." She began walking toward the ajar door, before turning back to us
again.
"Oh, yeah! If you try that screaming sceam again, you'll have three
days." She laughed again, her pistols following her out, leaving their
echo in the, once again, dark room.
The door opened a crack, providing a handful of light to come in the
dark room. Two eyes peered in at us. That's all we could see.... her
eyes.
"Don't worry," Jesse spat. "We can't hurt you. We're tied up....
remember?"
"I...I didn't know." the lady said simply, but quietly. "I'm Ralla.
Madame Winkins told me to come here to asist to you all." She opened the
door all the way, and made her way in. But only when she pulled out a
flashlight, and turned it on, did we see how she really looked.
She was a short lady with a plump body. She had honey-brown hair that
was in a short french braid. Her clear, blue eyes were soft and warm,
but also held a hint of fear. She had small lips, and a small nose.....
too small for her face. She wore a black and white maid's uniform, and
was gripping a small brown paper bag which, I supose, held our 'rags'.
"Well?" I smiled. "Aren't you gonna let us out?"
"I supose I have to," her quiet voice responded.
She made her way over to Jesse first. As I watched her work with the
big, hard knots, I wondered if other girls were suffering like me and
Jesse. So I asked.
"No. This is the first time she did this," Ralla said, without
looking up. Jesse sighed deeply with relief when the ropes fell off. She
streched and cracked her legs and back.
Ralla took a step back toward the door. "Please," her quiet voice
pleaded. "do not try to escape. You'll only cause danger for yourself, and
an execution for me. Please."
Jesse and I exchanged glances. "Are there cameras in here?" Jesse
asked.
"There's a camera in every room. Qunit and Dill, the body and
sercurity guards who caught..."
"Caught? What is this.... some jail?"
"Well yes, for you, it is. Now as I was saying Qunit and Dill, they
take turns watching the camera."
"How many sercurity guards are there?" I asked, lifting a eyebrow.
"About five! Now listen, I'm a maid, and I want to just get my duty
over! Please..... don't make this harder than this already is." Ralla
cried, throwing her fist in the air.
"Okay, okay," I sighed.
The fear in Ralla's eyes disappered. "Sorry. It's just that...."
"It's all right," Jesse offered. "Let's go ahead and get Red lose."
Jesse and Ralla both struggled with my rope, which was obviously, tied
tighter. When done, we all tumbled on the floor in exhustion.
"Okay," Ralla said, after taking a couple of deep breaths, "here are
your clothes. I will go outside the door while you change into them. In
three minutes I with be back to get the clothes you had on before." She
thrusted the bag in Jesse's fingers, and was just at the door when I
called her back. She turned around slowly, her shouders stiff.
"How are we supose to see? It's completely dark in here...... without
that flashlight."
"I....I don't know. You'll have to manage."
"Oh, give it a break," Jesse piped up. "You said that there was
cameras in every room."
"Yes. Every room but this one. Please..."
"You mean this room doesn't have a camera?!" Jesse and I exclaimed in
unison.
"Shh!" Ralla held up both of her hands. "Not too loud. If Madame
Winkins find out that I told you...." the fear returned in Ralla's eyes.
"We won't tell," I whispered. "What are you? Some slave?"
"I've lived with the Winkins ever since I was a child. They took me
in off of the streets after my mother abandoned me. She's made me
somewhat like a slave-maid. I've been in bondage to her since."
"Oh," Jesse whispered. "I'm sorry."
"We can help you escape!" I whispered, getting excited. "She don't
expect you to run away, and I know someone in WesBrige who's rich. She'll
take us in. Please!"
Ralla looked as if she was considering the plan. "Maybe," she
whispered. "When I come back, we'll discuss more about it." She handed me the
flashlight. "Hurry up, okay?"
"Okay." Jesse and I said.
We had been waiting for hours. No Ralla. Was she a spy? Did they
really have a camera in here? Or would she really mustar up the courage to
get us out of here? I blew out a deep breath of frustration. Where was
she?
"Red?"
"Huh?"
"Just making sure you were wake. Do you think she's coming back. I
mean, it's been a good while since we saw her."
"Yeah, I know. At least we're lose. I still can't stop streaching."
"Me either. Ya wanna see if the door's unlock?"
"No. that's too dangrous. Let's just wait and see what happens."
And that's what we did. Waited and waited and waited until we couldn't
stand it any more.
"It's been hours. And why should we believe her anyway?" Jesse
whined. "What we need to do is...."
The door silently creaked open. "I'm back," we heard a voice whisper.
"Show your face," I whispered back.
