“Where did this guardian angel tell you to take me?”
“Stop being combative,” Helen said.“When he finished beating you, he was planning to take a free ride.I brought you a sandwich, fruit, water, and some wipes to clean your face and hands.Sit for a moment, exhale, and eat.”
The girl eyeballed the waters and the food.She looked at them all suspiciously.Helen sighed.
“Honey, I have a gun.Why would I need to lace the food?It's safe.I made that sandwich less than an hour ago,” she told her, pressing the navigation in the vehicle for the next programmed stop, the safe house in Allen Acres outside of Indianapolis.
The girl ate in silence as Helen drove.She normally didn't play music as she drove and didn't see a need today.She heard sniffles as the girl ate the sandwich.
“Life on the street is scary,” Helen said.“I can't begin to imagine what you left in order to take your chances on the street.I won't ask, but if you want to talk, I'm a good listener.”
“Don't want to talk,” Candace said.
“Then neither will I,” Helen replied, entering the interstate to I-465 to take the exit for Highway 421 towards Allen Acres.
Candance used the wipes to clear away her tears.“Have you been to this place you're taking me?”
“I have not.”
Her tearful eyes pleaded with Helen, “You're just going to drop me off or are you coming inside?”
“I'm coming inside to see what the fuck is up,” Helen said.“I wouldn't pluck you off the street to drop you into a nest of cobras.I want to see where you're going and what you're doing and meet who is in charge.”
“Thank you,” Candace said softly.“It's been a long time since someone talked to me like they actually cared.Usually, I get nice words and gifts to get what they want out of me.What are you trying to get out of me?”
“Baby, what do you have that you think a woman like me needs from you?”Helen asked, giving her a smile.
“So, is that your thing, riding around, picking up kids off the street when this guardian angel sends you in to rescue them from the bad people?”
“I think I liked it better when you weren't talking,” Helen said.“Stick that fruit in your mouth to shut yourself up.”
“Your lip is bleeding,” the girl said, passing her a wet nap.
Helen thanked her, dabbing at the blood.She could feel her lip doubling in size, and maybe an ice pack would bring down the swelling by the time Mustang got home, but she didn't think so.They drove in more silence, reaching a turn off and coming to a residential street.It looked like a slice of Americana with a Homeowner’s Association from Hell.She found the house.
“We're here,” Helen said, pulling into the drive.The engine idled for a minute before she cut turned off the vehicle.“Think positive.This could be the break you need for a better life.There are times when shit happens that seems so unreal you can't believe it is happening to you.Second guessing yourself on the good stuff will constantly put you in the wind tunnel of the bad.”
“What if this is just as bad as them people?”
“What if, when we ring that doorbell, the person who answers will give you a good life and a nice clean bed, and there are no perverted men in the house to sneak into your room at night,” Helen said.
“You sound like you're speaking from experience.”
“Life can be life-ing in a way that can screw up your head, or you can think positively and say, ‘God heard my prayers,’” Helen said.“Let's go see.”
They exited the vehicle and walked up the path to the front door.Helen stepped in front of the girl; her hand in the pocket of the pea coat fondling the weapon as she rang the bell.They heard footsteps and the door opened.Helen burst into laughter.
“Well, don't this beat all,” Helen said, stepping forward to enter the home.Candace followed behind her, her eyes scanning the room and the woman who opened the door.“Candace, this is my friend.We call her Pear.”
Candace eyeballed the woman and the house and saw two other teen girls.Pear smiled at the girl then at Helen.“Welcome Candace.Cranberry, it's good to see you.”
“You as well,” she said.
“I will show Candace to her room.If you want to come along, you're welcome to as well,” Pear said.
“Sure,” Helen replied, looking at the girl.She used her head, signaling for the girl to come along.
Down the hallway, there were three bedrooms.The first one was for the girl.A nice room with a full-sized bed, a closet with a few items of clothing, and a dresser with fresh packs of underpants.It was smart of Pear to have sports bras in the drawers.
