A Home for Jessa

by Robin Delph

  “I’m afraid he’ll find out then I’ll be in trouble Sara.”

  “Don’t worry I won’t tell him. Now go to school and have a good day.”

  Maybe Sara wasn’t so bad, Jessa thought as she grabbed her books and headed out the door. She has never really been mean to me and she isn’t the one that tells me I have to clean everything. Maybe it was just Rick. But why is he so mean to me? I’ve always done was he has told me to do and I’ve been nice, even to James and Nelson. And that has been a hard thing to do.

  School was great Jessa had all A’s and her English and reading teacher had both said that she had the potential to be a great author someday. That excited her more than anything, to think me an author someday Jessa thought as she worked on her assignment. And in that instant Jessa decided she didn’t want to write short stories anymore she wanted to write a novel.

  All through lunch and recess Jessa thought about the novel she would write. What would it be about she thought and what would be the title? Would anybody even want to read it? The bell rang and Jessa went to her locker to get her things and head out to the bus.

  “Jessa,” her English teacher called. “Can you come here for a minute please?

  Jessa ran into the classroom wondering what to expect.

  “Jessa I want you to have this,” she said handing Jessa a book. “It’s a book to help with you writing. You are very good, but if you’re going to write a novel someday you will need something to help.”

  “Thank you so much,” Jessa said taking the book.

  “Now run along or you’ll miss your bus.”

  Jessa was more excited now than she had ever been. She had someone that believed in her writing and that thought she was good enough to be an author one day. Nothing could ruin her good mood. She ran to get on the bus she wished she had someone she could share her good news with but she didn’t. It was made perfectly clear by Rick that he did not approve of her writing, he had told her if he caught her writing he would burn her journal. Maybe I can sneak and tell Sara she thought, but quickly decided against it. What if one of the boys overheard her and told Rick. That’s how she got in trouble for it the first time. No she would just have to keep it to herself, but going without writing was another thing she didn’t know how much longer she could. It was her passion.

  Chapter Five

  Jessa smiled the whole way home, but once the bus stopped in front of the house her smile quickly faded. Rick was standing in the door waiting for her and the boys to get home. Just the sight of him made her feel nervous. Jessa thought to herself I’ll just stay out of his way today. I’ll go in and start cleaning and do my homework later maybe if I do that he won’t have a reason to get mad at me. Jessa got off the bus and headed toward the house. On her way through the door she heard James and Nelson tell their dad that they needed to talk to him. Jessa figured they had got in trouble at school again so she went straight in and start cleaning. A few minutes later she heard Rick come through the back door.

  “JESSA GET IN HERE,” Rick yelled.

  Jessa shook all over when she heard him yell for her. She dropped the rag she was using to dust and ran into the kitchen.

  “Did you clean the kitchen this morning before you left?” Rick asked.

  Before she could even answer Rick said. “Don’t you dare even say you did, James and Nelson both saw you leave and Sara cleaning up.”

  “But the bus was here I had to go to school and Sara said it was okay,” she replied.

  “IDON’T CARE WHAT SARA SAID I TOLD YOU TO CLEAN THE KITCHEN,” he yelled.

  “But I had to go to school,” Jessa said and immediately she wished he hadn’t said it.

  “ARE YOU BACK TALKING ME?”

  Before Jessa knew what had hit her he slapped her across the face. He had hit her so hard that it knocked her into the wall. Jessa heard a cracking sound when her shoulder hit the wall and she knew it was broken. Then Rick grabbed her by the arm twisted it and pulled her up the stairs, threw her in her room and slammed the door behind him. She laid crumpled up on the floor sobbing so hard that it shook her whole body. All she wanted to do was go to sleep right where she was but the pain was so intense she couldn’t.

  A few hours later she her foot steps outside the door. Please Lord don’t let it be him please, she silently prayed. When the door opened she was relieved to see Sara enter the room.

  “Jessa, quickly grab a few of your things and come with me,” she said in a hushed voice.

