It had been a busy week for both Jane's. Lisbon was working on a new case and Patrick was almost through with the class he was teaching on using his tricks to solve cases. Dottie, the nanny they hired was busy getting Casey ready for school.
Just as they were about to leave for work Casey comes running out of her room, followed by Dottie.
"Hi, Mommy and Daddy!" She gives them a kiss. "Are you going to be home early tonight?"
Lisbon squats in front of her daughter. "Not tonight, honey. But Daddy is teaching his last class today."
"I won't teach again for two months," Patrick says as he plants a kiss on Casey's head.
Lisbon gives Casey a kiss and stands. "We'll do something special this weekend."
Casey smiles and near-yells, "I can't wait!"
Lisbon throws her a warning glance while Jane mock-winces with hands over his ears. Casey reacts with a well-practiced "sorry" face that has headed off many deserved scoldings. Lisbon and Jane exchange amused glances. After a round of hugs her parents are out the door. A quick peck and both are off in separate cars.
Casey was waiting for the bus with Dottie, happy the weekend starts tomorrow. She boards the bus and goes to her seat. A few minutes later the bus makes its next stop. There are only four kids at this stop and one is Scout. Scout walks slowly and has a hard time getting up the stairs. When the bus driver asks if she is okay, Scout mumbles something about falling, looks down and nods, quickly escaping to sit with Casey. The bus takes off and Scout closes her eyes for a few minutes. Casey looks at her friend then reaches over and takes Scout's hand.
"What's wrong?" she asks so quietly others can't hear.
Scout is silent for a few minutes. A tear trails down her face, and she angrily rubs it off with the back of her hand. Casey hands Scout a small package of tissues from her pocket.
"Thank you Casey," Scout chokes out.
It takes several minutes before Scout turns to face Casey. "My father came home last night... He had a lot of beer to drink." She pauses, gathering herself before continuing. "He wanted me to show him how much I love him. I told him it hurts me when he wants me to show him. He got mad. He pulled my arm and hit my legs with his belt." She whispered, "Said the next time I disobey he'll hurt me more."
Casey's eyes widen in shock. Her parents never spank or hurt her. "My daddy never hits me, and always knows I love him. I never have to show him."
"It hurts when I have to do it… You never want to do it like I have to." Another tear escapes. "It must be nice to have a father like yours." The girls are quiet during the rest of the ride to school. Casey watches as Scout seems to be asleep.
All through the day Casey watches her friend. Scout tells her teacher she fell at home and nobody questions her story. Scout doesn't have a lunch, and again nobody asks why. Casey is glad when Scout agrees to eat some of her lunch. Once on the bus to go home, Scout looks even more upset than she had at school.
"Scout, are you going to be okay?"
Scout looks at her with tears pooled in her eyes. "He's going to be home again tonight. It's better when I'm alone. Then I'm not scared."
Casey had been thinking about how she could help her friend have a peaceful weekend all day, and it's time to put her plan into action. She knows her father and mother won't be happy when they find out, but maybe they can help Scout. At school, Casey used her computer to look up reasons why children are afraid of their parents. It upsets her to think this might be happening to Scout. Casey wonders if her parents will believe her and will know how to help Scout. She never doubts that her parents will want to help.
"Scout I want to help, but you need to listen to me, okay?" Scout looks surprised. Casey plows on, "Will your father look for you when he gets home?"
"Not if he's been drinking. He does that a lot and I stay in my room. He's leaving on Sunday morning and will be gone till Thursday. Why?"
"You're going to spend the weekend with me."
Scout is surprised again. "Your parents will let me stay at your house?"
Casey thinks fast to figure out how it could work. "They won't know right away. I have a place you can stay and be safe and no one will even know you're there."
Scout's relief was cut short. "But I'll still have to go home on Monday," she said, spirit sinking.
"Maybe the school will just think that you're sick and you can stay a few more days. We need to somehow keep you away from your father." Growing more excited, Casey added, "I have a few days to work out a plan so you won't have to be afraid of your father anymore. This is what you need to do. Get off at your normal stop. Then you know how to get to my place without walking on the road, right?"
"I can cut through Mr. Parker's farm, and come the back way here."
"Okay, here's a drawing. It shows where my bedroom is. When you get to my house knock on my window. " She hands her drawing to Scout.
"Won't your parents know?"
"Nope. When you get to my house I'll show you how they won't know." She looks up and sees where they are. "I've got to get off now." She whispers urgently, "Don't be afraid, this will be alright, I promise." She squeezes Scouts hand and smiles. Then she jumps up to get off at her bus stop where Dottie is waiting.
When Casey gets home she heads to the kitchen to fix a sandwich. Dottie follows.
"You want me to fix you something, Casey?"
"Can I have some carrots and a glass of milk, please?" she asks, putting her sandwich on a paper towel.
"Of course. I'll get it fixed for you. Your mom and dad said they'd be a little late and will be bringing dinner home."
"Okay. I'll be in my room. I have some homework to finish tonight so I won't have any for the weekend." She grabs her sandwich and rushes out. She closes the bedroom door and looks at the clock by her bed. All she has to do now is wait. She actually does dash off her homework - scrunching her nose at how messy her writing is, but figuring her teacher won't care - much - just this once. Dottie brings the carrots and milk and Casey closes her door again.
Thirty minutes later she hears a tap at the window. Casey parts the curtains and gives Scout a smile as she opens the window and helps her inside.
"No problems?" she asks anxiously.
"No. Now what?" Scout asks as she looks around the room. Scout's a little stunned at all the dolls and books and the clothes she can see through the open closet door. She swallows a lump and turns to her friend.
Casey points to a desk with a sandwich and carrots on a plate and a glass of milk. "You eat and then I'll show you where you can stay. It's really cool and safe. Scout sits down at the desk and tears into the food, still hungry after missing breakfast and most of lunch. Casey goes to the closet and moves a toy box. She pushes a button near the floor disguised as a piece of trim that was hidden by the toy box. Scout gapes when a little door swings open in the closet.
"My daddy calls it my rabbit hole. If something happens and he says to come here I have to do it right away, with no questions. I stay there until he or my mom tells me it's okay to come out. I've only used it once. Com'on and take a look," she waves excitedly. The girls bend down and duck into the hidden space. Casey pushes a button inside and the door closes.
"When the door is closed no one can tell this room is here." There is a bed, chair, and small TV on top of a table. A crowd of stuffed bears is lined up on the floor along the wall. Casey picks up a phone from the table and shows Scout the pre-programmed speed-dial number. "I can call my Uncle Cho if I ever need to, but only him," she explains and puts it back on the table.
"You can stay here until my parents come say goodnight to me. Once they do that I'll open the door so you can see out and we can talk. They always knock before they come in so you would have time to get back in."
"Wow!" is all Scout can say. Casey gives her the ear phones to use with the TV when she's in the room.
Casey says earnestly, "Nobody will ever hurt you in this house." Their heads turn toward the window when they hear a car pull into the drive way.
"My parents are here." She motions Scout toward the closet and door. "Time to go into the room. Don't come out until I tell you. It won't be long, I promise." Scout scurries into the secret room and closes the door. Casey moves the toy box back and looks around. sighing in relief that Scout took the food with her.
She bites her lower lip, then smiles and walks out of the bedroom. She ignores a twinge of worry about how much trouble she could get in for doing all this without telling Mommy or Daddy first. Then she takes a deep breath and tells herself that they had to be in favor of helping her friend. She doesn't want to think about how horrible it would be if her Daddy didn't even miss if she was gone for days ... or even worse, hurt her.
Part one of her plan is done.
