That Was Then, This Is Now

The following is a work of fiction.  Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is not only coincidental, but intended to make you think about the society at large.  

These stories deal with adult themes, which may be offensive to some readers.

Humpty Dumpty

Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall

Humpty Dumpty had a great fall

All the king's horses and all the king's men

Couldn't put Humpty together again

Hunter Duncan awoke with a start.  It took a minute for her to remember where she was.  She tried to stretch, but the cramped seat on the crowded bus gave her very little room.  Behind her, some boys had begun chanting, "Party! Party!"  In front of her, a different group started their own chant, in counter-rhythm to the first:  "Spring Break!  Spring Break!"

She looked out the window.  The street signs read, "Seawall Blvd."  Turning her gaze to the right side of the bus, she saw Galveston Beach.  Her heart raced.  "We're here," she said, to no one in particular.

There were already hundreds of young adults half naked on the sand.  Hunter couldn't wait to join them.  She had dreamed of this moment for, like, forever.  There was nothing her mother could have said to keep her away from fulfilling her destiny.  Mom had not wanted her to go.  Forbade her, actually.  They'd had a fight, and Hunter had slammed the door on the way out.  That was then, she thought.  This is now.

For all the dreams she'd had about being here, there had actually been very little planning.  She had come alone, and didn't know anyone here.  That's okay, she thought.  I'll meet lots of new friends.  She didn't even have a hotel reservation.  No problem there--she'd heard about the all night parties, and she didn't mind sleeping on the beach.

"Hi, I'm Victor.  What's your name?"

Hunter looked up and smiled.  He had the bluest eyes she had ever seen.  His tanned skin contrasted nicely with his bleach blond hair.  Before she knew it, the two of them were walking down the sea wall together.  The sun was going down, and David brought her another drink.  Then he kissed her.  "Let's go to my room," he whispered.

It all happened so fast.  He told her she had a great body.  He held her close to him.  She gave herself to him, body and soul.  I'll never be the same, she thought, contentedly.

How right she was.

She woke up in the motel hallway, her head pounding.  She was cold.  As she held herself to try to warm up, she wondered who had dressed her.  Whoever it was, they had not done a very good job--not like her mother had done when she was a little girl, lovingly and carefully.  Mom had always made sure she was clean, and had made her feel beautiful.  She felt so dirty now.  She was anything but beautiful now. 

Finding the nearest ladies' room, she tried to adjust her clothing and straighten her hair.  What a mess.  And she was in pain down there.  She felt like she might be bleeding.  Tears streamed down her face as she found a payphone and dialed 911.

The nurse was nice.  Her name tag said, "Felipa Reyes."  She tried to make Hunter feel comfortable as they processed the rape kit.  She called a Social Worker, and stood back as Hunter was asked to talk about it.   As the details spilled out, she saw the nurse shake her head.  

"I've seen it a thousand times, if I've seen it once," Felipa said, sadly.  "Humped and then dumped.  Is there anybody I can call for you?"  Hunter thought briefly about her dad.  He had read her nursery rhymes long ago, and Humpty Dumpty was one of her favorites--it was even one of the pet names he had called her.  But that was before he had left them.  Now, though, she had no idea how to reach him.  "Can you call my mom?"

The phone call did not go well.  "Well, you've really screwed it up now, haven't you? " her mom scolded her, accusingly.  "I told you this would happen.  Really.  How could you do this to me?  You know I can't take off and drive halfway across the country.  I'm afraid you're on your own.  You've made your bed; now you can just lie in it."

Nurse Reyes tried to console her.  She gave Hunter a hug.  "I'm going to make a call," she said. Felipa called a local women's shelter.  She said a prayer over Hunter.  They made small talk as they waited for the Social Worker to finish her paperwork.  

"What does your name mean?"

Felipa looked surprised.  "What?"

"It's a hobby of mine.  My first name is obvious.  Duncan means 'Brown Warrior.'  What does your name mean?"

"Well, Felipa is the feminine form of Felipe, or Philip, which means 'Lover of Horses,' I think.  And 'Reyes' means 'Kings' or 'Royalty'."

Hunter thought for a minute.  "All the kings horses..." she said, softly.