  “I can’t Sara I think my arm is broken.”

  Sara quickly grabbed Jessa’s back pack and threw in a few of her clothes. “Jessa can you get up can you walk?” she asked.

  “I don’t think I can.”

  Sara grabbed Jessa and helped her up. They made their way down the stairs and out the back door. Jessa didn’t know what was going on as Sara put her in the car.

  “Where are we going?” Jessa asked.

  “I’m going to take you to the hospital to get you checked out,” said Sara.

  “Thank you Sara.”

  They drove the rest of the way in silence. At least I know Sara’s not mean Jessa thought, but why did she bring some of my clothes? When they had pulled up in front of the hospital Sara just sat there.

  “Jessa this is what I need you to do,” Sara said, “I’m going to let you out and you go in. Please don’t tell them what happened if you must don’t say anything at all please. If you do they’ll take my boys. Don’t even tell them were you have been living or that I brought you here. They’ll check you out and call a social worker. Do you understand what I am saying?”

  Jessa nodded her heard yes and opened the door.

  “Jessa,” Sara called out, “I am so sorry.” Then she sped away.

  Jessa was so dizzy from the pain that she thought she would collapse right there in the parking lot. She gritted her teeth and started to make her way to the door when a woman spotted her and ran over to her. Jessa knew she looked awful. Her face was all bruised, swollen and streaked with tears. Not to mention she couldn’t hardly walk. As the women got closer to her she could feel herself about to pass out. The last thing she felt was the woman’s arms around her and the woman saying something but she couldn’t make out what and then everything went black.

  When Jessa woke the next morning she was in a hospital room hook up to an I.V with a cast on her arm. She was about to call for a nurse when Mrs. Turner walked in.

  “Jessa honey what happened? Mr. Harris said you never came home from school and that he thought you might have ran away. He said they looked for you all night and gave up this morning and called me. Shortly after he called I got a call from the hospital saying they had a little girl that was all beat up and didn’t know who she was or where she came from,” Mrs. Turner told her.

  Jessa just rolled over so she couldn’t see her.

  “Alright if you don’t want to say that’s fine, but we can’t get who done this to you if you don’t tell me.”

  Jessa had a broken arm, fractured shoulder and her face was badly bruised. She found out that she would be going back to the orphanage when she was released. Mr. Harris said they couldn’t keep a child that was going to run off like she did.

  Chapter Six

  The next day on the way back to the orphanage Mrs. Turner kept trying to get Jessa to tell her what happened or who had done this to her. Jessa never said a word. She knew it wouldn’t do any good. Mr. Harris would deny it and Sara and the boys would vouch for him she was sure. No one would believe her so why put herself through all of the pain it would cause. Jessa was just glad to be back at the orphanage were she knew it wouldn’t happen again and she could go back to church. The thought of being back in church seemed to make her feel better and knowing she would be able to write again.

  Mrs. Turner came around to help Jessa out of the car. When Jessa stepped out she saw Mrs. Drew waiting for them at the door.

  “After you have put your things away Ms. Parks come and see me in my off
ice,” Mrs. Drew told Jessa as she walked in the door.

  “Yes Mrs. Drew.”

  Jessa climbed the stairs to the girl’s rooms. When she got to the room she say a little girl who looked to be about five years old, Jessa couldn’t really tell though because the girl had her back toward her and she couldn’t see her face. She looked as if she were reading so Jessa decided to leave her alone and unpack. Once unpacked she started for the door to go see Mrs. Drew when she heard the little girl start to sob, Jessa just couldn’t walk out and leave the little girl crying so she walked over to see if she could comfort her.

  “Are you alright?” Jessa asked.

  The little girl looked up at Jessa with tears streaming down her face. Jessa thought the sight of her own face had frightened the little girl because she started crying even harder.

  “My name is Jessa, what’s your name?” Jessa asked as sweet as she could.

  “Leslie,” the little girl replied.

  “May I ask why you are crying Leslie?”

