Runaways

  "But what?"

  "There wasn't time."

  "He wasn't wearing any protection?"

  "No."

  "Oh Raven. He's a creep to do this to you. Why wasn't he careful?"

  "He's not a creep," we heard Crystal suddenly say from the bedroom. "He's stupid. He doesn't know you from a hole in the wall and he takes a chance being sexually active with you? That's stupid."

  I smiled. Good old Crystal, pretending to be asleep and listening to everything.

  "I did the same thing," Raven admitted. "I was stupid too."

  Crystal came to the doorway and looked at us. "Yes, you were. Let's hope you're lucky this time, Raven," Crystal told her.

  I'm scared," she said after a pause. "Could I get pregnant?"

  "Of course you could," I said. "Right, Crystal?" "When is your period due, Raven?"

  "About three days," she replied.

  "You're probably all right. You've always been regular, haven't you?"

  "Yes," she said in a small voice.

  "I think you'll be all right, Raven," Crystal reassured her. "But I wouldn't go out with him again. He didn't care about you, that's for sure," she said. Raven was silent. She turned and buried her face in the pillow. Then we heard her sob. I touched her shoulder.

  "I'm sorry," she said. "I'm sorry I'm stupid. And I can't help being afraid."

  Butterfly was still asleep in the bedroom and apparently had heard none of this. Crystal approached the bed and gazed down at Raven whose shoulders were shaking with her sobs. She looked at me and then she crawled onto our pullout bed. She and I brought our heads to Raven. We touched Raven's head.

  "We're sisters," Crystal began. "We'll always be sisters."

  We chanted and held each other and prayed that Raven would be lucky.

  The following morning we all rose and got dressed without any more mention of Taylor Cummings. We didn't even talk about Danny and his creepy friends. It had been a restless night for Crystal, Raven and me, so we were moving like zombies Finally, we walked over to the restaurant and threw ourselves into the work.

  Patsy was very chatty, happier than ever, talking about when she would close the restaurant for her holiday and where she might go for a vacation.

  "Maybe I'll go to California, too," she said. "I haven't ever been there. Have any of you?"

  As always, we waited for Crystal to answer the question and I saw that this was beginning to sharpen Patsy's interest in us. She watched us as Crystal replied.

  "No, this is going to be our first trip, too. That's why we were all so excited about it," she said.

  "Mighty courageous of your parents letting the four of you travel across country like this," she said. The first customer had yet to arrive.

  "Well, we don't exactly have the perfect home life we made out to have," Crystal continued. Raven and I polished silverware and straightened chairs while Butterfly folded napkins, but we were all listening. It was just as much new information to us as it was to Patsy.

  "What's that supposed to mean?" she asked.

  "Butterfly's mother died a few years ago. Her father travels a lot. My parents are divorced and so are Raven's. Brooke's adopted," she added. "And recently her adoptive mother had a serious operation. Her adoptive father thought it would be good for her to travel with us while he concentrated on her adoptive mother," she concluded.

  Crystal was like a spider, weaving her cobweb of personal lives, events, tragedies and comedies to trap the unsuspecting listener. Patsy looked trapped. She turned and viewed each of us in a more

  sympathetic way.

  "Oh," she simply said.

  "But we're fine," Crystal jumped in quickly. "We were having a really great time until we ran into that unfortunate person, weren't we, Brooke?"

  "Yes, and I've enjoyed working here. We all have," I said.

  Butterfly nodded vigorously. Raven stepped up to her.

  "The girls told me about your wanting to warn me

  about Taylor. I should have listened. He's a creep." "Did he hurt you? Because if he did . ."

  "No, I don't want you to do anything. If and when he comes around here, I'll deal with him, Patsy. Thank you," she said.

  "I bet you will," Patsy said, smiling.

  The first customers arrived and we all began to work. Two young men who were friends of Taylor's were there, but Taylor didn't show. I saw Raven speaking to them and then I saw her go off to the side and wipe her eyes. I left my tables and hurried over. "What's the matter?"

  "They told me Taylor went back to his old girlfriend. He was out with her last night. He just used me, Brooke. I'm such a fool."

