affair found herself to be pregnant with Maggie. When she announced her pregnancy, he had denied her any support, telling her in no uncertain terms to “get rid of it." Furthermore, Maggie's mother made a second and perhaps more fatal mistake by threatening exposure to his wife and business associates. In response he had her blackballed and she never worked in the industry again. People she thought were her friends and others who were industry associates disowned her and she was left penniless with nowhere to go and no way to support a baby.
Not long after Maggie was born and out of necessity, her mother began working in seedy dance clubs. It was there she developed alcohol and drug habits that would eventually see her turn to prostitution to support herself and her child. Maggie's childhood passed all too quickly as she developed early, inheriting her mother’s physique, poise and beauty.
Drifting back into the present, Maggie thought to herself, "I swore I would never become my mother and yet here I am, several bottles of wine consumed almost every night, the affairs, am I really that different. Is this what life is meant to be?"
Once again wandering back in time, Maggie recalled the day of her fifteenth birthday. It had been a wonderful afternoon, the best of her life. She had celebrated by inviting school friends to a party she herself had organized. It was rare to invite friends to her home and a novelty to receive gifts. They had played games, listened to and danced to pop music and giggled as they shared stories. They feasted on pizza, cake and fizzy drink. One of her friend’s mothers had baked the most amazing birthday cake. It was a jam sponge, covered with bright pink icing and finished off with the wording ‘Happy 15th Birthday, Maggie.’ A tiny, ballerina doll perched on top had completed the festive look. The house was filled with joy and laughter. For a brief moment Maggie experienced the wonderful and simple innocence of being a child.
Maggie saved the ballerina doll, it was a precious treasure. The joy she felt on the day overwhelmed her heart, a feeling she never wanted to surrender. The doll would always be a symbol of the happiness she felt.
All too soon it came to an end and with the last of her friends gone, Maggie cleaned and tidied the house, washing dishes and sweeping floors. While she worked her mother and latest boyfriend sat at the table drinking. Nighttime came and her mother drunk and high on drugs passed out on a lounge chair.
"This time it will be different" thought Maggie, "I won’t let him anywhere near me."
Later, she showered and washed herself, trying to scrub away all he had done. In tears Maggie made a decision, she went to her room where she packed her clothing into a small duffel bag. Gathered her few little treasures and adding her precious ballerina doll to her belongings. Stuffing the small amount of money she’d managed to save into her coat pocket, she ran away from home. Maggie was determined she would never return no matter what, and she never did. At just fifteen years of age she was on her own, no one to care for her, nowhere to go, very little money and not the slightest idea as to what would happen in the future. She was finally free, her feelings elated, she had little understanding of what lay before her and therefore no fear of what she may have to face. Whatever it may be it couldn't be any worse for her than what she was leaving behind.
Chapter 10
- Now, suddenly she understood that men could be the victims of their own desires. They did not necessarily have the power over her but her over them. -
After leaving home Maggie elected to travel by public transport until she reached the outer areas of the city limits. She then sought out a safe place to hide, knowing she would need to lay low for several days. Her conclusion being that if her mother cared sufficiently enough to call the authorities then they would in all probability search for her, keeping an eye on major transport routes. Better she stay in one place and keep hidden until it was safe for her to make a move. The time spent in hiding was wretched, it had rained soaking her through, she’d been cold and hungry and at times frightened. The abandoned warehouse she chose, barely had a roof let alone walls to keep out the miserable weather. Other down and outs, the city's vagrants also called this place home. She had to be on her guard at all times, never getting more than a few moments sleep. Despite her fears, everyone seemed to keep to themselves. It was as if there was an unwritten law and she survived without ever having been approached by anyone. Facing all this, her resolve never wavered. She was not going back.
“How old are you and where are you off too?” asked the truck driver. He stopped to pick Maggie up several kilometers back as she had hitchhiked along the highway.
“I’m eighteen” she lied. ”It was my eighteenth birthday a few months ago and I’m traveling to the West if you’re going that far?”
“No problem, nice to have the company,” he replied as the big rig continued its slow travel through the countryside.
Early evening was approaching as the driver pulled into a petrol station to re-fuel and buy some hot food and coffee. “You want something to eat?” he asked. Maggie was hungry. Since running away from home she had been living in the dilapidated warehouse, too frightened to venture out in case she was caught by the authorities and forced to return home. As a result she had only eaten the two packets of biscuits and half bag of pretzels which she had brought with her. Despite all her reservations, she accepted the offer, believing there was always a cost. He purchased food and drinks which they shared and then they continued on their journey.
The conversation between them was scant and labored. Maggie unsure what to or how much to say had for much of the afternoon and evening feigned sleep. When asked, she responded saying that she had been travelling for a long period with little rest.
In the late of the night the driver pulled the big rig into a truck bay telling Maggie he had to take a break to get some sleep. As he climbed from the driver’s seat into the sleeping compartment of the truck, fear crept into Maggie’s heart, she had expected this would happen at some point and had been trying to prepare herself. No matter how hard she tried she could never get used to it.
“You can try and get some more sleep on the seat if you like,” he said, throwing her a blanket and pillow, "and by the way, my name’s Bob.”
“Thank you” she answered with relief “I’m Maggie.” It was then that she started to cry, at first just softly but then the tears flowed with uncontrolled sobs. The fear and exhaustion had finally caught up with her.
Bob waited until she had cried herself out and then asked her quietly if she wanted to talk. Maggie replied that she would just like to get some sleep and maybe talk in the morning. The remainder of the night proved uneventful.
Having slept soundly, Maggie awoke in the early morning to the sound of the truck engine starting up.
“Sleep well?” asked Bob. Maggie just nodded her head in reply. Noticing she was holding a small ballerina doll, the kind used to decorate cakes. Bob smiled slightly but made no comment. His heart went out to her. She was obviously escaping from something or somebody. He often ran into people like Maggie as he travelled to and fro across the country. "So many people running away from something." He thought to himself.
“There’s something to eat in the locker behind you, it's not gourmet but it will take your hunger away, you can help yourself to whatever you like.” Maggie gratefully ate the food while questioning Bob as to how long it would take before they arrived at their final destination. “About another thirty hours or so, depends on traffic and police. It's a long haul and this is a slow heavy rig, get stuck behind someone slower and there's just no chance of passing. We’ll stop for a half hour break at the next service station and you can get yourself cleaned up and stretch your legs. After that we’ll only make necessary short breaks before stopping for a few hours of sleep to-night.
True
