Liisa

by Sioux Dallas

  “Another bad time was when I had to drive to a small farm in Lowell, Indiana and tell two sweet old people that their baby would never be coming home.”

  “Were they too strict with her? Is that why she ran away?”

  “No. Their pastor told me they were a good family. A high school teacher had told Melissa that she was pretty enough to be a model. She thought living in the country was keeping her from being rich and famous.”

  “That’s so sad. Adults should be careful what they tell impressionable young people. But how did that influence you to leave the force? It seems to me you would be more determined to help confused young people.”

  “I think your questions will be answered here.” Barry parked in front of what looked to be a big warehouse. He opened the car door for Allison and, taking her by the hand, led her into the building.”

  “It’s the man himself!” A young male voice reached them. “Who’s the beautiful chick with you?” The boy looked embarrassed when his voice cracked.

  “This is my sister. My twin. I want her to see what we’re doing here.”

  Several teens, boys and girls, eagerly offered Allison a tour.

  “This was an empty building, but Mr. B, and some others made it into a home for us. My name’s Dan,” the boy with the cracking voice proudly told her.

  “I’m happy to meet you. All of you. I’m Allison. Show me the rest, please.”

  “Mr. B did most of the work by himself. We helped with part of the painting. His church helped us get furniture and needed supplies, and here we are. My name’s Laura,” the pretty dark-haired girl smiled.

  Allison returned the smile. “What brought you here, Laura?”

  “Most of us are runaways, but some of the kids were unhappy in foster homes. There’s a long story for the majority of us.”

  The young people led Allison into the front central part of the building into a room with casual furniture. A widescreen television, a pool table and a large table with board games on it completed the furniture. In one corner were two long tables and bookshelves filled with books. Behind the recreation room was a large dining room and a well-supplied kitchen.

  One end of the building had been divided into eight rooms each with a twin bed, two dressers and walk-in closet. At the end of the closet was a complete bathroom. This arrangement was duplicated on the opposite side of the building. Boys were on one side and girls on the other.

  “A husband and wife team is always in residence,” Barry explained as he came up behind them. “There are several retired couples who volunteer. We presently have eleven couples who take a week each. The couples supervise the kitchen with the help of the older teens. Each person is in a group with assigned tasks to take care of housekeeping and chores. They team to work together. They help each other with homework and encourage each other to get an education.”

  “I’m in awe,” Allison said. “Barry, what do you do?”

  “I’m a counselor and I drive around trying to make contact with kids on the street. Word gets out that we’re here with food, shelter and no pressure.” He turned at the sound of footsteps. “Hi! Here’s Rae and Bill Wilson who’re on duty this week. Folks, this is-”

  “Land sakes,” Rae broke in. “I’ve never seen two people of the opposite sex looking so much alike.” She blushed. “I’m sorry. Bill tells me daily that my brain needs to be in gear before my mouth is in motion. Forgive me, Barry. I interrupted you.”

  “I’m glad you carne in time to meet my sister - my twin sister. I wanted her to see what we’re doing with the kids.”

  “Let’s go into the dining room and have coffee where we can talk privately,” Bill invited. “Not that we need to keep anything from the kids. They know it all, but my feet are killing me. This woman had me going all over town looking for yard sale bargains.”

  As they started toward the dining room, a commotion at the front door caught their attention.

  “Hey! Look who’s come to see us,” Shelly said and then screamed.

  “Dear God,” Rae muttered hurrying to the door. “Hello, Jerry. Who do you have with you?”

  Barry ran past Rae to take a little girl from the young boy’s arms. The little boy had a black eye, a red, swollen cheek and a bleeding scalp wound. The little girl was unconscious and had blood on her face and clothing.

  “My sister, Charlene. He’s done it to me and I took it to stay home and take care of her, but now he’s started on her.”

  “Who did this to the two of you?” Allison asked angrily.

