springkitty

Kari
2010-01-14 16:39:16 (UTC)

Kari, Chapter one

The flowers reaching for the sun filled the air with
fragrance, birds flew here and there, singing their songs
and welcoming the freshness of a new Spring, darting down
to the grass for an unlucky bug who was in the wrong place
at the wrong time. Outside of the little log cabin filled
with scents of drying herbs, freshly baked rolls and
tarts, the air was balmy, sweet...Spirits, released from
the unbearable iciness of a dull dark excruciating winter
soared, excited voices and exhilarating laughter was borne
along on gusts of gentle breezes...”
The old woman writing the story stopped and stared at the
words on her screen, looked quietly around her then
suddenly arose and made her way to the door. Outside was
dismal, grey skies and drizzling rain. And cold. She
shivered and closed the door, then leaned back upon it and
surveyed her own little house, a far cry from the one she
had just described in her story. There were no aromas of
anything baking, no herbs drying she had grown herself as
back in her younger days, no bright yellow canaries
singing happily in their cages.
The living room stretched out before her, a sad reminder
of the beautiful home she had once had, a home made
wonderful, warm and loving by the love and laughter in it,
by the sharing of the lives in it. By the Cherokee man
with the startling blue eyes and the fat happy baby girl.
Her husband and daughter.
Then death, other tragedies struck while age itself played
with her hair turning it silver, her face became lined and
wrinkled, her health began to fail miserably and she was
alone, the baby girl had grown into a beautiful young
woman and made a life of her own. Her husband had died
from cancer after a long painful struggle while she held
his hand whispering to him how much she loved him as life
faded from his eyes and he was no more.
The old woman began to have chest pains so she slowly
made her way back to her chair and sat down. As she waited
for the attack to subside the Yesteryears began to wash
over her, from the attic of her memories, and she was
young again, her life awaited her.
Where did life start? Not as a child being raised by an
abusive mother, both physically and verbally. Life didn't
start with the skinny battered and bruised little green
eyed girl whose hair was never washed or combed, who wore
the same dress to school she had slept in and worn day and
night for a week.
Life didn't start as the little girl who had to sit on the
hard bench and watch with hungry eyes from across the room
her mother and brother eat while praying there would be
something left for her..."Just a bite of beans, Lord,
please let there be a bite of beans left for me" as her
empty belly growled loudly.
No, life didn't start there for Kari. It started the day
the principal announced during Gym an Instructor would be
at the school the next day to teach Judo to those who
signed up for the classes. She signed up. Her mother was
furious. “I want to better myself, mama” Kari tried to
explain to the screaming woman. “Better yourself?? Better
yourself?? For what? You're nothing but a pile of shit,
that's all you've ever been and all you'll ever be”!!!
But over the weeks, months and years that followed she
learned to protect herself, and as Judo evolved into
Karate she learned more than self protection, she learned
Pearls of Wisdom: understanding, patience, how to love the
unlovable, the art of forgiveness, pride in the dirty
little body no longer dirty with uncombed matted hair.
Her self esteem started as a seed, gradually broke through
the shield she had built around herself to hide from her
mother's vicious and satanic tongue, from the cruel
children at school and from the open stares of
astonishment and disgust by adults in stores and on the
streets. It sprouted and finally bloomed: these lessons
all badly needed in her young life at home.
She held her head proudly with shoulders thrown back and
walked with a sure gait. As she progressed she taught
others at a small fee and quietly hoarded it away.
And the Grand Escape when she was sixteen and ran away
from home!! The old woman laughed to herself remembering
that afternoon. The day had been particularly bad,
constant rain with thunder and sharp striking lightening.
She had been locked inside with her mother's unending
rantings at her until her ears felt bruised and she was
nauseous. At one point Catherine had grabbed a belt and
drew back to bring it down in a sickening blow on Kari.
Kari had sidestepped, caught the belt and calmly said "You
arent beating me anymore" Catherine tried to snatch the
belt back and in a fit of fury turned it loose and started
pounding Kari with her fists. She withstood the cruel
beating without a whimper, without striking back. "Not
going to beat you, huh? Who do you think you are, you
little shitass, you, you dont tell me what I will or wont
do"! Catherine screamed, dragging Kari down and slamming
her head against the floor repeatedly. "Mama, your check
just come" little Charlie screamed pointing at the mailbox
hoping that would make his mama stop beating his
sister. "Mama, your check is here" he howled. It was
Check day and the Postman had just run. "Get your ass out
there and get my check" Catherine yelled at Kari as she
got up off her "And you better not let it get wet and
ruined either"!!
