by Lisa Glenn
I must admit, we made quite a sight walking together...a tall blonde-haired boy in sandals, a midget with a chip on his shoulder, one chicken that laid eggs and pecked everyone's feet, and then there was me; the rag-a-muffin leader. I felt liked a warped Dorothy on some twisted, yellow brick road on her way to see the wizard. I wondered how many witches and evil warlocks we would encounter on the way.
I imagined quite a few.
****
By mid-afternoon, the sun was hot and beat down on us. We had been walking for the better part of the day, and my feet were crying for a break. I stole glances at Daniel every so often who never seemed to tire...or sweat for that matter. I was practically dripping, and I noticed José was as well. Daniel wore light-blue cotton pants with an even lighter blue t-shirt. For once, I envied his sandals. José and I still looked like the Raggedy-Ann couple with the only addition to José being the same scowl he wore on his face since we left our little camp this morning. I was getting tired of his sassy attitude, to tell the truth. I was hot and hungry enough to eat a grizzly bear.
I raised my head up and shielded my eyes with my hand. The sun was finally heading back down. It was approximately two or three, by my guess.
I needed to rest, and my stomach cramps had taken a turn for the worse. My period was about to start and not for the first time wondered what I was going to do. It's not like there were sanitary napkin dispensers along the sides of roads; as well as knowing even if we did see a gas station or store; I didn't have the money to buy any. It was times like this I hated being a girl. Why couldn’t boys have a period? They didn’t even get boobs, which almost hurt as much when they started growing! It just wasn’t fair. God must be male, was all I could figure, harrumphing to myself a little
My pants were sticking to my skin now as I pulled my shirt away from my sweaty skin and blew down the front. José still hadn’t spoken to either of us. I halted and glanced around for a place to rest. Daniel also stopped and waited by my side. He sat Oreo down. I brushed my hand across my forehead. I thought the heat was sure to kill me long before my cramps started to sing in full choir. (My periods were always expeditions into hades.) It must be 100 degrees out here. I hollered for José to stop.
“Buzz off!” he hollered back.
I had enough of his sour attitude. No one said he was or could be the boss anyhow. I stomped up to him and glared down on top of his dark head.
“That’s it, José! You can either grow an inch or go on your own. I'm tired, hungry, about to start my period and am sick and tired of your attitude! Daniel is with us, so get over it! Do you hear me?”
“Fine by me!” he snarled, marching on.
My eyes widened. I swallowed hard. Oh no, what have I done? He can’t go by himself! I hate this! I balled my fists up and jumped when I felt a hand on my shoulder. I relaxed and let out a sigh.
“Let me try to talk to him. It’s me he doesn’t like,” Daniel said. I nodded.
Daniel was right, of course. While he went to speak with José, my eyes searched for a place to squat. My bladder was full to busting. Trees lined both sides of the road. I looked down the barren highway, and I could see what looked like steam rising off the black top. I headed in the direction of the nearest tree, one that was big enough to hide behind. I grabbed up dead leaves from the ground and hid.
After I finished my business and was about to stand, I noticed the blood run down my leg. I didn’t want to cry. Not in front of the boys. I used the rest of the leaves as padding. When this was accomplished, I stood on shaking legs. I didn’t want to go any farther. I needed rest and something to eat. I noticed the boys were waiting for me and watched José’s face for some sort of clue as to his disposition and didn’t see the scowl anymore, at least. I smiled at them both.
José lowered his eyes and kicked at the dirt. “I’m sorry, Shelby.”
“Thanks, José," I gave him a small hug which he cringed from a little...waiting for me to go Jekyll-Hyde on him again, I supposed and sighed. "Hey guys, can we find a place to rest somewhere around here? I need to rest, and maybe we can find something to eat.” I looked at Daniel not thinking, “Hey, do you think you could find us some food?”
“I’m sure I could scour us up something.” he replied
“No! I mean, that’s my job, isn’t it Shelby?” José said, obviously offended.
