| Chapter Two Lost & Afraid |
| Wendy wandered the beach for several days, staying in open areas so she could see if Mr. Graham happened to come her way. In the afternoons she walked along the little shops that lined the boardwalk. She would pick crowded shops that would be easy to take food from. In the evenings, she slept in a clump of trees just a few feet from one of the bathrooms on the beach. On the forth day, one of the vendors grabbed hold of her as she tried to make off with a couple pieces of fruit. Wendy begged him to let her go, but when he asked for a number and a name, Wendy wouldn’t tell. The shop owner called the police. They questioned her, but she refused to tell them anything. They handcuffed her and took her to the crisis residential center next to Juvenile hall. Wendy picked at the corner of a piece of paper that lay on the desk as the lady typed some information into the computer. She remembered what Mrs. Wilkins had said about her last placement and Wendy feared they would call Mr. Graham if she told them anything. Wendy decided it would be best if she didn’t tell anything. As the lady tried to get Wendy to answer her questions, Wendy gazed straight ahead and did her best to ignore her. “Well young lady! If you won’t tell me who you are, then I guess you’ll be staying here until you do tell, or until we figure out just who you are.” Wendy starred at the woman. “I’m not telling you anything!” "Have it your way young lady! Jane, She’s all yours.” Wendy turned around in her chair just as a very large woman in a uniform took hold of her arm. "Come with me young lady," she said. Wendy Kept quiet as the woman led her down a long hall. She opened a door that said showers, and pushed Wendy inside. “Take a shower and change into these. Be quick about it," she ordered. "I will be right outside that door, so don't even think you can get away from me little missy," she scolded as she left the room. Wendy stood there for a minute and looked around the room. There were no windows she could crawl out of. The only way out of the room, would be through the door. Wendy didn‘t doubt for a minute that the woman would be just outside. Knowing it was hopeless, Wendy got undressed and jumped into the shower. The water felt so good as it ran over her. Wendy felt she could stay in there all night. Suddenly, she heard the bathroom door open, Wendy knew the lady had come back inside and her wonderful shower was over. "Time's up! Get out!," the lady ordered Though there were no marks to prove she had been whipped just days earlier, her bottom still hurt as she dried her body with the towel. She slipped on the t shirt and sweatpants that were given to her. The soft fabric in the sweats felt good on her aching bottom. She picked up her dirty clothing and went to the door. The lady stood just outside the door and when Wendy came out, she opened a small garbage bag and told Wendy to dump the clothes inside. The lady tied the bag closed and dropped it on the floor beside the shower room door. She led Wendy down several corridors before stopping just outside another door. The lady opened the door and pointed. Wendy looked inside. The room was just big enough to hold a bed and not much more. “Well what are you waiting for?” the woman asked. “Get in there!” She gave Wendy a little push, then closed the door behind her. A sandwich and a glass of water sat on the table beside the bed. Wendy’s stomach ached for lack of food, so she didn’t care what they gave her. After she ate, she stretched out on the bed. It felt good to lay on something other than sand and grass. Wendy could see the sun setting as she looked at the window upside down. She counted six bars on the window and she wondered if she went without food long enough, would she be able to squeeze through. As the sun set, the room started to darken, she wondered what was going to happen to her. Was this going to be her life now? locked away from society forever just because she had no parents? Would they find out who she really was and call Mr. Graham. That thought frightened her. She wouldn’t go back to him no matter what Mrs. Wilkins said. The next morning Wendy rose early. Thinking it had all been a dream, he heart ached when she opened her eyes. It hadn’t been a dream. Wendy combed her hair with her fingers, then pulled it tight into a ponytail. She crawled onto the table so she could see outside the window. Suddenly she heard the rattling of keys and a door being unlocked. She jumped down and threw herself onto her bed. Wendy sat up as a very big man opened the door. “If you can behave yourself, you can eat breakfast in the dining room with the other children. You think you can do that?” Wendy shook her head. “Well lets go then!” he said with a smile. Wendy liked him at first sight. He seemed happy and that made her feel safe. As she passed through the door, the man took hold of her arm. “Stand against the wall,” he instructed. Wendy stood with her back against the wall as he closed and locked her door. “Ok. Before we go any further, there are some rules you must follow or I’ll put you right back into your room. Understand?” Wendy shook her head. “I don’t know why you’re here, or what you’ve done, but these rules apply to everyone. You will