So Catherine sent Kari into the thunderstorm for it. She
did, after all, have six Life Insurance Policies on Kari,
all with different Companies, all hidden, Catherine's
Secret.
Kari stood beside the road watching a big sixteen wheeler
and waiting for it to pass when she thought "I have my
money and my ID hidden on me, she can get her own damn
check" and stuck her thumb out., her heart in her throat.
She knew her mother was watching her, waiting to see her
take the check from the mail box and hide it in her
clothes protectively against the rain, and if the truck
didn't stop she faced severe beatings that would last for
days, maybe weeks. "Please make the truck stop, Lord,
please!! I cant take this anymore. Just make it stop.
Please God, please"!! The truck began down shifting and
slid up beside her. She was gone.
New York. Broke and on the streets. Hungry. She spent her
first night in The Big Apple in the Subway Tunnels, trying
to blend in with the crowds, hiding from the Police
Patrols who were watching for prostitutes, pick pockets,
hustlers, drug dealers.... the usual scum she later
learned hung out in them. The next morning she braved the
streets of Manhattan looking for any kind of job that
would pay enough to feed her at least once a day. The huge
crowds and waves of people streamed by her unseeing and
uncaring, not looking at anyone, their eyes staring
straight ahead of them like zombies. It was a frightening
place but even so it was heaven compared to her mother's
home, the living nightmare she had escaped from. She took
a deep breath, gathered her courage and began to walk with
the crowd watching store windows for Help Wanted signs.
The smell of food hung on the air calling her and her
stomach growled loudly. Through a plate glass window she
saw couples, families, single people, eating golden brown
fried chicken, rare T-bone steaks, the juices dripping
from each bite as they raised their forks to their mouths,
mounds of snowy white mashed potatoes, hamburgers and
french fries dipped in ketchup.... glasses of milk, tea or
coke in front their plates, in a brightly lighted cafe. A
heavy set man nearest the window watching her wiped his
mouth with his napkin and slid away from the table,
motioning at Kari to meet him at the door. "Are you
homeless"? he asked pleasantly, sizing her up in a glance.
"I guess so, I just got here and dont have anywhere to
stay." muttered Kari, staring down at the sidewalk in
shame. "Ah, a Southern belle I see from that cute little
rebel accent . Can you tend bar"? he asked, "My name is
Lenny R. and I am looking for a cutie like you. I have a
small place two blocks over and I need someone right
now" "I've never even been in a bar, sir, I'm only
sixteen" Kari said miserable. "Are you a runaway"? He
asked kindly. "Yes sir" said Kari and began sobbing. "Here
now, we cant have that! People will think I am a pimp
threatening you. Are you hungry"? "Yes sir but I'm out of
money too" Kari answered, trying to control her
tears. "I'm looking for a job now so I can get food and a
room somewhere" 'Well, I can take care of the hunger part,
come in here and lets order you a plate" he said opening
the door and ushering her in.
Over food and ice tea he gently pressed her for details.
As she told him about her life and flagging the truck down
a thoughtful look came over his face. "I dont advocate
running from anything, especially children running away
from home but in your case it may have been the smartest
thing you could have done. It may have saved your life.
Why didnt you just tell someone, a teacher, your
Instructor, a minister"? "Because they would have called
the law and she would have made good her threat to beat me
until I couldnt walk anymore" Kari replied. He shook his
head in disbelief, then asked "How does she treat your
brothers"? "Like kings, sir. She loves them, it's just the
cooking, doing their laundry...the work part of it she
doesnt like" "I see" he said, "And just how good are you
at Judo"? "My instructors said I was the best at my
school" she replied, "I was one of the students picked for
the Jacksonville Competition and we won the Title" she
said proudly. "I have a friend who owns a DoJo not far
from here. I'll call him and see if he has time for us and
if he does I want to see your talent, will you do that for
me"? he asked, " I may can help you if you will" "Who
would I have to fight"? she asked nervously. "Whomever he
places you with, of course, If you are good enough it
might get you off the streets for tonight anyway. You'd be
in the Dorm with some of his other female students. He has
a big competition coming up in a month in New Jersey and
his Golden Girl broke her leg, just fell off a damn
bicycle like some little kid and broke her freakin'
leg" "Yes, I'll do it" Kari said quickly, hope glittering
in her eyes and heart. He motioned for a waiter to bring a
phone to the table, placed the call, spoke briefly for a
moment then told Kari, "Hurry with your food, Rebel, we've
got a bus to catch"
As the City bus gouged and battled its way through the sea
of traffic he filled Kari in "He's probably going to match
you with one of his lesser students until you get the hang
of his style. Thats if you even make it through today.
