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  “Oh, hi Lizzie. What?”

  “Umm, I just—I wanted to tell you something about…That happened and…”

  “Oh, for Christ sake, just spit it out!”

  “Ok, John was in our room the times he was here and…”

  “Of course, he was in the room, Lizzie. Probably checking on you girls like he’s paid to do. He was watching you for me.”

  “But mama! He touched me and—”

  “Oh, stop it, Lizzie. Shut your mouth! He was held responsible for you and your sister and was doing what he was supposed to do. Just leave it alone, ok?”

  “Mama, you and daddy always said that no one is supposed to—”

  “Lizzie! I said leave it. That’s enough. Go play or watch TV with your sister.”

  Lizzie walks away, eyes filled with tears from being sent away without getting out what she needed to tell her mama. She quietly sat next to Rose while trying to get into watching Woody Woodpecker. But she just did not feel right and wants to just say what she had to say. What needs to be said.

  She got back up, went back to the kitchen and just watched her mama moving around doing kitchen type stuff. Quietly, oh so softly she says, “Mama, he touched me on my private.”

  “What, Lizzie? I did not hear you. I hope you’re not starting up again. I hate when you don’t listen to me. You really are ridiculous sometimes. You can’t just do what you’re told!”

  “I’m sorry mama. I—I don’t want John to baby sit us anymore. He’s a bad man and touched me wrong.”

  “Oh, I see this is the bad dream Rose mentioned this morning, isn’t it? It’s just a dream. No big deal. Leave it alone.”

  “No, mama! Dreams don’t take off my clothes and my—”

  “I’ve had enough, Lizzie. Go away and drop it! I don’t want to hear any more about it. Do you understand me?”

  “Okay, mama.” Unable to look at her mama any longer she puts her head down and slouches her shoulders. Turning away, she heads back into her room, instead of back to watching TV with her sister. She curls up on her bed and breaks down into sobs of defeat. She does not want him to baby sit her and Rose ever again. But what can she do if no one would listen to her?

  CHAPTER THREE

  Third Time’s the Charm

  It’s now been one week since John last babysat and practically just as long since Lizzie tried to tell her mama. Her father had not been around at all for what seems like weeks. If he were here, maybe he would actually listen to Lizzie and make sure John never came back. That she was sure of, but she cannot tell him if she doesn’t see him, where could he be?

  Lizzie walked around the house looking for her mama to ask where her father is. She finally found her, sitting at the table in the kitchen rolling one of those funny smelling cigarettes.

  “Mama, where is daddy?”

  Her mama looked at her with disgust and practically spat out, “How the hell should I know? I’m not his keeper and you shouldn’t care anyway.”

  Once again, feeling defeated Lizzie walked away and into her room. The house phone rang from another room and she heard her mama answer.

  “Hello? Really? Tonight? I’m not sure. Let me make a few calls and…”

  That was all Lizzie heard, because her mama’s voice got lower while she walked away as far as the phone cord would allow.

  Minutes later, their mama calls out to them, “Rose, Lizzie, come in here a minute.”

  Both girls follow their mama’s voice and end up in her bedroom with her sitting at her vanity putting on makeup and jewelry. “I’m going out. A last minute thing which I really don’t need to explain to you. Go get ready for bed, so it’s less work for the sitter. You both better behave and not make any problems.”

  “Okay, mama.”

  Both girls go to get washed up and ready for bed as they were told, even though it wasn’t even dark yet. Lizzie decided so ask Rose, “Do you know who is babysitting us this time?”

  “Unh-uh.” Rose shook her head while brushing her teeth.

  Lizzie walked out of the bathroom and heard her mama talking to someone in the living room. A booming male voice answered and Lizzie froze in place.

  “John.”

  She was a wreck! Lizzie hoped her minimal conversation would prevent her mama from ever bringing him to their home again, even if she never let Lizzie finish what she had to say. That maybe mama really did listen but just didn’t want Lizzie to know. One would think just knowing that her girls did not like the baby sitter and they where very uncomfortable with him, she would keep him away. But apparently, not their mama.

