The Haunting of Ruby Shane (part 6)

Thomas pulled the truck over on a side road, and pulled out an old faded red handkerchief and wiped the tears from my eyes.

"Ruby, I can't understand why anyone would want to hurt you. He said this softly as he put the handkerchief in my trembling hand.

"My Daddy don't need a reason to hurt anybody. He just hits when ever the mood strikes. Anything can set him off." I was looking out the window at the corn field and was watching how the sun was casting long shadows on it as it was setting. My lip was trembling, but I was trying not to cry again.

"I can't lie, I have heard your Daddy was mean to you and your Momma. Why don't she leave him?" Thomas was looking at me with wondering eyes.

"It ain't that easy. Momma doesn't have an education and has to work cleaning houses to support us. She gets below minimum wage from most of the people she works for. Do you know how hard it is to survive on below minimum wage? We have food stamps and a medical card. And people look at us like we are trash when we use either one of them. Daddy works when he can. When he can stay sober enough to work..
We have no family to help us. They turned their back on Momma when she married Daddy. And every time she does leave Daddy he climbs in the window wherever we are and terrorizes us. Momma calls the law and they never do nothing." I was angry at how the injustice of our life never seemed to let up. And my voice trembled as I talked.

" I am sorry Ruby, I didn't know. I guess life is a lot harder on some folks than others." Thomas reached over and held my hand.

I hung my head down and looked at my shoes. My big toe was ready to come through the worn part on the left shoe. "It's alright, you didn't know. How could you? I just know I don't want to end up like Momma and have someone hurt me the way Daddy does to us. I want to get an education and get a good job so I don't have to grovel for anything ever again."

I looked at Thomas then and asked him what was on my heart, "What do you want with me?" Do you think maybe I am some tart because of where I come from? Well I ain't. I know you come from a wealthy family. That first day I met you on the road I didn't recognize you at first because it had been so many years that I had seen you. But then it came back to me. I remembered you from school. You were a couple of grades ahead of me. And I use to see you play basketball at recess.

I didn't talk much to you, but I noticed the people you ran around with were pretty mean. So I avoided you. "

This time Thomas looked down. " The people I hung around with were mean. Some were good. But I can see why you would be afraid. But Ruby I swear to you my intentions are honorable. I am not out to dirty your name. Or to hurt you. I just want to be around you. I want us to be friends, and if it goes further than that I wouldn't mind at all."

" I don't trust people Thomas. I have been hurt by people who were supposed to love me with their whole heart, and if they can hurt me, what could you do?" I stared at his face trying to read it.

"All I can say Ruby is you have to try to trust somebody sometime or all you are going to be is lonely." He smiled a sad smile then.
And it broke my heart. I was done for at that moment. There was no turning back.

"Alright Thomas we can be friends. But I am not easy, I am messed up.
I am hurt and wounded and I am searching for a better life than I have. When I get hurt I act like I am angry to hide it. Can you deal with that?"

"I think I can. But remember, I am mean as a snake when I don't eat on time. So if I act angry it means I am hungry." We both laughed, and it felt good to laugh instead of cry.

Story by Nita Barrow- Zimmerman

to be continued August 3...

Tonight's song Beautiful Wreck by Shawn Mullins
1st video, 1st clip

If you have a chance please listen to this..

This chapter is dedicated to Vickie . She is one of the first bloggers I actually talked to on the phone. She has always been there for me and my family. She sent John cards all the time when he was in the hospital. And she is just a genuinely loving person..Her site is Whispers of Inspirations check it out if you get a chance. It is listed on my favorites link.