You're even smaller than I thought. How much do you
weigh"? "Ninty nine pounds, sir" Kari answered. "I am a
small person but its not size in self defense that counts,
its knowledge" "Well, I hope Danny sees it that way...here
we are, my dear, our stop"
Down the street a block and into a small cubby hole. From
the back a man heard the bell tinkle and yelled "Come on
back here, Lenny" Danny's mouth fell open in amazement as
Lenny and Kari walked through the beaded entrance into a
huge DoJo. "My God, Lenny, you said she was sixteen years
old. This one's just a kid"!!!! "I am, sinsia, sir" Kari
answered for Lenny. "I'm sixteen and I'm small but I can
handle myself pretty well" While Danny stared at her
doubtfully a girl with closely cropped hair walked into
the DoJo, bowed respectfully to each of them and Kari
automatically bowed back. "At least you have good DoJo
manners" Danny responded, watching Kari. "What do you
need, Leelee"? he asked the girl. "I have finished warming
up but none of the others are here. Do you want me to keep
waiting or just go home"? "Neither" he answered, "Go help
Kari warm up and then I want you to work out with her here
in the DoJo" "Sir"? Leelee said, startled, "I'm not light
weight" "I didnt say kill her. I said spar with her" Danny
said shortly, "Get moving" "Sir, yes sir" Leelee responded
quickly.
Leelee sized Kari up in a look that understood everything
yet nothing. "I heard Lenny tell Danny you're a runaway.
You sure do have a southern drawl" she smiled as Kari
warmed up, "where are you from? "North Florida" answered
Kari and asked "Are you from here originally"? to change
the subject. "No, New Jersey. I'm a long way from my town
even if it just across the Hudson River" Leelee answered,
suddenly looking pained. The conversation came to an
abrupt halt and the girls worked out quietly until Danny
yelled "Ok, thats enough. Come out here and show us your
stuff, Rebel" "I'm not going to hurt you but lets try to
make it look good anyway, deal? Maybe he'll let you stay
if we do even as small as you are" Leelee
whispered. "Deal" Kari whispered back.
"Hit the mats" Danny said as they walked out, "Leelee, go
easy with her until we can see what her game is" he
instructed. "Give 'er hell, Rebel" Lenny murmered as Kari
and Leelee walked into the center of the DoJo and bowed.
Lenny sat on the floor with Danny and watched the two
girls sparing. He easily saw the size difference, the
deftness of well placed blows and kicks executed by Leelee
and his stomach churned. The little Rebel who had been
beaten all her life was going to get beaten again. He felt
as if his lunch was going to come up and sweat broke out
on his brow. He sneaked a look at Danny expecting to see
disappointment or worse, rage, on his face. He was, after
all, one of the most sought after Instructors in New York
City and would consider this a waste of his valuable time.
He saw, instead, amazement and heard excitement in Danny's
voice as he yelled "Well done, Rebel, well done!! Oh hell
yeah!!! Come on, Leelee, get your ass off the floor and
get back to work" Lenny stared at the scene, Leelee was
flat on her back and Kari was leaning over her asking "Are
you ok, Leelee, are you ok?? Leelee sat up, looked around
her and asked under her breath "Hey, you want to lets
give these old farts something to stare at"? "I'm ready
when you are" Kari whispered. "Ok, lets go for it" Leelee
said coming off the floor and lunging at Kari.
The fight was exhilarating, both girls were laughing and
sweating, launching kicks and elbows, Leelee took Kari out
with a leg sweep and Kari took Leelee out with a good old
down home southern style kick to the guts. “Foul! Foul!”
Danny yelled, “Leelee, you want to call a Foul on
her”? “No sir” Leelee laughed, “I like her style but my
money's still on me” The men were cheering, encouraging
both girls, "Come on, Rebel, you can do better than
that...get off your butt and fight, Leelee, you gonna let
a tiny little thing like that whip your ass?? Come on,
Kari, pull your Big Girl Panties up and get with it, girl
friend...."
Finally Danny stood up and clapped his hands loudly, "Ok,
thats enough for now, girls, I want you both back here for
practice tonight. Rebel, go sign on and come back here at
six sharp" "Uh...I need to talk to you, Danny" Lenny said.
