Scorching Heat Down South

Chapter 2

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Claire quickly made her way home, the incident with Philip already forgotten. It was already late in the afternoon and mama would be livid if she didn't get her supper ready on time.

They lived in the worst part of town where the trailer park, white trash was dirt poor and lived off lousy incomes that were garnered in nefarious and terrifying ways. It was a scary, crime ridden place to live in but Claire wasn't afraid. She'd grown up around these parts. That however, didn't mean she was stupid. You had to have eyes on the back of your head and always keep your head down otherwise you'd be taken out just like that. There was always a story in the local newspaper about a girl found raped or dead, unfortunately it was usually both. Claire had even witnessed a stabbing once, it had been a ghastly thing to experience. The man had probably died. She hadn't stayed long enough to find out.

She arrived home with little time to spare. In truth, it was more of a shack than a house. It was ancient and severely dilapidated, it looked as though it would fall apart at any moment. She knew it wouldn't, well it hadn't so far. The structure was steadier than it seemed and that was good enough for her. It was surrounded by other similar shacks and trailers that housed countless druggies, dope dealers and prostitutes.

The shack was made up of three rooms which thankfully included a bathroom, others weren't so lucky. Mama used one as her bedroom and she used the other. The biggest room was used as a kitchen and a living room. She walked inside and briefly looked around and felt the usual despair that came over her every time she came home threaten to overwhelm her.

The furniture consisted of odd bits and pieces her mama had stolen or found and brought home. The couch was so ragged and old that no matter how much she'd tried to clean it she had never been able remove all the dirt and grime that stuck to it like glue. There was an old TV set that had stopped working years ago that her mama stubbornly refused to part with. Claire couldn't understand why she wouldn't just throw the useless thing away. Dirty, torn curtains covered even dirtier windows. Their kitchen was made up of a tiny wooden table with a two plate stove on it and two chairs. There was a fridge next to it that barely got cold anymore.

Claire physically shook off the dark feelings of hopelessness that made her cold inside and went into her bedroom. It had a single bed, a white chipped drawer in which she kept her clothes in and a small work desk. She quickly changed into a pair of old, threadbare jeans and a t-shirt. She went back into the kitchen and starting making mac and cheese for supper. As she finished cooking her mama walked in with a thick set, heavy man right behind her. They were laughing obnoxiously, sloppily kissing and drinking booze all at the same time. If Claire hadn't been so grossed out she would have given them points for efficient multitasking.

The man, whose age was indiscernible looked like a filthy, homeless bum who hadn't had a shower in ages. He saw her and immediately froze, unashamedly ogling her. His smile was as nauseating as his crooked teeth which were stained a nasty brown/yellow colour that was most likely caused by tobacco, "A fine young thing ain't ya girly." He said and the look in his eyes made Claire shift uncomfortably as she mentally chided herself. She usually made sure she locked herself in her room long before her mama came home so as to avoid any unpleasant scenes with her male company. Her mama scornfully looked at her, "Pay her no mind Billy." She said and brazenly stroked his bulging manhood, "You're here to have fun with me. I'll show you a good time, the best you've ever had." She said seductively and brought his face towards hers and kissed him passionately. He responded in kind. Roughly groping her and shoving his tongue inside her mother's mouth, conveniently forgetting all about Claire. Who looked on in revulsion as her mama led him to her room.

After they left she rushed to her own bedroom and quickly locked the door. She sat by the desk and switched on the cheap reading lamp. She'd bought it at a garage sale last year, because the curtains in her room where so heavy they blocked out the sunlight. She instantly got busy with her math homework. She didn't particularly like math but she'd do almost anything to drown out the sickening, animal sounds that came from the other room. After about fifteen or so minutes there was an abrupt silence and Claire let out a sigh of relief. As loud as her mama and her partners were, she was immensely glad that their dealings didn't last very long otherwise she didn't know how she could ever bear it.