Next

ACT 6

            Lord woke as the sun rose in the eastern sky. It was like there was a scraping sound as the bright yellow disk lifted above the horizon. The astral noise never failed to wake him. He lay still for a few seconds listening for sounds of Lily, he needed to get up, the bathroom beckoned. Feeling that it was safe, he whipped the sheet off of him and he stood, reaching for his levi’s. He tried putting them on as he hopped to the toilet. After he was finished relieving himself he decided he better comb his hair and brush his teeth so that he could go out and get a cup of coffee and something sweet. His stomach still ached from yesterdays sickness, but pangs of hunger rumbled there too.

            He peeked out of the doorway, making sure that his clumsy dressing hadn’t brought Lily out of her sound sleep. She was still breathing deep and regular. He hurried over to his bed and found a clean shirt, but had no luck with socks, so he unwadded the dirty pair stuffed in his boots and pulled them on, then the boots. Lord tiptoed to the door and went outside.

            Lily smiled, then opened her eyes. She had been awake since Lord had drawn the bedcovers back and sat up. She had learned to be a light sleeper around her father. She and her sister had never known when he might come into their room and start screaming at them and lashing out in a drunken fury. They had to be prepared to escape his ranting.  Now, she wouldn’t have to worry about him again.

            She decided that it was time to get up, Lord probably wanted to get going early. As early as they could anyway. She wouldn’t hold him back, after all, he was generously giving her a ride to…well somewhere. A sudden kick by the baby inside her reminded her that she had to figure something out soon.

            Lily was drying her hair with the thin towels that were provided when Lord let himself into the room. She watched him set two cups and a small sack on the desk.

            “Donuts” he said when he saw her look at the sack. “I hope you like coffee.””

            Lily grimaced, “It will do until I can get some milk. And some eggs, bacon, toast…lots of jam. Can we get breakfast Lord? I’m real hungry. It’s the baby, you know.”

            Lord grinned, “I guess, but let’s get down the road a ways. Maybe, we can find a good café instead of a drive-in. It looks like the baby is getting all of the food.”

            Lily blushed at the thought of him looking that close at her swollen stomach. She couldn’t do anything about it, “Right now, that is.” she thought. “Can I have that last donut?”

            Lord laughed and handed it over.

             They finished their snack and Lord took his turn in the shower. He opened the bathroom door to let the steam out. He looked in amazement at the scene before him. Lily had dumped his bundle out on the bed and sorted the clean clothes from the dirty ones, which she had bundled in a pillow case and set it by the door. The clean clothes were still piled on the bed waiting for him to choose what he would wear for the day. She had separated his toiletry items into a pile on another pillow case. “Wow! What have you done? You didn’t have to.” Lord told her.

            Lily sat on the side of her bed nonchalantly watching his expression. Her bundle was neatly packed and sitting by the door waiting for him to load it. She said, “I know I didn’t but I thought it might speed things up for us this morning and make it easier tonight when we stop. You about ready?”

            Lord didn’t know what to say except to acknowledge her logic, “Yeah, I guess you’re right, I was in a bit of a hurry yesterday, Thanks…a lot.  That was real nice of you Lily. I’ll be done as soon as I grab some clean socks and brush my teeth.”

            When his morning ritual was finished Lord slipped his boots back on and picked up an armload of stuff and motioned for Lily to open the door. He walked out into the sunshine and to his old Chevy pickup with his load of clothes. He lifted the bundles of their belongings over the side of the pickup bed and onto the wooden floor. He straightened up and turned to go back for another load and ran face to face into a deputy sheriff.   

              “What you think you’re doing there, boy?” The officer asked.

            Lord didn’t know what else to say, “Getting ready to hit the road. Got a long way to go.”

            The deputy acted like he hadn’t said anything, but asked, “Have you got a girl in that room with you?” He didn’t give way so that Lord could go anywhere.

            “Yes sir, not a girl, a woman. She’s just a friend that I’m giving a ride to.” Lord was suddenly worried. He had asked her age, and she had said 18, but he hadn’t really seen proof of that.

            The deputy’s right eyebrow raised, “Well let’s just see about that.” He turned and walked into the room. When he spied Lily, the other eyebrow raised at the pregnant belly and the black eye that was now fading to a glorious green and yellow. He spoke in that serious law enforcement voice. “Ma’am what happened to you, did this man hit you? Are you alright, do you need help?”

            Lily’s eyes grew as wide as the deputy’s. She stammered, “I’m OK, really. My father hit me the other day. He’s a drunk. Lord is my friend. It’s OK, really it is.” Her voice wavered, like she might cry.

            Lord stood in the doorway, feeling helpless. This was getting to be unfunny. He hoped that black eye would fade a bit faster. The deputy raised his hand, like that would stop the tears like it stopped traffic. Lily didn’t recognize the gesture and took it as unbelief. She sobbed and the tears began to flow. “Really, I’m not lying, if it wasn’t for Lord, both eyes would be black. Please, don’t do anything to him.”

            The deputy was alarmed, he hadn’t wanted to make her cry. “Wait, don’t cry! I’m just checking on you, the motel clerk called me this morning. Now, just quit crying and show me your identification. We’ll sort this out.”

            Lord reached in his hip pocket and lifted the wallet out. His license was right in front, he removed it to hand to the officer. Lily was still sobbing, but she started rummaging through her pack. She stirred through all of her belongings with no luck. Feeling desperate, she dumped the bag upside down and poured the contents out on the bed. She was crying outwardly now, tearing at the ‘stuff’ on the bed, throwing it aside if it wasn’t her wallet.  Lord stepped towards her in order to help, but the deputy held out his arm to stop him.

            “I’ll help her, you stay by the door.” he said. He walked over to her side. “Now, just calm down there, little girl, what is it we are looking for?”

            “Mmmm….mm…my wallet.” Fresh tears coursed down her cheeks. “It was in here last night.!”

The deputy reached down and picked up a thin leather wallet, “Is this it?” He held it up for her to look at.

            With her eyes full of tears she held out her hand and the deputy gave her the wallet. She opened it and pulled out her Drivers license, and gave it to him.  He looked it over and looked at Lord’s as well.  He handed the cards back to Lily. The deputy’s hand went to cup his face and he turned and walked to the door. He stopped in front of Lord, still holding his face and looking at the floor.  

            “Son, do you know what you’re doing?” he said as he lifted his head and looked Lord in the eyes. Lord looked steadily back at him. The deputy turned and looked at Lily and asked, “Do you trust him to take care of you? He won’t hurt you? Or the baby?” he pointed at her belly.

            “Yessir, I trust him like a brother. You see, I got no one else. I can’t go back home. I won’t.“  Her jaw was rigid with determination. The tears dried up and a fire burned in her eyes. “Dad hit me the last time two days ago, and I won’t be mistreated again.”

            The deputy nodded, “OK, you’re old enough to know what you want.” He turned back to Lord, “Walk with me out to my car.” He pushed by Lord and walked. Lord followed, noticing that Lily still stood defiantly watching the men.  When the deputy reached his car, he paused and held out his hand, there was a business card in it. Lord tried to take it, but the man shifted enough to grip his hand and hold it, the card held between. “Call me or write when you reach where you’re going. If she doesn’t stay with you, let me know where she is. OK?”

            Lord nodded, “Yessir, you can reach me through the county sheriff at home. If you don’t hear from me, call him…he’ll know what’s up.” They shook hands in agreement.

            “Take care of her, she needs someone.” The deputy got into his car and drove away.