Danny gave him a sharp look and said "What"?? And in a
furious voice he asked "She's already signed up with
someone else" ? Lenny said quietly "She's homeless. She
just got into New York last night. She spent the night in
a subway tunnel. I met her on the street looking for a job
and bought her lunch" "God Bless"!! shouted Danny
angrily, "You bring me a damn runaway who probably hasnt
even got her ID on her!! I cant sign her on if she cant
prove who she is regardless of her living situation. What
the hell is wrong with you, Lenny"?? As Leelee stood
gaping at Kari, Kari said clearly "I have my birth
certificate and my Florida ID on me, Sir. I had to keep
them on me all the time or mama would have torn them
up" "Why would your mother tear them up"? asked Danny in a
baffled voice. "Those are important documents, for God's
sake" "She didnt like for me to participate in anything
that took me away from my work at home" Kari said
simply. "What kind of work did you do"? asked Lenny in a
puzzled tone "Cooking, cleaning, sewing, laundry, cutting
and carrying in fire wood for the heater....taking care of
my little brother... whatever she told me to do" "How did
you get her permission to learn and compete in Judo?"
asked Danny. "I didnt. The Principal from my school and
also my Instructor went to our house and talked to her.
They made her let me" “Where the hell was your father”?
Danny asked even more bewildered. “He was on the road a
lot when I was young, sir, he and my uncle were musicions
and they traveled with bands. Daddy didnt come home very
much and then he didnt come home at all. He divorced mama”
What kind of bands”? asked Lenny “Country Music, sir.
Daddy played lead guitar and uncle Clifford blew double
harmonicas. I can play the guitar too” "Let me see your
ID" said Danny, hope entering his voice. Kari pulled out
her stained folded birth certificate and ID card and
handed them to him. Danny studied them a moment with Lenny
peering over his shoulder. "You got a place she can hang
tonight, Leelee"? Danny asked. "Sure, if she dont mind
sleeping on the floor" Leelee answered, "I only have one
room" "Take her home with you and be back here at six"
Danny said, ignoring Kari's outstretched hand. To Kari he
said "I'm your instructor now. You dont shake my hand, you
bow to me" "Sir, Yes Sir, Sir" Kari whispered bowing to
him. “And Kari...this isnt Judo, this is Karate, Judo was
part of the Stone age”
Kari shook Lenny's hand and thanked him with tears in her
eyes. As they walked away Kari heard Danny say "We have to
get her ass in school somewhere. Did she say what grade
she is in"? "She just finished the tenth grade, she didnt
say if she was promoted or not" answered Lenny walking
away. "Listen up, Bud, you heard the "We" in we have to
get her in school, didnt you? Danny called after him "
This isnt like you dropping off a stray cat on my
doorsteps" "I'm always available when you or she needs me"
replied Lenny, "Just work with her if you can but if this
dont pan out I'll think of something else. I'm not sending
her back to that shit hole she escaped from or the streets
either" "I'm not either, Bubba, I'm not either" said Danny
A tapping at the door jerked the old woman back to
reality. It was Clint, her bony neighbor from across the
street. "I hate to bother you, Kari" he said "But can I
bum a couple of cigarettes off you? My check still hasnt
come, now its going to be Monday before I get it. I dont
know what I'm going to do" "I have a little dab of loose
tobacco and a few cigarette papers, Clint. You'll have to
roll your own" she answered. The door opened on the house
next to her. Clint looked, then asked loudly "Hey Doug, do
you have a couple of cigarettes I can bum? My check still
hasnt come and I'm nicking badly" "Sure, Clint" Doug
said, "come on over. I was just checking to see how the
weather is" "Thanks anyway, Kari" Clint said "I'll get a
few from him. He smoked grass off me last week, this
weekend I'll get my smokes off him, kinda even us out, you
know" Hunching his skinny shoulders against the rain he
went down the steps and she closed the door. Sat back down.
Another door opened. She was only four or five years old
and helping her mother pick up hen eggs. A chicken began
squawking loudly as her egg made its way through the
entrance. "Come here, Kari, come here right this minute"
her mother yelled. She grabbed the child by the shoulders
and said "Watch her butt hole. Do you see how it looks
after the egg came out? See how its pooching in and out??
Well, thats what your mouth looks like every time you
speak with those big fat nigger lips, just like a
chicken's ass hole when it lays an egg" Or she would be
watching the child work and suddenly began laughing and
say "You poor little pitiful thing, you. You are so ugly!
Your nose is spread across your whole face like a
nigger's" Or..... "You are the ugliest thing I have ever
seen. Your mouth looks like a mules butt hole after it
shits, you know how it opens and closes, open and closes?