walk to my right side between me and the wall. Keep your hands at your side and don’t think about running, because I’m really not in the mood to chase you. Got it?” he said with a smile. Wendy smiled back and shook her head. “Lets go then.” Wendy kept pace as they walked down the hall, around the corner and down another hall. This place seemed huge and even if she did want to run, she knew she would never find the front door. “I ran away from my foster home a few days ago.” she whispered. “Why did you do that?” “Cause my foster dad whipped me and I didn‘t feel safe there. I got brought here cause I stole food.” “Well Child. I’m sorry that happened to you, but stealing anything will get you in a whole heap of trouble, so maybe you should try not to do that anymore.” he said as he patted Wendy’s head. Wendy and the man entered the cafeteria together. She took a tray of food and found an empty table. After she sat down, the man went over and stood by the entrance with a few other men dressed the same. Wendy looked around. There were several kids scattered throughout the room. They all looked just as sad as she felt. Wendy ate, then took her tray to the counter. When she turned around, the man stood smiling at her. “There’s someone here to see you Wendy.” he said. “You know who I am?” “Of course I do. Shall we go and see who came?” “It’s Mrs. Wilkins from social services, isn’t it?” The man smiled again. “Am I going to have problems with you?” Wendy shook her head no. “I’ll go see her. What choice do I have anyway.” Wendy went with the man down another hall, past the desk and into a room. When she walked inside. Mrs. Wilkins stood at the table thumbing through some papers. When she looked up, Wendy’s stomach tightened. Mrs. Wilkins looked angry. “I asked you to behave and not run away. Didn’t I?” "I didn't do anything," Wendy cried, "That guy hit me, and I won't go back there." "That’s right Wendy, you won't be going back there. The man at the fruit stand is going to press charges. He said he is tired of getting his items stolen. So it looks like you are going to Juvenile court. “But I don’t want to stay here!” Wendy cried. “Well that depends on what the judge decides. Not you! You had your chance Wendy. I told you to behave yourself and you didn’t.” “Court starts in twenty minutes. They are going to fit you in this morning, so lets go.” Wendy followed Mrs. Wilkins down another hall and through a special door. Together they sat in a waiting room. Mrs. Wilkins and another man dressed in a suit explained to Wendy what they would discuss in court. Wendy watched as people went in and out of the court room. When the door opened again, a man called her name. Wendy, Mrs. Wilkins and the man all went in together. Wendy sat at the table and listened to the adults talk. She didn’t understand most of what they were saying. She did understand when they mentioned her running away problem and the theft of the food. “Wendy. How do you plead?” the Judge asked. “Guilty,” she said. The judge looked at the papers that were handed to him, then thumbed through some more things that lay before him. He then excused himself from the room. He returned just ten minutes later. Wendy as I look at the papers here before me, I see that you have never had difficulty with the law before. I see you’re a ward of the state and that you’ve been in numerous foster placements, in which none of them have worked out for you. At this point I see that your worker has exhausted all forms of placement for you. I should send you to Juvenile detention for a few days and hope that it deters you from further involvement in crime, but I don’t think that is what you need at this time. I see you’re troubled, but I don’t feel you would have stolen if you hadn’t been hungry. Still I can’t set you free knowing Mrs. Wilkins has no place for you. I however do have a place for you. I made a phone call on your behalf. Mrs. Wilkins, I know you’re familiar with Barrington Hall down in Jacksonville.” “Yes your honor, but Barrington is almost impossible to get kids into.” “Barrington Is just the place for Wendy and I trust you will have no problems taking her there.” “No your honor. Not at all,” she replied. Wendy. In spite of what you’ve been through, you aren’t a bad kid. You lack structure and discipline. Barrington Hall is just the place for you. It is where you will live until you turn eighteen. If I see you back in my court again, you won’t be so lucky as to escape detention. Do you understand?“ Wendy shook her head. The Judge scribbled his signature on the paper, then dismissed court. Wendy walked out of the court room with Mrs. Wilkins and the man in the suit. She took a seat in one of the chairs in the lobby and folded her arms across her chest as the adults talked and signed papers. “I WON'T GO THERE!,” Wendy shouted as Mrs. Wilkins sat down beside her. "It's to late, the Judge decided and the arrangements have been made. It‘s a wonderful thing to get into Barrington Hall,” Mrs. Wilkins replied. I HATE YOU," Wendy shouted, as she started to cry. "I'm sorry you feel that way, but you won't forever, I promise, but it's time to go." She took Wendy by the arm and they walked out together. |
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