  Bill took her to one side. “Jerry is only nine and weighs less than one hundred pounds. Barry found him going through a dumpster behind a restaurant. He was searching for food to take to his mother and sister. The abusive father died and the mother feels she can’t take care of herself. She has men coming and going. Needless to stay, most of them are abusive because that’s what she’s used to. The man living there now does help with the rent, but resents the children.”

  “Why doesn’t the mother get a job and keep the men away?”

  “She’s weak. He beats her until she can’t go look for a job. The children’s father was a drunk who beat her and it’s all she knows. She has no self-confidence. Jerry’s smart and has had to grow up too fast. He feels responsible for his little sister.”

  “Now I understand why my brother left the police force. But how do you all earn a living. You have to take care of your own expenses.”

  “We all contribute a little from our retirement. Various organizations help financially and with material needs. Barry works for people doing carpentry work, house painting and various jobs. He allows older teens to help and gives them pocket change. Would you believe they give it back to us to help with expenses? That’s why we call our place NEW BEGINNINGS. We encourage the children to finish high school and some do earn college credits. Barry sees that they all learn a skill to help them support themselves.”

  “I’m so glad that you’re providing for these precious young people.”

  “Give your brother the credit. He knew the police work would take his time and, in many cases, tie him so that he couldn’t do what might be needed,” Bill continued. “He eats with us sometimes and on rare occasions has slept here. Adult quarters are behind the kitchen. Barry speaks at various senior centers, churches and organizations to ask for help. It’s your brother’s dream. We’re just following him.”

  Rae joined them with a sigh. “Charlene is five years old and terrified. Jerry wants the two of them to stay full time and would appreciate help for his mother.”

  “I’ll take care of it,” Barry said as he joined them. “I have friends on the force and know attorneys who will be delighted to help pro bono. Can we make room for them?”

  “We’ve made room,” Ann smiled. “Laura and I put another bed in our room for Charlene and Dan and Mike are taking Jerry. That’s what we’re here for isn’t it - to take care of each other?”

  “Honey, I’m so proud of you. Of all of you,” Barry jumped up to hug them. “Yes, that’s what we’re doing here.” He gave a thumbs up to the group.

  “We’re on our way,” he said with a satisfied grin.

  A Wrong Made Right

  Hattie Sturgill carefully and lovingly dusted the antique cut-glass fruit bowl that she had purchased that morning. She gazed at her shop sign, SWEET NOSTALGIA, with pride and satisfaction. “Grandmother Boggs would have been so pleased.” Hattie smiled at seventeen-year-old Sarah Mitchell who was helping her.

  “Almost April,” she mused. “I sure don’t feel it but I’ll be twenty-one on the tenth of the month,” she smiled as she straightened the 1904 calendar. She turned to look out the sparkling clean front window. I should hire someone to clear the orchard and help me plant a garden. Papa so loved his fruit trees. He and Mama were like young lovers walking hand in hand to admire the blossoms and then the fruit they’d worked so hard to grow.”

  Hattie could almost smell the sweet odor of the fruits and berries cookin
g as her mother made jellies, jams and juices to sell at a roadside stand in addition to the fresh fruits and berries. They kept enough for themselves. They also sold corn on the cob, beans, tomatoes, melons and whatever was in season.

  I’ve been so blessed. My little old grandmother claimed me when my parents drowned and I was a shy ten-year-old all alone. She loved me and cared for me until her dying day. Hattie looked upward with a sweet expression on her face and spoke aloud. “Grandmother, I’m going to make this shop successful, not only for my income, but one that people can enjoy and remember the dear folks who lived before us.” Feeling Sarah’s arm slip around her waist, she gave Sarah a hug.

  “Grandmother kept the produce stand going long after she was too old to be working. She provided for me and taught me to be proud to work and earn a living.” She stroked Sarah’s long, silky blonde hair and looked into sky blue eyes. “Sarah, why don’t you go on home? I’ll see you tomorrow. You’ve been wonderful help to me and I’m proud of you for saving good money to go to school. Thank you, dear.” She hugged her again and smiled as Sarah took off the long apron and left.

