shevette's book!
Book #2 of three
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shevette's book!Book #2 of three
CHAPTER 14 |
I was released around midnight. It had been a horrifying experience. I never wanted to go back to jail. Toni had been let out before me but she made the girl next to where she was sitting promise to look out for me and she left me her seat on the bench. The number of occupants in our cell, in all the cells had gone up dramatically. It was Saturday night and everyone was out partying. Every new girl that was locked in our cell was a possible threat to me. They could come take my seat. Once I had lost that there's no telling what would happen to me. I seemed to be the only first time offender. Boy I was glad to get out of there!
Dad had come alone. It was just about midnight. I guess I had been picked up around four in the afternoon so that meant I had been in custody for eleven hours. By the time dad got me back I felt very tired and beat up. He cried when he saw how I looked barefoot, disheveled, bruised from the accident, dirty, and the marks from the handcuffs were still around my wrists. There was a strained silence in the car as he drove me home. He was being quiet because he knew he was too mad to try to speak. I was quiet because all I could think of to talk about was what had happened to me and I knew that would just upset dad more. If he found out what they had done when they strip searched me in front of those other people he would have gone off.
I was ready to go off. If I hadn't been so scared and so worn out. When we got home mom held me until I had gone to sleep.
***
I was wakened the next morning by the shrimp. It was funny in a way. I was dreaming when I was grabbed by something. I woke aware that I had been asleep. I was in my room and there was something wrapped tightly around my chest. It was still dark outside. I couldn't figure out what had me. It turned out to be Shela. I relaxed and hugged her back warmly.
"You're back...you're back..." she was saying.
"That's right shrimp. I beat 'em all up and came home."
"You escaped?" she asked in awe.
I started to continue on with the half-joke then decided I had better not. Things could get messy with the law and it would be better if she knew what was really going on--except for the CB part, of course. "No, they let me go. I have to go to court in a month and they'll decide if I did wrong or not."
"They could lock you up?"
"Maybe, we'll have to see."
"It's that miserable car of yours! I never liked it anyway. Dad should have never brought it home!"
"Don't cry. It'll all be ok. You saw what happened out on the road, didn't you?"
"Yeeaah..."
"Was it my fault that tractor hit us?"
"No! It just rolled out in front of you and there wasn't even anyone driving it!"
"That's right shrimp. They won't send me to jail for that will they? Of course not. They just took me down town to ask me some questions. They do that sometimes. I'll go to court and daddy will straighten everything out. You'll see, everything will be fine, ok?"
She pouted for me. "Ok." she allowed.
I gave her another hug. I'm still tired. How about you? Do you think I could get some more sleep?"
"I want to stay here with you!"
"That's ok. Are you going to be able to sleep?"
She was nodding off already. I stretched comfortably then closed my eyes. It felt good to be home.
***
Later we got up and went downstairs to get something to eat. Mom and dad were in the dining room talking quietly when Shela and I arrived. Shela had attached herself to me. I guess she wanted to be sure no one took me away again. It was cute in a way. I wished I could believe no one would ever take me away again either. That had been the worst experience of my life. The whole idea was repugnant. Who had ever came up with the idea in the first place?
"Good morning you two. How are you doing?"
"I'm fine." I told dad. "Although I seem to have developed a growth on my leg." I said indicating Shela.
"I see. Shela what are you doing?"
"Nothin'."
"How about letting your sister sit down and eat something. Would you like to make us all breakfast? I could really go for some more eggs and bacon like you made us last time."
Shela perked up a little. Mom saw that and joined in with dad. "Yes dear, that would be nice. Can I help you? I'll make toast and coffee while you cook the eggs and bacon, ok?"
Shela was nearly dancing when she and mom went into the kitchen. She liked as much attention as she could get. In the last week she had been shut out of most of what was going on. The little rug rat needed someone to look at her for awhile.
"How are you doing?" dad asked me after mom and Shela had left.
"I'm still a little shaky." I admitted. "But it's great to be home. Where did you get the money to get me out?"
"Don't worry about that. I hope you learned something yesterday. Your mom tells me that you are wanting to leave home. I hope that you saw what would happen to you if you had. You would still be in that place."
"I know but I think you should see why I need to get out of here. I was nearly exposed as a CB in front of Shela. Do you know what that would do to her?"
"Unfortunately I think I do. I don't know how I have raised two prejudiced little girls. What has made the both of you dislike people you have never met so much?"
"You're supposed to, dad. When I was in jail the CB's are treated differently. When I go to trial I will face much harsher sentencing because I am a CB. That's the law. Everbody knows that CB's have a much higher crime rate than anyone else. The only way to get thier attention is to be harder on them."
"Then you think it's alright that you were arested for something that you didn't do?"
"No! Of course not. They don't know me. The law has to assume that I will fit the CB profile. As soon as this goes to trial where I can explain myself everything will be fine."
"You believe that?"
"Sure. I believe in the law. The only problem is I have to move out before it becomes common knowledge that you have a CB in your house. You can see that now can't you, dad?"
"No, I'm afraid I don't see it like that at all. You are saying it is alright for the law to make you move away from your friends and family."
"No dad. Gee, it's not the law that wants me to move away. I want to--so no one knows about me."
"I don't understand, peaches. Isn't it the law that perpetuates this seperation, this segregation?"
