BROKEN BORDERS-CHAPTER 8-COPYRIGHT 2007

In this chapter, Jessie is kidnapped by her father. Antonio must look for her, and save her before her father sells her into slavery once again.

 

Chapter 8

    The next morning Antonio woke up. He rubbed his eyes and saw Jessie sound asleep in his arms. Antonio pushed Jessie back on the couch and made some cereal to eat. He carried the bowl to the table and poured himself a glass of orange juice. He remembered that he had fallen asleep shortly after he finished his soda. 

    He was going to be fifteen in a couple of days. Antonio put the dishes in the sink and went to work. As he walked down the road toward his job he thought about how Jessie had looked last night. He had done his best to reassure her that everything was going to be alright and that it was normal for her to feel embarrassed and scared about becoming a woman. Antonio knew he'd have to be patient with Jessie since this was her first period and she would need help in adjusting to this new stage of her life. He wished that his mother was with him to help Jessie.

    It took Antonio three hours to get to work. The apple orchard was ten miles from his apartment. He was used to the distance since he had walked a long distance to school every day back home. Antonio rolled up his sleeves and went to work picking the apples. By noon the temperature was 80 degrees outside so he pulled off his shirt and tied it around his waist in order to keep cool. He stopped for lunch and afterwards resumed his work.

    The sweat ran down his chest and dried quickly from the heat which made his skin itch. Antonio tired quickly from the physical labor of picking apples and was exhausted. Antonio wondered if he could go back to school during the evening so he could get into college when he was older and be a Pediatrician.   He had heard in Mexico that he could go to school for free since he was illegal and that the Americans would pay for his schooling. Antonio decided that he would be interested in taking an English class so he could speak it better and was interested in taking some other classes besides the ones he needed. Antonio knew he'd have to work extra hard to keep his grades up and do his job at the same time but he figured he could work during the evening and go to school during the day.

    By nightfall Antonio was done with his work and went home. Antonio was an hour's bus ride away from Logandale Middle School.    He decided to start school in September so he could be in school for the entire year. Antonio would be in 8^th grade when he started school next September. Antonio's English was limited to a few words since he hadn't been taught a lot of English when he had been in school. Antonio knew he'd be at a disadvantage compared to other students in his class but he looked forward to going to school. 

    When Antonio stepped inside the apartment he saw Jessie at the stove cooking dinner. Antonio took off his shoes and shut the door. Then he went into the bathroom to take a shower and wash his face. He threw his clothes into the washer and pulled on some shorts. Jessie turned to look at him and smiled. He smiled back and pulled a soda out of the refrigerator.

    "How are you feeling Jessie?"

    "I'm doing better Antonio. Thank you for asking. How was your day?"

    "It was long as usual. The temperature was really hot today. It was 80 degrees outside and it's still warm out right now. It's only April."

    "Maybe it's just a weird day."

    "What are you cooking?"

    "Chicken soup, corn, and steak."

    "Sounds good. Are you sure you want a job? Wouldn't you rather just stay here?"

    "No I want to help you out with the apartment and I want to make some money of my own. I promise Antonio that I won't do anything hard. I'll get a job as a servant in a house and I promise to quit if anyone tries to harm me."

    "Hmmm. Alright as long as your careful. I've decided to go back to school during the day and work at night. I don't want you working during the night Jessie. It's dangerous and you know what almost happened the last time you were out by yourself."

    "I know Antonio. Don't worry I won't make the same mistake again. I'll work until sunset and then wait for you to get me. I'll even tell you if someone tries hurting me again."

    Antonio went into his room and went to sleep until dinner was done cooking. Two hours later he heard the door open and sat up gazing toward the door. He shook his head and saw Jessie in the entrance to his room. Antonio got up and followed Jessie out into the kitchen and sat down at the table. He saw that the food was already on the table. They started eating and when dinner was over Jessie washed and dried the dishes while Antonio sat on the couch and watched the News.

