Page 37

Thirty-Seven

Rosie

“I have to use the bathroom .” I squirmed on the seat and pressed my legs together as I hoped someone would take the dark bag off of my head. It was hot and gross inside of it, and I hated that I couldn’t see anything. I wanted my mommy. Where was she?

There were voices whispering around me, sounding angry like the teachers when they go into the hallway to complain about the kids when they think no one can hear them.

I always heard them, even when they thought they were being quiet.

That’s why I always tried to be good, so they wouldn’t go talk about me.

Suddenly, I felt my body fall to the side before someone reached out to grab me. I had no idea who it was, but they didn’t hurt me like the last person did. This time it was softer, like how my mom would hold my hand when we went to crowded places.

I tapped my feet as I tried to think about anything other than peeing. I didn’t want to have an accident. Mommy said I was too old to have them and that the other kids would make fun of me if I had one. I wanted to wait until I could get to the restroom, but no one seemed to listen to me.

“I really need to go potty,” I insisted to whoever could hear me.

Someone growled, and the sound was deep, like my Uncle Mike when he was fighting with my mom or grandma. But I didn’t think it was him because why would he cover my head and not talk to me?

Suddenly, I was picked up and put over what I thought was someone’s shoulder. It was difficult to tell, but it was hard and bony, and I could hear their loud breath by my ear.

Don’t pee on them! They’ll make fun of you and tell your mom that you had an accident. She’ll be really mad at you.

I tried to squeeze my legs shut tighter to keep any pee from leaking out of me when I was plopped onto the floor and the bag on my head was ripped off.

I looked around, letting my eyes adjust to the bright light, trying to see where I was and who was with me when I felt a hand force my head in the other direction.

“Make it quick.”

His voice was angry as he stormed off and left me in a bathroom with no windows. I was too afraid to look around so I kept my head down and walked over to the toilet.

My hands were shaky as I reached for my shorts and pulled them down. I looked up slightly, not seeing anyone around me before I sat down and went potty.

It was quiet, and I didn’t know where the scary man had gone, but I was glad he wasn’t there anymore.

I finished wiping, pulled my shorts and underwear back up, and then flushed the toilet. When I walked around the corner, I noticed a woman waiting for me by the sink, blocking the door.

My eyes widened, and a smile spread across my face.

“It’s you! Did you find your puppy?” I asked, tilting my head to the side as I looked at my new friend. Then I remembered what my mom had told me. She wasn’t my friend. She tried to take me from my grandma’s house so she could kidnap me.

She didn’t answer me. Come to think of it, she didn’t look happy to see me either. Was she upset about her puppy? Maybe she hadn’t found it, and now I had made her sad. I turned on the water, squirted soap onto my hands, and started washing them.

“Are you here to help me?” I asked as I turned off the water.

I looked around for a dryer or a paper towel but stopped when I saw the sad smile on her face as she slowly shook her head no.