Nine Minutes Read Online Free

me. When I couldn’t get a ride from my friends, sometimes I’d
walk from the school bus stop to Smitty’s to wait for
Delia or Vince to give me a ride home. They could be counted on to stop in for
a beer most days. The owner was a real nice lady. I’d sit in the corner and do
homework, and she’d give me an orange soda and French fries on the house.
          Now, standing in
the middle of nowhere, Steppenwolf playing and motorcycle guy still smiling
evilly, I was so paralyzed with fear I couldn’t even remember her name. But one
thing I wish I could forget was Delia’s remark after that incident: “How can
someone as smart as you do something so ridiculously dumb?”
          Back then, I’d
tried to reason my way out of it: “But Delia, he knew Vince.” I’d even tried to
convince myself the man seemed familiar. But that was a lie. She was right. It
was the stupidest thing I’d ever done.
          Until an hour ago.
          Now all I could
think was, “You’re on your own, girlie. No Guido here this time.”
          Motorcycle guy
grabbed me roughly by the arm and pulled me forward. “C’mon, time to meet your
new family.”
          Family? I was in
too much shock to try to decipher that remark. We walked toward the group of
people sitting around a campfire, the noise from earlier slowly fading. As we
approached, I heard a long, low whistle and comments coming from all
directions.
          “ Oooh , look what Monster brought us. ”
          “Hey Monster,
thought you liked blondes and gigantic titties .”
          “That one’ll
bring in a pretty penny. Help pay the bills.”
          Then a shrill
female voice hissed, “Don’t know what you think you’re doin ’
bringing that piece of trash here.”
          A very articulate
male voice retorted, “What’s the matter, Willow? Afraid Grizz might be interested? Everyone knows he likes brunettes, and I’m pretty sure he’s
had his fill of you.”
          “Fuck you, Fess,
and your momma and your daddy. She’s too scrawny for Grizz and ugly, too.”
          Good, let them
think I’m scrawny, ugly. Anything to get me out of here.
          A gravelly male voice
added, “No, she ain’t none of that, Willow. But don’t
you worry, honey. You’ve been with Grizz going on two
years now. He ain’t ever
lasted that long with one woman. I guess it’s really love with you guys.”
          That seemed to
placate Willow. The exchanges were so quick and the campfire so dim I couldn’t
put a face to a voice. My captor roughly plopped me down in a scratchy lawn chair
within the group, then took the one beside me. I leaned forward, took my
backpack off and placed it in my lap. I realized I wasn’t wearing my poncho and
the most ridiculous thought popped into my head that at least my poncho was
safe and sound at the library. I wrapped my arms around my bag and started to look
around, assessing my surroundings.
          That’s when my
captor spoke. “Where’s Grizz ?”
          Monster. I think
that’s what someone called him. Monster. God help me.
          “He’s here
somewhere. Just went in to make a call, I think,” someone answered.
          “Why? What you
need Grizz for?” snapped Willow.
          Monster leaned
forward in his chair as if to emphasize his point. “Well, bitch,” he spat, “I
want to show Grizz my gratitude for letting me be a
member. You know, like with a thank-you gift. And this here is it,” he said,
waving his hand in front of my face.
          I felt like a
prize on some cheesy game show, and Monster was the model showing off the
goods. Of course, I couldn’t have been any further away from a soundstage
somewhere in California than I was at that moment.
          “It being what?
Her?” Willow snarled.
          My eyes had
somewhat adjusted to the dim light, and I finally saw the source of the
irritatingly shrill voice. Willow picked