  I hugged her quickly.

  "It's his loss. He's the one that goofed up," I said. "Let's get back to work and take your mind off of the creep."

  She wiped her eyes and nodded.

  "Thanks," she said and we returned to the tables. It was another successful breakfast, every available table taken with people waiting to be seated. Butterfly ended up working the counter. Afterward, when she did her count, Patsy told us again how the receipts were up.

  "If this continues, I'll be able to retire soon," she kidded. "I'm going over to the bank now to make my deposit from yesterday and this morning," she said. "Anybody need anything from the drugstore?"

  "I don't think so," I said, looking at Raven.

  "No, nothing," she said.

  We remained in the restaurant, having coffee and talking to Charlie, who wanted to tell us about his travels when he was a much younger man. He did have great stories. He had been as far as China!

  "There is a lot of world to see," he said, "a lot to learn, but what you learn for sure is a good friend is hard to find. You girls look like you all found each other. That's gold," he said. "You don't have to travel anymore if you're looking for something more valuable than that."

  He made us all feel good, and even Raven was beginning to cheer up. But we both knew that it would be a while before her broken heart healed. We were about to leave and rest up in the cottage when Patsy came hurrying through the front door. She hadn't gone to the bank yet. One look at her face told us

  something terrible had happened.

  "My money's gone," she announced, "my deposit. All of it."

  She stood there before us, the corners of her mouth trembling.

  Crystal was the first to say it.

  "Is Danny gone too?" she asked.

  "No," Patsy said, surprising us. "He was home, just getting up. He swore he didn't know anything about it."

  "When did you see the money last?" I asked her. "Last night."

  She just stood there, gazing at us. It began to give me a creepy feeling. I glanced at Crystal, whose eyes were getting narrow.

  "I've been ripping the place apart," Patsy continued. "I searched Danny's room better than a hound dog."

  "What'cha think happened?" Charlie asked. She paused.

  "Danny said he thought I was in the house again this morning. He said he heard me return after the breakfast rush. I didn't return," she said, moving her gaze from Butterfly to Raven and then to Crystal and me.

  The creepy feeling in my stomach turned into a shaft of ice that slithered up my spine. I sat up straighter.

  "You can't believe that one of us . . . that we . . took it?" I said softly, hoping she would shake her head vehemently.

  "I don't want to believe anything bad about anyone," she said, nearly in tears now. "Danny claims he heard footsteps."

  "He's lying," Raven said. "Did he tell you what happened last night'?"

  "No. What happened last night?"

  "Raven," I warned.

  "No," Raven insisted, "she should know, Brooke. He and his friends were peeping in our bathroom window. Brooke caught them when she went in to take a shower. They even tried to . . ."

  "To what?"

  "To attack her," Raven blurted.

  "What?"

  "It was nothing, Patsy," I said. "They went away when I confronted them."

&
nbsp; She stared at us.

  "Look," Crystal finally said. "The best thing to do is to go over to the cottage and search if you like."

  "I don't want to do that, girls. I want to believe you wouldn't steal from me," she said.

  "And we wouldn't," I emphasized.

  She nodded and I expected that would be the end of it, but she sighed and looked back a moment.

  "He says I never take his word. He says I'm always accusing him first. I know it's insulting, but if you girls and I just walked through the cottage . ."

  "Fine," Crystal said jumping to her feet. "Let's do that."

  "Yes, and afterward, let's have a heart to heart talk with Danny boy," Raven fired as she stood up.

  "These girls wouldn't steal from you, Patsy," Charlie said.

  "I know," she said, forcing a smile. "Thank you, girls."

  We followed her out. As we started around the restaurant, we heard a door slam and saw Danny come out of the trailer, pulling his tee shirt over his head. He sneered and started after us.

  We entered the cottage. Crystal and Butterfly had made their beds before we left for work and I had put the sofa back together. The blanket and pillows were beside it where I had left them. Except for Raven's blouse draped over a chair, none of our things were scattered about. The bathroom was neat, too. We all stood in the center of the small living room.