    The next two weeks went by slowly. Antonio worked hard five days a week and then came home tired in the evenings. On his days off Antonio and Jessie went to the museum or the park. Antonio sent his mother some money along with a picture of him and Jessie. He knew his mother would like Jessie and would want to meet her one day. Antonio knew his siblings would enjoy having Jessie around as much as he did.

    Antonio fell asleep next to Jessie. Her warm body folded into his and Antonio smiled as he laid there next to her. Jessie's breathing was slow and steady. He woke up the next morning with his hand on her stomach and gazed at her. He knew he was getting more attracted to Jessie and was scared of the feelings he had towards her. Antonio loved Jessie like a sister but he had noticed that due to her physical changes and now that she had gotten her period that he was feeling more attracted to her like a boyfriend instead of just a brother. Antonio was embarrassed of his feelings toward Jessie and had no idea how to suppress them. He was afraid he might do something with Jessie that he would regret later on in his life.

    Antonio got out of Jessie's bed and quickly went to take a shower. The warm water relaxed his muscles and he felt his body loosen up. He stayed in the shower until the water ran cold and then dried himself off with a towel. Antonio went to his room and pulled on some clothes. He made some toast and a bowl of Frosted Flakes with a cup of Hot Chocolate and then went to work.

    He worked hard the entire morning. During his lunch break Antonio went walking around the orchard and looked up at the white clouds in the sky. The sun was shining brightly on the orchard and people below. Antonio munched on an apple and spit the seeds out on the ground. The juice from the apple melted on his tongue and cooled his throat. Antonio sighed as he thought about how his mother and father had sat with him back in Navalota looking at the stars in the evening sky. He remembered his father telling him stories about dancing fauns and nymphs among the stars.

    "Up there Antonio in the heavens lives beautiful nymphs and merry fauns who dance to the soft pattering of rain on the Earth and make the thunder shatter the quietest summer night by dancing faster with each flash of lightning that flashes across the sky. The lightning is from the white rivers that taste of honeysuckle and are refreshing to the body. The lightning is the tributaries of the rivers that are the paths that the fauns and nymphs use to visit each other." 

    "Will we all get to see the fauns and nymphs when we die daddy?"

   "Of course we will my little Antonio. Some of us will get there before our loved ones but we will all meet again one day."

    "I don't want you to go away. I want you to stay here."

    "I know Antonio but that's how life is. We are all born and then eventually our lives come to a close and we die. It's a hard fact of life. You'll understand when you are older. I want you to take care of your mother if I die. Don't let anything bad happen to your mother and remember that she gave you life and that all women are special and that they are to be respected. Do you understand me Antonio?"

    "Yes Daddy. I'll take care of mama and I won't let anything happen to her."

    "I know you won't Antonio because you are just like me. Make me proud my dear son and remember that even if I am gone I will always be in your heart and will be watching over you."

    Antonio wiped the tears from his eyes and walked back to a clump of trees. He started picking the apples and put them in the basket he carried with him when he was at work. Antonio smiled as he remembered that night long ago. He had learned when he got older that there were no nymphs and fauns in Heaven just the angels and God. Antonio hoped his dad was proud of him. He had been forced to grow up really quickly in his life. 

    As night fell Antonio carried his basket of apples back to the shed where the apples were stored and went home. He whistled as he walked and thought about what classes he would take when he went back to school. Antonio knew he'd be behind in his classes but was confident that he could catch up with his classmates. Antonio was still worried about Jessie working but he couldn't bear to see her unhappy and would do anything to make her happy. He knew it would be hard to go to school during the day and work at night because he would have homework that he would need to do before he went to work. Jessie would be left alone during the evenings but at least she would be safe and he wouldn't need to worry about anything bad happening to her.

    When Antonio got home he saw that the door was slightly open. Antonio pushed the door open and saw that the living room was in a mess. He ran to Jessie's room and saw that her room was also in a mess. He searched all over the apartment and didn't find her. Antonio had no idea where Jessie was but knew from the way the apartment was in that she had been kidnapped.