Thats the way your mouth does." Or the worse yet was her
suddenly began to stare at Kari's face until she got her
attention as if she saw something crawling on the child's
face. "Come here and lean down" she would say in a kind
motherly tone, still staring at Kari's cheek or forehead.
Kari approached her time after time, year in and year out,
knowing what was coming but compelled to obey. Her face
would suddenly sting from a sharp slap that reeled her
backwards or her mother would grab her by the hair, her
nails digging into Kari's scalp as she shook the little
girl until the child began screaming frantically from the
burning searing pain in her scalp, her little head being
jerked back and forth.
And the dialog Kari knew by heart, word for word....”You
little devil, you! You little shit ass you! I nearly died
giving you birth and you do me like this"??? And the
beatings with a limber switch, a coiled belt, her hands or
fists started pounding Kari. Sometimes they lasted a few
minutes and was over for the day...but other times it went
on relentlessly off and on all day, Catherine's face set
in a wooden carving of hatred.
So many ways to abuse.
Women from the flat woods didnt shave under their
arms...the summers were blistering swelteringly hot. The
Florida sun beat down relentlessly and the inhabitants of
the little shacks without electric poured
sweat...sickening body odors from unwashed arm
pits...”Come here, Kari...” being grabbed suddenly and
viciously by the hair, the childs face being shoved and
crushed into the wet stinking mess that was her mothers
hairy foul smelling arm pits, Catherine laughing as she
rubbed and scrubbed the child's face in the putrid
stench...then shove her violently away, still laughing at
the gagging crying little girl trying to wipe it off her
face with her nasty dress sleeves.... grabbing Kari by the
hands, start her swinging in a circle until the pencil
thin child was stretched out in the air, then turn her
loose.
Hard walls, hard floors, many bruises, cuts and splinters
in the puny little body. "Say, Catherine" relatives and
friends would ask her, "How did Kari get banged up like
that"? "She has temper tantrums and throws herself down on
the floor and just goes hey wire. I'm worried sick about
it but I dont know what to do. I'm at my wits end. And
lie, she tells one lie after the other. I never know when
to beleive a word she says" Catherine would began weeping
and the concern for Kari turned into nasty stares at the
little girl while her mother was comforted "She'll
probably grow out of it, Catherine. Dont let it get to
you. After all you have that fine little boy to raise
too." Some one else would chime in “I bet I could break
her! I'd beat her tail off of her if she pulled that with
me. You need to tear her behind up one time real good,
Catherine”
After basking in sympathy and attention for a time
Catherine would bravely dry her eyes and say "I pray for
her all the time"
From the time Kari could remember Catherine had told
her "If you ever say a word about this to anybody I will
give you the beating of your life. I'll beat you so bad
you wont be able to walk for a month"
Kari couldnt imagine beatings any worse than they were but
she was sure her mother could do it. Fear was Kari's
Master, fear of her own mother.
Then school started and she had to be enrolled by her
mother. Before leaving home with her she cautioned Kari "I
mean it. If you open your mouth about anything I'll beat
the pure shit out of you when you get home. Do you hear
me?.... I mean it Kari, you better keep your ugly mouth
shut about what I do. It aint nobody's business but mine.
Do you hear me, Kari?" "Yes ma am" Kari promised.
As Catherine seated herself in the office Kari was aware
of the stares at her unkempt knotted hair and dirty
wrinkled clothing from school officials and other
children. "Sir, I need to tell you something" Catherine
began to the principal. "Kari is a problem child and I am
helpless to do anything about her appearance. She fights
me like a tiger when I try to wash or comb her hair and
she has temper fits at home and throws herself down on the
floor and stays scratched and bruised up all the time. I
cant even make her brush her teeth" Tears glinted in her
eyes. " I dont know how she is going to behave here, I'm
almost afraid to leave her. And she tells one lie after
the other, just like thread rolling off a spool." "I'll
tell you how she is going to behave here" the principal
answered sharply, "We dont tolerate that behavior. We use
a wooden paddle so be prepared for a good whipping if you
pull any of your foolishness here, little girl. You are
coming here to learn, not to behave like an animal. The
first time, and I do mean the first time, you get smart
mouthed or out of line here I personally will see to it
you are punished severely for it. You might treat your own
mother like dirt at home but just try it here. Do you
understand me"? Kari sat with head hanging. He stood up
and roared at her, "I repeat one last time, do you
understand me"? "Yes sir" Kari whispered through dry
lips. "Send for Mrs Reeves to come here at once" he
instructed the secretary.
