Three Word Wednesday - The Gravel Pits-Part 5

Three Word Wednesday - The Gravel Pits-Part 5

Impulsive, adjective: Acting or done without forethought.

Morose, adjective: Sullen and ill-tempered.

Sparse, adjective: Thinly dispersed or scattered; austere; meager.

If you missed Part 1 click here

If you missed Part 2 click here

If you missed Part 3 click here
If you missed Part 4 click here

                                        The Gravel Pits-Part 5

     This story is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental. All rights reserved. 

   Karl drove the rest of the way home to Delaware in silence. Kathleen tried to figure out how to confess to her Great- Aunt Frieda what she had done. Would Aunt Frieda want to throw her out? She had lied to Great-aunt Frieda and broken all her rules. She’d also gotten Terri and Karl into trouble. Would they still want to be friends to her?

Frankly Karl had grown on her. She looked at him through her long hair as he concentrated on driving. His hands were at ten and two, showing that he never violated the rules, but he had for her. He’d risked condemnation from his police dad just to save her. How had she not known how handsome he was? And he how smart and brave he was.  Look how calm he’d been with that drowning victim. He’d issued orders and other obeyed then he’d breathed life back into her. That girl was lucky Karl had saved her. Kind of like prince charming he’d saved Kathleen too. Could he ever look at Kathleen as other than his sister’s friend?

    He was really angry at Tommy, on Kathleen’s behalf. Maybe that meant Karl liked her just a little and would forgive her for getting him in trouble? Terri didn’t seem mad but she wasn’t talking to Kathleen. Terri looked like she pretended to sleep or maybe the truth was Terri was asleep?

   Kathleen thoughts were interrupted as she realized they were pulling into her Aunt- Frieda’s driveway. The front porch light was on and Aunt Frieda was on the doorstep.

  “Get in here! Where have you been young lady? Do you know how worried I was?” Great-Aunt Frieda yelled.

   Kathleen walked in the door and told Great-Aunt Frieda everything. Great-Aunt Frieda surprised Kathleen by taking her in her arms and comforting her when she cried about what Tommy had done. Then she surprised Kathleen even more by telling her of an incident when she was young.

  “Once, I was impulsive too and it really harmed me.”

  “How?”Kathleen asked.

   “I snuck out and went to a dance with a boy, who had a car. My parents had forbidden me going to this dance, but when this seventeen year old asked me, I had to go. He was handsome older and monied. I was thrilled. I lied and said I stayed at a friend’s too. That’s why I should have known you were lying.”

  “I shouldn't have lied, but you don't know how sparse good looking guys are in this town.”

 “Kathleen there are more to men then looks there are qualities like kindness, gentleness, and bravery.” 

  “We'll you tell me more of what happened on your date?” Kathleen asked.

  “Understand, I don't like to talk about this but because I think you must learn from my mistake, I'll share,  It's a very sad time in my life and after I tell you I don't want questions, or even this commented on, especially to others. Do you except my terms?”

  “Yes, Great-Aunt Frieda.”

  “On the way home the boy stopped the car and became morose. I begged him to take me home. He said he'd wined dined me and now he wanted his payment. He ripped my clothes and took what he wanted. I told no one. I blamed myself, after all I had lied. Five months later, I realized I was pregnant. I didn’t know how to tell my parents their fourteen year old daughter had been raped by a seventeen year old acquaintance and was now pregnant. So I remained silent, until it became obvious to my mother. When it came time for the baby to be born, an adoption was arranged for my son. I should have loved my boy, but I couldn’t look at the child without thinking of the rape.” Great-Aunt Frieda then turned and asked Kathleen, “Tell me the truth. did he rape you?” 

   Kathleen answered “No, and I'm so sorry for my behaviour, Great-Aunt Frieda.”

  Great-Aunt Frieda continued pressing Kathleen, “You can tell me anything. I won’t judge you. I’ll arrange an abortion if you need one.

“I wasn’t raped Great-Aunt Frieda. He tried, but I kicked him,” Kathleen answered.

“Okay, I’ll drop it,” Great-Aunt Frieda countered “But if you need to talk at any time, I’m here. In the meantime I hate to do this, but you’re grounded for one week for lying to me.”

“That’s not fair. Did your parents ground you?”

“My parents sent me away to live with my grandmother in the country. I was taken out of school and worked on the farm until I turned eighteen. Then I ran away and got a job at a local cafe.”

“Did you ever speak to your parents again?”

“No, but I regretted, that after they died and I reached out to my siblings. Shortly after To your father and mother. Then you were born and I loved you from the very moment I saw you, pumpkin and when your parents died I fought the courts to raise you.”

“I’m sorry that happened to you, Great-Aunt Frieda, but I'm glad you took me in.”

“I know you are and remember I love you and want the best for you when you think my rules are archaic. I’m just glad you didn’t get in the car with that strange man. Promise you’ll never ever think of going with a stranger again. Here you keep this dime in your shoe and if you need to you call me and I’ll come and get you no questions asked,” Great-Aunt Frieda cried.

“I will,” Kathleen promised putting it in one of the shoes she’d just taken off.

“Now it’s time for bed,” Great-Aunt Frieda said pointing to the stairs. Kathleen obeyed and went up the stairs.

  The next morning getting up for church she turned on the radio and heard, “Police seek the whereabouts of Gina Waterstones, six teen years old; Gina, last seen entering a navy blue Ford Fairline car with man in a military style bearing. Gina Waterstones is described as follows: five feet four inches tall, one hundred and eight pounds, with brown hair shoulder length hair and brown eyes, wearing a short mini-style dress with white go-go boots. If you have seen Gina Waterstones, this man or his car, please contact your local police.

  Kathleen worried about that girl but thought they would find her safe and sound soon.

  A few seconds later she heard, "We interrupt this regularly scheduled program with breaking news: The body of a young girl has been found at the Sulphur Springs this morning. Positive identification has not been made at this time. We will update you on this story as more details become available."

To be continued next week.

©Sheilagh Lee  August 20, 2014