Page 89 of Space Oddities
“Don’t try that with us, young lady. I don’t know what my son ever saw in you, but I promise you, you won’t get him now.” He looked hard at his son, until the weight of his stare crushed the boy and his shoulders dropped. “I’m calling the police.”
The broken pieces of the girl’s heart fluttered madly against her ribs. “Police?”
Her answer was the quick and heavy footsteps of the boy’s father walking into the other room.
“If you give the ring back, I’ll forget this happened.” The boy looked weary.
“I don’t have any ring.”
The boy sighed. “Did you sell it already? Pawn it?”
“No. I didn’t steal it. I didn’t stealanything. I don’t even know what ring you’re talking about.” The vehemence of her voice had the boy looking at her. But not with understanding or love.
“You expect me to believethatafter you lied about being a stripper?”
“I—”
“After you just told me you need money for school?”
The girl heard the father in the other room, talking to the police. Panic sucked the breath from her lungs.
“Chad… I swear… I didn’t take anything.” She stepped forward to take his hand again, but this time the boy backed away. “Please,” the girl begged. She begged for him to believe her. She begged for forgiveness. She begged for him to love her.
“Leave.”
“What?”
“Just go. It’s too late now anyway.”
“But I—“
“The police are on their way!” the boy’s father called out.
This time the boy beggedher. “Please go. Run.”
And so she ran.
And she had never stopped running.
“Move your ass!”Jules’ shout is followed by several large thumps against the side of the trailer, making me jump in my chair. I take a deep breath and delete the few keystrokes I’d made in surprise.
Clearing my throat, I wipe my damp eyes. “Hold your horses!” I smile, knowing that telling Julie Starr to wait is as useful as tits on a boar.
As expected, I’m answered by two more thumps and a threat to leave my short-ass self behind.
I hit print and stand, stretching out as only a short person can do in an Airstream. It’s been a while since I wrote anything in my trailer. I got too used to the sunshine and open air of Ian’s backyard.
After the four copies of my explanation letter print, I grab the addressed envelopes off my tiny desk and stuff a letter in each.
Jackie, Jules, Rose. I seal them each closed.
Ian.
I pause after folding the paper inside, my story not seeming like enough. Not for Ian. Not after everything we… well, after everything.
Rose’s guffaw and Jackie’s lighter laugh sound outside, pressuring me to hurry.
I take a second, then give in, sitting down and grabbing another piece of paper and a pen.
