Age 10
“Gavin, I know this isn’t what you’re used to, but we just can’t afford anything else. Your dad’s life insurance wasn’t much and he didn’t get much from the Army.”
I hated leaving my friends, but I guess since I didn’t have much choice, I need to just buck up and be there for my mom. We ended up moving to some trailer park in Dayton, Texas. My mom said that’s where she grew up. All I’ve ever known is traveling. With dad in the Army, we traveled a lot. We stayed a few years each time. Then he died three months ago.
Drunk driver.
When we pulled up to the little two room blue trailer, I hated it on sight. We got out and started walking over the dirt drive when I felt eyes on me.
I turned my head to see a little girl looking over at me. Her hair was black as the night, straight and trailing down her back. She looked sad, but then she smiled at me and waved hello.
I didn’t bother doing anything and kept going. I hated our situation. Not like we were ever rich or anything but dad worked really hard and I told myself when he died, I’d get into the Army myself when I was eighteen.
I was going back outside when I heard a man’s deep voice hollering from close by.
“EVONY! GET YOUR ASS IN HERE!”
I never heard a man yell in anger. Dad always spoke like a gentleman to my mom, and raised me to never raise my voice to a lady. Then the man next door, who I guessed was her dad, spoke again as she gathered up her stuff.
“HURRY THE FUCK UP, BRAT. I AIN’T GOT ALL DAMN DAY.”
My hands fisted by my sides and when my eyes narrowed, I was ready to go over there and tell him to leave her the heck alone. No one deserved to be treated like that. She was only a little girl after all. I only made it about five feet when the little girl shook her head real subtle like, trying not to get the attention of her dad. Her eyes—there was just something in her eyes.
A plea.
Desperation.
A desperation for me to not interfere. I didn’t know how I could watch him speak to her in such a way—I knew my father wouldn’t allow it—but I’m just a kid. And I didn’t know this girl, but I felt sad for her. Looking at the man, I didn’t want to make it worse for her.
But when he shot his hand out and yanked her inside, I was ready to go over there and yank her back out so she didn’t have to be in his presence. Mean s.o.b.
“Gavin.” My mother’s voice came from the trailer door, “We do not interfere. We don’t know them. Don’t burrow trouble.
“But mom! Did you see how he treated her? Talked to her? Dad taught me never to treat a girl like that.”
“And you never will, son. We don’t know their situation. Please, drop it.”
It took everything inside of me not to march over there and do just that. I took several deep breaths and turned to get more of our belongings from the U-Haul.
Something about that girl just…made me pause.
Her name though. Evony. Such a peculiar name. It fit her. It sounded just like ebony which was perfect because her hair was just that dark.
We were just finishing up when it started getting dark outside. With a box full of my karate trophies, I looked at the white trailer, hoping I’d see a glimpse of her through one of the windows. My bedroom sat looking over at her trailer. If all these trailers were the same then her room would be facing the next trailer.
In a way that made me feel sad, but then one of the windows had a small light flicker and then I saw her.
Her head was leaning against the window and I could swear she was crying; then her eyes looked down and moved towards me, her soft, sad gaze caught on mine. I set the boxes down and reached out my hand, telling her she can come over. Even though the light was dim in her room I could see her eyes well up with tears but she just shook her head and turned away. Leaving the window in darkness.
It felt like I was waiting around for her to come back for hours, but after a few minutes mom called for me and I picked up the boxes and went inside.
It was the middle of the school year and I knew I’d have to get up early, but when I went to my room, I twisted the blinds open, looking out to the trailer next to us. Only her window didn’t have any kind of protection. No blinds, or curtains. What was wrong with her parents? I could see what was wrong with her dad. Complete creep. I didn’t see her mom. Maybe she didn’t have one. Which was sad, because living with that guy every day must suck big time. My bed laid against the window, so it was easy to look out and watch her. Hell, I can see the bed sheets move and shift. That wasn’t safe at all.
At that moment, I felt something come over me. I didn’t know that scared little girl, but as I closed my eyes, I vowed, “I’ll watch over her for as long as I live.”
I felt that promise bury bone deep. My dad always taught me to never make promises I couldn’t keep. This would be easy because not only was she my neighbor, I could make sure nothing ever happened to her. She’d be like my little sister.
⤧
A week later and I didn’t hear any yelling or loud voices from next door. Maybe her dad was just upset about something. I still didn’t like him though. I did see her mom. She looked tired. Almost as old as my mom although I think she was lots younger.
I tried waving to the girl through the window when I’ve seen her staring out of it but she always just disappears. I hadn’t had a chance to catch her outside again until the weekend. Valentine’s Day. My mom was sad and moped around the house doing chores. Trying to keep herself busy. She missed dad so much.
I had been in my room playing my Sega when I heard laughing and giggling outside from the propped open window.
“Happy birthday, Evony. You’re my sweet girl.”
