Chapter Four
I scrubbed myself over three times while I was in the shower. I had expected the water to go cold but I was in there for what was probably over an hour and the water was still hot. It was great considering I hadn't had a shower since a little over a month ago.
Now as I wrap the softest towel I've ever felt around me I walk over to the mirror and swipe off some of the fog, I barely recognized the person staring back at me. I had grown a short beard and need a haircut pretty bad too.
I began looking through the drawers of the vanity and was relieved to find a razor and some shaving cream.
An hour later my beard was gone and after finding a comb in the same drawer my hair was brushed too.
I walked out of the bathroom wearily and once I was sure no one was in the room I looked to my bed that had not only some clean clothes, new converse shoes, underwear and socks laying on it but there were some flannel pajama pants and a cotton t-shirt. I immediately dressed into those and folded the clothes laying them on the dresser next to a covered tray.
Lifting the cover I found bottled water and some chicken salad sandwiches. They were heavenly.
I found myself asleep quickly that night and when I woke the next morning to a warm soft bed I was content to lay there until there was a knock at my door that caused me to jump from the bed making sure the bed was between me and whoever came through that door. Living on the streets makes you jumpy.
"Yeah?" I answered with a deep breath.
"Good morning Aaron, did you sleep okay? You sure look better than you did last night." Ray greeted as he walked through the door.
"I slept fine." I answered quietly.
"You mean, Yes Sir, I slept fine." He answered and waited for my response.
I shifted at the silence in the room for a moment before taking a deep breath, I repeated, "Yes Sir, I slept fine."
He gave a small smirk but quickly sobered and said, "Get dressed we are having breakfast in a few minutes, I'll show you down."
I nodded expecting him to walk from the room but when he raised an eyebrow at me expectantly I answered, "Yes Sir."
He gave me a smile and left the room closing the door behind him.
I rolled my eyes at the formality they expected but quickly dress as my stomach made me aware of how hungry I was.
I opened the door and peeked out to see Ray typing on his cell phone as he waited for me. I slipped out of the room causing him to look up and then he gave me another smile as he tilted his head towards the hall and led the way. I followed quickly memorizing the way to the stairs and the dining room.
Once we stepped into the grand room I noticed about ten guys around my age sitting around looking at each other nervously. They all had the exact same clothing I had which was a cotton button down blue shirt with a white cotton t-shirt underneath and tan cargo pants and black socks. None of us had on shoes but I assume we all had Converse too. I sat down where Ray directed me and kept my mouth shut and my head down.
It stayed quiet for a little bit but then the sounds of talking and laughter entered the room as the Cambridge's came through the double doors and everyone looked to them for directions. Once I saw that all four of them had come in, I dropped my head again hoping for food.
They all sat down towards, what I assumed, was head of the table, talking as if we weren't there. I stared at the placemat in front of me and then I heard foot falls and the doors swing open again. I looked up to see caterer's bringing in trays that had plates of food on them and then some came in with trays that had empty glasses and directly behind them was caterers carrying pitchers of what looked to be orange juice, water, and milk.
The plates were set on each place mat and each person received a cup then the pitchers were sat in the middle of the table for everyone to serve themselves before the caterers all disappeared back through the double doors.
As soon as the doors shut I began to eat not once looking from my plate. I was worried I would be sent away once they found out I had been in jail the other day so was only worried this could be my last meal for a few days. That is if I survived the biting cold for that long.
When my plate was empty I chugged a glass of OJ and sat back waiting for them to give me the news that I had to find my way back to town. All I heard though was others eating and plates being scraped. I chanced a glance up to see only six of us had begun to eat and the others all stared at us with disgust not touching their plates. Once the other five finished they did the same as me and looked around to see no one else had eaten except us few.
Glen stood from his chair and ordered, "Those of you who have eaten stand and walk over to that wall."
The five of us exchanged glances and after a few moments of inner debate we stood and made our way to the wall.
"Face the wall and put your hands on your head." Glen ordered again with a stern tone.
I looked at him like he had gone bat shit crazy but his stern look never wavered so I rolled my eyes as I turned to the wall and huffed as I raised my hands to my head. I might have kicked the wall a little out of annoyance just to show I was not in agreement with whatever they were making us do this for.
"The rest of you may begin eating." Glen ordered and I heard his chair scuffing the hard wood as he retook his seat and scooted in.
After a few moments of silence I heard the five remaining boys begin to eat and hoped they would choke a little for being douches and not having the balls to take the food.
What if they had said don't eat or what if they had decided to take the food away before you could finish? But no, we have to look like the idiots because you little bitches can't eat what is stuck in front of you!
At hearing the boy next to me snort; I realized I had spoken that last sentence out loud.
"Oops." I whispered causing him to cough, trying but failing not to laugh.
Suddenly I felt as if someone was behind me and then I hear the low voice, belonging to Ken, ask, "Aaron would you like to share your joke? Or would you rather I just add it to what you're getting for kicking my wall?"
"Uhh…I said the wallpaper…smells like… (Sniff)…cabbage?" I lied…not so smoothly.
Three people snorted two coughed and the other three Cambridge's laughed out loud.