  Hattie paused in front of a mirror on a dresser and patted her honey brown hair. Her amber eyes always sparkled with the love of life. She leaned closer to check for dirt on her fair skin and her long gingham dress. “Grandmother,” she whispered aloud, “I wish you were here to share this with me.” She glanced around as the door burst open and a skinny little eight-year-old boy bounded in with a big grin.

  “Who you uh talking to, Miss Hattie?” he asked putting his arms around her trim waist. Her height of five-four wasn’t much taller than the child.

  “I’m talking to my grandmother, Jamie McBride. How was school today?”

  He ignored the question. With big eyes round and puzzled, he looked fearfully around. “But isn’t she dead, Miss Hattie? You can’t talk to the dead - can you?” he finished breathlessly.

  “No, Jamie. It just gives me comfort to talk aloud as if she’d still be with me. I sure do miss her.”

  “I know how you feel. I was little when my maw died. It hurts sometimes that I can’t remember her. Do you think she loved me? Would she have loved me and sung to me like you do?”

  “Why Jamie, of course she loved you. I’m positive she’d have rocked you and hugged you and would have sung to you like an angel. We don’t know why some things happen in life, but you still have your dad and two big brothers.”

  Hattie hugged Jamie to her side and urged him over to a rocking chair where she could sit and take him in her lap. She wished she could give him a bath and dress him in clean clothes. His chocolate brown eyes looked so lovingly up at Hattie that her heart gave a lurch. She ran her fingers through his dirty, thick brown hair and repeated that he had his dad and brothers.

  “Yeah,” he said sadly. “They say I’m the one that killed maw. Sam was fifteen and Ben was thirteen when I was born. She had already lost four babies and they tell me all the time that she couldn’t get over having a baby so late in life.”

  “You didn’t kill her. How could you? You were only three months old when she died.” Hattie spoke fiercely as she hugged him close. “She wanted you to be happy and was so happy to be expecting you. She made a lot of plans about how you and she could enjoy doing a lot of things together because the boys were older and went with your paw all the time. She planned how she would save and make sure you got a good education so that you could make something of yourself. She hoped and prayed you would do better than your brothers had.”

  Hattie rocked him gently thinking about Serena McBride visiting with her. She had often come into the store with bruises and feeling so bad. Hattie didn’t tell Jamie that his paw had gotten so angry when he found she was pregnant that he beat her and knocked her down. The two older boys beat and kicked their mother while she was down. They all talked so ugly to her.

  “She did! Truly she wanted me to get a good education? Did she tell you all that?”

  “She sure did. She was lonely because your brothers didn’t go to school but left with your paw all day. Goodness knows what they did. She looked forward to having you to love. She would sit here with me drinking tea and telling me of her dreams.”

  They both jumped as the door burst open and slammed back against the wall. Jamie jumped up and cowed behind Hattie as she stood up and straightened to her full height. “My goodness, Mr. McBride. You’re in a hurry to get in here. What can I do for you?”

  Two tall young men trooped in behind McBride, sneering at Jamie. She shivered at the expressions in their eyes. The way they were looking at her made her uncomfortable.

  “Here ya’are, boy,” Jonas McBride bellowed. “Why ain’t you home doing yore chores? Lollygagging around here gittin hugs from women folks like youse a baby girl. Git on outa here and git home.”

  “Yes, Paw.” Jamie sidled out hurriedly but not quick enough to dodge the hard cuff that his brother, Sam, gave him across the back of his head, nor the kick his brother, Ben, aimed at his backside.

  Hattie pursed her tips in anger. “What do you want?” she bravely asked Jonas and stared straight into his black eyes. He was over six feet tall and a big man. His black hair needed cutting and washing. He hadn’t shaved in days and his face was dirty. His yellow, jagged teeth were horrible and his heavy brows gave a demonic appearance to his face.

  “What do I want?” he laughed maniacally as the two boys guffawed. “I want money, woman, I need it a lot worse than you do cause I have three boys to take care of. I saw Todd Frazier up the street and he told me he gave you three hundred dollars for that bedroom set. You ain’t been to the bank, sos the moneys got to be here. Fork it over.”

