Unforgotten

 by Faith Holston (ages 10-13)

The mud splashed on the young girl’s forehead as she ran in desperation down the road. She stopped and bent over, her hands on her knees. Her breath came out rapidly.

Standing up, she looked upwards and raising her hands to the sky cried out, “You said you wouldn’t forget me!”

***

2 days earlier

“Annie!” The middle-aged woman hollered standing on her front porch. “Get on over here!”

A young, blue-eyed girl ran from the barn, saying, “Coming, Mrs. Perks!” She quickly approached the porch and wiped a strand of brown hair from her face.

 “I need yer’ help in the kitchen! I’m makin’ a pie and I need ya’ to be pealing peaches. C’mon!”  

Annie quietly followed the woman inside. Entering the kitchen, Mrs. Perks turned around and firmly placed her bony hands on her coarse brown dress.

“Get to work!” There was an annoyed air about her as she walked out of the room, muttering.

Annie sighed, whispering, “Peaches.” Opening a cupboard she spotted them and carried them to a wobbly little table centered in the room.

Snatching a knife from a drawer, she started peeling the peaches. “Oh, why do the Perks have to have me as a maid. They treat me more like a slave. I’m sorry, God. I don’t mean to be complaining, but this is so hard, having to work all the time.”

“What’s that, youngster?”

Annie looked up with a start. Mr. Perks stood in the kitchen doorway, his arms crossed.

“Um, nothing, Sir.” Annie bit her lip.

He grunted. “Wuall’, we’s gonna’ have company comin’ tomorrow. Me thinks ya’ better make up the guest bedroom.”

“But– but I sleep in the guest bedroom!”

“Don’t ya’ ever talk back to me girl! Ya’ ain’t gonna’ sleep in thar’ na’ more. Now get!”

“But,–” She stopped short. “Uh, Mrs. Perks asked me to peel these peaches! She’ll have my hide if I leave the job unfinished.”

“We’ll both have ya’ hide if ya’ keep on talking back! Now be quick about ya’ work. But ya’ better not forget to do what I told ya’!”

“Yes, but where will I sleep?”

“The barn. An’ not anotha’ word!” and with that he turned and went outside, leaving Annie shocked.

Her shock quickly turned to anger. The BARN!?! How could he!

Annie couldn’t believe this.

She started quickly peeling the peaches with fierce strokes. This is absolutely the last straw. I can’t deal with this anymore! I’ll run away!! God, this is the only thing I can— “OUCH!” In her haste in peeling, her hand had slipped and she’d sliced her wrist.

Blood was oozing out of her wound. Clenching her hand, she started to cry. No, don’t cry. Don’t cry! Mrs. Perks will hear!

She dashed for a drawer and drew out a starchy cloth. Taking a breath, she pressed the cloth to her wrist.

As soon as it slowed down bleeding, she forced herself to swallow her pain. Then carefully, she tried to continue her job.

***

Annie rushed up the creaky stairs to the guest room. The bed was made, but the dressers drawers were still occupied by her few, precious belongings. She had a small burlap bag and a strap that attached to the top.

Opening one of the dresser’s drawers, she tossed her things into the bag. Except for one; a small leather bible. Something her mother had given her 2 years ago. She slipped open the cover and read what was written on the inside:

Annie,

Happy 9^th birthday, honey!

I pray you read this bible daily.

I know that you won’t forget me when I’m gone, but most importantly, don’t forget God. He loves you more than you know. Always trust in him!

I love you, Sweetheart!

~Mother

Then under this were the words:

And the Lord, He is the One who goes before you. He will be with you, He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear nor be dismayed.” Deuteronomy 31:8

 A tear found its way onto Annie’s cheek as she read the inscription. Placing the Bible with the rest of her things, Annie slung the bag over her shoulder.

Okay, Annie. Here goes. Silently creeping down the stairs, she made for the door.

Once on the porch, seeing no one in sight, she made a mad dash for the woods which were close on hand.

***

Dirty and hungry, Annie tirelessly persevered through fields, woods, and roads. The next morning there was a light rain, quickly soaking through Annie’s scrawny thin coat.

The rain soon stopped and the sun came out once more. Annie was just starting to dry out, when she heard creaking wheels turning on the rocky road. She whipped around.

About a fourth a mile away, a wagon was slowly approaching. Annie barely made out the figures of Mr. and Mrs. Perks.

A horrified gasp escaped from her mouth.

Turning ahead, Annie made a run for it, her bag bouncing on her back. Sweat poured down her forehead. Her wrist began hurting again.

