A/N-This chapter is based off of 'The Rowdy Girls', Charlene's cousin, Mavis and her family moved to Atlanta ( she was also pregnant ) and Charlene, Mary Jo, Suzanne and Julia were taking dance lessons from her and Charlene found out her cousin was being a victim of domestic abuse.
WARNING-This chapter will contain violence against women, I'll try not to be heavy with it but I'm putting this warning out anyway.
After the talent comptition, Mavis and her girls went home with Charlene and Bill.
Bill opened the door and in they came, a stream of women and girls, each holding a bag and when they get in, they are all silent then Bill says to the girls, "I'll show you girls where you are going to sleep, come on" The girls follow him then Mavis and Charlene are in the living room by themselves and tears fall from Mavis's eyes and she says, "I don't know how to thank you Charlene" Charlene grabs her cousin and hugs her then says, "You don't have to say thank you Mavis, I'm happy to do this"
They turn to go sit down on the couch and Mavis asks, "What if...he comes...here?" Charlene looks around the room then says, "I doubt he will, he knows how strong Bill is, how protective he is...he's not going to try anything here and tomorrow we will all sit down and figure out a way to get you and the girls to a safe place" Mavis goes quiet then says, "Charlene...I don't think I remember what safe is...safe was back in Popular Bluff with momma and daddy...my girls have never known safe, all they know is daddy slapping mom across the room" Charlene smiles then says softly, "They will again, it will take time but they will" They go silent and Mavis puts her head on Charlene's chest.
Some hours later, at just about five o'clock, somebody starts beating on the door and yelling, "Mavis!" Bill, Charlene, Mavis and the girls come out. Charlene gets a worried look on her and the girls start whimpering and Mavis cries...Bill goes to answer the door and a drunken, angry man comes in and he says, "Where is she? where is that bitch?" Bill then steps up and says, "Now listen, you don't have any right..." Dan just pushes himself past Bill and Mavis jumps and the girls scream, "Daddy!" Mavis says, "Dan, just calm down, you're in somebody else's home and..." He doesn't listen to a word she says and he just grabs her already hurt wrist and she squeals and cries some more and he says in a cruel tone, "You're coming home where you belong and the girls!" Ginny steps up and boldly says to her dad, "We're not coming home daddy! You scare us!" He backhands his daughter and Mavis runs straight for the door and Bill says, "Charlene, call the police!"
Bill tries to grab Dan as he races after Mavis, Bill tears the sleeve off of Dan's jacket, Dan makes it to the door, sees Mavis running down the steps and he looks around and sees a wooden chair, picks it up and throws it straight at Mavis, it hits her square in the back and she falls down the rest of the steps and lands on the hard concrete of the parking lot. Bill runs to the door and says, "Never mind about the police, call an ambulance!" They all look at Mavis as she lays there and Charlene calls the E.M.T.'s.
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The sun cracks its light over Atlanta shortly after six that morning and Charlene, Bill and the girls wait in the waiting room for word of Mavis, one of the girls have her head in Charlene's lap and the doctor comes in the room and asks, "Family of Mavis Madling?" Charlene speaks up and says, "I'm her cousin" The girls wake up out of their sleepy state and all of them look at the doctor and he says, "Mrs. Madling will be just fine" Everybody in the room but the doctor gives a collective sigh of relief then Charlene asks, "What about the baby?" That time the doctor instantly frowns then says in a sad voice, "I'm sorry, we couldn't save him" He turns to leave and Charlene sits down and so do the girls and the little one who had her head in Charlene's lap puts it back and they all think about Mavis.
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A few days later, Mavis sits on the couch at Bill & Charlene's apartment and she's deep in thought with a sad look on her face and she remembers the slaps, the punches...the sheer brutality her husband has gave her through the years. And she remembers the faces of each of her girls then Charlene comes in the room, sees her cousin and watches her then softly says, "Mavis?" It takes a few minutes but Mavis comes out of her memories then says, "Huh, oh, I'm sorry Charlene" Charlene waves it away then says, "There's nothing to be sorry for" Mavis tries to smile then says, "Yes there is Charlene, I bought all this upheavel in your lives and we don't know when Dan will be back..." Charlene interrupts her then says, "He won't be back, Bill got that restraining order against him" Mavis then says, "A restraining order won't stop him and you know that" Charlene shakes her head yes and takes Mavis over to the window then says, "I know that and so does Bill so that's why he got this..." She points out the window and Mavis looks out and sees the men in the car then asks, "Is that M.P.'s?"
Charlene shakes her head yes then says, "Bill pulled some strings, that's how much we care about you, how much we want things to work out for you" Mavis chokes back a sob and she grabs Charlene and hugs her then goes around the living room crying and says as she reaches down and gets a handkerchief off the table and says, "You are doing so much Charlene but...we both know that I can't stay in here forever and those guys stay out here, I'm going to have to do something...but what?" Charlene thinks on something then says, "I know and..." She pulls a piece of paper out of her pocket and says, "Julia helped me find the name and number of this woman...she can help you, I talked to her myself and she says for you to call her tonight at 11:00" Mavis takes the paper then walks around then says, "I know what she will tell me...a friend of mine did this back in Missouri...I never saw her again so...that made me forget about it at that time. But I think now, it's got to be so bad Charlene, I haven't even told you the worst of it" Charlene cries then says, "I don't want to hear Mavis but please tell me you'll call her" Mavis looks at the number then says, "I will"
Charlene walks to the kitchen and pours herself some coffee and Mavis says, "I'll never see you again" Charlene looks into the coffee then says, "YES, we will..." She then smiles and says, "We're the Rowdy girls" She and Mavis hug and go and sit down on the couch.
A/N-Please read and review.
Sand 'n Sable