“Yeah, José, it’s your job, too,” I said apologetically.
“Don’t forget about the egg. Also, Oreo popped out another one a few hours ago...see?” Daniel held another small egg in his palm. "We could scramble them, I suppose.”
“Um...I don’t know if I can eat her eggs,” I said, my face a little green at even the idea.
José grinned, “Eggs? Oreo laid eggs? That’s so cool, Shelby! Wow, I’m glad I didn’t eat her after all.”
I glared at him, “Yeah, whatever! Where is she anyway?” I asked glancing in all directions.
“Over there,” Daniel pointed. Oreo was wandering around, pecking at the ground. That’s about all that the chicken did. Sometimes she thought my toes were something to eat. Her beak was hard. It hurt something fierce when she pecked at them, but I let her anyway. To me, she was just another reminder of the antithesis of my life rolled into one, big mess.
Peck! Peck! Remember, you're an abducted child! Peck. Peck! Remember, there's a pervert still chasing you! Peck!
I sighed heavily.
“Come on, let’s check the place out and find a place to rest,” José said, leading the way.
We followed José off to the left of the road. We wandered about half a mile through heavy thickets of brush, he being able to navigate them easily while I was being whipped and snagged at every turn, making more holes in my already ragtag clothes. Neat-o. Daniel seemed just to glide through them without a care in the world. I looked back at him hard, and he just smiled, which only served to anger me for some reason. We came across a small clearing and made a place we could all rest. José dug into his bag and came up with his trusty hook and off he went in search of a river or pond of some sort. Daniel went to go collect some sticks for a fire while I rounded up some pine and leaves for a soft bed. Once that was accomplished, I lay down and closed my heavy eyelids, immediately falling into one of my familiar nightmares.
I couldn’t breathe. It hurt.
“Ah Shelby, you are mine, aren’t you?”
“Please stop,” I moaned. “Please stop. You’re hurting me.” I turned my head toward the right. With tear-blurred vision, I saw momma standing in the doorway watching...
A shake. “Shelby?"
I jerked up, as always thankful to be interrupted but as always, drained more than refreshed.
“What is it?” I rubbed my gritty eyes. I glanced around, and it took me a minute before I realized where I was. “I fell asleep.”
“Are you alright?” Daniel was bent down on one knee, watching me, his face emotionless.
“Yes, I was just real tired is all. How long have I been asleep?”
“Not long, about thirty minutes. José caught a squirrel.” He nodded to the right.
José had a squirrel skinned and on a stick over a fire. And on a rock beside the fire were two eggs cooking.
“How are you managing to cook eggs?” I asked Daniel, impressed. The eggs were sizzling, and the scent was heavenly, despite the source that still made me feel a tad queasy.
Daniel smiled. “We heated the rocks, then just cracked the eggs and walla! Fried eggs! Your dinner will be served shortly, ma’am. Sorry, we didn’t find any water nearby, but we have a little left. At the very least, we have this mini feast!”
The food smelled wonderful. My stomach growled noisily, and an embarrassed flush rose up. When the squirrel was finished roasting, José served us each a portion of the juicy meat on a leaf. We split up the two fried eggs evenly three ways. After all the food was gone, we took a vote and decided to stay the night and start early in the morning. José guessed we were about a half a day’s walk from
the next town. When Daniel went to explore, I pulled José aside.
“José, I need a change of clothes and I need some...girl stuff. Do you think goodwill would help me? I mean, could we find one in this next town, do you think?” It was one of the hardest things to ask. I could feel my face flush.
José nodded his head and didn't need to ask about girl things, not that he would in a billion years, anyway. “Oh yeah, I’m sure of it. They have them in all the towns. They have them to help people, Shelby. Do you need me to go in and ask for you? I know you're trying to keep a low profile and all that.”
“No!" I exclaimed, blushing even harder at the thought of a boy who looked about eight going in and asking for tampons. "I...um, no I can do it this time. I just don’t want them to call the law or anything like that. Do you think they would do that if I go in there and there's like a poster of me or something?" I've never heard of a place just giving clothes away to kids... at least not without them wanting to know about the parents, I figured.