    He ran out of the apartment and ran to Louis's apartment. He was breathing hard and pounded on the door until Louis opened it. Louis quickly let Antonio inside and shut the door. Antonio's eyes were full of fear and he was scared because he had no idea who had kidnapped Jessie. Louis led him over to the couch and Antonio sat down while Louis sat in the chair across from him.

    "What's wrong Antonio?"

    "It's Jessie! I went home from work and she's gone. The apartment is in a mess and she's not there. I looked all over the apartment for her and she's gone! Oh God what am I going to do? I have no idea where she is and I'm scared that something bad might happen to her."

    "Was there a note or anything?"

    "No I didn't look. I was too busy searching for Jessie."

    "Alright I'll help you look for her. Go back to your apartment and see if there's a note. I'll look around town for her. She has to be here somewhere. Don't worry Antonio we'll find Jessie."

    "Alright. Thanks Louis."

    Antonio went back to his apartment and searched the entire apartment for a note. He stepped on something that cracked under his feet and bent down to pick up a piece of paper. The note was only half a page and had been written in bad Spanish. Antonio went over to the kitchen light and put the note under the light so he could read it.

    This is Jessie's father. I took Jessie and you'll never get her back or find her. She's got some fire in her but she'll lose that really fast once I'm done with her. I found your apartment after asking around in Mexico and made my way here where I heard you were. I'll make you pay for kidnapping my daughter and killing her owner. She kept crying for you to help her but I shut her up real good. I'm taking her straight home to Mexico and selling her again and this time you won't be able to interfere. She'll make me a ton of money now that she's a woman. This is the last time you'll ever see Jessie.

    Antonio stared at the note in horror. He clenched the note in his hand and crumpled it up. He wasn't about to let Jessie go back to Mexico and get resold by her father. He had nearly died trying to save her and had risked his life to take care of her and he wasn't about to let that all go to waste. Antonio would make Jessie's father pay for kidnapping her. He dropped the note and ran outside to look for her.

    Antonio's heart was beating hard in his chest. He ran back to the small shed he and Jessie had stayed in before they had gotten their apartment and crouched in the darkness. He listened and heard the sound of the floor creaking. Antonio kept to the trees and crept closer. He peeked in the window and saw nothing but a small dog inside. Antonio walked farther into the woods and came across a small path that led up into the hills. He walked along the path and saw a light on in the distance.

    Antonio gazed at the small cottage. He ran toward the house and heard a man's voice. The man was speaking in Spanish and had his back towards the window. Antonio crept slowly toward the window and peered inside. He saw the man pacing in the dark and a small figure lying on the floor in the center of the room. Antonio let out a gasp as he saw that the figure was Jessie. She had her hands tied together and was watching the man pace back and forth. 

    Antonio waited until the man had left the room and then rushed inside. He ran over to Jessie and tried to pull the rope off of her wrists but it was tied too tight. Jessie was crying softly and Antonio held her against him to muffle her sobs. He wasn't sure where the man had gone and searched the room looking for something to cut the rope and free Jessie's hands.

    "Jessie are you hurt? Don't worry I'll get you out of here."

    "Antonio be careful. My father will kill you if he knows you’re here. He broke the door and came inside the apartment. I tried to keep him from taking me but he hit me and tied my hands together. The apartment got messy because I was trying to keep him from taking me. My father picked me up and took me out of the apartment. He threw me against the wall and I passed out. I woke up to find myself here and my father sitting in a chair watching me. He said he's going to make me pay for costing him his money."

    "I won't let him take you back to Mexico Jessie. I promise."

    Antonio continued searching for something to cut the rope that bound Jessie's hands together. As he was looking around the room he heard the sound of footsteps and spun around to see Jessie's father with a knife in his right hand glaring at him. Antonio kept his eyes on the knife and stepped in front of Jessie in case her father attempted to stab her. Jessie's father smiled darkly as his eyes slid toward Jessie and gazed at her body. Antonio wasn't going to let this man touch her in any way since he had already destroyed her life and he didn't want anything else to happen to her. 

