“With only the thought of survival ringing in his/her battered mind, he/she fought blindly and without skill.”

HER TROUBLES

Without thinking, Marta hit out at the man that was taking her captive. She didn’t want to be taken anyplace. She wanted to be free. Why couldn’t they let her alone?

He let go of her and she started to run. Where, she didn’t know but just to be free. She hadn’t done anything and she wouldn’t do anything like they were accusing her of doing. Why, old Mr. Keough just had fallen over, dead, and now they were trying to say she had hit him to make him die. She wouldn’t hurt Mr. Keough for anything. He was a nice old man and he had liked her. She wouldn’t hurt him for anything and here she was fighting for her life to get away from this man.

That man picked himself up off the ground and said, “I’ll get you, you little witch,” then he looked around to find Marta, saying, “Now where the heck is she?”

Marta lay real still beside the small brush and waited for him to leave. He didn’t leave; he just kept poking around everywhere and he sure had a big stick. Marta was sure he’d cripple her if he had a chance to strike her. “Oh no,” she thought, “He is coming right for me,” and she prepared to jump and run.

But amazingly he hit the bush right in front of her, so she stayed put, hardly daring to breath. He kept going, hitting the brush and yelling at her. She would have laughed because he looked so funny, hitting the brush and then yelling. She’d wait until he was far ahead and then she’d run back the other way. He just couldn’t get ahold of her again. She was afraid he’d kill her.

So she waited until he was quite far ahead and then she carefully got up and quickly walked in the other direction. He didn’t see, or hear her, so she took off running and soon she was out of the woods. There was a car coming, so she flagged it down and asked the lady for a ride. The lady said, “Why sure, honey. What’s the matter with you?”

Marta said, “My car broke down and I’m way out here with no one else around. Can you please take me to the next town? I’ll have them come out to get the car.”

“No problem,” said the woman. “That must have been terrifying for you. You look really bad.”

Marta was lying against the door but answered the woman, “Yes, it was terrifying. I went out into the woods to go to the bathroom and I’ll never forget that animal that was coming for me. I just ran out of the woods as you came,” Marta said. Then Marta said, “Thank God for you. I don’t know what I would have done.”

I’m Mrs. Joans from over in Flayville. It is quite a ways from here,” she said, “but the next town is within a few blocks from here,” and then she reached over and patted her hands. “Now you just lay back and I’ll get you safely there.”

Marta was too worked up to lay back but she sat in that front seat like it was holding her prisoner. Suddenly she said, “There, there is the first station we’ve seen. This will be

far enough for me.”

But the woman didn’t stop; in fact, she picked up speed and hurried right past the station. When Marta said, “Now why did you do that? He could have helped me?”

The woman just growled and said, “You just sit there quietly, okay? We’ll get where we’re going real soon.”

“But, but I thought you were going to help me?” Marta cried.

“I am going to help you,” she said and had to slow down because they were coming to town.

Marta seen her chance and she quickly opened the door and fell out. Mrs. Joans swerved the car and she hit another car which made her stop. The man got out of his car and was really yelling at her, so Marta seen her chance to get away. She ran down an alley and then down the street she went. She couldn’t let the woman get her again because she must have been with him on catching her. Marta ran faster, knowing that she probably would be held up for awhile by that man she hit. Thank God, she was safe from her. She turned the corner and seen the bus loading up, so she got on. Anywhere was good enough for her.

She didn’t know why they wanted her but she wasn’t going to wait around to find out. When the bus left, she was very thankful and let out a sigh. Then she asked the lady ahead of her where they were going.

The lady laughed and said, “Oh my, we’re all going to Disney World. Isn’t it great?”

Marta settled back against the seat and thought, ‘this is great. Now I can relax and take it easy until we get to Disney World,’ and she promptly fell asleep.

It was dark when she woke up and most everyone was asleep. She got up and went into the bathroom and one look in the mirror told her she had better make herself look decent. She ran her fingers through her hair and washed her face and hands. That made her feel better so she went and sat down again.