  “I don’t like it here. I wanna go home but they want let me.”

  “Who want let you Leslie?” Jessa asked.

  “The social worker and that mean lady downstairs.”

  She has to be talking about Mrs. Drew Jessa thought. Poor girl Mrs. Drew is enough to scare anyone even me.

  “How long have you been here Leslie?” Jessa asked trying to get the little girl to talk more to see if it would help her.

  “Since last night, the social worker came and took me from my mommy and I don’t know why. I love my mommy and she loves me but they said I couldn’t stay with her anymore. Do you know why I can’t stay with my mommy?” she asked Jessa.

  “No honey I don’t but I have to go see Mrs. Drew in a minute and if Mrs. Turner is still downstairs I can ask her for you if you want?”

  “Would you really ask for me Jessa?”

  “Yes I will. Now dry your tears if you want to get in my back pack and play with the teddy bear I have in there until I get back.”

  With that being said Leslie got up and got the teddy bear and started to play. Jessa smiled at her and started back downstairs to see Mrs. Drew. Poor little girl Jessa thought she seems so scared and Mrs. Drew probably made it worse on her. As Jessa rounded the corner she ran into Mrs. Drew.

  “I’ve been waiting for you Ms. Parks, what has took you so long?” Mrs. Drew asked.

  “I was talking to Leslie. She was crying so I thought I would see if she was alright.”

  “Very well come in and have a seat we need to talk.”

  Jessa followed Mrs. Drew into to her office and sat down wondering the whole time what she wanted to talk to her about.

  “Now would you mind telling me why you run away from the Harris home and how you ended up so badly beaten?” Mrs. Drew asked.

  “I didn’t like it there.” Jessa replied.

  “I was given to believe that you loved it there and that they treated you as if you were their own daughter.”

  “That’s not true Mrs. Drew. They never treated me anything like a daughter. I was treated like a maid.” Jessa told her.

  “I will not listen to such nonsense. Ms. Parks you were treated with the best of care and you know it. Now how did you end up beaten half to death?” Mrs. Drew asked.

  “Why should I even bother with telling you, you won’t believe me anyway so what’s the point.” Then Jessa got up and left.

  “I will not tolerate this behavior Ms. Parks do you hear me.” Mrs. Drew called out after her.

  Jessa didn’t even turn around she just kept on walking hoping to run into Mrs. Turner. Jessa never found her so she went to the front desk to see if she was still there. Unfortunately she had already gone home for the day so Jessa headed back upstairs. There she found Leslie still sitting on the bed playing with the teddy bear.

  Leslie turned around when she heard Jessa come in. “Did you find out why they won’t let me go home?” she asked.

  “No I’m sorry Mrs. Turner was already gone for the day. Maybe we can catch her the next time she comes.”

  Leslie started to cry.

  “Don’t cry it’ll be okay. Hey would you like me to read you a story?” Jessa asked pulling her journal from her back pack.

  Leslie nodded her head yes. Jessa got up on the bed and patted the spot beside of her for Leslie to come and sit. Leslie went and set with Jessa leaning her head on Jessa’s good arm while she read to her.

  Chapter Seven

  In the two weeks Jessa had been back she had grown very close to Leslie. She found out last week that Leslie had been placed here because her mother’s boyfriend had abused her and a neighbor had called a social worker. She felt so bad for her, but her mother had proved that she didn’t know that it had happened. Her mother pressed charges against him herself and he was now in jail which means that Leslie gets to go home to her mom today. Jessa was glad she would get to go home but she would miss reading her the short stories she had written before they went to bed at night.

  “I get to go home to my mommy today Jessa. I’m so happy.” Leslie told her while she packed her things.

  “I know and I’m so happy for you but I’m going to miss you so much.” Jessa told her giving her a big hug.

  Just then Mrs. Turner came to the door. “Are you ready to go home Leslie.” Mrs. Turner asked.

  “Yes I am.” Leslie said running to the door.

  “Well let’s go then. Oh and Jessa Mrs. Drew wants to see you.”

