Running Away

Chapter 7 Nazzies Memories

Nazzie

I had been sitting leaning against Bubby's car listening and waiting. It felt like forever had gone by and I was never going to be safe. Is John ok? Did something happen? What if we never get out of here. Should I go in and try to help? I remembered then how he told me to stay here and be quiet. He had a scary look on his face. No I have to trust that he will get us out of here. He has always saved me before. Why is this time any different.
Right then I heard someone running out of the house and the truck starting.
I stood up in a panick getting ready to run if I had to. The truck barreled over the mailbox and stopped close to in front of me. The door swung open and I saw Bubby with some sort of cloth around his neck in the drivers seat. "Nazzie get in now!! We have to go!!" he yelled over the roaring engine and I stumbled forward in relief as I climbed into the truck and shut the door. Not even waiting till I was buckled up Bubby peeled out making rocks go flying and the truck shot forward.
As he drove he fumbled with the cloth around his neck, untieing it he handed it to me. "I got you some clothes." he said as I took the clothes. My favorite t-shirt and jeans were the first things I saw.
My eyes overflowed with tears. "Thank you..." I whispered in a choked voice. He turned his head towards me with his eyes still on the road and smiled. "Anything for my baby sister." he said happily.
Not having to worry about changing in front of Bubby I took off his shirt and put on the clothes he had gotten for me. When I got my clothes on he held up a packet of Poptarts, "Here is some food too, you must be starving." I took the food from him and started eating them, leaving half of one still in the package for him to eat, I held it back out to him. "Eat it, I can eat later." he said rejecting it. Eating the last bit I slowly drop the wrapper on the floorboards.
Remembering that I left a hairbrush in the truck a couple months prior I opened the glove box and pick it up. Brushing out my semi long snarled reddish hair I smiled, really smiled, for the first time in months.
It's still 75 miles to town... I hope all will be ok.
My mind wandered as I watched the trees blur by. Memories came flooding back to the countless times Bubby came to my rescue.
When I was five I had wandered to far into the forest when we were out camping. I was so scared I started running and broke my ankle. Screaming out in pain and fear I held my leg. I saw Bubby running towards me picking his way through the broken tree branches and around big rocks. Kneeling down next to me he looked me over tentatively and grabbed two nearby sticks. "This might hurt a little but I'll carry you back. It's gonna be ok I'm here now." he said those words so softly as he ripped his shirt and braced my ankle with the sticks. Tying the cloth around the sticks and my ankle he picked me up like a princess and started walking back. To think he was so strong at nine years old... He used to carry me like that so much.
Then another time when I was seven. I'd gotten into a kennel with a pitbul to see her puppies. Oh man he pulled me out of there so fast and cradled me in his arms. I laughed at the memory and John looked over for a second and smiled.
When I was 11 mom had disappeared when John and I were gone over to his friends house. John was 15 and was in wrestling. I remembered how he got into fights with that steploser..  Not long after John turned 16 he would stay out late. And would rarely come home. I hated that time.
I had come home one day with a boyfriend that was abusive. I didn't know that I deserved much better. After he moved away I had a couple more boyfriends after that but they all treated me the same.
After every heartbreak Bubby would hug me and say, "It's ok I'm here. Don't worry. He didn't deserve you." I loved Bubby so much. When he was 17 he moved out and left me there with the steploser. That's when the abuse started..
Shaking my head I looked at Bubby. "Uhm.. Bubby.. Can I tell you something?"