Where the Tracks Go

Chapter Six

As she sat there at the table drinking her morning coffee she thought about Davey and his question about what had happened to her siblings. She knew she had been the lucky one.

She pulled a picture of June and her standing in front of the Masonic Lodge. Her mother had taken June and Eddie with her when she left so she did not have any memories of June until she was about three years old. June was almost four years older than Ann.  Ann recalled her first memory of June.

Ann was visiting William in the mountain town. They stopped into the small town restaurant where William purchased a beer and showed Ann off to the proprieter. He was a proud daddy of his pretty little princess who entertained the proprieter with a song, Jesus loves me. William asked to use the phone to call Emma. He called Emma on the phone and told her to send June bug down to the restaurant to get Ann.  This little girl of about seven showed up to take Ann to the boarding house. Her father told her to go with June bug.  June took her hand and led her through town towards the boarding house. June told her that she lived at the boarding house with her mother and her brother, Eddie.  As they walked, June got up on the railings by the Masonic Lodge and started walking across them.  She told Ann that she always walked on the rails balancing herself.

When they arrived at the boarding house, June took her up to the room where they stayed.  Her mother, Emma welcomed her.  She did not quite understand how they were family, but she was comfortable around them.  Emma hugged her tightly and brushed her hair for a long time.  She was nice to Ann.  She said Ann was her baby. While they were sitting there, Emma scolded June and Eddie for not eating their dinner.  Ann was glad Emma was not upset with her.

Her father, William eventually came to pick her up.  Ann was glad to see him and crawled up on his lap to sit while he talked to Emma.  She remembered touching his face and telling him he needed to shave. Before she knew what was happening, he had slapped her in the face.  He was not happy that she had spoken to him like that in front of Emma. He had not hit her hard, but it had hurt her feelings. Ann was sad that William was upset with her.  They had always had a good visit. He liked it when she told him bible stories and sang to him. She had never been slapped before.  In fact, she had never been s*****d before.  She remembered only getting in trouble one time before.

She recalled the one time she had gotten in trouble.  She had a little peddle car and had decided to explore the neighborhood. When her Great Uncle Phil found her, he explained to her that she should not have left the yard. He told her he did not want to s***k her so she should not go off by herself again. Great Uncle Phil was one that disciplined with compassion and understanding.  He never wanted to s***k Ann. He was good daddy.

When It was time to go. Emma hugged her goodbye.  June and Eddie would remain with Emma for a while but eventually go to live in foster homes.  William took her hand and they walked along the railroad tracks until they got to the cutoff leading to her Great Granny's house.  Her Great Aunt Flora was waiting on her.    

She heard Davey at the door.  She went to let him in.  Hey grandma.  How many stories do you have for me today?  She smiled at him.  She told him she was able to put two pages together.  After looking at the pages and hearing his grandma's story on each he just had to ask, "so let me understand, you did not know who your mom, June or Eddie were before that day?" She explained that it was all confusing because she considered her Great Aunt Flora to be her mommy at the time. That was her family as far as she knew. She had been told that William was her real father, but she was too young to understand what that meant. I cannot imagine what it would be like to have been you.  She patted his hand.  Davey, I was the lucky one. 

Well grandma, I look forward to hearing more of your story. I have to ask, I noticed that you all seem to walk along the railroad tracks a lot.  Why? Well, we were in the middle of nowhere with very few roads.  It was easier to walk along the railroad tracks until you came to a road instead of walking through the woods.  Oh, that makes sense.  He leaned over and kissed her on the cheek.  I will see you tomorrow.