Saturday

I'm trying to hang on but the leg is unbearable. My pain so bad I would not wish it upon my worst enemy. I knew I had only one more day to safety. I kept strong thoughts and envisioned my rescue. I smiled all day at my mother while thinking hateful thoughts. She thought I felt better, but I was imagining the police arresting her and hauling her off to jail. I kept a smile on my face while cussing at her in my mind.

Easter Sunday

I woke up especially early. I tried hard to not ask mother for help. I bathed and styled my hair. I dressed myself in a skirt and blouse. I urged my mom to get ready fast. I nagged her with comments about the great food grandma was going to serve. I wanted to get there as early as possible. My rescue was going to take place soon. And I would be in better hands. Finally she is ready and we slowly get into the car. My grandmother lived only 10 houses away on the same street, but I couldn't walk that far on the crutches. My arms were weak and my health had greatly deteriorated. I had lost about 15 pounds and looked awful.

Knock knock at my grandparent’s door. My mother opened the door and my cousins ran out with smiles and hugs. I was still in the front seat of the car. Everyone came to the car and looked at me. They gazed through the glass and frowned. My grandfather opened the car door and helped me out. My mom got the crutches from the trunk and handed them to me. Everyone remained silent as I hobbled my way to the front door. I could smell the Ham in the air and could hear my grandmother singing. She called out from the kitchen, "Is that Vicky?” My voice sadly replied, "Yes grandma, it's me". She couldn't see me from the kitchen and walked out to give me a hug. She spoke, "Oh my God! What the hell is going on!" she turned to my mom and looked at her and said, "I thought it was a sprained ankle. That's no sprained ankle. What the Fuck is wrong with you Pam?" My grandfather stepped in and bitched at her as well. My mom cried and said, "Darlene said it was OK!" My grandfather said, "Darlene Who? Who the hell is Darlene?" I jumped in and told him, "Some strange woman she brought to the house with her on the night I fell down the hill." My mom looked at me and pinched me hard on my arm. My grandmother slapped my mother's hands away from me. She threatened my mother, "I should call the Police right now!" My grandparents and my mother argued for a long time. Finally my aunt Linda got everyone to calm down when she announced that the Easter dinner was ready.

The food looked and tasted great. I was very hungry; I hardly ate during the week. My mom had left me alone many times without food. I was very happy to fill my tummy. My cousins and I played cards after eating. The day slipped by fast. My mom was tired of her parents ridiculing her. She told her parents she had to go. My Grandmother warned my mom, “You have one day to get her to the doctors office Pam. If you don't, I will call the police by 9am tomorrow morning." Grandma then turned to me and said, "Everything is going to be all right, Vicky.” followed by a hug and a kiss. We left and went back home. My Mom was very quiet. She said nothing to me. She helped me out of the car. I went straight to my room and watched TV until I fell asleep.

Monday

My mom and I woke up early and got cleaned up, then drove to the doctor’s office. She told the nurse at the office window about my accident. She excluded the fact it had happened a week and a day earlier. She handed my mother some papers and we sat down while she filled them out. The nurse called my name and I followed her into the examining room. She did all the vital checks. She x-rayed my leg and told me to wait in the room for the doctor.

The doctor came in and put the x-rays on the glass window. He looked at them closely and yelled out, "Holy Shit!" He turned to me and said, "Vicky, your leg is critically broken. In fact, I will have to send you to a specialist." I cried because I knew it was true since it had first happened. I told him about the accident and how many days had passed since the time it had happened. He hugged me and wiped my tears. He excused himself from the room and talked to my mother about the bad news in the hallway outside the examining room. I could see her covering her eyes and pacing back and forth. The nurse came back to the room and told me that I would have to have a cast put on before I could leave. The doctor put the cast on me. He took strips of cloth dipped in plaster and wrapped them around my entire left leg. The cast went all the way from my left toes to my left upper thigh. The doctor gave my mother a phone number of an orthopedic doctor. We left and went home. I was beginning to feel better but hated my mother all the more.

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