    "You must be the boy the little brat was whining about. Hmm you don't look like much to me. Why do you like her so much? She isn't interesting at all."

    "I like her because she is like my mother. She's a good girl who had to many bad things happen to her and she doesn't deserve to be sold into slavery because you’re an ignorant jerk who doesn't care about anything except making money. Jessie deserves to be with someone who will love her and not treat her like a dog."

    "Is that so? Well boy I can't see what she likes in you. She knows her place or did before you ruined it and filled her head with ideas that she was equal to a man. Plus she'll bring in a load of money for me now that she's more attractive to buyers."

    "I'm not going to let her go back to Mexico and get sold into slavery. You'll have to kill me first."

    "I'd be glad to do that."

    Jessie's father lunged toward him with the knife and slashed Antonio's left side. Antonio gritted his teeth in pain and ducked as the man threw a punch at him. Antonio grabbed the man's wrist and broke it. The man dropped the knife and used his other hand to scratch Antonio's hand. Antonio threw the man off of him and kept himself between Jessie and her father. He could hear Jessie crying and begging her father not to hurt him.

    Antonio punched the older man in the face and pushed Jessie father into the wall. He kicked the knife out of the way so he wouldn't get stabbed and kicked the man in the back of his legs in order to bring the guy down to his knees. Antonio kicked the guy again in his face and heard the bone crack. He turned back to look at Jessie and was shoved down onto his hands and knees upon the floor. Antonio felt his face being pushed into the floor and struggled with the man as he felt his neck start to creak from the weight of the man on top of him.

    Antonio was hauled roughly to his feet and thrown up against the wall. Jessie's father slammed his fist into Antonio's mouth and started pummeling his body. Antonio could feel the blood in his mouth and spit the blood out. He threw up his hands to cover his face as the man kicked and punched him harder. Jessie was screaming in the background and begging her father to leave him alone. Jessie's father spun around and roughly smacked Jessie across the face knocking her back to the floor. Antonio could hear Jessie crying loudly and raised his head to see the man viciously hitting her over and over again. He was yelling at her and continued to hit her.

    Antonio kept his head up and walked over to the man. He grabbed Jessie's father and spun him around. Antonio was thrown back into the wall and hit his head against the wall. He saw the man's fist slam into his head and was knocked to the ground. Antonio felt the man kicking him in his stomach and ribs. He crawled toward the knife and as the man picked him up Antonio spun around and slammed the fist into the man's side. Jessie's father gazed at him in horror and staggered out the door.

    He pulled the knife out and tossed it into the bushes. Antonio watched the man run down the hill and heard the distant sound of a gunshot. He saw Jessie's father fall to the ground and roll down the hill. Antonio heard the sound of footsteps and quickly went outside to get the knife. He brought the knife back inside and cut the rope freeing Jessie's hands. Antonio took off his shirt and wrapped the knife in it. He picked Jessie up and picked up his shirt. 

    Antonio carried Jessie down the hill and stopped to set her down on the ground. He dug a small hole in the dirt with his hands and put the shirt with the bloody knife in it, covered it up and then continued to walk home with Jessie in his arms. It took him two hours to get home. Antonio's side was throbbing from his wound and when he got inside he carried Jessie to his room and laid her on his bed. He went to clean up the apartment which took him another hour to completely clean. 

    Antonio washed his side with some cool water and went into his room. He covered Jessie in his blankets and collapsed on the bed beside her. Antonio hoped that no one would find the knife and that he wouldn't be arrested for stabbing Jessie's father. At least Jessie was safe. Antonio turned to look at Jessie and as he watched her, he fell asleep.  

Author's Note

Ignore grammar problems. What do you think of my novel? This book and chapter excerpt are copyrighted by the author.