Disowned
by Victor Thomas
Chapter 32
Kenny
I leaned against my hand and stared at the vast corn and soybean fields on either side of the road. We had been driving for over half an hour and I hadn't said a word to my father. My parents had ruined my life, just when I had started to feel happy for the first time in many years. They had taken everything from me; my phone, laptop, school, my friends, and Javier.
The endless fields paused for a while, and I saw an old farmhouse. It looked abandoned, but I could imagine myself sitting on the porch and waiting for the day I would turn eighteen and my imprisonment would end. It was hopelessly far away, and so was my father's ranch. We would be spending hours in his damn truck, which stank of shit and old hay.
If I were going on a road trip of my own freewill, and that was a massive if, I might have found the scenery charming, but right now, I wanted nothing so much as to jump out of the truck and make a run for it, taking refuge anywhere my dad would never find me.
The sun was setting, and the blast of the air conditioner was raising goose bumps on my arms. I turned the vent to face the other way.
"You're cold?"
Dad's words sounded more like a statement.
"Yup," I said, avoiding the conversation.
"The city has made you skinny. You'll get some meat on your bones working on the ranch."
I'm not that skinny.
Actually, I am. Or at least my muscles are well hidden. I was more used to working with my brain, but now every cell in my body screamed that was about to change. Of all the unwelcome changes, this was the most unwelcome.
"You're so pale," he said. "And real men should have some muscles. We'll fix that in no time."
"I like how I am," I scowled.
"Wait till you see how you are in six months." There was a hint of proudness in his voice. "The girls will be jumping all over you."
My blood boiled. I didn't need any damn girl dancing around me. Were my parents really such idiots they thought putting me in a place where there was not a living soul would make me straight? I covered my face with my hands and did my best not to sigh too loudly.
Dad lit a cigarette and blew smoke inside the truck, not bothering to open the window. He increased the volume of the radio and sang along to a country song I didn't recognize. It was a love song about a boy who missed his girlfriend. His voice was awful, but the theme of the song led my thoughts to Javier, and I felt my chest tightening.
I need to get out of here.
Fighting against the growing panic, I scanned the road ahead and noticed a building, hoping it was a gas station. It was a long shot, but I had to try something. For the first time since we had left home, I turned to look at dad.
"I need to pee," I said.
"Sure."
He slowed down and turned the steering wheel toward the shoulder of the road.
"Not here. Could you drive there?"
I pointed to the building, which turned out to be a gas station with a small diner and convenience store on the inside.
He grunted but sped toward the parking area. The tension in my shoulders released, and I took hold of my knees to prevent my hands from trembling. If I could play it cool for a few more minutes, my plan might actually work. I scanned the area carefully, trying to memorize everything I saw there.
We pulled into the gas station, and I unbuckled a little too quickly. I smiled on the inside when I realized that dad wasn't showing any sign of getting out of the truck. Nervous and holding my breath, I opened the door and walked to the gas station as fast as I dared, trying not to make it look like I was moving too fast.
When I got inside the building, I ran to the counter.
"Can I use your phone please?"
The guy with long, messy hair, kept counting the coins. My heart was beating fast when I watched him moving quarters from one pile to another. When he finally got them counted, he began putting them in the cash register, one by one.
"Please, I'm in a hurry," I said.
"Do you want to buy something?" he asked, still not raising his gaze.
"I need to make a phone call."
"Don't we all? Over there."
I looked in the direction he pointed. There was an old pay phone at the back of the room. I scrounged up a couple of quarters from my wallet and picked up the receiver. The clock was ticking.
There was no dial tone. I looked around wildly, searching for another phone, but couldn't see one. Time was running out. My heart stopped when the door opened. I tried to hide myself behind a shelf full of magazines, but almost pushed it over. A lady dressed in a purple sweat shirt walked inside.
"Careful there," the guy behind the counter shouted.
"Sorry," I muttered. I picked a few items that dropped from the shelf and put them back before I approached the lady. "Sorry. Excuse me."
"Yeah?"
She looked annoyed.
"Could I borrow your phone, please? Just three minutes. I swear."