Pain and fear pressed her on. Her hair relentlessly whipped her face. She abruptly stopped and bent over, holding back a sob. Quickly standing up, she looked over her shoulder. The Perks had seen her but the old horse pulling their cart wouldn’t go much faster.

Annie looked up and holding her palms to the sky cried desperately, “You said you wouldn’t forget me! Why haven’t you helped?”

She heard a voice saying, ‘I haven’t forgotten you, my child. Look behind you.’

Doubtfully she turned around and saw a sign she hadn’t noticed before. It read Fresno.

“A town. Finally! Somewhere to hide.” Annie started running again.

The terrain rapidly became a small town.

A quick glance backward told her that the Perks weren’t too far behind. She tore over to the closest store she saw; Goodwin’s Mercantile.

Running in the door, she knocked into a young girl, who looked the same age as herself.

“Oops! You okay? Here,” The young girl handed Annie her bag which had fallen in the tumble.

“Uh, yea.”

 The girl started saying something, but as Annie looked behind her, she saw Mr. Perks climbing out of the wagon and heading her way!

“Look, is there somewhere I could hide?” Annie blurted.

 “Why?”

“Uh, I just need to.” Mr. Perks was almost to the door. “Sorry, I gotta’ go.” Annie pushed past the girl and spotting a storage room, started to it quickly. She was almost there, when a bell rung as the store’s front door opened. She glanced behind her and–

Crash!

Annie had run straight into a stack of canned goods.

“Annie?” Mr. Perk’s voice made Annie shiver. She knew it was over. Footsteps approached her way. She tried to get up-

“Here, hurry.” The girl Annie had run into whispered as she quickly helped her up.

Spotting her chance, Annie got up and ducked into the storage room as the girl closed the door behind her.

There was a scuffling sound as the girl started picking up some cans.

“Gotcha’!”

Annie jumped, but realized Mr. Perks wasn’t talking to her.

“Ouch, take your hands off me!”

“Why, ya’ ain’t Annie! I heard her over here.”

 “You’re right I’m not Annie. That was me you heard. And what are you doing, going around clapping your hands on girls, anyway!?”

“I already told ya’! I thought ya’ were somebody else. Lay off, will ya’? Didn’t mean na’ harm. ‘Sides, Mrs. Perks need me anyways.” Mr. Perks retreated to the front door and left.

Annie sighed with relief, as she opened the door stole out of the room. The girl was standing there and looked inquiringly at her.

“Who was he? And I’m Andi by the way.”

 “Annie Fletcher.” Annie replied, hesitantly. “Well, the Perks took me in. See, with my parents dead, I was an orphan. The Perks made me their maid. They were really poor, and well, they were awful rude, and I couldn’t stand it anymore. So, I ran away.”

Andi tapped her chin thoughtfully.

“Yes?”

“Well, I live on a ranch an hour’s ride from here. I just finished today’s school, and my brother Justin is going to take me back home. He’s really nice, and maybe he’ll know what to do.

“Maybe, I mean, if you want, maybe you could stay with us.”

“Would your brother mind?” Annie was concerned. Was this girl even sincere?  

“Of course not! It’s my mother who’d mind, but even her, I don’t think she’d mind.” Andi paused for a moment. “C’mon, let’s go ask Justin!”

The girls slipped out the front door and cautiously walked on the boardwalk over to Justin’s office.

They were almost there, when– “What’chya doin,’ Andi?”

Both of the girls jumped in surprise. A boy had stepped out from the side of a building.

“Cory! Can’t you see we don’t want to be seen?” Andi scolded in a harsh whisper.

Annie glanced over her shoulder. Oh, no! Mrs. Perks was walking out of the bank across the street and had seen them!

“Andi, here comes Mrs. Perks, and saw me!”

“Quick! Behind here!” Andi pulled Annie and Cory behind the building. “I know a back way to Justin’s office.”

“You mean that woman over there?” Cory asked.

Annie nodded.

“Let me see if I can stop her. Go behind the back side of this building and wait for me.”

“What are you–” Andi began.

“Trust me!”

“Fine.” Andi said, pulling Annie behind her.

Cory watched them for a moment. Then he sprinted, rounding the corner, and lurched right into Mrs. Perks, knocking her over.

 Cory lay on the ground on his back, wondering what’d happened. Quickly, he shot up. Seeing Mrs. Perks on the ground, he suppressed a gasp.

“Sorry, here let me help you up!” Cory held out an arm for the woman from the ground.

“Ya’ persnickety young man!” Mrs. Perks paused. “I thought I saw a nasty, young girl right there. Did ya’ see her?”

