Chapter 1: Eleven, Part One

I always walked to school and back with my big brothers, but the day I turned eleven was different. We returned from summer break a few weeks earlier and fall was starting. When the last class of the day finished, I walked to the big apple tree behind the elementary school like I always did. The middle school was on the other side of the big parking lot and the football field. I looked around while hundreds of other kids got on busses or walked home, but my brothers Sam, Rick, and Billy weren’t there. I stood around waiting. I was a little tired, so I held the bottom of my pleated skirt and sat on the grass. I fiddled with my long brown hair impatiently, leaning against the tree’s rough bark. I stared at the clouds a long time, but there was still no sign of Rick, Billy, or Sam. I smelled something on the mild breeze. My mouth watered a bit when I recognized it. Somebody was grilling barbecue chicken! I loved bbq chicken! I eyed the apples high above me. I was too small to reach them and my conscience told me I shouldn’t take any, since it wasn’t my tree. Still, I was quite hungy.

I would have called my brothers or parents, but it was way back in 1996, when cell phones were expensive and uncommon. My Dad had one for work, but it was the first I’d seen. My brothers teased me and picked on me a lot. Still, I worried if something bad happened to them. Dad always played baseball, football, and basketball with them, but rarely even talked to me. Despite that, they were family and I cared about them, at least when they weren’t being jerks.

Mom didn’t have much time for them, or for me. There were two babies in her big fat belly, twins. She always told me I needed to be a big girl and big girls don’t need hugs all the time. I missed when I was little and Mom and I took naps together. It was comfy and reassuring to feel her body against my back and her arm around me when I fell asleep. She didn’t even kiss me good night anymore.

I tried going back inside the school, but all the doors were locked. I decided to walk home on my own. I thought I remembered the way. It was only nine blocks, but there were several turns. I assured myself that I could get home on my own, since I was a big girl. I trudged four blocks carrying my heavy book bag. There were two tall firemen and a chubby older one at the fire station. I plodded along, watching the younger ones loading things onto the truck as the older guy told them what to do. They tried putting a ladder on it, but the old guy waved his arms and yelled at them. He climbed onto the truck and reached up to move the ladder. The younger firemen laughed when his pants fell down, revealing his polka-dot undershorts and fat hairy legs. I felt bad for him, until he pulled them up and yelled some more.

I turned left, as my brothers and I always did on the way home. I walked another block and saw my friend Renee. She was in the back seat of her Mom’s car, at the gas station across the street. We waved to each other, then I checked for traffic and ran through the crosswalk. She rolled down her window and said, “Hi, Luci. Happy birthday!”

“Thanks, Renee. Sorry I didn’t bring treats to school. Dad said he would get brownies, but he forgot.”

Her mother climbed in the car and started it. “It’s okay, Luci. See you tomorrow. Bye!”

I waved goodbye and felt a need to pee. I went in the gas station Ladies’ room and took care of it. There was a small vending machine on the wall with a sign, “Tampons.” In my innocent ignorance, I wondered what tampons were. When I walked out I was a little confused. I knew that from school the way home was four blocks, a left, three blocks then a right, one more block, another right, and then half a block home. Or maybe it was two blocks and a right? I wasn’t sure. I went two more blocks and took a right. After walking one more I thought I should be at the park near home, but there was a bowling alley and a furniture store instead. I felt sweat on my face and my breathing sped up. Where was I? Which way was home?

I decided I had gone too far left, so I should turn right. I went right at the next intersection and walked another block. Nothing looked familiar, nothing at all! The sun was going down and I had to get home! Tears began streaming from my eyes. A blonde man wearing a gray and blue suit opened his front door. He took some letters from his mailbox by the curb and asked me, “Are you okay, little lady? What’s wrong?” He looked very tall, but compared to my size at the time most adults did.

“I ah ... I’m lost, and I’m hungry. But Mom says I shouldn’t talk to strangers.” My hands were quivering in fear, but he looked friendly. I sort of liked his blonde moustache and blue eyes.

He knelt on the sidewalk and didn’t seem so scary. “I’m Dave, Dave Hanson. What’s your name?”

“I ... I’m Luci.”

He held out his big hand and gently shook mine. “I’m glad to meet such a nice young lady, Luci. Since we’re not strangers anymore let’s get you something to eat. Then I’ll give you a ride home.”

He seemed friendly and offered to help, but I was still quite anxious. “Um ... okay.”

“My car is over here.” I followed him and he opened the passenger door. “Climb in.” Dave got in the other side and said, “Let’s buckle you in, sweetie. Safety first.” He leaned across me and pulled the seatbelt over my shoulder. His size was quite intimidating, but there was a kind smile on his face and his aftershave smelled nice. It was the first time I ever rode in the front seat. It was cool to feel so grown up. Mom and Dad always made my brothers and I ride in back.

He must have noticed my fear, since he touched my cheek and said, “We’ll get you home safe and sound, don’t worry. Do you like ice cream? I think everybody likes ice cream.”

“I love ice cream! Strawberry, please?”

He smiled again and said, “Sure. It’s nice that you’re so polite. These days most people act like they don’t have time for common courtesy.”

He parked at the ice cream place and only ordered a strawberry cone. I asked, “Nothing for you? Don’t you like ice cream?”

“I like it, but I don’t want to risk staining my suit. Let’s sit at the picnic table by the lake.”

Dave pulled a small camera from a pocket as I enjoyed my cold and sugary treat. A duck swam near us and he took a picture. He asked, “Do you mind if I get some of my beautiful new friend? I like your pretty eyes.”

I felt blood rushing to my cheeks when I smiled and shrugged. “Okay.” He took three pictures of me smiling, and at least ten more as I licked my delicious ice cream. It was nearly gone when I felt a sharp pain just behind my eyes. “Ow! Owowow! My head! It hurts so bad!”

“Uh-oh! Brain freeze is no fun. This might help.” He held his large hand over my nose and eyes a while. “Is that better?”

“Yeah. Thanks.” I was nervous and didn’t know him, but the warmth of his hand was nice.

He said, “It’ll be dark soon. What’s your address?” I told him and he smiled, then laughed. “Hahahah! That’s across the alley and three houses east from my place! You were almost there!” He chuckled a little more and I laughed along with him. He held his fingers to my cheek and said, “You have such a pretty little smile. Let’s get you home.”

He dropped me off in front of my house. The door was locked and I didn’t have a key. Only my parents and oldest brother Sam did. I rang the doorbell and knocked, but nobody answered. I didn’t see any lights on, either. I waited a bit, then pressed the button and knocked again, but nothing.

The sun had fully set. The only light came from neighbors’ houses and streetlamps at each end of the block. I nervously walked around to the back door. It was very spooky. Tree branches blew in the wind, making their shadows move on the ground and the side of the house. Bats screeched high above and I worried if maybe vampires were real. I felt my heart pounding.