  "You're welcome to look anywhere you want, Patsy," I said. I couldn't hide the disappointment in my face and voice.

  "Check those sacks, Ma," Danny said from behind us. He was referring to our pillowcases.

  "Danny, they wouldn't do such a thing," she said, shaking her head.

  "I'll do it," he cried and sauntered past us. He emptied each of our pillowcases onto the floor. Some of our clothing got mixed together, but there was nothing else in them.

  "Satisfied?" I said.

  He looked at his mother and shook his head.

  "I ain't, no." He gazed around and then pounced on the small dresser, pulling out the drawers, feeling under the underclothing and socks.

  "Didn't you learn your lesson last night?" I asked him when he held up Raven's bra.

  He reddened.

  "Danny, let's go," Patsy said. "The girls didn't take my money."

  "Why don't you tell her where it is already?" Raven asked him.

  He gritted his teeth and then he looked at the sofa as if a ghost had whispered in his ear. He fell to his knees and reached under the sofa frame. Everyone watched him. Raven started to laugh when suddenly, he backed up and held out a bank deposit bag.

  "I knew it was here," he said with sick pleasure. He dumped the sack on the floor and Patsy's money flowed out.

  "We didn't take that!" I protested. "You must have put it there."

  "Right," he said. "I'm a magician." He looked up at Patsy. "Ma, call the police."

  "No," Raven cried. "We didn't do it, Patsy. He's lying. He put it there!"

  "If I put it here, why wouldn't I have gone right to it?" he asked, looking up at Patsy. "Why did I waste all that time looking everywhere else, huh, smart ass?" he said to Raven.

  "Because you're putting on an act," she replied, backing away from him.

  "You're the ones putting on the act," he spit back at her. "You knew my mother always left the trailer door open. I heard you in there this morning."

  "It's not true, Patsy," I said, shaking my head. "I swear we didn't do that."

  She pressed her lips together and looked seconds away from bursting into a storm of tears.

  "Call the police, Ma. I bet they steal from everybody. I'll call," he said, standing.

  "No," she said. "Just put the money back into the bag, Danny. Go on," she ordered.

  "But . ."

  "Do as I say," she commanded firmly. "Put it back and give it to me."

  "It's evidence, Ma. You've got to leave it right here for the cops to see," he argued.

  "Danny! Please just put it back."

  "You're making a mistake. You're taking their side even now," he added, his face twisting with rage. "You always believe everyone else but me!"

  "I'm not believing anyone else, Danny. 1. . ."

  "Yes, you are. Damn you!" he screamed and charged past us and out the door, slamming it hard behind him. It was as if a tornado had just twirled through the small cottage. Crystal put her arm around Butterfly and pulled her closer. Raven looked at them and then at the floor. I knelt down to put the money back into the deposit bag.

  "We didn't take this, Patsy," I said, handing it to her. "I don't know how it got under the sofa." "I do," Raven said sharply.

  Patsy nodded.

  "I believe you girls. I really do, but I think it would be best for all of us if you all left now. pay you what you're owed," she said sadly. "I need to deal with Danny, and I'm afraid I won't be able to get through to him with you girls here. He seems to blame you for his troubles. I'm sorry," she said. "I wish you luck. Come into the restaurant when you get yourselves packed up." She went to the door. All of us held our breath. When she opened it and turned, Butterfly stepped away from Crystal.

  "We didn't take your money, Patsy," she said. "We wouldn't steal from you or anybody. Please don't make us leave."

  Patsy's face crumpled.

  "I'm sorry, dear." Tears finally broke free of her eyelids and began to streak down her cheeks. She took a deep breath and hurried out.

  "That jerk, that piece of garbage, that poor excuse for a human being," Raven rattled off. 'Why is she giving him what he wants? He never liked us from day one."

  "What else can she do? He's her son," Crystal replied. "And we're just strangers."

  Frustrated, Raven stormed into the bathroom.

  "Let's get our things together, Brooke," Crystal said. "The faster we're on the road, the better off we'll be."

