A Runaway Girl Named Penny

 Penny

I was cold, lonely, and lost. As the time had gone on I had lost track of the days.  Good thing I liked the outdoors or I would have gone insane. The snow fell lightly on everything around me. Each leaf was painted with a million snowflakes. I finally stopped at a small clearing surrounded by trees. This would have to do for now besides I had slept in far worse places. I pulled out a thin blanket from my backpack. I shivered as I slipped under the blanket. I reminded myself not to sleep. It was always the same nightmare. Still as the night crept upon me and heat escaped me, my eyes fluttered shut and I drifted away. As I had predicted, I landed in darkness. I was screaming and crying, pounding my fist on the floor. I remembered my confusion. How lost and helpless I felt. Why me? Why me? My dream turned from darkness to complete black.

The warmth soothed my aching bones. I waited. I waited to wake up and for it to disappear. Finally my eyes reluctantly opened. I sat up. Where was I? I was in somebody’s house, in someone’s bed. I slid off the bed, but my knees became wobbly and I fell. I steadied myself and walked to the door. My head pounded. Anything could be on the other side of the door. After what seemed like hours, I gripped the knob and turned. Instead of a magic dragon or psycho killer, there was a hall way. I wandered down the hall and down some stairs. I stood utterly mortified.

Five people turned to look at me. Their pale faces were outrageously perfect. I was unable to find a single flaw. The youngest (Or so I guessed) led me to the kitchen table. “I’m Mary!” she told me. She looked about my age if not older. “What’s your name.” I couldn’t answer. I hadn’t talked to anyone in weeks. I looked at the floor. “Mary! Give her some space.” I looked up. “ I’m Trent Koliy.” His voice was kind. “This is my wife Daniele and our three adopted children. Sam is going to college next year, Alex is a Junior, and Mary is also a Junior.”

Still unable to talk, I nodded. I was just about finished with Middle School and be off to High School before I ran away. Its okay though. I really wasn’t looking forward to High School. I was really short, so I was the midget of Middle School and I doubt it would be different in High School. “Pancakes are ready!” announced Mrs. Koliy. Tears almost spilled from my eyes. They smelled so good and I hadn’t had a real breakfast in forever. Even back at home I had to make my own pancakes if I had time. That was before they started locking me away. I watched intently as she put two on my plate instead of the one everybody else got. I ate them joyfully. Mrs. Koliy gave me seconds which I finished. I looked at them. Each person still had their first pancake and had only eaten bits here and there. Mrs. Koliy cleared everything. I sat awkwardly at the table. “Come to my room.”, an overly excited Mary said. I let her pull my arm up the stairs and back to the room I had awoken in. 

She talked on and on about how she never had a little sister. This was a little silly since I was maybe 1 or 2 years younger then her, but I didn’t spoil her joy by saying so. She played with my hair and after a few bizarre hair-dos, she settled with just curling it. It actually looked pretty cute curled. Then she opened her closet. “You can borrow some of my clothes.” I looked at my clothes. They did look really tattered and worn. After a few minutes, she handed me a plain blue tee and jeans. I walked in the bathroom. It looked so clean. I slipped off my rags of a shirt and pants.

Underneath was my reminder of my past. I could almost remember every scar and burn. The two red stripes on my back were because I spilled the liquor at Uncle T’s party with his buddies.  I was told to be a waiter, but the dilemma was quite obvious. Who would expect for a 13 year old to be a waiter to all of those drunk men.? After I had spilt it, Uncle T grabbed me, whipped off his belt, and gave me a good smack. He offered his friends to hit me, thank goodness most of them were too drunk to really make a mark. Uncle T finished me off with the other red stripe. I remembered my Aunt Bethany hovering in the background. She never came to help me. Sometimes she did, but that day she left me at my Uncle’s mercy.

I heard a knock at the door, “Are you okay in there?” asked Mary’s worried voice. I quickly slipped on the new clothes. The soft fabric soothed my skin. New clothes had never felt so good. I stepped out to show her. “They fit good?” she asked looking at me with concern. To tell the truth, I hadn’t lost all that much weight. Maybe a few pounds, but I was still had that chubby faced kid look like the old days. I saw my backpack leaning against her dresser. I quickly stuffed my clothes into it before she could offer to wash them. All I had to do now was run. Run far, far away. But… this place was so nice. I liked here a lot. Maybe I would stay here for just a few days. Soon though, days turned into weeks. 

One night, I crawled on the roof. It was easy since the bedroom I shared with Mary was on the top floor. The breeze was just right. I pulled out my Ipod. It had a portable charger that I so carefully hid from my Uncles grasp, so my Ipod would never die. I laid down to think. As I listened to the lyrics of Breakaway by Kelly Clarkson, I thought about the Koliy family. They were a strange lot. Like how Mr. Koliy goes hunting or fishing almost every week. Or that they hardly ate anything at all. I almost never had peace like now. My thought was  interrupted by Alex, who preceded to lie next to me. I ignored him. Usually at least one of them, mostly Mary or Mrs. Koliy, just happened to want to stay home while the rest of them went out or just happened to cross my path while I went for a short walk. Sam never bothered me, but rather resented me from a distance. There was something very different about them. I turned to face Alex, but he was gone.

I woke up in bed the next morning. “Good morning sleepy head!” Mary said while shaking me awake. She still didn’t know my name. In fact, I hadn’t spoken one single word the whole time. If they asked a question I would nod or point. Sometimes the questions needed words, so I just either ignored it like I didn’t hear it or I shrugged. I wonder if they think I’m mute. They never asked me that. I ran lightly downstairs. The Koliys were so silent, that I felt I needed to do the same. I sat down next to Alex. “Umm…” I looked up at Mr. Koliy when I realized he was directing it at me. “Please refrain from making trips on the roof. You could easily fall down and hurt yourself.” I nodded. I could always find a new place to hang. I just had to make sure it was easy to get to at night and outdoors. I loved having the cool, winter, night breeze playfully casting my hair back and forth.