Sunday night, Wendy drove Becky home after they worked the closing shift together. It was too cold to take her bicycle to work, and without Melody, Becky was forced to find rides with coworkers. Luckily, the young McDonald’s crowd was tight-knit and accommodating, so Becky had no problem getting to work. After the black SS Monte Carlo pulled up to the curb, Wendy turned to Becky.
“What time you work tomorrow?”
“I’m scheduled for noon,” Becky answered.
“I go in at eleven,” Wendy said. “If you don’t mind sitting around for an hour, I can pick you up.”
“I appreciate it. Thanks Wendy,” Becky said as she exited the car.
“See you tomorrow!” Wendy called out before Becky shut the door.
After Becky waved goodnight, she walked quickly to her front door in the brisk night air. After entering her house, she locked the door behind her and removed her jacket. She planned on nothing more than a hot shower and a good night’s sleep.
From the living room, Walt called out, “Susan?”
Becky answered from the kitchen, “No, it’s me.”
“Becky? Get in here!”
Becky huffed as she walked into the next room. She did not like being in the house with Walt when her mother was not present, especially when he was drinking. After entering the living room, Becky’s eyes adjusted to the darkness. The television screen provided the only light. Walt was sitting in his boxer shorts with a pile of empty beer cans by his feet. Becky was repulsed by his fat, hairy body and wished he had worn a shirt.
“Where’s Mom?” Becky asked.
“How the fuck should I know?” Walt answered. After a belch, he added, “Probably out with her one night stand.”
“Can I go now?” Becky asked.
“You in a hurry, McDonald’s girl?” Walt growled. “Turn around. I wanna see how that uniform fits you.”
“I’m not turning around, Walt.”
In the dimly lit room, Walt was able to throw his half empty beer can at Becky’s head without her seeing it. After hitting his mark, he ordered forcefully, “I said turn around!”
As the warm beer seeped through her hair and onto her shoulder, Becky was enraged. However, she obeyed her stepfather, not wanting to escalate the situation. Becky turned around slowly, knowing Walt wanted to look at her behind. She was disgusted but kept her composure upon facing him again.
“Take my order,” Walt said.
“What?”
“I said take my order!”
“Walt, this is stupid.”
“Take my fucking order!”
Becky crossed her arms, “What do you want?”
Walt threw another beer can in her direction, but this time, Becky was able to duck.
“No!” Walt grimaced. “Take my order like your job depends on it! I won’t tell you again!”
Frightened, Becky presented her best fake smile and recited the line she had said hundreds of times. “Welcome to McDonald’s, Sir. May I take your order?”
“That’s better!” Walt said as he sat back in his easy chair. “Give me a Happy Meal.”
“A Happy Meal?” Becky asked disbelievingly with a raised eyebrow.
“That’s right,” Walt answered. “You heard me.”
“What would you like with your Happy Meal?” Becky asked. “A cheeseburger or McNuggets?”
“No,” Walt said with a grin. “I want the happiest Happy Meal. Give me a McBecky with nothing on it.”
Shocked, Becky’s jaw dropped as her eyes widened in terror. Before taking another breath, Becky bolted from the room as Walt laughed at his own tasteless joke. Switching quickly to survival mode, Becky ran to the staircase and bounded up the stairs two at a time. When she got to the top, she looked behind her quickly. Becky now realized the gravity of her situation as fear gripped her heart. It was bad enough when the bastard kept leering at her, now he was making lewd, disgusting suggestions. Becky surmised it was only a matter of time until he touched her. She charged into her room.
After closing the door behind her, Becky dove to the floor and reached under her bed. After retrieving an old metal folding chair, Becky returned to the door and braced it under the knob. Then, looking about wildly, she tried to think rationally. Becky hurried to her dresser and knelt before it as she opened the bottom drawer. Rummaging through a messy heap of odd and ends, Becky found what she was looking for and pulled out an eight inch, flat head screwdriver. With the screwdriver in her hand, Becky hurried to her closet as she undid her belt.
Once inside her closet, Becky shut the door behind her and sat in the corner. With the screwdriver in her palm, Becky wrapped her belt around her hand, then, after forming a fist, she gripped the belt and screwdriver tightly, forming a respectable jailhouse weapon. With her knees tucked under her chin, Becky listened carefully for footsteps on the stairs. Horror stricken, Becky was not completely sure if she could successfully defend herself if Walt decided to break into her room. Shivering in fear, she thought to herself while trying to remain quiet.
“Where the hell is Mom? I guess it doesn’t matter, she’d only hit me some more… Shit, two more weeks of this until school starts up again. Then what? I got to finish this year, make it through the summer, and then another year of school? I won’t last that long! Should I go to the police and tell them I’m not safe at home? No!...I’m not going to a shelter… No one is going to take me away from Melody… Oh, why can’t her and I just run away together and finish school later? Maybe… Maybe I could move in with her… Maybe if I came clean and told her the truth, she could speak to her parents. Her dad always seemed cool, maybe he would understand. Yes… As soon as Melody comes back, I’ll ask her. They’ve got to take me in. I can’t stay here until graduation!”
***
The days passed quickly, and even though Melody missed Becky, she was having a wonderful time in Virginia. After purchasing mason jars at a general store, Melody did return to the beach and filled them with sand. She also bought a variety of knick-knacks and postcards from the tourist traps. Melody’s favorite purchase was a pair of T-shirts proclaiming, ‘Virginia is for Lovers’. Melody intended to keep the red one and give the blue one to Becky. At the end of each day, after dinner, Melody would spend her evenings talking with Aunt Holly. Melody adored her and wished she could see her more often. Likewise, Aunt Holly was taken with Melody and looked forward to seeing the woman she would grow up to be. Douglas spent his evenings watching television or playing cards with Frank as they discussed the news of the day. Though Barbara was happy to see her husband relaxing, she could not help but feel wary about her daughter’s relationship with her aunt. Ever since meeting in the airport, the two of them had been acting like sorority sisters. They were almost inseparable, and Barbara noted that once her daughter and sister-in-law started talking, they could go on for hours, covering a wide array of subjects. Though she did not realize it at the time, Barbara would later recognize this vacation as the time her jealousy began.
Christmas had been celebrated quietly with few gifts. Melody felt no gift could match the happiness this visit had given her and said so. The family attended morning church services led by a navy chaplain at the base chapel. New Year’s Eve was also celebrated on base and Melody got to see fireworks launched off the bow of a ship.
For Melody, it was a tearful goodbye after Frank and Holly brought the Mivshek’s to the airport. Melody loved her Uncle Frank, but she hugged her Aunt Holly long enough to make Barbara uncomfortable. After boarding the plane, Melody looked out the window and waved goodbye to all of Virginia. As the plane sped down the runway, Melody hoped to return in the summer with Becky. After the pilot had achieved a cruising altitude, Melody leaned her head back, closed her eyes, and thought of Becky.
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