Patricia Gable - The Right Address

The Right Address

Patricia Gable

Trenton, Georgia

Copyright 2021 Patricia Gable

Print ISBN: 978-1-64719-875-6

Ebook ISBN: 978-1-64719-876-3

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the author.

Published by BookLocker.com, Inc., Trenton, Georgia, U.S.A.

The characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is coincidental and not intended by the author.

BookLocker.com, Inc.

2021

To my granddaughter, Natalie, who helped edit this story

And my writing buddies: Margo, Paula and Diane

Table of Contents

January 1985

Psssst. Willie, wake up, Annie whispered.

Willie was groggy. He pulled the covers over his head.

Leave me awone, he growled.

Alone, Annie corrected him, as usual, then shook her head to get back to the point.

We have to go, Willie. Be very, very quiet. Ill tell you more later.

Annie helped Willie into his winter clothes. Jeans, sweatshirt, boots, gloves, knit hat and coat. She added Willies shoes to a large black garbage bag, which she had prepared over the last two days. The bag was filled with clothing, shoes, a few books. She put her diary and wallet, with her birthday money in her coat pocket.

She looked around one last time then they tiptoed through the maze of toys and furniture. Nipper, the Warrens cat, leapt to the back of the sofa and let out a high-pitched meow. A signal that he wanted to eat. Annie tossed the cats favorite toy across the room to distract him.

Hearing the squeak of the bedroom door caused the children to freeze in place. Annie held her breath. A toilet flushing and another squeak of the bedroom door and the house was quiet again. Annie, exhaling deeply, slung the bag of clothes and books over her shoulder and took Willies hand, leading him out of the front door. They had made it this far at least.

Willie was quiet as they trudged through the darkness and the thin layer of snow. They were walking in the opposite direction they took when walking to school. Farther away from the foster home and anyone who might recognize them. Annie could see the towns lights in the distance, which eased her fear.

I think Im hungry, Willie whined. Did we have breakfast?

No, we didnt. Heres a granola bar. Annie reached in her coat pocket and handed it to Willie.

Can I sit down to eat it?

No, we need to get to those lights, Annie pointed. Then we will find a place to sit.

They trudged along silently. After what seemed like an eternity, they reached the little town. Most of the store lights were dimmed. One caf was open but barely any cars traveled on the main street. Annie searched for a safe place to hide, finding one next to Donnas Diner. A dark alley. They sat in the alley behind a large trash can. That should have been a relief to Annie, but a distant siren made her stomach churn. She remembered something her father used to say, No matter how bad things seem, they can always get worse.

I wonder if they are looking for us, Annie murmured.

Who? Willie asked in a too-loud voice.

Shh! The Warrens, Annie whispered.

Are we playing hide and seek? Willie asked in a softer voice.

No. Were running away. The Warrens want to separate us, Willie. I heard them arguing again, but this time they were arguing about us. They want me to take care of the baby while they just sit around. They want to send you to a different foster home.

Was I bad? Willies eyes filled with tears.

Annie pulled him closer. No Willie. You have been very good. But, with the baby, I heard them say they have too much to do and not enough time to take care of us.

The sound of the siren was closer, louder, and Annie put her finger up to her lips so Willie would know to stay quiet. When the police car parked across the street, Annie motioned to Willie to get under the large piece of damp ragged carpeting laying in the alley. She scrambled under the carpet after him. Then they waited.

Annie, hearing footsteps, pulled Willie closer and covered his mouth with her hand. Could the person behind those footsteps hear her heart pounding?

The policeman kicked the trashcan over, scattering rotten food, soiled rags, cans, bottles and coffee grounds. He pointed his flashlight down the alley.

Theres nothing in here, he said.

Maybe he went to another town, his partner said. The one just down the road.

Or maybejust maybe he is still hiding here in this town. We gotta keep looking. Walk these streets and ask folks if theyve seen him. Hes so ugly hes hard to miss.

Relief flowed through Annie. She released her grip on Willie, but they remained under the carpet until they could no longer hear footsteps. The alley remained dark, but the street was bathed with sunlight. Annie decided it was time to move.

She did not notice the man standing in the shadows across the street watching them.

The children stood in the darkest part of the alley and straightened their clothes, brushed off some dirt and waited. Annie was thinking. What next?

She dragged the scroungy carpet into the darkest corner of the alley and shoved their bag of clothes under it. She checked that her wallet and diary were still in her pocket, took a deep breath, and grabbed Willies hand.

Willie, when we walk out of this alley, you have to act like we belong here.

Why? Willie cocked his head.

So that no one will know that we ran away from the Warrens.

Oh. But

Lets see if we can get something to eat. Annie said. She knew that food would distract Willie.

Goody!

The stores and coffee shops were beginning to open up. Employees were turning on lights inside, placing the open signs in the windows and sweeping the dusting of snow off of the sidewalks in front of the entrances. The small towns coziness helped Annie relax a little.

At the end of the main street was a gas station with a small store inside.

Lets get something in there, Annie pointed to the store. Stay quiet, Willie.

Can I have a donut? Willie asked and Annie responded with a squinted glare at him.

They collected a bottle of juice, an apple and a donut each. As Annie paid for the food, the clerk chatted about the weather. Nothing suspicious. The children left the store and found a bench in front of a library.

Lets have our juice and donut. We can save the apple for later, Annie suggested as they snuggled together to keep warm. Willies teeth were chattering, and white puffs escaped from his mouth into the cold air.

All the while, Annie was thinking about what to do next, so she didnt notice the man in a black coat standing in the alcove of the library entrance watching them.

I have an idea! Annie said, trying to be cheerful. We can go into the library when it opens.

Do I hafta do school stuff? Willie pouted.

No, we will look at books, use the bathroom and get warm.

The library opened at 9:00am and the children were first in the door. A blast of warm air greeted them. It smelled like old books and fresh coffee. The library was small. As far as Annie could tell, there was only one librarian and one assistant who was shelving some books.

Annie stopped at the librarians desk with Willie trailing behind her. She puffed up her chest, trying her best to act as old as she could.