Mrs Reeves arrive and did a double take at the filthy
whimpering child. “Dont leave me, mama, dont leave me”
Kari begged. "No, no, no," the principal said
nastily, "None of that either. Get up and go with Mrs
Reeves. Mrs Reeves, if you have a minutes trouble out of
this child you are to come to me at once" "Yes sir, Mr.
Giebeig. Come along, Kari"
School was pure hell. The other kids held their noses when
she passed them. They called her "white trash" and said
her hair looked like their mom's floor mop. That began the
hateful nick name that followed her through the fifth
grade, "rag mop"
Home was worse than hell and hell was heaven compared to
her mother's suddens rages and brutal attacks, the
unending verbal abuse, the emotional and mental cruelty
her mother dealt out in generous amounts on a daily bases.
When Kari was nine years old she started her period. She
was sitting in class and something warm suddenly dampened
her panties. Frightened, she held her hand up. “Yes,
Kari”? Asked the teacher “May I go to the bathroom,
please”? “Yes but hurry back. Today's lesson is going to
be part of the class test next week” In the privacy of the
bathroom stall she pulled her panties down and her heart
stopped! Her underwear was bloody! Trembling, she took
some toliet paper and wiped herself. There was a bright
red smear on it. Terrified she returned to class. A few
minutes later she held her hand up again. “Yes Kari”? The
teacher asked “May I go back to the bathroom, please”? She
asked. “Kari, the test is going to be based mainly on
todays lesson and you are going to fail the test. Whats
wrong?” “I'm bleeding from my behind” Kari answered,
frightened. The teacher turned a scarlet red, “Go to the
nurses office” she said “if she sends you home I'll have
todays work written down for you” “Yes ma'am” Kari
answered and left the room.
At the nurses office the nurse inspected her panties and
said “You've begun your menestral cycle at a young age.
Pin this kotex in the straddle of your panties and I'll
call your mother” “We dont have a phone” Kari said. “ How
far do you live from here”? Asked the nurse. “I dont know”
answered Kari, “Well, can you walk home”? “Yes ma'am. I
can if I have to” said Kari. “Well, you have to, you cant
wear bloody panties until school's out today”
Walked through the freezing winter day in a paper thin
worn out sweater, summer dress and no socks. The heavy old
shoes began to hurt, to rub, to blister. Made the two
miles to the shack, opened the door and walked in.
Catherine's face registered shock "What are you doing
here? Did you run away from school"? "No ma am, the nurse
sent me home" Kari answered. "What for? Catherine
asked "You dont look sick to me" "I started bleeding from
my behind and she said for me to come home and put on
clean clothes. She said I'm on my period" Catherine's
mouth dropped open, then her face became livid with anger.
She stared at Kari for a moment and in a deadly voice
said "You're a pure ass hole. Get away from me"
She werent allowed to eat at the table with her mother and
brothers even when there was plenty of food. "You keep
your nasty ass away from us. You're not sitting at my
table while we are eating. If there's anything left over
you can have it before you do the dishes" Many times the
only taste of food Kari had was to swipe the plates, bowls
and pots with her finger and lick it off. But after she
started her period she werent allowed to sit in the room
while they ate. "You havent fooled me, you little shit
ass!!!! You've done something sinful and dirty with a boy,
thats how come you have to wear that rag!" Catherine
screamed.
A nagging pain started in her left side. It grew worse
daily until she walked drawn over clutching her stomach,
unable to eat and vomiting at the smell of food. She
couldnt attend school, couldnt sweep, do dishes or
laundry. It went on for weeks until the little green eyed
girl, the one known as "rag mop" at school couldnt get out
of bed one morning. That day Catherine packed Kari's
clothes, a large brown paper sack held all the child's
pitiful belongings. Catherine's friend and neighbor, Mrs
Jerkins, helped Kari into her car while Catherine slung
the bag in the trunk. "Where are we going"? Kari asked.
Catherine didnt answer. Mrs Jerkins gave Catherine a side
ways glance, then said. "We are taking you to the doctor
to see whats wrong with you"
They drove drove and drove. Kari vomited in the car. "See,
I know what's wrong with her. I told you what's she's done
behind my back" Catherine said angrily. "She's just no
good. She sneaked around at school and got in this mess
somehow or other without getting caught"
Finally they pulled into a doctors office in Valdosta,
Georgia. It took Catherine and her friend both to get Kari
into the office. "Ma'am, this is a GYN clinic. I think you
have brought this child to the wrong doctor" the secretary
said in an alarmed voice to Catherine. "No, I havent
either. I know where I'm at and what kind of a doctor he
is" Catherine snapped. The secretary pushed her chair back
and disappeared into the back, returning shortly with an
older grey haired doctor who took one look at the child
withering in agony. "Bring her back now and have the nurse
set her up" he said. "I'll be right in."