She scanned me.
"Sorry kid. I don't have it with me."
I went to the door and tried to see out through the dirty window. Dad had gotten out of the truck and was leaning against the back door.
What the hell should I do, I thought. There were no other customers, and I didn't have a second to waste. I needed to call Javier.
I heard a door open behind me and whirled around. An old lady came out of a utility closet, holding a mop in her wrinkly hands.
"Excuse me…" I bent slightly to read her name tag. "Doris. Do you have a phone?"
"I don't," she said, staring me in the face until it made me uncomfortable, "but there's a pay phone over there."
My frustration growing, I tried to stay calm.
"It's broken."
"Oh, I wonder how long it's been like that?"
"Thanks anyway."
"There should be another down the hallway."
I rushed in the direction she pointed. If this was another dead end, the game would be over. Through the small window in the corner, I saw dad walking toward the building. At the end of the hallway, I found a similar pay phone. Nervously, I lifted the receiver, put it to my ear, and heard the glorious hum of a dial tone.
My shaking hand dropped the first quarter. Luckily there were still two more in my wallet, and I shoved them into the slot. I tried to picture Javier's number in my head. Eight six… no, eight seven…
I punched the buttons ferociously and waited for the first ring. The call connected immediately.
"Hello?"
"Javier," I whispered as loudly as I could. "My parents took my phone. I need your help."
"Where are you?"
His voice was sharp and full of action.
"I don't know. Dad is taking me to his ranch in western Kansas. We stopped at some gas station. We drove at least half an hour north of Parsons, headed toward Wichita."
"I'm coming to get you."
I put the receiver back and crouched behind the corner, my back against the wall. I had seen dad walk inside.
"Kenny. Let's go," his voice echoed through the gas station.
Staying quiet, I looked around, searching for a hiding place. The gas station wasn't big, which meant only one thing. Dad would find me any minute and then we would be back sitting in his truck on the way to my prison.
"Kenny, it's time to go."
Dad's words came around the corner, only a few feet away from me.
The thudding footsteps came closer, and I rushed to the end of the hallway as quietly as possible. There were two doors, and I ducked into the men's bathroom, praying the door would close before he noticed me going there.
Shit! This is the first place he's going to search for me.
I regretted I hadn't chosen the ladies bathroom. The place was small. There was a urinal on the left and a toilet stall next to it. On the opposite wall, I saw a sink and an empty paper towel dispenser. There were zero opportunities to hide anywhere; even the lock on the stall door seemed broken, not that the light weight divider would stop anyone.
"Kenny, are you there?"
Dad's voice was demanding, and he banged the door.
"Just a minute," I shouted through the door. "My stomach hurts a bit, but I'll be there in a minute."
He didn't reply, but I feared he would open the door and come get me. I was trapped in the restroom, and there was nothing I could push against the door to keep it shut. Besides, it wouldn't solve my problem. To buy some time, I turned on the tap, hoping the sound of running water would mislead him to believe I would be ready soon.
The empty feeling was growing in my stomach as I paced around the small room. I had to figure out something and fast. To calm my mind, I crouched and closed my eyes. The running water would not work long.
Shit! What am I supposed to do?
When I opened my eyes, they locked on a small window above the sink. A sparkle of hope flashed through my heart. It would be a tight squeeze, but with a little luck, I would fit through it. For lack of a better plan, I took a deep breath and climbed on top of the sink. The window let out an awful creak when I pulled the handle. It slid open with ease, and the sweet smell of freedom came through the open window.
"Kenny! Are you coming?" dad shouted.
"Yes!" I shouted back.
I had just stuck my leg through the window when the restroom door opened. For a second, we just stared at each other. My heart was beating faster than ever when I pushed my other leg through the window and prepared to jump down. I hit my forehead on the frame and felt dad's hand groping my back, but I made it to the ground. I was free!
Loud cursing came from the restroom, but I didn't stay to listen to what he said. Holding the sleeve of my shirt against my bleeding forehead, I broke into a full run, in search of a hiding spot.
Javier, please hurry, or I'm screwed forever.
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