Chapter 3

"What the hell...?" the man mumbled once he had opened the door. It was 3:00 a.m., and Litt stood on the doorstep, looking terrible in the porch light.

She smiled weakly. "Sorry to bother you , Mr. T, but could you help me? Those bastards got me pretty good this time..." she trailed off as he motioned for her to follow him in.

Dayel Thomson was a very gullible man. He was a doctor who mostly made house calls, but made a special exception for her. She had known him since he had moved in four years ago. He was always there when she needed him, and she returned the favor in her own way. She always told him that some neighborhood kids would get into fights with her, and sometimes that wasn't far from the truth. To pay him back for helping her out, she would do simple things like baby-sit his kids, mow the lawn, etc.

Litt followed him down a hallway to the last room on the right. That was his office, and it was set up like a room that you'd find when you go for a check up at the doctor's. There was one of those uncomfortable beds in one corner, and had counters and cabinets lining the other three walls.

She gingerly sat herself down on the edge of the bed, and waited for him to ask the usual. He studied her for a moment before speaking. "So? Show me."

She sighed. "Well, my face, as you can see, my knee, arm, and ribs."

Thomson rubbed his eyes, knowing it was going to be a long night.

About an hour later, Litt was all patched up, and she bade him goodnight. He had tried to get her to use crutches, but she had stubbornly refused. She took her time getting home, relishing the peace and quiet of the early morning hours. The only thing she needed to worry about was getting back up to her room before Tom woke up. If he found out that she had left the house, it'd be all over.

Litt stumbled into the house and made her way silently up the stairs. Tip-toeing into her room, she prayed that her sisters did not awaken.

In the dark she could make out their two sleeping forms sprawled on the bed. Knowing that she wouldn't be able to make room for herself on there with them, she grabbed a blanket from the closet and curled up on the floor right below the bed. She wanted to make it look like she had fallen off. Finding a comfortable position, Litt suddenly realized how exhausted she really was. She fell asleep in minutes, and didn't leave the sanctuary of her room for the next three days.

She didn't eat, she didn't go to the bathroom, she didn't move. She didn't want to meet up with Tom or her mother. She stayed in ther room, and the only people who she saw were Lizzy and Sam, her little sisters. They would give her the status of the folks, and then leave her alone once more. Although Litt's stomach was begging for nourishment, and she was dehydrated, she was perfectly happy where she was. Any day where she didn't have to deal with Tom or Mike or her mother was a good day.

But on the forth day, her tranquilness was rudely interrupted

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