Ralla revealed herself. She had a small duffle bag. She clicked a flash
light on, after stepping in and closing the door behind her.
"Y'all ready to go?" she asked, lifting up the duffe bag.
"Yeah," Jesse and I both said, eagarly.
"Okay. I bought you all some warm clothes. It's gonna be chilly."
Ralla whispered. She kept looking around, as if she expected to see Dorthy
come any time.
I reached for the duffle bag. She handed it to me with trembling
fingers. I took out two wool sweaters, two pairs of worn jogging pants, and
two pairs of black, muddy rainboots.
"Worn, but warm," Ralla laughed nervously. She looked around again.
"Hurry up, now. I had to wait until I was sure the Madame was asleep."
"We are, we are," Jesse chanted, stepping into the boots. I began
doing the same. The sweaters had a musty smell, the jogging pants so worn,
they weren't warm, and the boots were way too big. But it would have to
do. I decided to keep my rag of a clothes on underneth, though. They
would help out as more under clothes.
"Ready!" we whispered in unison. We were doing that alot lately.
"Good." Ralla stepped out of the room, and looked both ways, before
nodding at us to come on. "Now, get on your knees, and crawl down the
stairs as fast as you can without making too much noise." she whispered,
sharply. "Or any noise at all."
We did as was told. So far so good.
"Alright. I'm getting ready to turn the power switch. It's in Madame
Winkin's office. Stay under a small table in the livingroom, and don't
move until I come back, 'kay?"
"Right." I said. Jesse just nodded. We got under a table across from
eachother. It was sort of fun. But it was also a life or death matter,
so we stayed put and kept our lips sealed.
Ralla pulled out a chain full of keys, took a deep breath, and walked
off in a hurry.
It wasn't even five minutes before everything closed down. Ralla came
hurrying back.
"Hurry, ladies." she whispered, running past us to the front door. We
scrambled to our feet, running as fast, but as quietly as we could.
Ralla closed the door behind her, and locked it. When done, she
leaned against it and sighed in relief.
"Come on," Jesse hissed. "We don't have no time to waste!!"
We ran about two blocks away from the house, before Ralla stopped us.
"Alright," she whispered. "I have the wallet of ole Winkins. Earlier I
called a friend of mine, and we have a car waiting on us. We'll get gas,
and head to the city. We'll get something to eat, and head on into the
city of Connerfield..... they won't think to look there. We'll stay in
a hotel for the rest of the night, and then go the two hour drive from
there to WesBrige, where your rich friend is."
"Rich friend?" I asked, lifting an eyebrow.
Ralla sighed in frustration, and blew her short bangs out of her face.
"Don't tell me you were lying to me. You said you had a rich friend
back in WesBrige who would take us in, correct?"
"Right. Carla. I almost forgot," I said dryly. I hope Ralla don't
depend on my rich friend too much, I thought.
We rode in a red convertibile through the city of Columbia. The big
buildings and lights took my breath away all the time. We don't often
come to the city.
"I've never been out of South Carolina," Ralla was saying. "I've
lived in Columbia all my life. I've been to WesBrige, Sumter, Mrytle
Beach.....and so on, but never been out of the state. No sir."
"Must have been pretty boring, huh?" Jesse commented.
"No, I'm very proud of my state, and I'm never bored with the sites.
Plus, it makes it more exciting when I do go out."
"Oh."
I leaned forward, between the two front seats where Ralla and Jesse
were sitting.
"Why?" I asked. "Dorthy wouldn't let you get out?"
"I went with them around the state, not out of the state. I was a
servent night and day, through spring and winter."
"What did you do when she went out of state?"
"I cleaned the house, helped with sercurity, and things like that.
The only breaks I did get were eating, sleep, and bathroom. She wanted to
keep me busy."
"But you weren't getting paid," Jesse pointed out.
Ralla shrugged. "At least I had a place to stay. I would have already
froze to death in this kind of weather."
"Oh." Jesse leaned back and sighed. "Tomorrow'll be the first
Christmas without my family."
Christmas. Suddenly I missed Wayne... even though he did all those
gross and mean things to me. Tears slipped down my cheeks and onto the
musty wool of the sweater Ralla had given me. We drove past the christmas
lights and decorations. Families would be singing carols, children
looking out for Santa, warmth and love flowing through the house as they
lie down for bed. What a time to be kidnapped. I leaned back against the
cushion, and closed my eyes, trying to take away the pain and aching in
my heart. The terrible longing. But all it did was bring more tears.
Finally I went into a deep, dark, dreamless sleep.
