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.Their lives would never be the same again and Rick would never know why.“I’m really excited about us going to college together next year,” Rick said, trying to cheer Ann up.“Applications have to be in right after Christmas break.I’ll pick you up during the break and we can fill them out together at my house.I can’t wait to get you away from Tank Johnson and Bankstowne High next year.Our lives will be perfect together without him around.” Rick talked on as they climbed the stairs to Ann’s apartment.Ann stopped at her door.Her hands shook so badly she had difficulty getting the key into the lock.She didn’t open the door and invite Rick in.Instead she turned with her back against the door and confronted Rick.“Are you kidding? My parents don’t have money for me to go to college.My daddy thinks the only role for women in this world is cooking for men and having their babies,” Ann snapped.Baffled by her sudden change of attitude, Rick tried to reassure her.“You can get scholarships.I know you can.You have the best grades in the class, but you have to apply.They don’t just give them away.How do you think I can afford it?” Rick asked.“My parents lived through the Depression too, and they think getting a job at the Coastline Shops is more important than going to college.They don’t think being a writer is a real job.My experience as editor of the Railroader is going to get me a scholarship right here at Cannon College.Commuting together will be fun, almost like being married.” Rick looked for a reaction but nothing came.“You’ll make a great teacher.You’re good with kids, and they give out lots of scholarships to prospective teachers at Cannon every year.We could have a great life together.”“Good for you,” Ann said.“I’m glad you have it all figured out.You live in a normal family, but I have to stay here to help take care of my mother and protect Jo Lee from my drunken father.His drinking is getting worse, and I think my mother’s sick.But she’s scared to tell him, and now.” Ann couldn’t continue, breaking into uncontrollable sobs.She pulled open the door and slipped inside, slamming the door behind her.“I won’t leave until you come back and tell me what’s going on,” Rick said as he pounded on the Nestlebaum’s door.Ann ran past her mother to the bedroom she shared with Jo Lee and buried her face in her pillow.Alice ignored Rick’s shouting and pounding on the door and followed her upset daughter into the bedroom.“Ann, what in the world is the matter, and why is Rick beating on our door? Did you two have a fight?”Ann mumbled some words but was sobbing too hard to be understood.Alice sat on the side of her bed, drew her daughter to her, and held her tight like she did when Ann was a baby.“He raped me, momma.He raped me!” Ann blurted out.“I’m so ashamed.He was so strong I couldn’t fight him off!” She pulled away from her mother and collapsed on her bed, sobbing.Alice was on her feet instantly.“I’ll call right now and speak to his mother before your father gets home.He’ll kill Rick if he finds out.”“Not Rick.It was Tank Johnson!” she screamed.“That bastard forced himself on me then laughed and said to tell Rick, ‘Not bad for white trash.’” Her body heaved with uncontrollable sobs.Alice tried to console her devastated daughter but couldn’t offer anything beyond her gentle touch.“We can’t tell the police or let your father know about this.Sam Johnson is head of the Coastline Shops.He would fire Red if we accuse Tank.The police won’t do anything.It would just be your word against his,” Alice argued aloud with herself.She pulled Ann up by her shoulders, looked straight into her tear-swollen eyes, and spoke deliberately.“Listen to me.We can’t tell anybody about this.It’s got to be our secret.You’re strong.I know you can do it.Tank will graduate in the spring and be out of our lives for good.You just have to go to school and act like nothing happened, you hear me? Just like nothing happened.”Alice turned away and grabbed her side in pain, trying to hide it from Ann.She stood up and calmly walked toward the door.“Go in the bathroom and get yourself cleaned up before your father gets home,” she said and left the room as if nothing had happened.Dazed by her mother’s inability to deal with her trauma, Ann locked herself in their freezing cold bathroom.She ran nothing but hot water until steam filled the room.Her skin glowed bright red from heavy scrubbing, but she couldn’t wash away the feeling of Tank’s sweaty body pressed against her.Gone was the warm feeling inside she always had when she thought about this being the same tub Rick had taken long soaking baths in.Her fantasy of them sneaking in after everyone was asleep to make love in this bathtub had been brutally shattered.“You gonna be in there all night?” Red shouted from outside the bathroom door.“I got a ton of grime to wash off before supper.” Red’s pounding on the door shocked Ann back to reality [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]