Escaping and Finding My Salvation

Emmett

Ann Marie

He woke me up when we pulled into another truck stop just outside of Flagstaff.

“Well, here you go, girly. This is my last stop.”

“Thank you, Bill. I really appreciate the kindness.”

He blushed a little. Then he surprised me by holding out his hand. Inside it was a hundred-dollar bill.

“Take this. It isn’t much, but it’ll help. I can’t have you starving.”

I felt tears prick my eyes. I reached out and took it. And then, I leaned over and kissed his plump cheek. His cheeks pinkened even more than they already had.

“Bye, Bill.”

“Bye, Ann Marie. You take care.”

I grabbed my pack, stuffed with even more snacks than before, after Bill insisted I take what I wanted from his stash. I jumped out of the semi and waved as I walked away.

For the next year, I worked under the table around Flagstaff. I worked at a car wash and made some decent tips. For three months, I cleaned rooms at a run-down motel. One of the night managers paid me in cash and let me stay in a room until the owner found out. We both got fired.

After that, I kept moving. I didn’t need people snooping in my business. I didn’t make friends or have a boyfriend. I turned 19. I slept in laundromats. I washed my clothes and crashed out while I waited.

Arizona was hot during the day and sometimes cold at night. I learned to wait at dumpsters where restaurants dumped perfectly good food at night, and I knew which gas stations had bathrooms I could use without buying anything.

One night outside Phoenix, I heard about a shelter that had plenty of room. It was late. My feet and back hurt. I had my head down, my pack on my shoulders, and as I passed an alley, I heard a whistle. I looked over, and three men stepped out of the shadows.

Three white guys in dingy clothes, looking strung out, smiled.

“Looky here, a stray,” one said. He was tall and skinny. His skin was pale, with dark circles around his eyes. His teeth were stained yellow with black, rotted spots.

“Where you going, girl?” another asked, scratching at his crotch. His skin was slick with sweat. His eyes darted around.

I kept walking. I put my hand in my pocket, where I kept a pocket knife I had bought a while ago.

“I asked you a question,” the first guy snarled.

They suddenly surrounded me, and I stopped walking. My heart beat fast in my chest. I pulled the knife out and flicked it open. I held it low to my side.

“I don’t have any money,” I said quietly.

“Not asking for money, sweetheart.”

My body started to shake as they moved closer. I swallowed hard and brought up the knife. They laughed at me.

“Hey, leave her alone,” a grizzly voice yelled. We all turned our heads and looked across the street.

A man came out of an alley across the street and started stomping over to us. He was older, in a stained gray T-shirt and dark blue jeans that had seen better days. His scarred boots scraped across the asphalt. His skin was tanned and weathered. His hair was dark with gray running through it.

“Mind your business, old man,” one of the guys said.

“You harassing her is my business. I won’t have it happening in front of me. You all stopped in front of my alley.”

“We were just being friendly,” yellow teeth said.

“She doesn’t seem to want to be friends. Get gone before I make you regret breathing.”

They all looked at him. I guess they decided they didn’t want trouble, and they left.

The man turned to me. He looked down at my hand. “You don’t have to worry about me. I ain’t going to hurt you.”

I stepped back two paces, then put the knife in my pocket.

“What’s your name?” he asked.

“Why?”

He stared at me. I stared back.

“Okay. I’m Emmett. Or Greene. Some call me by my last name. You shouldn’t be out here this late at night. The streets aren’t safe, especially for a girl who looks like you.”

“The streets are all I have. Been living on them for a little over a year. I can take care of myself.”

“I believe it. But still, three-on-one aren’t very good odds. I know a place if you need to relax. It’s off the grid. About a hundred people live there. They grow their own food and keep their area secure. They keep to themselves. No one bothers them. You could stay there. Learn some things. It’s safer than being out here on the streets.”

I looked him over. He wasn’t menacing. He didn’t give off any nefarious vibes. Still, he was a stranger and a man.

“Why?” I asked.

“I’ve been on these streets for a while. I drift around here and there. I’m an old vet who doesn’t stay in one place long. I’ve seen what can happen to pretty young girls. If you don’t want to go with me, I can walk you to a shelter nearby.”

I thought for a few minutes, then nodded.

“It’s late now. We can set off in the morning. I have a room at the motel two blocks down. Was walking over here to get a beer. How about I walk you back? You take the room. My pack is inside. I’ll sleep out front and take a shower in the morning. You can take one tonight.”

A real shower. I’ve been using sinks for so long. “Okay,” I said quietly.

He walked me to the motel room. The room had a bed and a lounging chair. He grabbed his pack.

“Have a good night,” he said.

“Ann Marie,” I said.

He gave me a smile. “Have a good night, Ann Marie. Lock the door behind me. I’ll knock in the morning to take that shower.”

I nodded. He left. I locked the door. I took a long shower. I had travel shampoo, conditioner, and body wash. I also had a disposable razor. It felt really good to get clean.

I slept like the dead. When I heard the knock, my eyes popped open. I looked at the bedside clock. It was eight in the morning. Wow. I got a solid ten hours.

I got up quickly, smoothed my T-shirt, and pulled down the legs of my sleep pants. I opened the door. Emmett stood there with McDonald's. My mouth watered.

“Good morning, Ann Marie. I have breakfast.”

“You look showered,” I said. I don’t know why I said it.

He started blushing. “I met a woman last night. She offered her shower.”

I giggled. I bet that wasn’t all she offered.

He set down the food bag, the drinks, and his pack.

“I didn’t know if you liked coffee. I got two just in case and an OJ. Hope you aren’t a vegetarian. I got sausage McMuffins with egg.”

“I’m not. Thank you.”

We ate. I doctored my coffee with cream and sugar. When we were done, he threw away the trash.

“Well, you ready?” He asked.

“Yes.”

We walked to a bus stop and got on a bus that took us to a depot, then turned around. We got off.

“It’s about a five-mile walk from here before we get to a truck that will take us the rest of the way. Think you can keep up?”

“I can keep up.”

“You got spunk, kid.”

We started off. I hoped this was the right decision, and I wasn’t about to die in the desert.

I did not, in fact, die. By the time we got to the truck, the sun was high. I was just sucking down the last of the water I had on me when the truck came into view. It looked old. It was the color of rust, and it looked just as rusted.

“There’s old Betsy,” Emmett said, grinning.

“You named your truck Betsy?”

“Every good vehicle deserves a name. She’s lasted me a long time. Hop in.”

I was surprised to find it unlocked. The interior was brown and cream with a long bench seat.

“Buckle up, it’s a bumpy ride.”