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Mary-Anne looked out the window as the car parked beside the dilapidated rooming house, wondering if this was a nightmare that she failed to wake from. Her eyes scanned the area, taking in the old men sitting on the stoop drinking from bottles hidden in paper bags to the litter tumbling along the cracked sidewalk, playing with the slight breeze. She looked up at the house, taking in the peeling paint and cracked windows, wondering which one was her father’s.
“It’s not Buckingham Palace, that’s for sure,” Maggie stated.
Maggie watched Mary-Anne. How could the judge be so blind? How could he believe a man who was not only convicted for molesting his own daughter but also for countless other offences over the years. None of it made any sense.
“I really don’t have to do this, do I?” Mary-Anne whispered, “I thought I was going to be allowed to tell the judge what I wanted.”
“I know, none of it is right. Just remember, you have my emergency number and you memorized the police – use it. Don’t be afraid to use it.”
Maggie got out of the car and walked to the passenger side, opening the door. Mary-Anne looked up as she stepped out and stopped. Before her was the one man she vowed never to speak to again – her father.
“My Mary-Anne” he said, wrapping his arms around his daughter, “Finally we are together again.”
Mary-Anne closed her eyes, wishing for the nightmare to end. Her nose crinkled at the strong smell of after shave, a reminder of days long past. Her arms remained stiff at her side as he enveloped her in a hug. Maggie took out the small night bag, placing it on the ground. Peter let go, pushing Mary-Anne at arm’s length to look her over. Maggie shivered.
“My baby has grown up!” he stated, “You were only knee high to a grasshopper when I saw you last.”
Turning to Maggie, he stated, “Isn’t she a beauty? Looks just like her mum. Damn good thing too, wouldn’t want my baby to take after her old man!”
Maggie forced a smile.
“Ok, princess let’s take this here bag to our room and go to McDonald’s” he stated, grabbing the bag, “You do like McDonald’s still? I remember you used to beg me for a Kid’s Pack. Guess you’re a little old for that though.”
Maggie interrupted, “Excuse me, Mr. Willis. I just wish to remind you that Mary-Anne has to be back here tomorrow at 6:45PM. I won’t be here, it will be a driver – her name is Martha McVoy and she’ll be carrying identification.”
“Ya Ya, don’t get your nose out of joint, she’ll be here.”
“I’m just reminding you sir, as I would all parents,” Maggie continued on, “It is important that Mary-Anne be waiting down on the stairs or sidewalk when the driver arrives.”
“Ya Ya, I said I’ll have her here and she’ll be here” Peter stated, “Look lady, I know you mean to only do your job but me and my kid here, we have some visiting to do and not much time to do it. So if you don’t mind, you be getting and we can start our visiting.”
Maggie pushed her anger down and turned to Mary-Anne, “Ok Mary-Anne, you enjoy yourself. Martha is really nice, you’ll like her.”
Mary-Anne watched Maggie drive away, her heart heavy and her resolve clear. Her father would not see her cry.
“Ok, princess let’s get that bag inside and get to McDonalds” her father said, picking up the bag and walking towards the rooming house, “We don’t need no interfering social ladies, not when we have each other. Right princess?”
“Right daddy” Mary-Anne said, “Your princess is home now.”
**********************
Robert stood at the back door feeling powerless to end the pain within his son. As he watched, Bobby ripped apart the tree fort, smashing boards and popping out nails with such force, some nails flew over 5 feet. Bobby screamed out at top lung capacity, at all the unfairness in the world.
Betty stormed into the back yard and walked directly to Robert.
“What is going on? First the police were at your door. Now your son is going insane, disturbing the neighbourhood! I’m going to call the police back, you just watch me!”
“The number is posted at our phone” Robert stated, never removing his eyes off Bobby, “Be my guest. Be sure to take off your shoes, my wife just washed the floor.”
“Well I never!”
“No, I bet you haven’t.”
Before Betty could react, Robert walked back into the house. Betty stood there a moment, her mouth hanging open, then marched back to her home. After an unsuccessful call to the police, she complained for the remainder of the day to her husband about the “crazy neighourbours next door and how it was time to move.”
***********************
Lisa hung up the phone as Robert walked in.
“That was the hospital” she said, “As Bobby tried to tell us, Melody is fine. She has a broken nose, black eyes and a broken tooth. There doesn’t seem to be any other problems. She’s a little weak right now and that’s to be expected.”
“Good” Robert stated, “That’s one less thing to worry about.”
“Yes”
In the background, Bobby’s screams were still heard intermixed with the ripping of boards and popping of nails.
“Will he be ok, honey?” asked Lisa, as she walked to the kitchen window to look out at the backyard, “I don’t know who I’m more worried about, him or Mary-Anne.”
Robert came up behind her, wrapping his arms around her shoulders and pulling her close to him, “Same here. Guess we can only trust that the good Lord knows what he’s doing because right now, none of it makes sense to me.”
*******************
“I’m quitting on Monday” Maggie stated to her boyfriend, “I can’t do this anymore. If you could have seen where I had to drop off this girl, it was awful!”
Maggie grabbed the vacuum and over the noise yelled, “I’ve had it with the system! I’ve had it with parents having more rights than children. This isn’t why I became a social worker!”
Her boyfriend kicked up his feet as she vacuumed underneath, saying nothing, allowing her to rant. It was always this way after she returned children back to abusive parents. Come Monday, she’d be right back in the office ready to take on someone new. Maggie slammed the vacuum into the TV stand, nearly tipping it over.
“Damn! I can’t do this anymore!”
She dropped the nozzle and burst into tears. He pulled her onto his lap and held her tight, knowing no words could fix the pain she was feeling inside.
***************
“Well, princess this is your room” Peter said, placing her bag by the well worn bed, “I’ll be sleeping on the couch. Not bad digs eh?”
“Yes daddy, it’s really nice”
“Hey princess, you wait here, I got me a present for you!”
As Peter went into the living area, Mary-Anne looked around. The room was clean and had recently been painted. The dresser was old and sported a broken mirror. She walked to the bed and sat upon it, feeling it sag into the middle. The whole place smelled of Pinesol. At least she didn’t have to worry about bugs.
“Here, I know you’ll love this!” Peter said as he thrust a messy wrapped item towards her, “Hey I know it looks bad but I was never good at wrapping stuff, your mum was the expert at that.”
“I’m sure I’ll love it, daddy” Mary-Anne replied back as she slowly undid the paper, revealing a tiny cat ornament. Tears sprang to her eyes. She quickly wrapped it up.
“Thank you”
“Hey! I don’t get no hug or kiss? What’s that about? I picked that special after I heard your cat died. Thought this might help you.”
Mary-Anne put the gift on the dresser and walked to her dad. She pushed aside the tears.
“I love you daddy, you really are the best daddy ever.”
“That’s my princess,” he said, wrapping his arms tightly around his daughter, pulling her close, “You know just what daddy needs to hear.”
© 2001, BMcInnis
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