but our choices were limited. He was looking for work, but we both knew the score. Eddie was good with his hands and not much else. He applied and kept a smile on his face, but I saw the real feelings behind it. I saw them because I felt it, too.
It was restlessness. He and I had lived a three-day adventure, then gone into two weeks of nuclear family stagnation. As I laid in bed next to Eddie, I thought about Bonnie and Clyde. If they hadn’t been gunned down in their prime, would they ever have settled for day-to-day work, again? I didn't think so.
I was having even less luck than Eddie. Even though I had tons of hours of volunteer work, I’d never actually held a job. I interviewed all over Bakersfield, but no one was looking to hire a nineteen-year-old with no skills in retail. Esther had tried to get me into an entry-level position with her company, but they weren’t hiring either.
Eddie and I were getting desperate, and I think we were both fighting that primal urge. We were both adrenaline junkies, addicted to the danger—we had a death wish. Whatever you call it, we would never be the type to sit behind a desk or punch in at nine and out at five. He and I knew it, and Esther probably did, too. She sat down with me one day after a quiet dinner on their back porch.
I knew the talk was coming, but it was still hard. Esther had protected my location from our parents long enough.
“You know they have a right to hear from you, Faith.” Her voice was soothing, almost too soothing. She was working hard to convince me, probably motivated by my mother. “I know things were bad, but they are still our parents.”
“I know. I know,” I said as the sun began to fade into the Diablo Range of mountains to the west. Almost three weeks after Eddie and I skipped town, I still hadn’t talked to them. My anger and fear were still very present, and I thought that may have stopped me from calling earlier. Esther was right. They were still my parents; they had a right to hear from me.
“We’ll be out of your hair as soon as one of us lands a job, sis. I know it’s been a pain having us here, but it won’t be for much longer. I promise.”
She smiled. “Hey, you stay as long as you need to.” She meant well, but her words fell flat. I couldn't blame her.
I stared at the phone for a long time before dialing. I was in the master bedroom with the door closed. I knew I was going to get an earful, and the last thing I wanted was someone to come in while I tearfully tried to explain myself. That was my thought going in, but then I decided there would be no tears.
I made a choice; a choice I intended to stick with. Eddie and I weren’t going back, and if my parents decided to come to Bakersfield for me, I think my man would have no problem firing up the Harley and taking off. Bonnie and Clyde; Faith and Eddie.
With that thought keeping my soul warm, I prepared to deal once again with Colorado Springs. I dialed my parents’ number and waited.
“Hello? Vincini residence,” my mother answered, the same scripted cheer in her voice every time she picked up the phone. I thought it might trigger something, some kind of pain, but it didn't.
“Hi, Mom.” I held my breath, waiting for tears or anger.
It was the former. A clank came, and I pulled the receiver away from my ear. As I put it back, I could hear sobbing.
After a strong effort to cover the crying, she said, “Sorry, dear. I dropped the phone. Your father and I were worried sick.”
“I know you were, Mom, and I’m really sorry,” My voice got lower, “But you know why I left, don’t you?” I listened carefully before speaking. If my dad was in the room with her, she’d ignore the question. There was no way she didn’t know what he was really like. I feared for her safety, but something told me that he paid her no attention. It had always been his daughters that caused him “demons.”
She let out another choked breath. “I know, dear.
It was restlessness. He and I had lived a three-day adventure, then gone into two weeks of nuclear family stagnation. As I laid in bed next to Eddie, I thought about Bonnie and Clyde. If they hadn’t been gunned down in their prime, would they ever have settled for day-to-day work, again? I didn't think so.
I was having even less luck than Eddie. Even though I had tons of hours of volunteer work, I’d never actually held a job. I interviewed all over Bakersfield, but no one was looking to hire a nineteen-year-old with no skills in retail. Esther had tried to get me into an entry-level position with her company, but they weren’t hiring either.
Eddie and I were getting desperate, and I think we were both fighting that primal urge. We were both adrenaline junkies, addicted to the danger—we had a death wish. Whatever you call it, we would never be the type to sit behind a desk or punch in at nine and out at five. He and I knew it, and Esther probably did, too. She sat down with me one day after a quiet dinner on their back porch.
I knew the talk was coming, but it was still hard. Esther had protected my location from our parents long enough.
“You know they have a right to hear from you, Faith.” Her voice was soothing, almost too soothing. She was working hard to convince me, probably motivated by my mother. “I know things were bad, but they are still our parents.”
“I know. I know,” I said as the sun began to fade into the Diablo Range of mountains to the west. Almost three weeks after Eddie and I skipped town, I still hadn’t talked to them. My anger and fear were still very present, and I thought that may have stopped me from calling earlier. Esther was right. They were still my parents; they had a right to hear from me.
“We’ll be out of your hair as soon as one of us lands a job, sis. I know it’s been a pain having us here, but it won’t be for much longer. I promise.”
She smiled. “Hey, you stay as long as you need to.” She meant well, but her words fell flat. I couldn't blame her.
I stared at the phone for a long time before dialing. I was in the master bedroom with the door closed. I knew I was going to get an earful, and the last thing I wanted was someone to come in while I tearfully tried to explain myself. That was my thought going in, but then I decided there would be no tears.
I made a choice; a choice I intended to stick with. Eddie and I weren’t going back, and if my parents decided to come to Bakersfield for me, I think my man would have no problem firing up the Harley and taking off. Bonnie and Clyde; Faith and Eddie.
With that thought keeping my soul warm, I prepared to deal once again with Colorado Springs. I dialed my parents’ number and waited.
“Hello? Vincini residence,” my mother answered, the same scripted cheer in her voice every time she picked up the phone. I thought it might trigger something, some kind of pain, but it didn't.
“Hi, Mom.” I held my breath, waiting for tears or anger.
It was the former. A clank came, and I pulled the receiver away from my ear. As I put it back, I could hear sobbing.
After a strong effort to cover the crying, she said, “Sorry, dear. I dropped the phone. Your father and I were worried sick.”
“I know you were, Mom, and I’m really sorry,” My voice got lower, “But you know why I left, don’t you?” I listened carefully before speaking. If my dad was in the room with her, she’d ignore the question. There was no way she didn’t know what he was really like. I feared for her safety, but something told me that he paid her no attention. It had always been his daughters that caused him “demons.”
She let out another choked breath. “I know, dear.
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