Ken sighs from behind me and I can practically feel him raising his eyebrow just like Ray did this morning.
"The wallpaper feels, I mean smells like cabbage Sir." I correct myself dejectedly knowing that if they haven't decided yet to kick me out I had just pushed them along with that decision.
I did not expect the laugh that came from him, nor for him to grab my bicep and lead me closer towards the head of the table where he faced me towards a corner; An actual corner, as if I were a nine year old, and leave me to face it, then saying, "Now I won't miss your jokes cause we can hear you from here."
"That's wonderful Sir's." I mumbled sarcastically as I heard him walk away to his seat.
I received no reply as the only sounds were plates continuing to be scraped. Soon it began to grow quiet and I dropped my hand to my sides hoping the blood would return to them, but as soon as they were dropped I was reproached.
"Put them back up. I haven't told you to drop them yet." Glen said as if I were actually nine.
I growled in irritation and kicked the baseboard as I lifted my hands back up.
"Why do we even have to do this? I mean it's not like we get fed everyday! This could be our last meal for who knows how long; I wasn't gonna fuckin' stare at it." I said angrily at being treated like some snot nosed brat.
No one replied so I dropped my hands again and ignored them back. It only lasted three second as the next thing I know I felt a slap to my ass before I was grabbed and dragged from the dining room in a surprised daze.
The door slamming shook me back to reality and I dug my heels in.
"Did you just slap me on my ass?" I asked in disbelief.
Glen who had whirled around as he was jerked to a stop glared at me for a second before answering, "Yes and in a few minutes you are going to feel a lot more so stop stalling and come with me otherwise we can do it right here in the hall where anyone could walk by and see."
He talked as if this were the most normal thing in the world; which seriously pissed me off.
"You can't do that! I may be young but I'm not your damn kid!" I yelled as I tried to jerk out of his hold.
My jerking away didn't seem to have any affect on him because he simply dragged me towards the stairs and put his left foot one step up and shoved me over his raised knee.
I was stunned at first. I mean no one expects to find themselves in this position but here I was not even noon staring at the hardwood floors, toes barely touching the ground as some man I met briefly the night before holds me down and starts wailing away on my ass. It was a little impressive but at the same time terrifying. I mean really this just doesn't happen to normal people!
All of a sudden, what's seriously happening, hits me (both literally and figuratively), and I start yelling, kicking, and fighting to get away. After what seems like forever I start to wear out because Glen is obviously stronger than me and my ass is really starting to burn.
His hand must be part steel because holy shit that burns! Once the pain registered my fighting turned from angry and outraged to desperate to get away from the evil steel hand of doom, and I started yelling more.
"Ah! Dammit let me go! This wasn't in the ad you bastard!" I yell at the top of my lungs.
I heard a laugh from somewhere behind me and jerked my head back to see not only all the other Cambridge's trying to hide their laughter but the other boys that had stood on the wall with me for eating without the others, who looked between amused and terrified of what was happening.
"Ah! Fuck!" I yelled as his hand seemed to get harder and the swats he was giving moved lower.
I jerked around and fought harder. I almost got free but he was pretty fast and I was back over his knee in less than a second.
"OWWW!" I hollered as his hand came down even harder.
"Ah! Gawd! I'M SORRY!" Let me go, dammit!" I yelled as exhaustion creeped in.
"Are you done cussing?" He asked calmly.
"WHAT?" I yelped in outrage. "You're trying to beat me to death because I cussed?"
His swatting halted, thank GOD, and I felt his eyes on me.
"I'm pretty sure a spanking has never killed someone; and yes that and other things such as your grumpiness and kicking…swat…my…swat…wall…SWAT!"
"AHHahhhowwww!" I yelled out at his last swat and jerked my hand back to block any more.
I was expecting more but without warning I was jerked to a standing position and nearly face planted on the stairs. He steadied me and I was about to thank him but I then realized I was free and quickly backed away my hands covering my injured ass and trying to kill him with my laser death glare.
After the only response he gave me was a stern look and raised eyebrow, I huffed (definitely not pouting) and said, "That was completely unnecessary!"
The laugh that he gave me before he headed up the stairs was his reply.
I watched as he went hoping he would fall and break his ass like he just tried to do to mine but the next thing I know there was a vice grip on my ear and I was being dragged to and up the stairs to a living room with giant soft couches and chairs in a semi circle around a fire place. I was lead past all this towards a corner where Ken left me facing the two adjoining walls, again.
I didn't mind so much now as it gave me some time to come to terms with my burning ass and wounded pride so I automatically lifted my hands knowing that's what he expected and let my head lean against the wall exhausted.
I was pretty mad that Glen had done that to me. I mean I am not a little kid, I've been through some shit; but thinking about how easy he had got a hold of me and held me down while I tried so hard to get away put a new fear in me. I felt weak and that is not something you ever want to feel. Especially when you know what could happen to you if you live on the streets like I did. Like it almost happened to me not long ago but I was able to get away because he was too drunk.
I knew now just how bad of a situation I am in. I have no protection. I thought jail would be safe. I have never felt so wrong in my life. I was weak and couldn't protect myself.