  It didn't take us long to get our things back into the station wagon. We were going to leave without getting our wages from Patsy, but she sent Charlie for us.

  "I know that boy done that to you," he said. "He's not just an apple rotting the bunch. He's rotting the whole barrel too," he said. He was as furious as we had ever seen him. "I'm going to let him know it, too," he promised.

  "Patsy needs all the help and support she can get, Charlie," Crystal told him.

  "I know. It's like swimming with a rock tied to your neck," he said.

  We drove up to the restaurant and got out. Patsy was near the door, waiting with our envelopes.

  "It's not much, but I hope it helps you along your way. Maybe you girls oughta turn back," she added, looking sharply at Crystal. "Save this trip for another time. Traveling can be very difficult, even for young people."

  "Thank you, Patsy," Crystal said and took the envelopes for us. "We're sorry to leave you like this."

  Butterfly looked like she was about to cry. Patsy hugged her and then hugged Raven, Crystal and me. Her eyes were little pools of tears. She bit down on her lower lip.

  "Thank you for helping out. You're good girls," she whispered and turned away.

  We stood there a moment, looked at the restaurant and at Charlie, who gazed at us glumly and then started his work. He looked like he hated good-byes as much as we did.

  "Let's go," Crystal whispered.

  We walked out in silence and I got behind the steering wheel. The heavy overcast sky that kept the morning dreary was beginning to break up. Clouds parted in the distance and rays of sunshine poured through.

  "It's turning nice. At least we won't be driving in rain," I said. No one responded. I didn't think anyone else even noticed the weather.

  I put the car in drive. When I gazed into my rear-view mirror, I saw Danny standing outside the trailer, his arms folded, looking very satisfied with himself.

  I drove out, turned right on the highway and headed west. Still, no one had spoken.

  "I guess you had better take out your map again, Crystal," I said.

  She unfolded it without a word.

  Raven had the right side of h
er face against the window. She watched the scenery flow by, took a few deep breaths and then closed her eyes.

  "This must be some kind of record. Betrayed by two creepy guys in less than twenty-four hours," she said with a shaky laugh.

  "I'm sure you'll find someone honest and true someday, Raven," I said. "We all will."

  "I still can't believe that Danny." Raven wiped angry tears away.

  Butterfly leaned forward and put her hand on Raven's shoulder. Raven turned, smiled at her and covered Butterfly's hand with her own.

  "Why was he so mean to us, Raven?" Butterfly asked.

  "Because he's mean to himself," Crystal replied for her. "He hates who he is so he hates everyone, even his own mother."

  "I thought he was lucky having a mother," Butterfly said.

  "He is," I said, "but he doesn't know it." "Or care," Raven added.

  We were all silent again and then Raven smiled,

  "You know," she said, "I was just thinking. Maybe we're not so unlucky after all. Maybe we've got something better."

  "What?" Butterfly asked her.

  "Each other," she said. "We've got each other." I drove on toward the emerging sun that, like us, was heading west again.

  1 0 On the Road Again

  It rained again. Driving had lost its excitement for me and became dreary and monotonous, especially on the longer Interstate highways where there was little to look at except other cars. Every time we saw a highway patrolman, we cringed a bit, but none appeared to take any real interest, some not even giving us a passing glance. I made sure to stay well within the speed limits. Our stops for gas, for lunch and finally for dinner were the only events that stirred any enthusiasm. Butterfly slept a lot. Crystal, who could read anywhere, had her nose in a book, and Raven, bored and upset, pouted, dozed, fidgeted and complained. Regret, like a determined snake, slithered into our thoughts, hissing at us periodically through small remarks, moans and sighs.

  "Summers weren't all that bad back at Lakewood," Raven muttered just before we stopped for dinner. We had gone nearly an hour without anyone uttering a sound. The radio droned on, but I was no longer listening. "At least we got away from Gordon and Louise more when we worked."

  "That's wonderful, Raven," I said. "I must have been on drugs because I wasn't aware you were in such a state of bliss back there. I was stupid enough to think you hated almost every minute of it. I guess I just imagined the continuous stream of complaints pouring out of your mouth."