  “Mr. McBride, Serena would be so ashamed of you if she were still alive. She was a good, decent woman and loved her family. She was so happy to be having Jamie. You should love him extra good because he’s the last of her.”

  The three men laughed in an ugly manner. “Serena’s gone and I don’t care whut she’d think. I need money right now and you’re gonna give it to me. You must have hundreds of dollars squirreled away. We ain’t got no job and we need the money.”

  “Well go out and work like I do. I’m a woman alone and you’re three grown men. The lumber mill is always looking for workers. The coal mine has openings. Take pride in yourself and have some self-respect. Work for a living like all the rest of the good, decent people in this town do.”

  Sam and Ben proceeded to knock valuable glassware off shelves and break anything they could reach. Hattie whirled to stop them and didn’t see Jonas reach for a small log that she had just started to place on the fire in a round stove. The burning end caught her across the cheek causing her to shriek. Two men, passing the store, ran in to see why she was screaming. McBride and his sons pushed past the surprised men and ran.

  “Miss Hattie!” Jude Barker gasped in surprise.

  “What’s going on?” Claude Kramer asked, angry that Hattie had been attacked.

  The two men were upset. “That trashy McBride has gone too far now,” Jude declared. “We’ve all known how badly he treated his wife and let those two older boys become hoodlums. If it wasn’t for the preacher’s wife helping raise the young one, he might have been as bad as his brothers.”

  “I’m going to get the sheriff,” Claude yelled, leaving Jude to comfort Hattie.

  Jude shuffled his big work shoes uneasily on the wooden floor and nervously wondered how he could help the young woman.

  “Miss Hattie, do you want me to go get my wife? Better still, come home with me and she’ll take care of that burn for you. There’s a cut on your cheek that’s bound to hurt something terrible. Lordy, what a mess those ignorant ruffians made here. What were they after?” He was so upset he didn’t give Hattie a chance to answer. “Those no account louts have caused trouble on this town for years. It’s time something was done about it. If the sheriff won’t do it, or says he can’t, we’ll send for a U.S. Marshall.”

  Hattie was sitt
ing in the rocker with her head back and her eyes closed holding a soft flannel cloth with Vaseline on it against the cut/burn on her cheek. “Just do me a favor,” she almost whispered. “Get the preacher, Tom Cannon, and bring him here. Please.” Jude hesitated and then hurried out.

  In a few minutes Torn Cannon burst in with his coattails flying behind him and his black hair rumpled from his hasty trip. His dark eyes snapped at the injustice done to Hattie. His wife, Iris, followed closely behind him.

  “You poor dear,” Iris sympathized. “Oh, Hattie, let me help you.” she moaned reaching out to touch Hattie.

  Hattie jerked her head back and stood beside the petite Iris whose amber eyes snapped with indignation and her red hair looked as if it were flaming standing out in corkscrews.

  “Thank you, no. Forgive me, but I have something more important to take care of at the moment. Pastor Cannon, aren’t you a lawyer, also?”

  Claude Kramer ran in followed by a fat, puffing Sheriff Arnos Parsons. The sheriff heard Hattie’s story and sadly shook his head. “I’ll do what I can, but the McBrides have broken every law for several years and everyone is afraid to do anything to them.” He waddled out running short, thick fingers through his thinning dirty blonde hair.

  “Pastor Cannon, are you or are you not a lawyer?”

  “Well, I had some training until I was called to preach. What can I do to help you? What do you have in mind?”

  She quickly told them what had occurred and how badly small Jamie was being treated. “Pastor, I want you to go get Jamie and take him home with you. Guard him with your life. Will you promise me you’ll do that?”

  The Cannons looked at each other. Iris nodded and Tom drew a deep breath. “Yes, we’ve always wanted children, but God hasn’t seen fit to bless us with little ones. Maybe we’re supposed to take children who need a good, loving home. We’ll do what we can for Jamie, but his paw is alive and the law won’t take a child from his natural folks unless it can be proven that the child is neglected or in danger.”