The Price of Candy Read Online Free Page B

were,” Abby said. “You
were famous around there. They’re no doubt still talking about you.
You’re the one who kicked that counselor in the nuts when he tried
to make you go down.”
    “He never touched me after that. Of course,
from then on they gave me every shit detail in the place. I kept
telling myself that being on my knees cleaning up shit was more
dignified than being on my knees in front of him. It was sexual
assault the moment he unzipped.”
    “Why didn’t you just go along to get along?
That’s my philosophy. What’s the big deal? Do it and move on. If
you’re such a goody two-shoes, why were you there in the first
place?”
    “Acting out at the mall, doing some stolen
pills from Mom’s cabinet, nothing heavy, teen stuff. Mom freaked,
called a teen hotline and the social services ball started rolling.
Some sort of Save-The-Kids crusade was going on at the time, didn’t
take much to end up in rehab. Mom put me there and then forgot to
come get me out. Brother Raymond also knew I was there and never
visited me either. He could have signed me out as well, but didn’t
show up. Three extra miserable months he cost me.”
    “Wow, really? Well, it’s all behind us now.
Iced tea or something?”
    Sandy nodded. “Not completely behind. I know
where that former counselor now lives. The law firm I worked for in
Philly had me out running around the Delaware Valley interviewing
and researching legal stuff. When I was bored, waiting for some
papers in some law office, I’d use my laptop to track the bastard’s
whereabouts.”
    “You talking about that tall sexy counselor
from rehab? He was hot.”
    “Geez Abby, he’s a sleazebag and a criminal.
A sexual predator for God’s sake. He belongs behind bars for what
he forced the girls to do. I’d love to nail him to the wall just
for their sake.”
    “I’d love to have him nail me to the mattress
one more time. The guy was insatiable. I got more action in there
than on the outside. Made the time fly by, plus I didn’t have to do
any work.”
    That settled the question of whether Abby
felt the abuse had torn up her life. Her experience sounded like
one of the high points. Sandy hadn’t been aware Abby had spent the
duration there on her back. The other girls were required to
perform therapy, which was what the counselors called never-ending
cleanup duty and waiting on them. She and Abby may have been there
at the same time, but clearly their memories differed. Another
reason to question why she was even here talking to her. Yet, Sandy
resisted judging her. Perhaps cooperating with the counselor had
been Abby’s way of coping, her way of surviving. Sandy tried hard
to find something to like about this woman.
    “I’ve kept track of him, he moved to
Delaware,” Sandy said. “I know exactly where he lives. When I pass
the bar, I’m going after him—payback time. I’ve made that vow to
myself for a girl named Gloria.”
    “You’re one serious girl. Remind me never to
cross you.”
    “I’m not fanatical about it, but it’s there
in the back of my mind. Sort of like on my permanent to-do list to
get that bastard. So what can I do for you?”
    “On second thought maybe you’re not the
person to advise me. I’ll bet you never get your hands dirty.”
    “Depends.”
    “I’ll start at the beginning. Last year I
found out my daughter was selling stuff on the Internet. Stuff she
didn’t want like DVDs, an old CD player she never used, and a pair
of new shoes she didn’t like. Other kids were doing it, she told
me. I didn’t think much of it until I discovered she’d stolen one
of my panties and sold it on the Internet.”
    She said it nonchalantly at about the same
grievance level as finding the milk left out all night. Sandy was
unprepared for such a statement. She sat with her mouth open.
    Abby noticed her reaction and nodded with a
knowing smile. “Yeah, kids today, who knows what they’ll come up
with.”
    “How old did you say she