In Constant Sorrow

Chapter Three: Run Rabbit Run

Sheriff Todd looked at Abilene with the same look he'd give one of his grandchildren for misbehaving. "Abilene," he sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Explain to me why you thought it would be a good idea to assault your mother in broadlight."

"I don't have anything to say."

Another big sigh from the gray headed man, "I know as well as anyone else in this town the issues you and your mother have- and you're lucky she doesn't want to press charges- but I cannot have you out here attacking her like that."

Abilene kept her eyes trained on the Sheriff's badge, "Well maybe if she would've stayed in sober living I wouldn't have had to take things into my own hands."

"You realize you are the only Grant to have never been in jail? Hmm? Do you know that?"

"Yes, sir," she remarked sarcastically.

"I don't want your sass-

"Did you know she assaulted me with a cellphone last year?"

"I do know about that but you didn't file a report with us so what can we do now? What I'm focused on is the fact that you broke your mother's nose and beat her with her own purse. Abilene?"

"She's fine," Abilene stated flatly.

He continued to rub the bridge of nose in irritation and sighed. "You're lucky that it was Deputy Anderson that answered the call and not me because you'd be sitting in county lockup right now instead of riding my last nerve." He continued, "Right on Main Street, right where everyone could see? I can't have violence in the streets of Allentown."

"I won't do it again," she sighed.

"I sure hope you don't because this new DA we got is hard, and I mean hard, on family and domestic violence cases. There are consequences to your actions Abilene whether they be legal or not."

"Don't you think I know that," she popped up from her chair. "My whole life has been the consequence of someone else's actions. Out of anyone in this whole damn building- I know that better than anyone in this whole damn town."

"Abilene, sit-"

"I look at myself and I see the sins of my parents, it's in my fucking blood Sheriff. Don't talk to me about fucking consequences."

"Sit down."

"No, I won't sit down- You've watched my family fall apart for the last thirty years. Daddy going to prison for drugs, mama gettin' strung out on drugs, Avery dyin' because of drugs, Jackson dyin' because of drugs, the list goes on. So don't think I don't know about the damn consequences."

Hot tears streamed down her face and the older man looked at her with pity.

"You can't tell me shit," she spit.

The door slammed and the Sheriff was left alone at his desk.

He shook his head.

Caroline was waiting outside of the Sheriff's waiting for Abilene. "Abby, honey, wait," she chased after her daughter. Abilene spun around to face her mother, "Get the fuck away from me, call that fucking man you get your drugs from to pick you up."

"Abby, baby, it's ok, it's ok," she pleaded to the girl, "I'm not mad at you for what you done."

She looked at her mother incredulously, "What I did?"

Her mother looked at her with tears in her eyes, "Please don't send me back to that man, please."

"Go back to your trap house and leave me the hell alone."