I awoke to a bump. "Sorry about that," Ralla mumbled. " We just
turned on a bridge. Don't look like we're gonna get anything to eat.
Everything's close since it's, well, Christmas Eve."
"Christmas morning," Jesse correct her. "It's 2:45 in the morning."
"Right, right," Ralla sighed. "Do one of you know how to drive. I'm
too sleepy to go on."
"I have my permit," Jesse offered.
"Good. No one's on the road, and the bridge isn't as slippery as
usual. Thank God the snow's stop." Ralla pulled over on the side of the
bridge. We could see the city of Columbia afar off across the lake,
glittering in the night.
"Yahoo!" Ralla yawned, streaching her arms, as soon as she was out of
the car. "We're free at last." She took out the keys that belonged to
Dorthy and threw them over the bridge and into the lake.
"Yeah!" Jesse hooted.
"I have more.... the extra keys for the 'just in case' thing." Ralla
laughed. She took the keys off one by one, throwing them into the lake.
She handed some to us.
"All right," I cried, throwing them as far as I could into the dark,
glittering water.
"Whoop-pey!" Ralla jumped, her jolly body crunching the snow under
her feet. The three of us leaned over the rail looking into the water,
jokeing and laughing and having a good time.
"All right, all right let's go," Ralla said. "The only hotel that I
know, for sure, is open is the Starlight Inn, which is in Connerfield.
We'll be there in about forty-five minutes or a hour or so."
We all settled back in the car, Jesse in the driver's side, Ralla
beside her, and me in the back. We drove off into the christmas-lit night.
The hotel was nice and cozy. We let Ralla have her own bed, Jesse and
I shared the other. Ralla had stole clean night clothes for us and
given us our other clothes and shoes back.
So we showered, watched a little televison, and fell to sleep.
"Get up, girls and Merry Christmas!" Ralla chanted, jerking the covers
off of Jesse and me. "This will be more of a Christmas if we can get to
your rich friend's house and celebrate with her!"
I shivered and tugged the covers around my sholders. After about five
minutes of stareing into space, Jesse and I both forced ourselves out of
bed. I looked out of the window to see that some of the snow melted,
and the sun was out. Still it was cold.
"Merry Christmas to you, too, Ralla." I greeted her back. "Merry
Christmas, Jesse."
Jesse nodded and flipped on the televison. "Christmas, Christmas,
Christmas," she sighed wistfully. "I'm gonna call my daddy to pick me up."
"No!" Ralla said, turning to Jesse. "You have to help me for I did
help you. If Madame Winkins find out where I am and that I took what she
was seeking revenge for so long...." Ralla's pale face began trembling.
"She will have me murdered. And it'll be all your fault."
"What if she finds you and we're still here? She'll just kill us all.
I did nothing to deserve this, therefore I'm leaving." Jesse said
firmly.
"I'm going with her," I decided.
"No," Ralla pleaded. "How could you all do this to me? I've given you
freedom. You asked for it. Please!"
Jesse and I looked at eachother. How were we going to get out of this?
Ralla looked so sad and helpless.
"All right. We're gonna call the police and get Dorthy in jail,"
Jesse settled. "We have the opportunity to save our lives, and get rid of
Dorthy's."
"But..but I don't want to rid Madame Dorthy of her life," Ralla
pounted.
"What?!" I shrilled.
"Huh?" Jesse's forehead creased with worry.
Ralla sighed. "I know you may find this hard to believe, but I would
have been dead if Madame Winkins hadn't took me in. She may have been
mean and crabby, but she's still the lady who fed me and gave me a place
to stay."
"That's stupid. If my daddy planned on killing me, I would have
killed him," Jesse remarked.
"Yeah. She made you a slave. She wasn't no mother to you," I agreed.
"And how would you know?" Ralla pointed the question to me.
I grew silent. I couldn't answer that question at all.
Jesse finally broke the silence. "Well I have a mother and believe me,
no loveing mother would make her child a slave. Now let's just call the
police and...."
A knock on our window interrupted Jesse. We looked to see the cold-eyed
chaffler from the day before. Jesse and I screamed as loud as we could,
running for the door. As I turned for the keys to the car, I heard the
most horrible sound. The sound of a pistol and an ugly cry from Jesse's
throat.
I turned around to see Jesse sprawled on the floor in her own blood,
and Dorthy holding a black pistol in the doorway.
"JESSE!" I screamed. Dorthy turned the gun to me. I heard the shot, I
felt the wind, and I watched the pistol go into Ralla's head. I turned
and picked the hotel lamp and threw it as hard as I could to Dorthy. It
hit her smack in the face, and the pistol flew from her hands, but she
had already pulled the trigger. The bullet hit Ralla in the side, this
time. I ran to her side, but it was too late.