“Yes, I saw her. But she ran down that way!” He wasn’t exactly lying. Annie had gone in that direction, but behind the buildings.

“Aw, fine then!” Mrs. Perks started down the street, peering into alleyways.

From behind the building, Annie let a breath. “That was close.”

“Sure was.” Andi agreed.

Cory came around the corner. “Well, she’s gone! Not in the way I’d planned, but she’s gone! Now who was she?”

“Long story.”

“Well, I got time!”

“Well, we don’t. I’ll tell you later.” Andi said over her shoulder as she peeked around the corner. “All clear. Come on, Annie.”

“Can I come, too?” Cory pleaded.

“Sure. But hurry up, you two!” Andi waved them on.

Quietly, the threesome slipped around the side of the building and made their way to Justin’s office. Upon reaching it, Annie noticed a sign hanging atop of the office reading, Lawyer.

    “I didn’t know your brother was a Lawyer!” Annie hesitantly whispered in Andi’s ear as Cory opened the door.

    “Don’t worry! It’ll be fine.” Andi whispered as they entered the office.

Spotting Justin walking out of his little room, Andi ran up to him.

“Hi Andi! Cory. Who’s this?” Justin asked.

“Justin, this is Annie.”

Justin held out his hand. “Pleasure to meet a friend of Andi’s!”

    Looks nice enough. Annie decided, shaking his hand.

    Andi said, “Justin, listen to this!”

 Between the two girls, the story slowly spilled out. “So what should we do?” Andi finished off.

Justin looked bewildered. But the look quickly vanished. “Well, I’ll definitely look into it. The Perks, huh? Nothing I can do tonight, but would you like to spend the night with us, Annie? We’ll just have to dodge the Perks if we see them.”

“I’m fine with that!” Annie replied.

“And you can sleep with me!” Andi said, excited.

***

    After parting with Cory, the two Carter’s and Annie left for the Carter ranch. When Justin and Andi started talking about school and such, Annie took the opportunity to sit back and close her eyes.

    Hopefully, the Perks will move on and I can go on with life. Whatever life turns out to be.

But, no. The Perks had spent money, housing her and feeding another mouth. They didn’t to take losing money lightly. Especially since they’d invested two years into the whole deal. And if–

    “Here we are!” Justin interrupted her thoughts.

    The buggy pulled up to the Carter ranch and the foursome got out.

    Annie was introduced to Andi’s mother, who was very nice, and welcomed her to the ranch.

    At the dinner table that night, Annie was introduced to the rest of Andi’s family, and once again shared her story.

    When she was finished, Mitch, Andi’s brother, whistled and pushed his hat back.

    “Sounds like quite the adventure,” Then looking at Andi through the corner of his eye, said, “Reminds me of another young girl I know.”

    Andi threw him a smirk.

***

“Annie, time for lunch. They’re waiting downstairs for us!” It was Andi. “You’ve been sleeping for hours! You can wear the dress on my dresser. But hurry up! Justin has good news!”

Good news? Annie wondered. She moaned. “Thanks, I’ll be right there.”

Annie came downstairs, and the meal quickly passed. Annie was soon seated in the living room, with Mrs. Carter, Andi and Justin.

Justin finally began, “I talked to the sheriff while in town this morning. Apparently, the Perks are wanted in Winnemucca, Nevada. They came over here to hide, but they being your mother’s distant relation, had to take you in.

“Legally, they aren’t allowed to have you under their care, since they’re wanted. Now, you’re open for adoption.” He paused.

“There’s a family who lives in Fresno, and they’d love to have you. They’re a very nice family. They have two boys, and a girl a little younger you. Would you want to live with them?”

There a short silence. Of course I want to do it. If the Carter’s trust them-

“Of course! Definitely! Oh, thank you, thank you!” Annie exclaimed, gratefully.

“You’re definitely welcome!” Justin replied, smiling. “All the legal work will take at least a few days to a week. You’ll have to stay here til then. And if you will tell the sheriff where the Perks live–”

“Of course I will!”

***

Annie woke up with a start. Where was she? Who was that girl standing next to her? Then the past week all flooded back. 

That was Melanie. Her new sister! Then Annie remembered how the Perks were arrested and she now belonged to the Rockson family.

 Annie now shared a room with Melany, and was very happy to have a sister as well as a good friend.

Thank you, God.

“Ma’ says it’s time to eat breakfast, Annie.”

“Okay, thanks Melly! I’ll be right there.” Annie answered smiling, as the aroma of bacon and pancakes drifted into the room.