People were starting to wake up again, so she was glad she had already used the bathroom. Now she could just sit here quietly and watch the scenery go past and wonder what she was going to do. She didn’t have much money, so she’d have to get a job after she had her hair cut and everything done to make her appearance look different. Although she didn’t know how far her money would go, she hoped it would do her hair. Then she had another thought, Mr. Keough had given her something to hold for him and she had pinned it in her bra. Instantly she reached up, then quickly put her hand down. Maybe it was money she was holding for Mr. Keough. She’d find out when they got to Disney World. It seemed like they would never get there, until she seen a sign that said they were almost there.

She couldn’t believe her luck. Almost to Disney World and her chance for a new appearance. She could hardly wait until they stopped the bus before she got off, but discouraged that they made her go on another bus. The driver said, “No, you have to go onto another bus to take you the rest of the way.”

It didn’t do any good to argue because she was herded onto the other bus with the passengers. They were off again, right into the park. Marta wondered how she would be able to get away from all these people, when she happened to think, ‘I’ve got to go to the bathroom.’ So, just as soon as the bus stopped, she asked, “Where is the bathroom, please.”

The driver looked at her, then said, “its two blocks over that way. You’ll have to hurry, I’m afraid.”

She said her thank you and hurried off to the bathroom. She was happy to be here in Disney World and even to get a free ride. She laughed, that was great, getting a free ride. She went into the bathroom and waited for a stall to empty. Then she went in and pretended to do business while she checked inside her bra. She almost choked when she seen all the money in there. She thought, ‘Mr. Keough, you wonderful man. Now I won’t have to work for a little while.’

She had kept out $100.00 to help her with expenses but she didn’t know how much further it would go. She wasn’t sure how much money was in there, but it was enough to take care of her for awhile. She walked back to the gate and left the park. She looked for a hair dresser and went inside. “Hello,” she said.

The woman behind the desk said, “Hello. What would you like today?”

“I’d like my hair cut nice and short. You know, a pretty little bob would be just fine,” I said.

“You’re here at a good time. Most of our patrons went over to the park today,” she said. “There having the big to do about everything.”

“Well, I guess I’ll miss it, then, won’t I?” Marta said. “I’d rather have my hair cut short. It’s to hot like this.”

“It’s a shame to cut your beautiful hair off,” she said, “But everyone can’t be satisfied.”

I sat in a chair wondering if this was a good idea, when the hair dresser said, “Is this short enough?”

I looked, and said, “It sure looks like it will be. After you cut it, I’ll be able to tell.”

I sat there watching her cut my hair, when all of a sudden, I said, “Are you related to anybody from Gilla, Montana?”

“Why yes, I am. My sister and uncle live there,” she said. “Why, do you know them?”

“No, I’ve just been through there and I thought you reminded me of someone,” I answered. “I seen them in the restraint.”

“It’s funny how you seem to know someone,” she said. “Then you just remembered where,” and she laughed.

“I’ll have my hair from the floor, if you don’t mind,” I said. “I want to give it to somebody who can use it.”

“That’s all right, I’ll get a bag for you to put it in,” she said and was gone, back in a minute with a bag.

I thanked her, paid for my hair cut and gone. I walked to the nearest store and went in. There, I bought new jeans and shirt and I was on my again. But someone was hollering at me, “Miss, oh miss. You left this bag in the store.”

“Oh, thank you, it’s for my friend, Jean. She needs hair for a wig,” I said. “Thank you so much.”

Then I was on my way again. I walked to the nearest bus station and bought a ticket. It was too dangerous to be living here where her aunt and uncle could find me. So, I hopped on the bus and away I went. I didn’t know where I was going but anywhere away from here, was all right, and I settled down into a seat and was soon sleeping. The night seemed to pass so much quicker, then if I’d have just sat looking out the window. Now all I had to do was find a job and a place to live, and I’d be happy.

Well, we can’t have everything, can we?