"NOOO!" I wailed. I felt weak all over, but I forced myself to grab
the pistol. Dorthy's face was stripped with blood from the glass of the
lamp.
I turned to the window to see if the chaffler was still there. The
window was broken, but I didn't see anyone. Still, though, I sensed
someone was there.
I took a step back and tripped over Ralla's dead, but warm body. A
stream of blood was making its way out of her mouth. I scrambled up to my
feet, and looked over to where Dorthy was. She was gone.
"Looking for me?" I heard behind me. I gripped the gun tightly, and
wirled around to face her. Two body gurads were at her side smiling
sumgly, each with two guns. What type, I'm not sure.
"How dare you try to kill me, you heifer," Dorthy screamed. "Be gone
with you." The guards raised the guns to me. "Say your last prayers!"
Dorthy cried. She began laughing this evil, scary laugh. The kind that
you thought you only heard in movies.
For some reason, I coudn't think right. Everything happened so quick.
Just as they were about to pull the triger, a guy ran in. He looked
strangely familer.
"Over here, police!" he yelled.
"What," Dorthy screamed, "are you doing in here?! Rid him, men! Rid
both of them!"
A herd of police ran in the already opened door. "Drop your weapons!
You're under arrest."
Chapter 18
My heros
one week later
I leaned over Jesse's hospital bed, and pushed some of her curly hair
out of her face.
"So, how's that leg feeling?" I asked.
"Better. I still have to do thrapy," Jesse replied, turning to make
herself comfortable. "Why're you all dressed up?"
"I'm attending Ralla's funeral. It's today, you know." It was true.
Ralla, our resuer, was gone. Dorthy, Zilannie, and most of their hostes
and workers were arrested. Dorthy's last words to me were:
"You'll regret this, Harris. I swear on my own life, you'll regret
this."
I also reconized my other resuer. A guy I thought I'd never see again.
Donaven Smith. The cute guy Hilary interdouced to Abby and me a good
bit of months ago.
I was back home. Daddy and Sarah Hannah were hovering over me every
second. This was the first time they'd left me alone. Dad was sorry,
all right. He couldn't stop crying and apologizing to me. Sarah Hannah
and I were getting along well, also. Things were still a little rough,
but also much smoother.
"Is it?" Jesse leaned up. "I wish I could make it. I feel so guilty."
"I'm the one feeling guilty. If I weren't born, none of this would
have happened."
"Shut-up, Red. If God didn't want you here, he would have let Dorthy
take your life. There are plenty of times your life could have been
snatched away from you. God has a plan in store.....just be patient."
"Right."
"So how's this Donaven boy?"
"Cute as ever. He's going out to dinner with us after the funeral
tonight."
Jesse rolled her eyes up at the ceiling, but still wore a small smile
on her face. "I betca Abby's jealous."
"Why?"
"I have a feeling she liked him."
"Abby? The biggest, baddest, meanest tomboy in WesBrige?" I began to
laugh.
"I'm serious. She called me everytime she saw him, and gushed over
what he had on, how his hair was done.... Abby's more girly than you
think."
A knock sounded at the door. Jesse and I exchanged worried glances.
Eshi poked her head in. We blew out a sigh of relief.
"What's up, Jesse, Red!" she greeted us.
"Hey, Eshi," I greeted back.
"Hello, Eshianna," Jesse called her by her whole name.
"You know, Abby and Ronda's coming. I beat them to the elevator. She
saw Donaven, that guy that you like, Red, and wanted him to notice
her."
Jesse and I burst out laughing. It felt good to be laughing and having
a good time.
Abby walked in, throwing a glare my way, with Ronda, who was
laughing. "Looks like Red got her a man," Ronda greeted us. "It's that or
either Abby just can't put a good impresion on him. Donaven."
"Hush up," Abby snapped, scuffing her boots against the floor. "How
you doin', Jesse," she directed her attention to Jesse, who was leaning
up, now.
"Better since all y'all came. Y'all make me feel so much better."
"Hey, Red," Ronda turned toward me. "your Dad said you were gonna
speak at Ralla's funeral. What's ya planning on saying?"
I took the crumbled piece of notebook paper out of my purse and
smoothed it out. I didn't make the time to go to the libary to type out and
print it.
After the talk with the police officers, I asked if I could speak at
Ralla's funeral. They were sure that Ralla wouldn't have mind. So I
wrote out what I thought of her, even though words coudn't express my
gratitude.