Long cold table covered in white paper. Kari had to take
off her clothing and put on a gown. The nurse helping her
asked Catherine angrily "Why does this child stink? Why is
her hair matted beyond any hope of combing it? Her head
will have to be shaved? This child is a wreck!!" "Do you
think I am not aware of that? Catherine said nastily. "Do
you think I havent been worried sick over it? I've done my
very best by her. And this aint all either! She tells one
lie after the other! Everytime she opens her mouth a lie
falls out! She fights like a tiger and always have if I
try to clean her up at all. She has bitten me to the bone
many times on my arms and hands since she was a little
thing." "I see her ribs but I dont see any scars on you"
the nurse said sarcastically, " She is pure bones with
skin stretched over it. Does she refuse food too"? The
Doctor walked in and spoke kindly to the shivering child
on the big table "Now, tell me, where does it hurt the
most"? "Right here" Kari whimpered and laid her hand on
her side. He pressed gently and the child screamed. "One
more time just for me to make sure, ok? And I promise I
wont hurt you again" He pressed more firmly and the child
grunted and suddenly vomited.
"Get her dressed" he told the nurse. "Now, do you have a
Family doctor in Lake City"? he asked Catherine. "Yes, I
do" she said. "I try to take care of my family" "Whats his
name"? asked the doctor, glaring at Catherine
balefully. "Doctor Landing" Catherine said "Why? I dont
want him to know anything about this. Thats why I brought
her to you! She's going to stay up here with my sister
until the baby is born and we are putting it up for
adoption. I am a good Christian woman with two small
sons. We'd be ruined if this became public knowledge.
She's not bringing this shame down on our heads. I am a
God Fearing woman and she werent raised like this"
"She has to be hospitalized and I'm not hospitalizing her
up here" the doctor replied. "She needs to be at home and
near Landing. I know Landing personally, he's a good man
as well as a good Physician. How long did it take you to
drive up here "? he said seating himself at the
desk. "About an hour, I think" said Catherine
puzzled. "Why"? "Because I am calling Landing now and tell
him if this child isnt in his office in one hour and
fifteen minutes he is to call the Law to you and have you
arrested as well as this child taken from you. She has a
cyst on her right ovary the size of a large goose egg. She
must have been and is going through hell. She's vomiting
because her entire system is riddled with infection" He
dialed as he talked, then leaned back in his chair and
spoke into the phone. "Hi Gretchen, put Landing on, its
important" Then "Hey, buddy, I'm sending one of your
patients back to you, a child named Kari. Her mother
brought her to me thinking the little one was pregnant.
I'll have Betty call in my findings but this woman has one
hour and fifteen minutes to get the child back under your
immediate care or I want this woman arrested" He covered
the mouth piece with his hand and looked at Catherine "Get
a move on, lady, your time is running out"
Mrs Jerkins arose from her seat in the waiting room, white
faced. She had heard the doctor's thundering voice and
ignored Catherine as she came sputtering out of the
back. "You have to wait on your child, ma'am" the
secretary said sarcastically to Catherine, then kindly to
Kari "You need my help to the car, child?" "No ma'am" Kari
whispered tearfully, "I can make it"
"And make it I did" the old woman thought laughing. She
eased her aching aged frame up and went in her tiny
kitchen to warm some milk for her cat, a stray that had
takened up with her recently. She knew what it was to be
unwanted, unloved, to be a filthy dirty mess. And she
covered her old but clean furniture with sheets and
welcomed the stray into her home and her heart.
Catherine sat in stony silence, her face set in fury,
staring straight ahead, Mrs Jerkins glancing at her every
few minutes, a questioning look on her face. Suddenly a
stench filled the car, something warm, thick and sticky
began to ooze from between Kari's legs. The terrible pain
began to lessen and lessen as the warmth from the stench
filled her panties. "What in the name of God is that
smell"? Shouted Mrs jerkins, rolling down her window.
Catherine suddenly began to look around also, the look of
fury replaced by sheer surprise at the repulsive
odor. "Kari, did you break gas or poop on yourself"? Asked
Mrs Jerkins. "No ma'am, but something is running out of me
and I dont think its pee" Kari said and in a shocked voice
added, "My side's not hurting as bad as it was either. And
I can sit up straight too" "I bet that cyst broke" said
Mrs Jerkins, "we need to pull over and check her underwear
to see if she's bleeding or not" "No!" yelled
Catherine "That quack of a doctor is going to have me
arrested if I'm not at Dr. Landing's office on time! Keep
driving! Keep going!!!!" "Kari, can you pull your dress up
and see if there's blood on your panties"? Mrs Jerkins
asked driving even slower. Kari slid to the edge of the
seat, spread her skinny legs and looked up at dress at her
panties. "No ma'am" she said, gagging from the horrible
odor, "its green and yellow stuff with just some pink in
it" "It is the cyst, its busted and draining" said Mrs
Jerkins speeding up.
