The next morning Slim went outside to take a walk. There was a neighborhoods trail that she would walk whenever things got to be a little stressful. She was trying to wrap her head around why her father didn't want to see or hear from her anymore. She was trying to figure out what did she do to deserve all this confusion in her life, besides be born. Slim was too young to deal with these adult issues but somehow mustered up the strength to do so. All she could remember was her moving everywhere. Pillow to post. All her cousins has their mother and father, went to one school, kept the same friends and most of all they were able to spend time with their parents. Learn the things a mother should teach a daughter and learn the things a father should teach their daughter. Instead she had her grandmother and grandfather. Now that's the best knowledge a child could ever receive. Knowledge from the older and wise, but there is nothing that could remotely come close to a parents love. Slim walked until she couldn't think anymore. She made it home and took a shower while Mary was making breakfast. Mary was in the kitchen cooking and Slim in the shower. Leroy her younger cousin that also lived with them was in the room playing with his toys. BOOM BOOM BOOM! "MARY! MARY! OPEN OPEN THIS DOOR ! OPEN THIS DOOR RIGHT NOW!" Mary peeped out her kitchen window. "RICHY! GO AWAY, YOU COME BACK WHEN YOU GET CLEAN! YOU CAN'T STAY HERE WITH ALL THAT MESS YOU GOT GOING ON!" Yelling through the window. Richy was the family crackhead and Mary's brother. A burden she carried for years because she didn't want her mother at the age of 94 to have to deal with a drug addict son. Mary knew she was going to let him in the house but he had to sober up a little. Ever since the Vietnam War Richy had never been the same. He left for war at the age of 19. He would tell his war stories and how they were shot at and he saw his friends be killed in ways you wouldn't want to imagine. Bombs being thrown, running from bullets trying not to get shot, the smell of flesh burning, moans on the battle field of men dieing. Drugs and alcohol were the vices that a lot of soldiers turned to; to block out the pain. Richy always talks about the time he dragged two of his partners on his back trying to save them but they were already dead by the time he made it to safety. Since he came home from the war he has been diagnosed with severe schizophrenia , shell shock, on top of addiction and other health issues. Mary had a weakness for him. It was her brother how could she turn her back. BOOM BOOM! " MAAAAAARAAAAAY OPEN THE FUCKIN DOOR!" " NO RICH! NOW IF YOU DON'T LEAVE IMA SEND SPANKY OUT THERE AND YOU KNOW WHAT'S NEXT!" Richy backed away " I'll be back okay Mary, I'm sorry you know I be going through some things. I promise Ima clean up you just watch." Talking in a more docile voice with tears streaming down his face. " okay Richy you go and do that and when you do my door is always open Richy. I love you Rich" Mary said with a worried look on her face standing out at the back door. She looked up at the sky " Lord I can only ask that you give me strength. I don't know what is going on or do I know the reason. I just ask that you save my family Lord and continue to give me strength the devils imps are working overtime. I leave this  in your hands God. Amen" Richy walked away mumbling to himself. Slim walked into the kitchen. " Grandma you okay?" " Yes baby Grandma is just fine. how was your walk? Did you talk to God about it?" Yes, but I didn't get any answers though still waiting. Did daddy call while I was gone?" Mary looked at Slim  ." No baby he didn't call, but I'm sure he will. Just give him a little time.He will come around. In the meantime lets eat. Then we have to run some errands and pay some bills and we may go to the mall see what we can find. How does that sound?" Slim knew her grandmother was just trying to make her happy. " Okay, that sounds good to me," Mary went into her bedroom closing the door behind her. Slim heard a knock at the door. She ran to the door to see who it was and to her surprise it was her mother. She flung the door open jumping into her arms crying." Mommy your here! How come you didn't call ?" " Oh baby I just missed you so much that I  had to just come and see you!" " Come in so you can say hi to grandma!" " Oh no, baby we have to go okay. Mommy came to come and get you. So go and pack your things so we can go." " Wait we can't leave without saying bye. Come on momma don't do this. Just go and speak I'm sure grandma will be happy to see you." Pleading her heart out. Knowing that her mom was going to take he again without saying anything. She didn't want to go Slim was just getting to make friends and getting settled in. The last time her mom did this the whole family was upset with her as if she planned the whole thing." Go do what I told you Slim" " But momma" " NOW SLIM I'M NOT PLAYING WITH YOU!" Slim ran and started packing her clothes. Her world was just spinning she didn't know where they were going, her grandmother in the other room not knowing what was going on. She knew it was going to hurt her heart. Leroy stood in the doorway watching Slim pack" Where you going Slim?" " I have to go cuz but let grandma know I said I love her okay?" "Okay" Slim rushed out the house and got in the car. Wink her mother closed the door quietly and ran to the car. Before she could crank up her car Mary had ran to the door and saw Slim sitting in the front seat. Mary screaming" WAIT WAIT WHAT ARE YOU DOING ! WINK! WINK! LET THAT CHILD REST WINK! WIIIINK!" Chasing the car out the driveway Slim just cried in silence. This was nothing new for her. No one ever thought about what she was going through. It was all about them and their life. Somehow she found a way to love her parents but just hated all the turmoil they put her through. Slim always called herself a rag doll. This is what a rag doll goes through. Never settled always on the go dragged from pillow to post. never knowing what's going on, No respect to even be told. Treated as if she had no feelings. Like she was built for this life. Just like a rag doll. Created to be dragged and treated any kind of way. What stayed so strong in Slim was prayer.Mary taught her that when it gets crazy and you don't know what to do just pray. Let God work it out. Not that Slim didn't believe but God was sure as hell taking his time in  solving these problems. Slim put in earphones and put the volume on high. She would drown out her mothers voice. Riding I95 North. That was Slims home. I95 North or South up and down the east coast. Staring at the trees out her window never once taking a look at her mother. Wink knew she was wrong but she just kept driving. The phone rings at Marys house. " You have a Collect call from" " Will" " Do you accept these charges?" " No" Mary hung up the phone. She didn't know how she was going to explain to her son in prison that his ex wife took his daughter AGAIN. The phone rang again. Mary wouldn't answer. She just stared at the phone as it kept ringing. Mary just didn't know what to do...........................