  Lost in her thoughts Lizzie snapped back to the present when she heard her mama say, “Good night girls. Be good for John and make sure you get right to bed after you brush your teeth.”

  Then she heard the front door close and scrambled to her room to get her pajamas on and get her teeth brushed, so she didn’t have to look at John.

  Rose was already snuggled into her bed and almost asleep.

  Once dressed in her jammies, Lizzie headed straight to the bathroom. Not watching where she was going, she slammed right into John, a panicked gasp escapes her lips.

  He smirks down at her. “Where are you off to in such a hurry that you can’t watch where you’re going, little Lizzie?”

  “Umm, just gonna brush my teeth like I’m supposed to do.”

  “Go on then. Brush nice and good.”

  “Okay.” Lizzie took a step back and attempted to walk around John, but he was big, so big, he filled the narrow hallway. Actually, he’s so big he fills up any space he’s in and she could not fit by either side of him. Even when she tried to crawl past him.

  Standing up, but not looking up at him, Lizzie whispers, “Excuse me, please.”

  Only John does not move. He continues to stand there staring down at Lizzie with a frightening look on his face.

  Lizzie’s tummy is doing twists and turns and her mouth is filled with saliva as if she’s about to vomit. She swallows once, twice, three times then tries to ask John to move again. This time, with more volume. “Please excuse me.”

  Nothing. He doesn’t even blink. Instead, he brings his hands to the front of his jeans and leaves it there, moving it slightly while making strange sounds, almost as if he’s staining to do something.

  Lizzie takes a step back, fear in full effect now. Her heart plummets and flies back home again, over and over. Sweat has begun to form in various areas of her body including her hairline and lip. Knowing she needs to brush her teeth, so she doesn’t get into trouble, she swallows that fear along with the saliva that has reformed in her mouth and speaks louder than she ever has before in her short life, “I can’t fit by you to get to brush my teeth. Please excuse me Mister John.”

  John finally shifts to the side, hand still placed and moving in the front of his jeans and allows her to pass by. Brushing his knuckles against her cheek as she passes by him, moaning from the contact while Lizzie cringes as far away as she can. She’s still trying to get past him while not touching any part of him with any part of her.

  He follows closely behind her and stays in the doorway of the bathroom watching her brush her teeth while still holding the front of his pants. He’s just staring at Lizzie with a spooky smirk and a raising flush of red on his face.

  Lizzie got that sick feeling again, and gagged on her toothbrush. Trying not to look at John watching her through the mirror but unable to resist the need to, she sneaks a peek and sees him touching the front of his jeans roughly and quickly looks away and down into the white sink. Then she continues to brush her teeth more thoroughly than she ever has before. Quickly rinsing her toothbrush and her mouth, she tries to speed out of the bathroom but is blocked, once again, by John’s huge form in the doorway.

  He stands there, unmoving and breathing a bit heavily.

  Lizzie tries to ignore the uncomfortable feeling and keeps moving slowly forward. “Umm, good night, John.” Lizzie quickly squeezes by him, ducking a
bit while twisting her body; almost crawling then practically runs on all fours to her bedroom where Rose is now sleeping soundly. Lizzie turns down her blankets and is about to get into bed when she hears John’s voice practically near her ear.

  “You need to brush your teeth again, Lizzie. You did not do it right. You forgot your tongue. Go back to the bathroom and brush again, or I’ll tell your mom. I know you don’t want that, do you?”

  Lizzie doesn’t answer; instead she reluctantly heads back to the bathroom to complete her teeth brushing ritual once again. Giving a sidelong glance as she progresses to the bathroom, she sees this time, John is not hot on her heels. Lizzie is suddenly very nervous that John is going to bother Rose the way he has her and stops in her tracks. Turning about face to check on her sister. She sees John’s form enter the living room, practically at a run and breathes a sigh of relief that he’s away from her sister, Rose is safe and she begins to head back into the bathroom. She can’t help but to wonder why he was in such a hurry, but quickly dismisses it in relief, that she’ll be left alone, in peace.