"Okay," I said. "It reads:
Though I will never be able to make up to what Ralla Simon has
done for my friend
and I, I just want to thank the mother, even
though she abandoned her, for having her.
Who knows if I would be reading this speech today?
Together, Ralla, Jesse, and I
found freedom in our own ways. Ralla was willing to give her
life for me, which she did.
She took the bullet that was meant for me. I love her so much
and she has left a big impact on my life, even through the short
period of time that I've known her.
I know she's listening and is very proud to have her name
spoken of so goodly, but every word I'm saying is true. She
and my mother are probably listening
together,
smiling, for tears aren't allowed in such a
place.
A place where Ralla deserves to be. No
pain, no hurt, and freedom. Something she have always
wanted.
I will not take what she did lightly. It will passed on from
generation to generation of the Harris and, I'm sure, Hope family. Her
name will always ring in our ears and heart. She'll never be a maid
or servent in my sight, but a hero."
Everyone was quiet. "Well, what do you think?" I asked.
Abby turned away so no one would see the tears that had form in her
eyes.
"That was beautiful," Eshi sighed. "So...so..I don't know what word
could discribe it."
I nodded. "I meant every word in this speech."
"I wish I'd wrote it," Jesse commented. "I wish I could be there."
"Sounds so grown up.... what are you gonna be? Some writer?" Ronda
joked softly. For she, too, was touched by the speech.
Dad walked in, looking very handsome in his new black suit.
"Time to go, Red. The funeral starts in a hour and a half. Takes an
hour to get to Columbia in itself." he said.
"Okay," I nodded, standing up.
"Give them my reguards," Jesse smiled.
"Your parents are going too, Jesse," Daddy informed her. "Now you go
ahead and rest that leg of yours. We'll be back in a couple of hours.
The rest of y'all," he nodded at the gang, "have a good one."
"Bye, y'all," I waved. I pecked Jesse's forehead, before walking out.
My speech was a big sucess.... so was the funeral. It had over
three-hundred people there. Mostly because when people read the article in the
newspaper, they were touched. So there we were, three days in the new
year, morning over the lady who saved Jesse's and my life. This was
supose to be a new beginning. A new year. A new season. All my fault.
Reporters and writers wanted to put my pictures and words into The
WesBrige Moments. Dad said it was all right.
At the moment we were at a very ritzy diner having dinner with the
Hopes, when a lady in all black walked up to us. I had seen her at the
funral. She was small and feeble, but was probably in her late
seventys. Her black, gray hair was pinned up tightly, in two small buns at the
nape of her neck. Her gray eyes was dark and troubled. Her skin was so
pale, you could see every blue vein on her face.
She leaned against her crane, which looked almost like a long stick
out of the woods. "My daughter," she pointed at me, her voice coming out
as a croke, "took your bullet. She left a good name on all of us
Simons."
We all gasped. "You're Ralla's mother?" I asked, looking her over a
little closer. They did have the same nose and lips. She was much, much
smaller than Ralla, though.
She croked a chuckle. "That's right. I didn't really abandon her."
She griminced as she leaned harder on the weak crane. Daddy stood and got
a chair for her. "Thank you, kind sir. Well, as I was saying, her
father died when she was six years old. Without him, I had nothing. We
didn't have food, clothes, water.... nothing. I knew we wouldn't surive like
that. So when she was asleep one summer night, I walked and walked and
walked until I found the richest neighborhood in Sandre. I decided I
leave her in front of the sixth house....at least I thought I did." she
sighed wistfully.
"How come you're still alive?" Mrs. Hope questioned her.
"I'm a maid, like Ralla was."
"You? A maid?" Cory Michael, Jesse's kid brother said. "You're too
old to be a maid."
"Cory!" Mrs. Hope scolded him.
"No, no. It's all right," Ms. Simon croked another laugh. "I'm more
heathy than I appear, even though I'm sixty-one." All of us tried not to
show our surprise. No one, obviously, did a good job, though. For she
looked down at her hands, and a small tear trickled down her wrinkled
skin. "I don't consider myself an old lady, you know. I see myself a
beautiful star that stands out."
"Your shoes sure are pretty," Suzie offered, glancing at daddy.
Ms. Simon laughed again, but said nothing. She stood, grabbing her
crane. "I just thought you folks would like to know that. And you," she
looked at me tenderly, "thank you for giving my daughter her freedom."
I nodded slowly. "Right. It was nothing, really. She gave me my
life."
"Which is why I'm so proud of her." Ms. Simon nodded.
Mr. Hope cleared his throat. "Ms. Simon?"
"Yes, sir."
"You aren't sure what house you left Ralla at, are
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