I voiced my concerns to José, who nodded wisely. Apparently, he had been around this particular rodeo a few times.
“They ask, but you just have to come up with a good lie, is all. I do it all the time... and no, it's not the post office, Shelby, and you didn't rob a bank or anything, ya know.” He shrugged his shoulders as if it was no big deal.
That was good enough for me. I walked back over to my makeshift bed and lay back down, full and contented now. I burped healthily which kicked up my ribs, which were singing a new hurt-tune again seeming refreshed by the nourishment in my belly.
Chapter Ten
Thief
We made it into the next town right before five PM. We hid Oreo behind an old barn on the outskirts of town knowing that we would draw enough attention as it was from strangers without us carrying around a chicken, to boot.
José stopped and asked a gray-haired man where the Goodwill was located. He gave José directions and handed him a five-dollar bill, obviously noting his ragged appearance. José handed me the money and told me to get my girly stuff. I think he knew what I needed. I couldn’t meet his eyes.
The store smelled of mothballs and old cigars. I wasn’t sure what I was supposed to do or where to go, for that matter. The whole place was a mish-mash of racks that seemed to make no definite sense beyond the thin half walls separating the clothes from the books and electronics.
Daniel wasn’t shy though, walking right up to the counter and asked for someone in charge. A nice old lady came out from the back room, and after Daniel had explained our plight, she nodded sympathetically and told us we could pick out two outfits a piece, including socks, shoes and undergarments. I was so grateful I wanted to cry. I was sure she saw the moisture in my eyes because she gave me a look of extra kindness. However, I hated pity more than anything else and my cheeks burned.
I grabbed José’s hand and made my way down the aisles, grabbing a pair of jeans, Capri's shorts along with two t-shirts. I was ready to get out when José reminded me to get the under-things and shoes’ while they were free. I found a comfortable looking pair of walking shoes and some sturdy lady’s underwear, and when I had everything, I walked over to the lady and asked her about the female stuff. I could hardly get the words out without biting my cheeks. She smiled and led me to the back of the store into a restroom. She opened a drawer in the bottom of the shelf and brought out a couple of packages.
“Here you go, honey. Let’s find you a bag so you can carry these, shall we?”
I followed her gratefully over to where a collection of backpacks hung on the back wall. I grabbed the nearest one and stared down at my toes.
“Thank you.” I couldn’t look her in the eye. I just knew I would bust out crying if I did. “Thank you, for everything,” I stuttered out. She smiled gently and gave me a little hug which I returned. I almost burst out crying again smelling her soft, lilac perfume that reminded me of Mamie.
I waited by the entrance door for the boys to finish shopping. Daniel was taking his sweet time. Inspecting every item like a bomb-expert, turning it this way and that; holding the item either up to his chest or at his waist to check the size. I was rocking back and forth on the balls of my feet and tapping my toe at the same time. José came up behind me.
“Did you get everything you needed?” he asked.
“Yes, I did.” I handed him back the five dollars. “I didn’t need this. We should use it and get more water and snacks and another map." He knew ours had for whatever God-knows reason had been stolen by the hood teenagers.
“If you say so,” he shrugged. He pointed to my bag, “You got a new backpack? Cool. Are you feeling better now?”
I didn’t know exactly how to answer that question. I couldn’t answer him because honestly, I didn't know myself. Was I better now? Better how? I wasn’t better. I didn’t believe that I was ever going to get better. I leaned my back against the wall and watched as strangers walked by holding hands with their children. Better? Never! Could it get worse even? Well, that may be yet to come. I made a non-committed gesture to José that told him nothing.
Daniel came out whistling and swinging his bag. “Hey guys, sorry it took so long, but I couldn’t decide on blue or brown?” he grinned.
I looked at him, just shaking my head. Did nothing phase this guy? He spoke up as we left the store. “Where to now?” His eyes moved back and forth between us.