  Once she completes brushing her teeth again, she shuts the bathroom light off and begins to walk into the hallway. But it’s dark, so very dark. All of the lights are out, including the ever present light from the television.

  Frightened once again, she decides to just continue moving to the safety of her room and her bed, so she slides her feet slowly back and a bit forward as she begins to feel the way for the light switch to the bathroom, so she can turn it back on and see where she is going. After finally finding what she was looking for and switching it on, she lets out a breath of relief. That’s until she peeks into the hallway once again, and sees John standing a few feet over holding something unidentifiable in his hands and moving closer to her at a slow pace.

  Lizzie’s first instinct is to run, so that’s just what she does, just as fast as her little feet can take her. She sprints away without glancing back. The rest of the house is dark, so she does her best not to bump into everything and anything but fails. She’ll be sporting bruises on her shins, elbows and most likely, a couple of toes. Trying to forget about the pain and focus on where she could possibly hide, she goes from room to room with only the sparse light of the moon shining through the thin slots of the blinds to guide her.

  The bathroom light is now off again, John must have shut it and Lizzie still hasn’t found a good hiding spot. She decides it’s best to sneak back into the bathroom and hide in the hamper. John won’t think to look there, or at least she hopes. Lizzie enters the bathroom and nimbly climbs into the wicker clothes hamper which thankfully only has the days clothing in it. Crouching down, so she could close the lid and hide, she kneels listening to what she can hear besides her own heavy breathing and blood flowing through her ears. After a few moments, she hears John whispering her name over and over again. Throwing in taunts and treats in between, getting louder and louder as time passes without her answering him.

  “Lizzie, come out come out wherever you are. I won’t hurt you; I just want to…play with you. Show you some things only a boyfriend can show a girlfriend. There’s nothing to be afraid of. Come out NOW!” John practically shouts the last words.

  At his shouting, her heart pounds even harder, as Lizzie makes herself as invisible as possible and does not answer his constant pleas and threats. Possible hours pass by while Lizzie dozes on and off again, staying as still and quiet as can be in her hiding spot. She listens to his constant repetition of words. Words and phrases that have not stopped yet and she’s grateful for it, since it helps her to know he’s staying away from Rose. Her little sister is safe while he continues to search for Lizzie.

  Suddenly, Lizzie hears a key in the front door, moving just a little bit in the hamper so she can peak out of the top while listening harder than ever. She hears her father’s voice and internally breathes a sigh of relief. Trying hard to listen to what is being said she concentrates on the words coming from her father’s mouth.

  “Why is it so dark in here? Girls? Hello, anyone?”

  She hears John clear his throat and move closer to where my father is standing. “Hi Rob, the girls are in bed and I just thought it was best to keep it dark. You know, so they stay asleep, no light to bother them—”

  “I can understand not wanting it too bright, John. But this is ridiculous. How can you see where you’re going in this darkness? What if one of my girls woke up and had to go to the bathroom, they’d be scared out of their wits or even worse, gotten hurt!”

  “Guess I just know the layout well enough to go without lights and I didn’t think of the girls being frightened. I thought it’d be all right, since Ann never keeps it all lit up. Sorry Sir.”

  “Whatever you say, John, You can go now. I’m not going anywhere, so the girls are fine.”

  John goes to question Rob and Rob begins to get angry with the man’s persistence and look of discomfort. “Just go, have a good night. My girls are taken care of. Good bye John.” Lizzie’s father says while eyeing John suspiciously. When John keeps looking back and not moving toward the front door to leave, Rob begins to get angry. He walks to John, gripping his arm and directing him toward the door.

  He remembers to add on a few choice words before John is completely out the apartment door. “We won’t be calling on you again to babysit the girls. Lose our number and our address. I better not see you around here or my family again, or we will have problems, huge problems. You got that?”

  Lizzie continued to listen while John collected his things, conveniently placed next to the door. She finally fully relaxes when she heard John say, “Loud and clear Sir. Good night.”