Back in town at Dr. Landing's office. An angry Gretchen
sitting at the desk. "Kari's here, Doc" she called over
her shoulder. As Dr. Landing walked around the corner his
face registered surprise, concern and then fury at the
sight of the child. "What in the world is that smell?"
asked Gretchen "Its drainage, Gretchen, apparently the
cyst popped en-rout from an uncalled for trip to Georgia"
Dr Landing said furiously, glaring at Catherine. "I'm
going to examine her first and then I want to talk to you,
Catherine"
Another long table covered in white paper, another gown.
Another doctor pressing her side. "OWWW" she
screamed. "Sorry Kari" Dr. Landing said, "I'm going to put
you across the street in that big hospital for a few days.
It's like a fancy hotel. We have to keep an eye on your
tummy for a couple of days, ok"? "Is it ok if I go, mama"?
Kari asked excitedly. "She doesnt have any say so in this,
Kari" Dr. Landing broke in, "I'm the one putting you
there. Gretchen is going to help you dress" "She cant put
that filthy underwear back on" Gretchen said. "I have it
tied up in a plastic bag. The stench is unbearable" "Ok,
so she goes across the road minus her panties. Call the
hospital and have them bring a wheel chair over here" He
smiled and patted Kari's shoulder "I'll go by and see you
later, ok"?
At the hospital the nurses gave each other and Kari
startled looks. "This child has to be bathed" one of the
nurses said, "Call an aide in here. And make sure that
filthy hair is washed too."
A bath tub full of warm water, a grunting woman leaning
over the tub trying to wash the Kari's head, soapy shampoo
filled Kari's eyes. "I cant do this and I am not going to
do this" the woman said more to herself than to Kari.
Stepping to the door she called down the hall "I need some
help in here. Her hair's going to have to be cut. I cant
get all the shampoo out and you should see the filth
floating on the water"
Nurses and aides crowed around the door looking at the
child sitting in the filthy water, talking,
laughing...."My God, have you ever seen anything like
that?...her mother says she fights like a panther if she
tries to make her bathe....Can you imagine what their
house must look like....my dog don't get that dirty...."
Kari hung her head in shame and the tears began to roll
down her cheeks.
A man's voice, it was Dr. Landing. "What's going on here"?
He asked pleasantly, peaking around the door. Upon seeing
Kari in the tub he roared "What is she doing in a bathtub?
She already has enough infection to kill her! Who ordered
a bath anyway"? The aide immediately pointed at the
nurse, "She told me to bathe her, sir" "Get her out of the
water and under a shower now" he demanded roughly "and
when you get that soap off her get her to her room" "Yes
sir" the aide answered.
Back in her room in bed dressed in a gown. Dr. Landing
tapped at the door and walked in. "Feeling any better"? He
asked. "Yes sir" Kari answered. "Sorry about all the
yelling I did out there" he smiled "but sitting in water
can add to an infection like you have and we dont want
that" "No sir, I dont want to do anything to make it hurt
any worse" said Kari earnestly. "Well, good. We have to do
something about that hair. How did it get in that shape
anyway"? No answer. "You know, Kari, when you were sitting
in the tub I saw some bruises on you. How did that
happen"? "I dont know, sir" Kari replied, staring at the
bed. "Does your mother beat you, Kari"? He asked
gently. "No sir" she said, still staring at the bed. "Has
she threatened you if you told anyone about the beatings"?
He asked. "No sir" replied Kari, still staring at the
bed. "Does she cook good meals and feed you"? his voice
lowered from the nurses straining ears. "Yes sir" Kari
lied. "Kari, look at me" She sneaked a quick look. "All
the taste buds have fallen from your tongue from severe
malnutrition. That couldnt happen if you were eating, do
you understand"? "Yes sir" she answered, suddenly
frightened. "I'm going to ask you again, does she beat
you"? "No sir" Kari said miserably. "Ok, see you later" he
said walking away. At the door he stopped and looked back
at her for a moment. Then he said quietly "Kari"? "Sir"?
She answered. "I think you're lying"







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