Chapter 14

SCHOOL WAS OUT for the holiday. She should be happy, she supposed. She received a new pair of high-top court shoes from her parents and a crop-top tie-dyed sweatshirt and shorts that said “Don’t play me” on the front. Her brother had given her a coffee mug with a unicorn on it and the phrase “Your sparkle has not gone unnoticed.” Her parents thought it was cute and a sweet brotherly gift. Amy felt it was a bit creepy, especially the way Jerry kept looking at her. She’d given him a Starbucks gift card for $5.00 and hoped he’d get lost in Des Moines when he used it.

It seemed so long until school was back in session and they’d start practicing again. She hadn’t been certain she’d be any good at basketball. She was small, and at fifteen, scarcely developed. She bled and had to shave her arms and legs—and since joining the team, her crotch, too—but her boobs were barely-there bumps. It hadn’t been all that daring to let Dennis see them, but it was embarrassing standing next to Brenda and her perfect breasts. It felt nice when Brenda hugged her, too.

Anyway, she’d discovered she actually liked playing basketball. And she was improving every week. Dennis had been so patient in the skill drills, like dribbling. He encouraged her to keep going, focus on the ball, and let everything else slip away. She’d played and even scored once in the last game. That surprised everyone since she hadn’t been able to hit the backboard in October. She looked at the developing muscles in her arms. Not a body builder, but definitely firming up. And she felt like she could run all day.

Her chest ached and she was trying to figure out if she’d been hit by a ball during the game. She hoped she’d grow taller like Natalie. Natalie was perfect. No wonder Dennis was gaga over her. It wasn’t like Amy was infatuated with Dennis. It was just that she wanted to be noticed by him. She’d turned her back and pulled her panties off after the last game but wasn’t sure if he’d even glanced her direction. Next time she was going to face him.

Amy’s parents had gone into Des Moines for drinks with friends the afternoon after Christmas. Jerry was working at the C-Store and Amy had been on the phone talking to Rosie much of the afternoon. It started snowing out and before long, it was like a blizzard. The snow was accumulating fast. She’d been off the phone only a few minutes when it rang again. She snatched it off the charger and answered as her mother immediately began lecturing her on not being able to be reached.

“The weather here swept in while we were in the restaurant,” Mrs. Unger said. “Dad doesn’t want to risk driving home, so we’re spending the night at Marge and Rick’s house. Now don’t worry. There’s plenty of food in the refrigerator so eat some dinner. Jerry will be home after his shift at the C-Store, so you won’t be left alone tonight. Just stay warm and safe inside.”

Amy felt a sudden chill. Her brother would be home after his shift? She wondered how soon that would be and if she had time to run away to maybe Kansas City or someplace south before he got there. She might need to go farther away than that to be safe from her drug-dealing brother and his friends. As soon as she was off the phone, Amy ate a sandwich and started getting ready. She’d be safe at Rosie’s house. But that would be the first place Jerry would look for her. She dressed warmly and was glad her white parka had a hood. She was ready to get out of the house when her brother and his two friends entered through the kitchen door.

“Shit! This weather is crap!”

“Fucking put us out of business tonight,” Jerry said. “I couldn’t believe Jack called and closed the store. He said to leave the self-serve pumps operating in case someone needed gas and to go home.”

“It’s a cinch no one is going to the pickup for booze tonight.” That had to be Lee. “But as long as we’re stuck here, why don’t we have some fun?”

“Yeah. Tonight’s a good night for it. The folks won’t be home and she’s stranded here just like us. I’ll slip her a roofie and she’ll be docile as a lamb while we fuck her,” Jerry said.

“Why bother with the drug? She’s going to be gone in the morning anyway. Call Tom and tell him we have a delivery. He’ll meet the guys from Chicago and we’ll never need to worry about her ratting us out.”

“Yeah, but do you want scratches and bites all over you when the cops come to investigate? Better to knock her out and enjoy the pussy without the screaming,” Harry said. “Besides, Tom wants to be here for the punch, too. He says Carol was like a baby when he did her and promised to give us a shot at her the next time. Maybe he’ll bring her along tonight.”

Amy had heard enough. The boys were opening pop cans in the kitchen and she bet they’d pour some of Lee’s moonshine in it, but that direction was blocked. She zipped up her parka and slipped out the living room door. They never used that entrance, so it was locked, but the key was in the latch. She took the key with her and as soon as she was outside, she locked the door and ran away from the house into the storm.

The storm was coming in from the northwest and Will was called out early on the day after Christmas to keep the state route clear from Bartley to the state line. It hadn’t yet started snowing in Bartley, but there were blizzard warnings and the road crews were loaded and rolling before the first snowflake hit.

“Well, we’ll have a cookie day,” Dot told Peg and Dennis. “Let’s make a big batch of Amish cookies. That way the next time your friends all come to visit, we’ll have fresh cookies instead of store-bought.”

Dennis laughed. “Thanks, Mom. And Dad will have some to take with him the next time he’s out in the truck all night.”

“Well, they are his favorite,” Dot admitted. “And I’m happy that they actually have some substance to them besides just sugar. But we’ll save a tin of them so you can invite your girlfriend and other teammates over after school one day.”

Dennis was happy about that. He didn’t mention that he thought at the moment the whole team was his girlfriend. He missed them. He also didn’t say anything about the heavy molasses cookies Mom wanted to bake. They weren’t his favorite and all three of them would be exhausted by the time they managed to get the dough mixed up. He joined in as enthusiastically as he could and it was fun to watch Peg get flour and dough all over. All three were laughing so hard they almost cried. Then came the long baking process. A single batch of Amish cookies, with ingredients measured in pounds rather than cups, made twelve dozen huge cookies. They baked for twelve minutes and the family only had two cookie sheets. The total time spent on the cookie project was nearly four hours.

Peg got her story and sleepily went off to bed. Dennis sat in his pajamas and new bathrobe he’d gotten for Christmas with the TV on. Every so often he got up to look out the window.

“Is it as bad as they said it would be?” his mother asked.

“I think so. You can’t see anything within reach of the porchlight that isn’t blowing white stuff,” Dennis answered. “I sure hope Dad’s okay.”

“He’ll be fine. Remember, he grew up on a farm driving big machinery from before he was your age. There isn’t a snowplow he can’t handle.” Dot got up and looked out the window with a hand on Dennis’s shoulder. “I’m going to bed,” she said. “Don’t stay up too late. And don’t worry.”

“‘Night, Mom.” She kissed him on the cheek. “I’m just going to watch this show and then go to bed.”

He was nodding off on the sofa with the credits playing for the show he’d been watching when he felt his phone buzzing in the pocket of his robe. Like most of his contemporaries, Dennis had learned quickly to never be separated from his phone. He quickly grabbed it and opened the text.

I’m freezing. Please let me in. His first thought was that Amy had sent him the message by mistake. She must be at home or at Rosie’s house. He was texting her back when his phone buzzed again. Hurry! I’m scared.

He sent his message: Where are you? This is Dennis. The answer was immediate.

At your door.

He rushed to the front door and saw a shivering Amy standing outside.

“What happened? He asked. “Come in and get warm.” She rushed into the house and gave Dennis a hug.

“Thank you,” she whispered through chattering teeth. “My brother. He and his friends were going to drug and rape me.”