  “Thank you Mrs. Turner I’ll head down to her office in a few minutes.” Jessa said.

  Jessa hugged Leslie one more time before she left and then headed downstairs to see what Mrs. Drew wanted. I hope she doesn’t ask me about what happened at the Harris’ I would tell her but she won’t listen, no one will.

  Mrs. Drew was standing outside her office door when Jessa rounded the corner. “Come in and have a seat Ms. Parks we have something we need to discuss,” Mrs. Drew said as she motioned for Jessa to take a seat.

  “Is something wrong Mrs. Drew?” Jessa asked

  “When you were first brought to the orphanage we were told you had no known relatives. I have been going over your file and have found that someone made a mistake, you have an aunt that lives in Maine.”

  Jessa’s jaw dropped. She didn’t know what to say or even think. Jessa had been told that there was no one, no one at all.

  “Ms. Parks did you hear what I said?” Mrs. Drew asked.

  Jessa could only nod her head yes.

  “As you may know I have to contact her. Legally she should have been your guardian all along. I have given her a call but she wasn’t home at the time so I am sure I will hear back from her soon. I thought you might have wanted to know that way if and when she comes to take you it wouldn’t be such a surprise.”

  Jessa couldn’t even concentrate on what Mrs. Drew was saying. All she could think about was she had a family a real on not a foster one.

  “Ms. Parks you can go now. I’ll let you know as soon as I hear from her.”

  “Thank you Mrs. Drew.” Jessa said and then took off running out of the office.

  I have a family a real one Jessa thought as she climbed the steps two at a time. I can’t wait to meet her and to finally have a real home! She has to take me with her after all I am her niece and that’s what family’s do, they love each other and take care of each other. Oh I can’t wait!

  Jessa couldn’t sleep for thinking about her aunt so she decided she would write for a while. As Jessa found a blank page in her journal she started thinking about the novel she wanted to write. She still didn’t have a title or any idea what it was even going to be about. Remembering the book her teacher had given her she decided to read it instead. After reading the first few chapters she still couldn’t stop thinking about her aunt and the fact that her birthday was only two days away. Birthdays weren’t really celebrated in the orphanage. There was no cake or cards, just a few people who remembered would say happy birthday in passing
.

  Jessa woke to the sound of the children yelling and playing outside. She got up and went to the window to see what was going on. Jessa saw that most of the kids were playing a game of red rover. She decided to get dressed and go see Mr. Henson and talk to him about her book. As soon as she was dressed and her bed made she headed downstairs. Maybe talking to Mr. Henson about my novel will help me take my mind off my aunt.

  I can’t believe I have an aunt Jessa thought. I wonder what she is like? Does she have kids of her own? Would she even like me? What if she is a writer like me? So many questions were racing through her mind that she didn’t even see Mr. Henson and she walked right into him.

  “Well hello Jessa, lost in thought today.” Mr. Henson chuckled.

  “I’m so sorry Mr. Henson I didn’t even see you.”

  “That’s quit alright dear, well have a nice day.”

  “Actually I was coming to see you. Do you have some time to talk?” Jessa asked

  “Yes I do come on in to my office.”

  “Thank you Mr. Henson.” Jessa said as she took a seat.

  “Is something wrong Jessa?”

  “No not really. I wanted to talk to you about my writing. As you know I have been writing ever since you gave me my journal and when I was going to the regular school two of my teachers told me they thought I would make a good author one day. One of them even gave me a book to help perfect my writing.”

  “That’s great Jessa. I always knew you would do good with writing and I am pleased to hear your teachers thought so to.”

  “Thank you Mr. Henson. I have decided I would like to write a novel.” Jessa told him.

  “Wonderful! You must let me read it when your finished I can proof it for you and we’ll try and find a publisher.”

  “There is just one problem I haven’t even started writing it yet. I don’t even know what to write about or even have a title. I was hoping you would help me, maybe tell me what I should call it or what I should write about.”