Chapter 47: Quiet Desperation

Six weeks after Sally moved in with Willie and Tricia, all their lives had become routine and comfortable. Sally, yearning for normalcy, enrolled herself as a junior (11th grade) student at the nearby high school. She made absolutely sure to conceal her background and wealth from her fellow students and tried to form friendly relationships with her (female) peers.

Sally attracted a lot of attention from the male students because she was so attractive, but her experience with Paul Sandro inhibited her. After school, she went directly to her uncle’s martial arts school. Although enrolled in a regular class, Sally spent a lot of her time working: cleaning the equipment, washing the uniforms, helping Lucia with the bookkeeping, wherever she could be useful.

Sally was clearly not being paid for her assistance, but another young man was. His name was Lee, and he was very shy. At least, he was when he was around Sally. But eventually, she wormed his story out of him.

At home, Lee had a younger sibling, a ten-year-old girl named Lacey. He was intensely protective and devoted to her. This was necessary because his (single) mother was an alcoholic and fit the stereotype of a “mean drunk.” She would occasionally secure jobs at fast food places, but these positions would only last for a month or two before she faced termination due to her inebriation.

Knowing some of this backstory, Lucia had given Lee as many hours and as much pay as she could, and privately, she clued Sally in. So Lee was receiving only a minimum of help from Lucia, but what the two of them really gained was friendly companionship.

“How come I don’t see you at school, Lee?”

“When Lacey and I went three days without food, I had to drop out. I suppose I’ll get a certificate or something when I’m older and have more money.”

“That sucks. I was thinking maybe you were going to another high school.”

“That’s weird. Why would you think that was good?”

“I was imagining that as a high school student, you would be allowed to go to prom. You know, with a pretty girl as your date.”

She put her two hands flat under her chin, palms down, and fluttered her eyelashes at him, aiming for cuteness.

He couldn’t resist chuckling. But then he just looked sad.

“I would be honored, Sally, but there’s no way. I don’t have any nice clothes, or a car, and I don’t feel Lacey is safe at home when I’m not there at night.”

“Your mother wouldn’t be there?”

“Maybe, maybe not. And if she were there, she might be unconscious. Or she might be, uh, busy.”

“Busy? Wait, you mean?”

“Yeah, entertaining a guest, you might say.”

Lee sat down in a nearby chair and put his head in his hands. Shame and anger radiated from him in equal measure. She was appalled and sympathetic.

“I’m sorry, Lee. I didn’t mean to ... I can’t imagine how hard this must be. No, wait. I can imagine. Lee, I need to tell you a secret. I know I can trust you with this, but please promise me you won’t tell anyone.”

“Sure, I won’t tell.”

“I was trafficked by my parents; they sold me for money to be impregnated by another family.”

“You’re kidding! How could they do this?”

“It involved a foreign country. The details don’t matter. I’m safe now. Lee, give me your hand. Please.”

“OK?”

“If you and Lacey could be out of this situation and the two of you could be living on your own, would you do it? Don’t worry about how. Just tell me: yes, or no?”

“Yes! No question. I’ve wanted to leave for a long time. but I just can’t leave Lacey with her.”

“I have not been completely honest with you, Lee, and I’m sorry about that.”

Sally took a deep breath and found her resolve.

“I am wealthy, Lee. The reasons aren’t important right now. You and I are going to go see Lucia right now and figure this out. I guarantee you, if she knew more about your awful mother then this situation would have been resolved already.”

Events moved quickly after that. Lee received a cell phone and instructions to call his mother in her bedroom during her latest “date.” Lee opened the trailer’s door for Lucia, who was rolling video. She was joined by a social worker and two police officers.

Lucia, Lacey, Lee, and Sally did not need to stay, so they piled into Lucia’s compact SUV and left the scene. Meanwhile, the naked guy was obstreperous and got himself tased and arrested, then told (in the back of the police car) that because of parole violations he would, likely, be confined in jail only briefly until he was returned to prison.