Tujunga Boulevard was crowded as always, but Mary and Casey still managed to find their way through the stores. They mainly just stayed in the Chalet Durer. A store of art: statues and paintings. Casey always liked to take a cup of expresso with her, and stare at a piece of work for hours on end. They got some lunch, and took it on the boardwalk overlooking the river. Casey hung her feet over the edge, enjoying the wind on her face. The haunting flashes came back, they seemed so real. "Mary?" The older woman looked at her. Casey cleared her throat, "When I was little did anything happen to me?" Mary furrowed her eyebrows, "A lot of things happened to all of us, you'll have to be a bit more specific."
Mary sat down next to her, staring at Casey intently. Casey sniffled, her heart sinking. Mary's arm snaked around her shoulders, and Casey shuddered. Mary sensed Casey's insecurity and dropped her arm. Casey pulled her knees up to her chest, feeling like she was about to explode. "Was I ever raped?" The only sound heard were the birds cawing, until Mary cleared her throat. "What's caused this question?" "I've been having nightmares, about when I was a little girl, and this man. Maybe I'm just going crazy." She put her face in her hands. "Want the truth?" Casey nodded not looking at her.
"You were six. Charlie and me had begun some changes in you." "Like what?" "Well you used to stay in the bathtub for hours scrubbing a spot on yourself til you bled. You used to take a toothbrush and wash cracks in the floor not leaving until you were satisfied with it. Taking rags and washing down the walls. It was horrible. Marla told us she could hear you crying in your bed at night." Casey looked at her arm, where she had rubbed it raw that morning, and sighed as Mary continued.
"A new teacher started to work that, Mr. Bales. And he put you in the advanced courses in his class. He tutored you. We had no idea he….What he was doing to you. Charlie and me were just walking down one of the corridors on the bottom floor. We heard crying, and Charlie literally had to break down the door. Your uniform was all torn, and blood was on it. God, Charlie took out his pocketknife, and would've cut his throat if you didn't start screaming. I tried to hold you, but the shock. Everyone trusted that man. The police came a short while later, they had to pry Charlie off of him.
"Is he in jail?" "He was in prison, but I think he's on parole now I'm afraid." Casey was too, too scared to cry. She closed her eyes trying to scatter her thoughts. "What time is it?" "About two." "Ready to take me to meet Charlie?" "Yeah." It was a terribly awkward drive, in the end Casey lunged out of her seat just to get to Charlie. Even in the Explorer with Charlie she just stared out the window, keeping the conversation to herself.
The leather-like exterior of the examination table was icy cold. Casey thought if she blew into the air, crystal would come out. The doctor came in, "It's been awhile Miss Macdonald, how have you been lately?" "Fine." "Any numbness? Pain in muscles or spasms in bones?" "Nope." "That's good, if you'll just lie face down we'll take a quick sample to make sure nothing is creeping back." "Are you sure that's necessary? I mean I feel great." Charlie gave her a funny look that told her to be quiet. "It'll be quick," said the doctor with a grin. It might've been quick, but it hurt like hell, it always did, and it took nearly a half an hour for the results to come through.
"Miss Macdonald I think we should keep you in for a few days." "It's back?" asked Charlie in surprised misery. Casey covered her face with her hands, "Yeah I know it is."