AllFreeNovel
Share Us
OANA, AKA MOMMY’S LITTLE SINNER FIGHTS BACK
Journey and Edith flankme as we enter the hospital. A sheriff’s deputy leads the way while the child services woman follows behind us. I spot a member of the Trinity Church sitting in the waiting room, waiting to be seen for what looks like a broken leg. He gives me a dirty look. I flash him my middle finger like Tuesday did at a pooping bird yesterday.
I’m not confident as much as angry. Ike is stuck at the sheriff’s office, getting treated badly because he loves me. He’s made my life better in every way. I wish I could do the same for him. Instead, I need to prove I’m not a child stolen away by a pervy biker.
I tell the doctor this information and the social worker woman. They ask Journey and Edith to leave the room and then ask me everything again. I explain my situation as clearly as possible. How my parents are uptight religious people who wanted me to marry a doctor from out of town. They ask my birth year about fifteen times as if looking to trip me up.
“Would your parents really file a false report just to stop you from dating Ike Mooney?” asks the child services woman.
“It wouldn’t be the first time they used the law to their advantage.”
After all the questions, the doctor does an exam and asks so many private things about my period and sex. I respond with really graphic answers like Edith told me to do.
“Say a lot without saying much,” she explained in the car.
I also consider how Roxie warned me not to give the police information that might hurt Ike.
Whenever he’s mentioned, I switch the topic to the doctor that my parents wanted me to marry. I keep them focused on Jarin’s age and hometown. People in Tumbling Rock don’t approve of outsiders, and I notice how the social worker and doctor frown at the mention of another town.
Even with all my plans and keeping my cool during the exam, I can’t tell how I’m doing. The only people I’ve lied to in my life were my parents, who weren’t smart. I can’t be sure if normal people will believe me, even when I’m telling the truth.
The mood shifts after the exam. I get dressed and walk over to a waiting area with Journey and Edith. The doctor, woman deputy, and social worker are joined by men from the sheriff’s office. They huddle up, speaking in hushed tones before peeking at me.
I don’t react to their behavior. At least, I don’t think I do. I’m really nervous now, as if loving Ike has ruined his life.
Finally, one of the deputies walks over to us and says to Journey rather than me, “The Cotham family do not have any documentation to prove their daughter’s age. Since she claims to be an adult and wants to remain where she is currently, we’ve chosen to let this situation drop. If Oana or her parents provide documentation to prove the other one is lying, we’ll look at the situation again. Until then, you can go.”
Journey stands up and nods. “Donovan will be relieved to hear this situation was handled properly.”
I stick close to Edith who stands up and checks her phone. “We should pick up tacos for dinner.”
Unsure if they’re speaking in code, I remain very still until they begin walking. On our way out, I mimic their every move. We’re nearly to the parking lot when Journey protectively lifts her arm in front of me.
My gaze flashes to my right where my parents are approaching. Behind them are several Trinity big shots.
“Oana, come here,” my lumpy father orders and snaps his pudgy fingers before pointing at the spot in front of him.
“No,” I reply immediately. “You lied to the police about my age.”
The Trinity Church senior pastor steps forward and says in his big voice, “It’s time to come home.”
“No,” I insist, holding his gaze like a homestead woman would, even if my heart is racing and my palms turn clammy.
My mother stops trying to strangle her purse strap and hisses, “Look at how they’ve already turned you into a whore.”