"What?"

"Never mind," Hunter said with a sigh.  "Thanks for all your help."

There was an old woman

There was an old woman who lived in a shoe

She had so many children she knew not what to do.

She gave them some broth without any bread,

And she whipped them all soundly and sent them to bed.

Hunter parked her shopping cart under the bridge, and arranged her sparse possessions.  She squatted down with a paper cup, filled with chicken broth that she had saved from her lunch at the Salvation Army.  She had been homeless for many years now, and had learned how to survive.  She lived up to her last name, Duncan, as she was now very brown and very much a warrior.  

The time she had spent since leaving the Women's Shelter was all a blur.  She had given that child, the child of rape, up for adoption.  She had tried to be wary of men, but a girl's got to eat, right?  She had gone from man to man, working the streets when she had to, shacking up with whoever might take her in for awhile.  Counting the twins, she had nine kids altogether.  Some were in foster homes, others lived with their fathers.

But she couldn't think about that right now.  She had to survive.

"There you are."  A man's voice pierced the darkness.  It was strangely familiar, like she had heard it before.  Hunter drew herself up into a crouching position.

"It's me, Seth.  Aren't you tired of living like this?  Why don't you come home with me now?  I'll clean you up and give you a good home.  Look at you--you've got one bare foot, and it looks swollen and infected.  Mom, come on.  Wouldn't you like to spend the night in a bed tonight?"

Hunter lunged at him.  "Get away from me," she shrieked.

The cup of broth flew out of her hand.  Seth dodged, but he still got wet.  He shook his hands to dry them.  Hunter started flailing her arms, and moving toward him.  She struck him several times before he could get out of the way.  He took one more look at her over his shoulder as he left, then disappeared, shaking his head.

She looked down at her one shoe and cursed.  Hungry now, and without any broth, Hunter gathered her things and started walking back to the Salvation Army.  Maybe the line will not be so long tonight.  Sure enough, the crowd was sparse.  Hunter knew why.  Tonight was the night for the Street Preacher.  Only the desperate and very hungry would sit through the sermon for their supper.

The Preacher was just getting warmed up when she arrived.

Twinkle twinkle little star

Twinkle twinkle little star, how I wonder what you are

Up above the world so high, like a diamond in the sky

When the blazing sun is gone, when he nothing shines upon

Then you show your little light, twinkle twinkle all the night

Then the traveler in the dark thanks you for your tiny spark

He could not see which way to go if you did not twinkle so

In the dark blue sky you keep, and often through my curtains peep

For you never shut your eye til the sun is in the sky

As your bright and tiny spark lights the traveler in the dark

Though I know not what you are--Twinkle, twinkle little star

"Jesus said, 'I am the light of the world.  Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.'  Now, I know, dear friends, that many of you dwell in the darkness. You can't remember the last time you saw the light.  I just want you all to look up.  Look up!  Jesus shines like a thousand suns.  And even when you are light years away from him, he shines like the morning star.  Draw near to him, and he will draw near to you.  And as you draw near to him, friends, his light will shine on you and around you and in you.

"Friends, some of you are afraid to reach out, afraid because you have been hurt so many times before.  You have lost faith in your fellow man.  Don't lose faith in Jesus, because he will never leave you nor forsake you.  He sticks closer than a brother.  He is faithful.  Hallelujah!"

When he was finished, Hunter asked the Preacher to pray for her.  He sat down beside her and asked how he could best help her.  "Where was God when I was raped?"  She asked.  "Where was He when my boyfriend beat me, or when Child Protective Services came for my children?  Where was he when I tried to kill myself, and failed at that, too?"

"God never left.  He never stopped calling you."

"God would never want me.  Look at what all I've done.  I'm worthless--less than worthless: I'm a whore, a beggar and a thief.  What could God ever see in me?"

"Jesus said, 'Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest'.  He has sent you the anointed one to bind up your wounds and give you healing and take you home."

Hunter wiped a tear from her cheek.  For the first time in her life, she felt hope.  The past, finally, didn't matter.  That was then, she knew.  This is now.  After she prayed with the Preacher, she asked for one favor from him. "Will you help me call my son, Seth?  His name means anointed one."