Page 20 of Families and Other Enemies

Bridget sighed and closed her eyes as if in prayer.

Kellen came and knelt beside Sophia. “Can you tell me what happened?”

Sophia froze and stared. And remembered. “They...showed up at the end of the alley. Everybody started running. Ralph said no, no running, they’d like that. He got the baseball bat. Kept it hidden. Said when he started swinging then I should run. Those men—they came in kicking at the cardboard shacks, laughing, stomping. They looked at me and said...they said they were going to rape me. All of them. They said...they said...”

Bridget hugged Sophia even tighter. “Kellen, would you make some herbal tea and bring it to my office, please?”

“Right.” Kellen went into the kitchen, found the kettle and put it on the burner with a shaking hand. Within ten minutes, she came back carrying three steaming cups of “calming” tea on an old, painted wooden tray. She handed out the mugs, placed the tray by the door and sat on the plastic chair Bridget offered her.

Sophia was still trembling, but the hysterical edge had left her voice, and she was clearly in the middle of telling Bridget about what brought her to her current situation.

“My mother, um, she used to just drink, but now there are pills and...and cocaine. Smack. I used to go to school and have some time when I didn’t have to deal with her, but last autumn she told me that I needed to ‘contribute.’” Sophia stopped to take a drink, the cup clattering against her teeth.

“Contribute?” Kellen asked gently.

“I had to stay home from school and take care of the younger kids. If any of them acted up, Mom would beat me. She said it was my fault they weren’t better behaved.” Sophia wiped her eyes, careful not to press against her black eye. “They’re good kids, honest, but she hits them, too. I think she broke Evie’s nose. I was desperate. I thought if I left for a while—found a job, earned some cash—I could come back and save them. Sounds stupid, right?”

Bridget shook her head sadly. “It doesn’t sound stupid at all. It sounds very courageous.”

Sophia fought off a sob. “But now look what I’ve done. Ralph is in the hospital, and it’s all my fault. Everybody gets hurt because of me.”

Kellen and Bridget exchanged pointed looks.

“It’s not your fault,” Kellen said firmly. “You didn’t ask to be attacked.”

“It was Ralph’s decision to defend you, and we’re both glad he did.” Bridget squeezed Sophia’s hand. “No matter what happens, Ralph is glad, too. That’s the kind of guy he is.”

“He’s in the hospital. That’s expensive. How will he pay the hospital?” Sophia was clearly someone who had her shares of financial worries at a young age.

Bridget sipped her tea and smiled. “It just so happens I am an amazing organizer, if I do say so myself. I will make sure Ralph gets whatever help he needs. I’ll start tonight. It’ll give me something to do instead of worrying about... Ralph.”

“You like him?” Sophia asked.

“He’s a nice old guy,” Bridget said. “He does the right thing. That’s pretty rare in this world.”

Kellen thought Bridget spoke from her soul, her heart, her gut. She knew Bridget had seen too many bad situations and tough times, and that made her appreciate Ralph all the more.

Kellen thought about Aunt Cora, about Kellen’s flight away from her. She thought about Max and Rae, and passing them by.

I’m one of the people doing the wrong thing. Something had to change.

Sophia turned to Kellen. “Would you help me get into the Army? It will give me income for the kids, and I want to learn to defend myself as easily as you do. I don’t want to be scared anymore.”

“I’m sorry, but the Army won’t take you. You’re too young, and you need a high school diploma.” Kellen waved down Sophia’s bubbling objections. “But how about this? I’ll help you get a job, get your GED, and in the meantime, I’ll teach you to fight. When I’m done with you, no one will pick on you ever again.”

“But what about my brothers and sister? That doesn’t help them now.”

“Your mother is in a lot of trouble.” Bridget knew what she was talking about, and she didn’t hesitate to say it. “It’s illegal for a parent to keep a child out of school, to beat a child, to be an addict. You and your brothers and sisters will be going to foster homes.”

“No!” Sophia lunged at Bridget, grabbed the hem of her shirt. “We’ve got to stay together. Please. We’re family. That’s all we’ve got!”

Bridget put down her cup. “Honey, I know. But your mom’s going to get worse and someone’s going to get killed. Things have got to be different.”

“No, please.” Sophia began to cry. “Foster homes—they’re bad.”

“Who told you that?” Kellen asked.

“My mother!”

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