“Pull me out of the net that they have laid privily for me: for thou art my strength.”
Psalms 31:4
The traffic increased the closer she drew to Little Rock. The travelers pushed through the lines of cars trying to make their way- whatever that way might be on this Saturday: shoppers, leisure drivers, they were s o different than the travelers on the same highway the previous night. Where yesterday people honked and tried their best to drive 75 and 80 miles an hour in steady lines, today there was a steady flow of easy diving. It seemed that the voyagers had nothing better to do than to take their time and enjoy the ride.
“Enjoy the ride little Pearl. Mom didn’t know what she was doing when she said I ‘had’ to spend time with each of you.” He snarled as he spoke, and Pearl sat quietly on the opposite side of the car. His words seems nearly trapped in his tongue as if even they knew the depths of evil Sonny was capable of displaying. “So, you want an ice cream? Or a new dress? Or how about a trip to the mall, and you can see the girl I am going take to the prom.”
“I thought you were taking Jeanie.” Pearl offered.
“Oh, you would like that wouldn’t you. You little snitch. If you wouldn’t have opened your stupid lying mouth, she would be my date.” He slid his hand across the front seat and then slowly up Pearl’s little leg. “But, since I have the best little sister on the planet, and since she wanted to be friends with my girlfriend, my girlfriend doesn’t want to go out with me any more.” He stopped moving his hand right at the top of her thigh and then as if he had a sudden spasm, he slapped the top of Pearl’s tiny thigh with such force and noise that she immediately jumped and fought tears.
He removed his hand and laughed. “What’s the matter sweet little innocent brat? Did that hurt? Huh, did it hurt the little princess? Answer me you little…”
“Yes, it hurt. It always hurts when you touch me. Take me home please Sonny. I didn’t talk to Jeanie. I never talk about anything you do.”
“You liar! I know you talk. I know you make stuff up all of the time and talk and talk and talk some more hoping someone will listen to you and get me into trouble. Well, let me tell you something little perfect girl…”
“Sonny, you’re scaring me. You are driving really fast, and I hear the bumps from the road. I promise I will not say anything, just watch…”
He pulled into an ally way and to a sudden stop so quickly that Pearl’s little body was jerked forward then back again. “I am scaring the little baby. How very sad that is. I don’t mean to scare you, I love you. You know I love you right? RIGHT! YOU KNOW I LOVE YOU RIGHT!”
Sobbing, Pearl could only nod her head. She knew what was next and she knew too that if she wanted to go home, she would keep quiet and submit to his evil. She drifted into soft sobs as her caressed her tears soaked face then ran his hand down her body stroking it, petting it, then leaving kisses everywhere his hands lead. He was oblivious to the sound car passing one the street past the ally. And she was scared: scared to move, scared to breath, scared to speak, scared to scream.
As Pearl tried not to think about how disgusting she felt, how unreal this was; she suddenly heard a loud crashing noise. Sonny stopped touching her and looked up, then he looked out the window to see a car wreck behind him on the street. He looked straight into Pearl’s eyes and said, “I guess we will have to finish later sweetheart. You okay.”
Pearl didn’t move. But she silently thanked God for the wreck and said a short prayer for those involved in the wreck. Then without warning, she let her tears fall freely while they drove to the mall. At the mall, Sonny took Pearl into the dress store and bought her a Mexican dress then he took her to the ice cream stand and bought her an old fashioned ice cream bar – chocolate-dipped in chocolate- and rolled in peanuts. They walked though the mall, and he held on to her hand as if he were the most adoring older brother. They stopped in the toy shop where he introduced Pearl to the young lady behind the counter.
“Pearl, this is Tiffany. Tiffany- Pearl. Pearl and I were just on a brother sister outing. Didn’t we have the best time today Pearl?” He reached down and picked her up to set her on the counter. She was not five and this was embarrassing. An eight year old girl does not sit on the counter at the toy store, but again, she submitted to his will for no other reason except that she was terrified of him.
“Well, it certainly is nice to meet you Pearl. I have something Sonny had me hold for this special day. Would you like to see it?” Tiffany asked.
Pearl shrugged and said, “I think so.”
Tiffany chuckled and left for a minute. When she walked away, Sonny grabbed Pearl by the arm and looked into her eyes, “I think you had better straighten up and act like this is the best day of you life or we will be later getting home, and I will tell mom that you threw a fit in the mall.”
Pearl nodded and gasped as she fought yet another onset of tears.
Moments later, Tiffany emerged from a curtain in the back of the store carrying a round baby blue wooden box. The box was tied with a light pink ribbon in a straight satin bow. “Look what I found Pearl.” The oblivious Tiffany piped. “I know a little girl who is going to give her best big brother the biggest hug and kiss in the world.” Her words left an ill feeling in the pit of Pearl’s stomach, but she forced a smile and tried her best to act excited.
Sonny took the box and presented it to Pearl. “I have been saving for this one. I know you are going to love it.” He untied the ribbon and lifted the lid to expose a small doll with dark eyes, dark hair, and a blue outfit. Its little top had baby blue, pink, and yellow flowers and an eyelet collar. Pearl thought it was funny how the little doll seemed so lifeless, so empty; a little doll in a little box. She was lying on straw-like tulle. Her eyes were wide open, and there was a permanent tear on the right upper cheek of her face.
Pearl picked up the doll and felt her hair. It was so soft and silky and felt to her as if she had slipped her hand in a pool of water; sleek, soft, smooth. Lost in her thoughts, she hadn’t noticed that Sonny and Tiffany were flirting with one another and making prom plans until she heard a “Heeee Haw!” and looked up to see a red faced Tiffany. Sonny shot a quick glare at Pearl and cocked his head as if to warn her not to do anything or even acknowledge the odd outburst. Pearl quickly looked away and buried her head into the doll.
Sonny tried suddenly to draw attention away from the awkward moment by grabbing the doll and saying, “Pearl, did you notice the soft hair on this little girl?” Pearl nodded. “Well, it’s so soft, because it’s real human hair. Little girls with lots of hair in Mexico grow their hair out and then their mom’s and dad’s take them to the doll maker and he cuts off their hair for his dolls. Those poor little girls have to give their hair up so you can have a pretty doll. Isn’t that neat?”
Pearl sat in astonishment. She had never heard of a little girl getting her hair cut just for the sake of making a doll’s hair. She put her head down and was left speechless. When she raised her head, Sonny looked at her as if he had some sudden stroke of kindness and asked if she were okay. She muttered, “Sonny, I feel sick.” He looked at her, and her face seemed to turn from pink to bright red within seconds. He picked her up and felt that she was hot, then excused them from the store and said, “Sorry Tiffany, we had better get going.” He walked swiftly through the mall and then to the car. He set her in the car and noticed her eyes slowly close behind the bloodshot, red watery eyes.
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