20 More

Scenes from a time long ago play as shadows on a wall through her mind.1

She sits remembering days of old, pondering on the mysteries of life. 2

She blinks back tears as one scene unfolds slowly before her inner eyes, two kids crouched and hidden, one boy, one girl, thin drunk man yelling their names, hunting them.3

Both kids scared and trembling, boy holding girl, comforting, quieting, thin man staggering, stumbles into the room, closet door yanked open, blankets ripped from the beds. 4

Girl screams hand upon her ankle, pulled from under the bed, boy desperately trying to keep ahold, boy punched, knocked against the wall, girl hauled out kicking and screaming.5

Girl tossed like a rag doll on the couch, thin man grabs the willow switch, fat woman in wheelchair grinning says assume the position you little bitch.6

Girl slowly removes her pants and undies crying, leans over the arm of the couch, thin man approaches asks who's turn it was to feed the dogs, girl stammers the word MINE.7

Switch is raised, comes whirring, cracks the young girls bare butt, she lurches, trembling, clenches her teeth, grips the couch, fat woman giggles, only 19 more to go.8

Boy stumbles into the room, sees the girl, their eyes meet, she shakes her head as he steps forward, his fists clenched he glares at the fat woman, and the thin man.9

Switch raises, connects, 2, 3, 4, a dozen and a half times, girl shaking, tears falling, lips trembling, boy crying, 19...finally the last time, girl let's out a small whimper.10

Fat woman laughs, 20 more she says, I heard that whimper, girl cries, boy yells no not fair she did her 20, thin man strikes, boy falls to the floor bleeding.11

21, 22, a dozen and a half times more, girl sobs, fat woman claps, again 20 more, girl yells mom no, thin man strikes 41, 42, 43, girl cries, fat woman says again 20 more, 61, 62, 63...12

Girl unable to stand, thin man holds her in place with one hand, switch in the other, 84, 85, 86 girl crying uncontrollably, butt bleeding, blood running down her legs, 91, 92...13

Boy yells Laura be still, no crying, please no more, girl clamps her teeth down, holds firmly to the couch cushion, 93, 94, she grimaces refusing to make a sound.14

95, 96, 97, small body shaking, 98, 99, 100, thin man says enough, John clean her up then get your asses in bed, boy helps girl stand, half carries half drags her to the bathroom.15

She's shaking and bleeding, shuffling to the bathroom, boys crying, he whispers Laura we need to get out of here, we've got to go, this isn't right, look at you, let's run away, then we can be safe.16

She thinks on this as he cleans her up, wonders what life would be like away from here, finally she shakes her head, says I can't John, why not he asks in disbelief.17

She stammers I just can't, what of Jackie she says, what will they do to her, she's just a baby, it wouldn't be right, John sighs, you're right he says, we can't, we've no place to go...18

The scene clears...19 1/2 years later, girl sits remembering, wondering what then became of Jackie after John ran away, and she, Laura was taken by the state, was Jackie beat too?19

Lori Hipsher20

Jan. 27, 2004