“Well," I said slowly, "we need to find another store first, so we can buy a few essentials like water, and snacks case the umm...wildlife gets scarce, and another map.”
Daniel nodded, “Sounds like a good plan. What about showers? Maybe we can find a park somewhere with a fountain or something?”
Both José and I gasped at the same time, remembering well our last experience in a public park.
“No!” we both said emphatically at the same time.
“Okay then... I guess that’s out,” he said rolling his eyes.
“We don’t like parks, is all,” José frowned.
We walked around until we found a small convenience store. José and I went in while Daniel waited outside, watching over our bags.
I walked over to the row of maps, trying to find one similar to the one we had before. When I found it, I walked over to the counter, and after paying for it along with a gallon of spring water and three candy bars, (that was all the five would stretch for) I asked the man behind the counter if he could circle the town where we were in, making him give me the old hairy eyeball of suspicion, but I didn't care at that point. If anything, I wanted to bite out that if his crappy town had at least a streetlight that didn't dim every time someone plugged in a hair-dryer, I might have been able to find it myself and thank you very much. Instead, when he did this for me, I thanked him and stuck the change, all whopping thirty-five cents into my back pocket.
The map was cheap but still cost more than I thought it would, but I was thankful the kindly old man had given the money to José in the first place, or we would've had nothing. I borrowed his pen and took a moment, unfolded the map and located, Laurel Hill, Florida and circled it, then traced the route in what I figured the most direct way from where we were. When I turned to leave, José was already gone.
“Look what the man did.” I pulled out the map and showed the boys. “He circled the town we're in for us, and I circled our destination. Come on, let’s find a good spot to sit down and figure it out.”
José was fidgeting something fierce. “Great! Come on you guys, hurry!”
I noticed he kept looking toward the store entrance; it worried me. I folded the map and placed it into my back pocket, and we just started to cross the road when I heard the store alarm start blaring.
I looked back, completely baffled. “What’s going on?”
“Run!” José yelled.
“Wait, José,” Daniel grabbed him by the back of his shirt just as he was about to take off at a run.
“What’s going on?” I asked confused.
&nb
sp; The man from the store, the one who had circled the town on my map came running out of the store, pointing at José. “Stop that boy! He’s a thief!”
José wiggled out of Daniel's grip and took off running. “Wait, José!” Daniel called.
“Stop!” The store man screeched as if he was just robbed at gunpoint.
Now there were sirens, and a police unit came into view. A car pulled up alongside us.
“What’s going on?” Daniel asked the officer when he stepped out of his car.
The cop eyed them dryly through his mirror glasses. “We got a call from Mr. Johnson the store owner that a young boy stole a few things out of his store.”
“No, he didn’t!" I said indignantly. "He was with me the whole time! He didn’t steal anything; I just bought a map and some snacks!” The nice gray-haired clerk didn’t look so nice now as I turned to him. “José didn’t steal anything! I have the receipt, right here!” I shoved it in front of the officer’s face, my fear of Jack temporarily forgotten. Stealing was a crime, and they could take José away from me.
“Then why did he run?” the officer asked me, a small, tight smile on his stony face.
“Probably because you scared him,” I said, gritting my teeth.
Daniel shook his head sadly.
I raised my eyebrows. Did he believe the store-owner’s story? José didn’t steal anything! He was right beside me the whole time!
“Where do you kids live?” the policeman asked as he pulled out a notepad and pen, paying too much attention to my discolored eye.
I gulped. I glanced over at Daniel. I shook my head in a silent plea.
I noticed the cop looking me up and down. He pushed his glasses up a little as I heard the squawks issuing from the radio pinned to his large chest. “Do you live around here?” He directed his question towards me again.
I shook my head. People were beginning to stop and stare. A small crowd was gathering; a bunch of nosy busy-bodies that had nothing better to do this morning, I supposed. I wasn't surprised in the least. I wanted to scream at them to go take a hike somewhere else. The only time people minded their own business was when someone was hurt and needed help.