  With a click, the front door closed and her father locked the two locks with resounding clicks as they fit into place.

  Lizzie then heard a light being clicked on, some walking around from room to room, the refrigerator door open and close, then another door close. Nothing left but complete blissful silence. Can it be that John will never come back here again? That both Rose and Lizzie will once again, feel comfortable in their own home and not worry about a scary man?

  Waiting a bit longer to be sure, it’s for real. That John is gone for good. Lizzie then lifts up the lid of the hamper with shaking hands and sweaty brows. She peeks out and see’s there’s some light illuminating the hallway through her parent’s bedroom door. Knowing it’s her father behind that door makes her feel braver, stronger, and safer.

  Seeing she can now get out of her safe place and actually be safe, she quietly climbs out and went into her bedroom and quickly snuggles up in her bed, burying herself deep under the covers and closes her eyes. Wondering why her father did not check their bedroom when he was walking around earlier and take notice that she was not in her bed? With that thought, she drifts asleep.

  CHAPTER FOUR

  The end

  A dreamless sleep is the first thought Lizzie had when she woke up in the morning, after John chased her around her home. She felt, rested and almost content, but not quite. That’s until she got a flashback from the night before of John practically chasing her with his private in his hands, at least that’s what she thinks it was. Never having had seen a males privates before, she was not positive. But it made sense since, it looked to be a part of him and it was in his private area. The area he seemed to touch a majority of the time while he was staring at her.

  Her heart starts to pound in her chest and she felt herself unconsciously starting to rock her body, to soothe herself. That’s become an automatic reaction for her lately. Ever since the first time John came into their home. Not having to think about it her body seems to find it can relax a bit with the rocking motion, it’s calming to her. She hears muttering coming from the way of her parent’s bedroom and tries to listen closely to what is being said, stopping her rocking motion with hopes she can hear better. But she only hears bits and pieces of what’s being said. She caught her name being mentioned a few times, John’s name, some curses and her mama’s raise
d voice. She sounds so very angry.

  Only bits and pieces of the conversation were coming through the door, but it was enough to get the jest of the conversation, “Lizzie always…She…When to quit! Don’t you…The lies…Defend her!”

  Their voices grew louder and louder, enabling Lizzie to hear each word. Her father was practically screaming his words which caused Lizzie to get more nervous. Whenever her parents fought, either one or the other of them disappeared for days at a time. No word from them, nothing.

  “You did not see what I came home to last night Ann. All of the lights were off, the TV muted and Lizzie was not in her bed! I know she was here and safe because I heard her in the bathroom after John left. She was frightened and I want to know why, Ann! I could not approach my daughter last night with the fear she would be afraid of me too. I listened until she went to bed and hours after. Just to make sure she was really all right. When I went into the bedroom to check on her, she was shaking in her sleep, shivering and it’s not even cold out Ann!”

  “She’s just been having bad dreams, it’s her imagination. That’s all it is and she always tends to overreact and tell lies or stories. Her imagination gets the better of her each and every time. Don’t coddle her or make her think it’s fine to do what she does. There’s no reason for it, any of it. Let her grow up and learn. Neither of us is going to be here forever.”

  “Coddle? I’ve barely been here these last few weeks and I can see a change in her demeanor since I’ve not been around as much. She’s not her usually outgoing, happy self. What’s really going on here, Ann? I have the right to know. She’s my daughter too!”

  “You have the right, Rob? Really? I’m the one that…”

  Lizzie starts to tune them out but her ears perk up what she hears her father demand. “He is not to enter this house or be around our children again! Do you hear and understand me? Find another sitter that the girls will like, that we ALL like and are comfortable with. The girls should always feel safe Ann, always.”

  “Fine, Rob, fine. Give it a rest.”

  Lizzie got the urge to run and hug her father tighter than she ever has. She wanted to tell him all that happened, the truth about everything that happened each time John was here and thank him for getting rid of that man. That evil monster man!