"Well they have to keep us apart. CB's do have that high crime rate. They are always doing things to get themselves into trouble. Look at how they kill each other. The gangs, the fights, all the rest."
"And that's where you want to live? In some gang hoping someone won't kill you?"
"No! I'll be fine. I have a friend who'll protect me until I learn how to be on my own. I won't hang out with all those radical types. You know me. I'll find my niche. Not all CB's are like the ones you see on the news."
"There has got to be a way you can stay here with us. I've not prepared you for the real world. I don't know how now. Your mother and I have sheltered you too much. I had always thought you would live here until you found a nice young man to marry and he would protect you the way we have. I guess I have done you a great injustice. You are not equipped to survive on your own."
"You're talking like I was some mental reject or something. I can learn. I'll have too."
"I don't know, peaches. We'll talk more later. They're nearly done in the kitchen. Promise me you won't do anything without talking to your mom or me first."
"I'll try to, dad."
"I'll take that to mean you will try real hard. I know you don't think you can make promises. I can accept that, just try to work with us. There's got to be an answer.
"Peaches after we eat I'd like us all to go to church. We haven't been in quite some time, ok?"
"Sure dad. I think it would help."
***
The church we attended was downtown just a few blocks from where I had been incarcerated. Needless to say a lot of the church elders were people high in government. Our high priest was the Leader of Tower colony. Several priests were way up there in the police department including the chief of police. We belonged to a very prestigious church. That's not to say that our particular church was any better than any other one in Tower colony. We all prayed to the same god. What I'm trying to say is the building we went to was used by most of the muckity-mucks in the colony.
I had always thought that I would be high in government and the church some day. The two things went hand in hand. All of that was at a stand still now. I didn't know what I would be doing a year from then. Mom and dad might find a way for me to live as I had been or I might find myself in jail for something I hadn't done. It was mind boggling. What a spot I was in. I had always kept away from all the bumps in life. Now I was in one of the biggest cracks in the road that there was. I was anxious for the day's sermon to be particularly uplifting.
It was. I don't remember what it was about anymore but I do remember the singing of praise. The talk of the brotherhood of man (and woman) was inspiring. The grandness of it all. I was even glad when I saw the man who had set my court date and introduced me to my legal advisor singing in the choir. I stared at him trying to get him to look my way. Have you ever noticed that you can stare at someone and they will always turn to see who is looking at them? It's true. I wanted him to see that I was there in church with him. That I was a good person too, not some common criminal. He never looked.
Services continued for three hours then we filed out in order. We were greeted at the door by the priest who had given mass. He was shaking hands with dad when a minister who was standing next to him asked us to step to one side. He had something to tell us I wondered what it was. We had never been asked to do that before. We were led arround the building to an alcove. Mom was asked if she would mind kepping an eye on Shela while dad and I went with the minister. We were promised that this would only take a moment.
I held dad's hand as we walked on the lawn to the very back of the building. When we turned the corner there was the man I had seen inside from the police station and one of the high priests. They were both arrayed in thier church outfits--that is to say they were dressed to the hilt in gold, burgandy and white. I was impressed.
I had been noticed.
"Mr. Tegor isn't it?" The priest asked.
"Yes, your highness. How good of you to remember my name."
"Not at all. I have seen you among the congrigation many times. I have just been given a piece of unfortunate news by the High Empth, Mr. Randel here. Do you know each other?"
"No, I'm afraid I've never had the pleasure, your highness."
"He tells me that he has met your daughter--in an official capacity, in the police department, yesterday. He tells me that she is soulless. Is that correct?"
Dad looked like he was about to faint.
"Y...yes she is..." he managed to get out.
"Is she adopted or something?"
"Yes, your highness."
"How about your other child--what's her name?"
"Shela, your highness. She has a soul."
"I want you to know Mr. Tegor, that I consider it in very poor taste to bring this poor soulless creature into our church. What is she to think? It is most unfair to expose her to what might have been. I know she has come before but I want it to stop. It is unfair to her and to me."
"Yes, your highness, your wishes will be followed."
"Thank you, Mr. Tegor. Let me warn you that if I see her in my church again I will expose the two of you right in the middle of mass if I must."
"I won't bring her anymore."
"Good! Good, for now I will let this be our little secret. I sugest you do something about your situation at home. Good day, sir!"
"Good day your most highness."
I was still standing there with a blank look on my face when the two men turned in thier majestic robes and strod away. I don't think I had breathed the whole time they had been talking.
I looked at dad. What an ass I was. I had burdened him nearly my whole life and now I had embarrassed him in front of the church. That was proof that I had no soul. If I had I would have cared for him and left. I couldn't help it. I didn't know any better. Well, I had heard it from the high priest's mouth. I knew what I must do. I must leave.
Dad was getting mad. "What right does he have to tell me what's right or not! I should have punched him where he stood!"
"Dad...Dad! Dad, will you listen to me? He was right! We are wrong and it's all my fault! I've got to move out today! It's the only way! He was nice enough to give you a chance to get back right. You must do as he asks!"
"What are you talking about?"
"You must let me go before the word gets out about me. I refuse to be reasponsable for ruining your lives!"
"Hold on! All the man said was not to bring you to church anymore. We don't need this church anyway. You're still my daughter and I love you. Your mother loves you. Shela loves you. We'll work this out. C'mon, they must be getting worried about us!"
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