It was her birthday? I cracked my window open just a little bit more so I could hear a bit better.
“Thank you, mama.”
“Here’s your present. It’s not much, but I know how much you love Beauty and the Beast, so I thought you should have a new coloring book.”
“WHAT! Mama, this is beautiful! Thank you, thank you. Thank you! I love it!”
“I’m so glad you do, honey. Could you color out here for a while? Me and daddy are gonna talk for a while.”
“Yeah, mama. I like being outside. Thank you so much for my present!”
“You’re welcome, baby.”
Then her mom left her and went inside. That’s when I noticed she wasn’t even wearing a jacket. Or at least a sweater. It was February—wait a minute. It was February 14. Valentine’s Day. Her birthday is on Valentine’s Day. That must be cool having a birthday on a holiday.
But it was still a little chilly outside. I shut off my game and went to my closet. I knew everything I had would be huge on her but she needed something to keep her warm. I picked out the wind breaker that was almost too small and went outside. Hell no was I going to let her freeze. She hadn’t noticed me yet and I could hear her humming a song.
“Hi there.”
Her head whipped up. Her black silky hair falling in front of her face, her eyes a blue like I’ve never seen before. Her skin was pale, and not just from the chill of the wind. Her skin was naturally milky.
She hurried and looked over to her trailer with this scared look on her face.
“What’s wrong, Evony?”
A small gasp flew from her lips. “You know my name?”
“I heard your dad yelling for you and then just now your mom called your name. It’s real pretty. My name is Gavin. Here, I brought this for you.”
I held out my old windbreaker and she just looked at it to me and then back to the jacket like she really wanted to wear it but something was stopping her.
She shook her head no and went back to coloring. She was going to get really sick if she didn’t put it on.
“Evony. Please. You don’t want to get sick, do you?”
She looked like she didn’t know what to choose so I just knelt down next to her and laid it on her shoulders.
“Please, Evony, I don’t want to see you sick.”
“Why are you being so nice to me?”
“Isn’t that what neighbors do? Be nice to each other? Please, for me?”
A shy smile formed on her face and she shuffled her arms into the sleeves. It wasn’t too cold that she needed a heavier jacket, but she had chill bumps on her skin. The sleeves were a little long and I kneeled down and reached over to cuff them up when I got a smell of her shampoo. It smelled pretty, like apples.
“Thank you, Gavin. Wanna see the new coloring book I got for my birthday?”
“Oh, that’s right. I heard your mom say it was. Happy birthday, Evony.”
“Oh! This is my present? It’s so wonderful!”
I looked at her strangely and asked, “What’s your present?”
“This jacket?”
“Oh no! That’s just a jacket. Your present…uh—,” crap. I didn’t even think about that. A jacket wasn’t a present for a little girl. I could get her something if I left and got my mom to take me somewhere. “Your present will be here in the morning. I’ll give it to you then. So it’s super special.” I whispered that last bit and her blue eyes lit up like the diamonds I saw on TV commercials.
“Wow, so many gift’s. It’s like Christmas.”
Did she never get anything? Looking at her clothes, she looked like she could use some new clothes too. They looked a little worse for wear. She was wearing leggings and a Beauty and the Beast shirt. At least with the sweater, she’d be warm enough.
“How was your Christmas?”
She just lifted her shoulders and kept her head down. “It was okay. Yours?”
“Mine was okay, too.” Without my dad it was the worst, but she didn’t need to know that right now. “Show me your coloring book.”
A bright smile came over her face and it was like this change came over her. She became animated, talking about each character in the movie.
I sat down next to her on the tattered blanket and I listened to her talk about this movie like it was the best movie ever. I kept her talking as I heard raised voices coming from her room. Her parents were screaming each other’s heads off.
“Gavin! Honey, where are you?”
I lifted my head as I heard my mom’s voice filtering through my bedroom. “I have to go now, Evony. But I’ll be back later, okay? Can you do me a favor?”
She looked a little sad knowing I had to go and in a way, I felt the same. I didn’t want to leave her here all by herself. I hated leaving her like this.
“Okay. What do you need?”
“Can you open your window a little before you go to sleep tonight?”
She tilted her head to the side, an odd look coming over her sweet face. “Okay, why?”
“I promise when you wake up in the morning, you’ll see why and you’ll be very happy.”
“You promise? Like pinkie-swear promise?”
I’ve heard girls say that before and I thought it was weird before, but now, I knew better.
I held out my pinkie finger and when she hooked hers into mine I felt something in my chest burning. When her ice blue eyes looked into mine, I said, “I pinkie swear, Evony.” And when I let go, I crossed my heart with my pinkie swearing, “Cross my heart and hope to die, stick a needle in my eye.”
“NO! I don’t want you to die!”
“I won’t. Because I’ll keep my promise to you. Always.”
I got up and started heading back to my trailer when I turned around and saw Evony staring back at me, a lost look in her eyes.
