to spin a tale that I thought sounded
not only good but completely believable. I said something about my
daddy beating me and how I finally decided I couldn’t take it any
more. I was running away to live with my grandma, who was a
shut-in. I threw in all kinds of stuff about my real life to help
things along. You see, I found out from an early age that the best
lies are those with a little truth mixed in.”
“And what did he have to say about that?”
Jennifer asked with a smile. As a child she had never been able to
get anything past her father, and Christy laughed as she recognized
Jennifer’s knowing expression.
“I can tell you know exactly how far I got
with that yarn. Your daddy wasn’t bashful about calling me out on
it either. He even told me how goofy of a tale it was, and maybe I
should just start over with the truth or at least something closer
to it. I had been abused; that part was clear enough, but that
wasn’t the only reason I was out there in the dead of night, trying
to thumb a ride.”
“Did you come clean then?”
“I didn’t tell him everything if that’s what
you’re asking. What I did do was tell him a version close enough to
the truth that he couldn’t tell the difference,” Christy grinned as
she thought about the money and the fact that she had conveniently
left out that little detail. “After I got done with my story, we
just sat there some more and kept on driving. We talked a little
bit here and there, but mostly it looked like he was thinking. You
know the look I’m talking about, the one that says that he’s
thinking about how all the pieces are going to fit together. I
don’t know how he did it, but everything always seemed to work out
the way he wanted. As long as I was around him, I never had to
worry.” Christy dreamed about those times again and longed for
those days when it all came so easy. “After a few hours he pulled
into the parking lot of this Motel 8. When he parked the car, I
looked at him not knowing what was going through his mind.”
“I’m not like that, girl, “Jack said, “so get
that thought out of your head right now. I’m going to lay things
out for you and feel free to stop me if what I say isn’t the
truth,” he said to her and then started ticking his talking points
off on his fingers. “Number one, your fifteen years old and where
you belong is school, and not on the side of the road or wherever
you came from. You’re pregnant, and right now that means you have
to start taking care of yourself and start taking responsibility
for your actions. I know that concept might be a little new to you,
but I can help you with that as long as you’re willing to help
yourself. You at least have to be a little scared right now whether
you admit it or not. I know I would be if I were in your shoes.
That’s just one more reason why you should start making good
decisions now because the more good ones you make, the more they
lead to even better opportunities in the future. I want to help
you, and that’s probably going to involve doing some things that
you’re not comfortable with, but doesn’t mean that they’re not good
for you. Speaking of that, I know you have your reasons for
leaving, but eventually you have to go back home, and make things
right with your folks. I’m sure your mother misses you like crazy,
and it’s not right just to leave her hanging. I’m not trying to lay
a guilt trip on you or nothing, but every day you’re gone and your
mother doesn’t know where you are, is like another slap to the
face. Emotional abuse can be just as painful. I would like to sugar
coat it for you, but that’s the plain and simple truth of it.” He
paused for a moment to let her think about it. She was defensive
with her arms crossed, but he could tell it was making sense to
her.
“The next thing is that you have to let the
law do its job. I can tell you don’t trust cops, but that’s no
reason to let your stepfather run rough-shod over
not only good but completely believable. I said something about my
daddy beating me and how I finally decided I couldn’t take it any
more. I was running away to live with my grandma, who was a
shut-in. I threw in all kinds of stuff about my real life to help
things along. You see, I found out from an early age that the best
lies are those with a little truth mixed in.”
“And what did he have to say about that?”
Jennifer asked with a smile. As a child she had never been able to
get anything past her father, and Christy laughed as she recognized
Jennifer’s knowing expression.
“I can tell you know exactly how far I got
with that yarn. Your daddy wasn’t bashful about calling me out on
it either. He even told me how goofy of a tale it was, and maybe I
should just start over with the truth or at least something closer
to it. I had been abused; that part was clear enough, but that
wasn’t the only reason I was out there in the dead of night, trying
to thumb a ride.”
“Did you come clean then?”
“I didn’t tell him everything if that’s what
you’re asking. What I did do was tell him a version close enough to
the truth that he couldn’t tell the difference,” Christy grinned as
she thought about the money and the fact that she had conveniently
left out that little detail. “After I got done with my story, we
just sat there some more and kept on driving. We talked a little
bit here and there, but mostly it looked like he was thinking. You
know the look I’m talking about, the one that says that he’s
thinking about how all the pieces are going to fit together. I
don’t know how he did it, but everything always seemed to work out
the way he wanted. As long as I was around him, I never had to
worry.” Christy dreamed about those times again and longed for
those days when it all came so easy. “After a few hours he pulled
into the parking lot of this Motel 8. When he parked the car, I
looked at him not knowing what was going through his mind.”
“I’m not like that, girl, “Jack said, “so get
that thought out of your head right now. I’m going to lay things
out for you and feel free to stop me if what I say isn’t the
truth,” he said to her and then started ticking his talking points
off on his fingers. “Number one, your fifteen years old and where
you belong is school, and not on the side of the road or wherever
you came from. You’re pregnant, and right now that means you have
to start taking care of yourself and start taking responsibility
for your actions. I know that concept might be a little new to you,
but I can help you with that as long as you’re willing to help
yourself. You at least have to be a little scared right now whether
you admit it or not. I know I would be if I were in your shoes.
That’s just one more reason why you should start making good
decisions now because the more good ones you make, the more they
lead to even better opportunities in the future. I want to help
you, and that’s probably going to involve doing some things that
you’re not comfortable with, but doesn’t mean that they’re not good
for you. Speaking of that, I know you have your reasons for
leaving, but eventually you have to go back home, and make things
right with your folks. I’m sure your mother misses you like crazy,
and it’s not right just to leave her hanging. I’m not trying to lay
a guilt trip on you or nothing, but every day you’re gone and your
mother doesn’t know where you are, is like another slap to the
face. Emotional abuse can be just as painful. I would like to sugar
coat it for you, but that’s the plain and simple truth of it.” He
paused for a moment to let her think about it. She was defensive
with her arms crossed, but he could tell it was making sense to
her.
“The next thing is that you have to let the
law do its job. I can tell you don’t trust cops, but that’s no
reason to let your stepfather run rough-shod over
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