BROKEN By: RONNEA STILES

James

James 4

I was surprised and somewhat happy to see her again but I had to act natural as the beautiful dark ebony skinned girl got into my car. I didn't want to seem like a creep but I couldn't keep my eyes off her even after masking the scent of her distasteful smell, she was still like art what more could I do aside from stare. I could tell she really needed my help so I prayed to God begging she would stick around.
"Are you hungry?"
I asked.
"Very".
"When's the last time you ate?"
She lifted up her dress a bit and fixed her hair even though it was all nappy.
"About a week ago".
I was astonished did this girl really say a week ago? I just couldn't imagine all the stuff she's been through. I knew she had a story and I wanted to hear it.
"What do you have a taste for?"
I asked trying to sound calm.
"Anything . . . I just really need a bath".
I glanced over at her body trying to get a good look at her and the damage she's taken, but I couldn't really tell what it looked like because her dress was so bulky. But she was right, she wreaked of outside and dirt, I seriously needed to get her to my parents soon.
"I'll tell you what, once we get to my house my parents will take care of you".
She didn't say anything but just nodded her head. I rolled the windows down to let some of the bad smell out without trying to seem rude.
~
We finally pulled up to my house I watched as her eyes got big and her mouth dropped I could instantly tell what she was thinking. She thought my house was huge and I won't even try to stunt like it's not, it was big.
"You can get out".
I said to her.
She paused for a second and looked at me but didn't move.
"I'm sorry. This was a bad mistake".
"Wait why?"
"I can't go in there smelling like this . . . especially not looking like this either!"
She yelled.
She hastily looked in the small mirror and attempted to fix her face up in some type of way. I took her hand away from her face grabbed her other one and held them down and made her look at me. All I saw was a girl in need, the longer I stared at her the more I felt the need to help her. She was different from other girls I've met and seen, she had this look . . . This really desperate look in her eyes and all I wanted to do was help her.
"Look you gotta trust and believe me, my family won't care how your looking right now at all. They'll only be concerned with one thing and that's helping you . . . In all honesty you look fine to me".
I said with confidence.
She sighed and said
"Okay let's do it."
I got out and came around to open the passenger side door for her, I smiled while watching her get out of the car. We walked to the front door, she stood behind me as I opened the door. I turned around to her and said
"Don't be afraid".
With a smile on my face to help her feel comfortable. That's when my mom came to the door. Her eyes wandered to the girl as we came in, she gasped a little in astonishment to how she looked but she quickly fixed her face and then her eyes wandered to me. My mom was a heavy set woman with nice curly hair and light skin just like me and my father. She was very sweet but getting on her bad side is something you don't want to do . . . At all.
"Ummm baby . . . who's this?"
I didn't even know how to answer that question because I hadn't even learned her name yet.
"Umm . . . mom this is the girl from about two weeks ago who ran into the church. She needs help".
"You don't say . . . Okay well . . . has she tried getting connected with her family?"
Suddenly that's when the girl stood in front of me and started to speak.
"Excuse me ma'am but I'm sorry to come up on you so suddenly. Your son said you could help me. And to answer your question I don't have any family".
My mom looked at the girl long and hard.
"C'mon in I think I can find you something to wear".
I smiled brightly. I knew my mom would give in.