It felt wrong leaving her there, but I couldn’t get her present and stay here.
Forget it. I couldn’t leave her just like this.
I strode back to her, and she pushed up with her hands until she stood and I wrapped my arms around her tiny frame.
“Happy Birthday, Evony.”
I pulled back and she squeezed her little arms around me tightly, almost refusing to let go. When she did, there were tears in her eyes and she whispered, “Thank you.”
“Keep that on until you’re inside your house, understand me? We don’t want you to get sick, right?”
“I don’t want to get in trouble.”
“Well, your window is a little open, here.” I walked over to her window and pushed it up a few more inches. I turn around and said, “Just slip the jacket off when it’s time to go inside and push it into your room. No one will see.”
She nodded her agreement and sat back down, opening her coloring book back up.
That night, it was a little after ten when I looked out my window and over to hers and saw that she actually listened to me. I got up and closed my bedroom door. My mom was surprised that I had spent a good chunk of my allowance I had been saving since I was eight on her gift. But once I saw it at the mall, I couldn’t not get it for her.
My mom thought I was crazy. I didn’t even know this little girl. Barely a week and I spend a hundred and fifty dollars on her. She was four and my mom thought she wouldn’t take care of it. I knew differently though. I knew she’d treasure it.
I went to my dresser where the jewelry box sat and opened it. It was a heart shaped gold locket. Not too big for her neck, but not so tiny you couldn’t see the pictures she’d put in there.
I closed it and grabbed the birthday card I got for her. I threw on my gym shoes, and crossed my bed, raising the window. I hopped out, the distance not too far to the ground and walked over to her cracked window. I propped it open, thanking God it didn’t squeak or creek. Her bed was in the middle of the room and I laid her stuff on the floor, using my strength, I crawled up and into her room. Barely making a sound.
There was a little night-light by her bed and I could make out her shape underneath the thread bare covers. Her little baby face was soft against her pillow, her hair braided down one side. She looked so happy and peaceful in her sleep. I picked up her gift and walked over to her little wooden night stand next to her bed where an alarm clock sat. Just as I sat the box on the top, a small cry let out.
I looked down at her, hoping she wasn’t about to scream from seeing me. But her eyes weren’t open. Her head began to thrash back and forth, a word coming from her lips.
I could barely make it out but she began panting, ‘Don’t hit me. Please. Please don’t make me drink that.’
Made me wonder what she was dreaming about. I don’t know what I’d do if I got an answer. I set the card down and although I know I should leave, I couldn’t help but go to her and grab her hand. Nice, slow and gentle like.
It was like magic, the crease between her eyes softened, the small cries stopped and her face relaxed.
I didn’t know how long I stayed like that, but I would’ve stayed as long as I could when I heard one of the other doors in this trailer open and then slam shut.
Her bedroom door, thank God, was shut and I brushed my thumb over Evony’s knuckles as I released her hand and walked over to the door. It was wrong to eavesdrop, but all week Evony looked like she was breaking inside.
It didn’t matter to me that I knew her for only a week. I felt connected to her. And maybe it was good to get my mind off my dad and his so-called accident.
“What the fuck you doing home so damn early? It’s barely midnight.”
“Josh, I wasn’t feeling very well. Hank let me go home early tonight.”
“Not feeling very well? Gimme a damn break. You’re always as healthy as a horse.”
“I think I might be pregnant.”
“WHAT!”
His voice was really loud and I looked over to where Evony still slept. I prayed she stayed asleep.
“The past week I’ve gotten sick every time I got off work in the morning and I’ve been feeling nauseous just like I did with Evony.”
“Fuck no. We aren’t having another little shit walking around here. Get rid of it.”
“Why would I do that? How could you say that? It’s your baby.”
“Is it? I mean, you strip for money, and give strange men lap dances, maybe you give them more than just a dance.”
I heard a smack ring out, and then something thud on the floor.
He hit her. If he hit Evony’s mother, how long would it be until he hit and hurt Evony? Maybe he already does. Was that what her dreams were about? Did he hit her? I hate the thought of him touching her in any way but with fatherly affection and I could tell he didn’t give her that. His own little girl. He should be protecting her from everything.
Bastard.
I’ve never said that out loud and I knew if I ever did my mom would wash out my mouth with soap, but I heard my father use this word before when describing someone mean, hateful and disgusting. That’s what Evony’s dad was. A bastard, plain and simple. If that meant protecting her myself. Then so be it.
I heard them walking and then another door slamming shut. I walked back to Evony, her pretty face once again peaceful and soft. Then I looked at the little gift I got for her and I didn’t want to risk her parents finding it so I picked them back up and placed them on her bed, just underneath her pillow where she could see them when she first opened her eyes.
I went back to the window and just as I hopped out and shutting her window, I made another silent promise.
“I’ll always be here for you, Evony. Until I die.”
From that moment on, I always did something that brought a smile to her face. Until a few years later, when I heard her screams in the night.