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"I didn't want him to, that's for sure," I said. "He forced himself on me. I hate that place."

"You know who he is? He's the leader of the Crips here. That's Jerad Davis," Beth said looking as if she was talking about some movie star.

"I don't care who he is. He's disgusting and so are his friends." I walked faster. "I knew something bad was going to happen if I went there. I just knew it."

"Oh, what was so bad?" Beni asked. "He just kissed you."

I stopped and turned on her.

"What was so bad? I didn't want him to kiss me, Beth. That's what was so bad and he touched me, too," I told her indicating my breasts. Her eyes widened.

"He did?"

"He's disgusting and so are his friends and so are most of the people in there," I cried, and walked faster.

Beth mumbled something under her breath and caught up.

"You better not say anything about it to Mama or Roy," she warned.

"Don't worry. I don't want to think about it anymore. You're not getting into any trouble."

We hurried along, Beth looking sullen and frustrated and I feeling completely violated.

.

It was always difficult for me to look at Roy and hide my thoughts and feelings. He had a way of gazing through my eyes into my heart and mind. No one was more sensitive to my moods than Roy, not even Mama. I was afraid of what he would see when he came home.

As usual, I started preparing dinner for us. If I kept busy, I thought, I wouldn't dwell on what had happened to me. Beth helped some, but was still brooding about having to leave Oh Henry's so quickly. When Roy came home from work, he went right to the stove and looked at the roast chicken. I had small potatoes and onions in with it and the aroma was delicious. He took a deep breath and rubbed his stomach.

"I'm starving," he declared. "Put in a day's work in just four hours. Slim's got himself a new slave, but I ain't complaining."

Beni sat at the table flipping through a movie magazine. Roy stared at her for a moment and then looked at me.

"You better wash off that oil and grease before Mama gets home," I warned him. He nodded, but he didn't change expression. I looked away quickly.

"Everything all right?" he asked. I made the mistake of shifting my eyes toward Beni before replying.

"Yes," I said.

"What's going on, Rain?" he demanded.

"Nothing's going on, Roy. We're just... worried and upset because of Ken," I said.

He stared through me in his usual way, those dark eyes fixing so hard and fast, it was easier to shake off fly paper. I had to pretend to check on the chicken.

"You girls come right home after school?"

"Yes," Beth said quickly. "And quit treating us like children. Just because Ken went and run off doesn't mean you're our daddy, Roy Arnold?'

"You cause any more problems for Mama and you'll find out who's gonna be your daddy," he threatened pointing his long, thick forefinger at her.

Beni wasn't easily intimidated by anyone, least of all Roy. She flipped her magazine at him as if it was a frisbee and it hit him in the chest. It wasn't that it hurt him. It was that she would do it. He started around the table at her.

"Roy!" I cried.

He stopped, his shoulders up, and looked at me. "You're headed for trouble, girl," he told Beni. "It's none of your business," she wailed.

"Just leave her be, Roy," I said. "Mama's going to be home any minute. Please," I pleaded. "I don't want to make her any more upset." He looked at me again, then at Beni, and then left the kitchen.