Rag Dolls: Callie's Story

By Shelley D Terrell

After the sudden death of her beloved Nana, Callie is ripped away from everything she knows and placed in a filthy, loveless home which is overcrowded with foster children. Because of her ability to feel other's emotions, she is overwhelmed by pain from the other children. Callie knows that if she is to survive, she will have to turn off her emotions completely, but this makes people around her uncomfortable. She is moved from home to home, but she fits in nowhere.

Finally she’s moved to a home where she hopes she'll be able to stay, but something terrible happens. Now, she has a secret which she knows could get her killed. She knows that if she wants to live she'll have to leave, but she has no money, no family and nowhere to go. She tries to escape but he’s following her and he’s getting closer.

Will Callie escape with her life?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Shelley D Terrell
• Release date: Nov 15, 2014
• ISBN: 9781310083303

Shelley D Terrell

Shelley D Terrell lives in Eastern Oklahoma with her husband Ron, her ten year old son Damien and their Jack Russell Terrier, Milo. As a survivor of domestic violence, a former foster parent and a child advocate, Shelley personally understands the subject matter she writes about. Her experiences bring reality to her real life fiction novels and awareness to the out of control social problems of drug abuse, alcoholism, domestic violence, and child abuse. Because of her love for animals, she also has a wildlife rescue. Bat pups, vultures, squirrels, rabbits and deer are some of her most recent rescues. All animals are returned to the wild after they are successfully rehabilitated.To learn more about this author, connect with her on social media.Website: http://www.shelleydterrell.comOn Faceboook: http://www.facebook.com/ShelleyDTerrellAuthorOn Twitter: @shelleyDTerrellEmail: [e-mail]+ http://www.google.com/+ShelleyTerrellGoodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/ShelleyDTerrellLinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/shelleydterrell/

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RAG DOLLS: Callie’s Story

By Shelley D Terrell

Copyright Information

This book is a work of fiction. All names, characters, incidents, places and events are either products of the author’s imagination or they are used fictitiously and should not be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual persons either living or dead or actual events is purely coincidental.

RAG DOLLS: Callie’s Story

Smashwords Edition

Text copyright © 2013 by Shelley D Terrell

Cover created by:

Adriana Hanganu| Adipixdesign.com

All rights reserved

No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means whatsoever, without the prior written permission of the author, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.

Any inquiries may be made to:

RR 4 BOX 2170

STILWELL, OK 74960

[e-mail]

http://www.shelleydterrell.com

Acknowledgements

This book is dedicated to the children, who through no fault of their own, are at the mercy of the system and the kindness of strangers. It is also dedicated to the strangers those selfless creatures of love, the Foster Parents who take children who are not their own into their homes, give them a chance at life and show them love. It is dedicated to the Social Workers, many of whom work tirelessly and at their own expense to help any way they can, knowing that sometimes they are making decisions they would rather not make, but that they are bound by law, and therefore unable to do anything else; specifically, to two Social Services Angels-you know who you are! A special dedication to: my two sisters, Jeannie, who always listens to my ramble, and Emily, who always knows what to say, to my mother Donah, who taught me to love to read at an early age, and who is my biggest fan, to my children who are my smile, and to my husband Ronnie who knows me best and loves me anyway. Most importantly, I would like to thank my readers. Without you, this book would be merely words on paper. Thank you!

In loving memory of Acayla P, Inez O, John H, Ella T, Eric R and Huckleberry; my little Boo-Bear

Chapter 1

When Callie heard the footsteps, she knew he was coming toward her room. She lay quietly in her bed not daring to move. She barely breathed as she pretended to sleep.

He opened her bedroom door and just stood there in the doorway, staring at her. He watched her as she lay in her bed as though he were in a trance; as though he knew her secret.

Her nose itched, but she didn’t dare scratch it. She didn’t dare move. Today was the day. If she could just get through this moment without being caught, today she would leave.

Her heart was racing. It was beating so hard that she was afraid he would hear it and know that she was awake. By his very presence, he had stricken the chord of terror in her that had kept her his captive for all this time.

She badly needed a deep breath, but she was afraid to take one--and she really needed to scratch her nose. She willed herself to control her breathing and keep it shallow, slow and even. She was terrified that if he came all the way into the room, he might find the bag of things she had hidden in the corner behind the desk.

Suddenly, he shook himself out of his trance and entered the room. As he approached the side of her bed, she could smell his cologne. The fragrance repulsed her.

He reached out to touch her long, blonde hair, but apparently thought better of it. He turned around, and walked back toward the bedroom door as though he were going to leave. She was going to make it! He was leaving and he hadn’t found her bag.

Just before he got to the door, he stopped for a moment to look at the old handmade ragdoll which Callie had left lying on the corner of the desk.

She tensed. If he looked down, he would see her bag. She was terrified, and her lungs were about to burst, but still she did not allow herself to move. She concentrated on keeping her breathing slow and even.

He picked up the doll and turned it over in his hands, as though he were studying it, as though he were trying to figure out why a girl Callie’s age would have such a strong emotional attachment to an old, handmade ragdoll.

In one swift motion, he ripped the head off of the doll. Chuckling to himself, he left both pieces on the desk as an illustrative reminder of what would happen to Callie if she ever crossed him.

Quietly, he left the room and closed the door leaving the stench of his cologne behind him.

Callie lay perfectly still for another full minute before she very carefully scratched her nose and took several deep breaths as quickly and quietly as she could.

Now, she lay listening, straining to hear any sound. She was afraid to move in case it was a trick and he hadn’t really left. She had heard his footsteps as he walked across the ceramic tile in the entryway of the house, and she had heard the front door open and close, but she hadn’t heard the car start. She lay perfectly still, quietly waiting for some sound which would tell her if he was still in the house.

This was her last chance to escape before he found out about her secret. She knew what he would do to her if he found out. Today was the day that she would run for her life. She would leave this house of horrors and never look back.

It was June, the summer between her ninth and tenth grade school years. Callie had known for a long time that she would have to run eventually. She had known that she had no choice.

I should have left weeks ago…

Her mind wandered back to the few missed opportunities she’d had to leave.

If I had only left when I had the chance, this wouldn’t have happened. Now what am I going to do? Where will I go? I’m only fifteen; how am I going to survive?

She had thought about leaving the first time it happened, but he had talked her out of it.

I’m sorry Callie. I’m really sorry. I shouldn’t have treated you that way. I was drinking. I know that being drunk isn’t an excuse to treat you the way I did. I know it was wrong. It’s just that I’ve been so stressed out at work. They’ve been making cuts, Callie. They’ve been laying people off. I’m so worried about my job. If I lose my job, how will I take care of my family? And now, with my wife out of town every week, I’m alone. I just needed someone to talk to, Callie, and you’ve always been so understanding and kind. I didn’t mean to hurt you. I was just trying to talk to you. I swear it won’t ever happen again. Please don’t tell my wife. She wouldn’t understand. Please Callie, don’t leave. Stay here and finish school, he had begged.

Callie knew that if she left, her chance of achieving her dreams would be gone. She had always loved school and she had such high hopes for her future.

For as long as she could remember she had dreamed of making friends in high school, going to the Prom and graduating. She hoped that, if she worked hard enough, she might get to make the Valedictorian speech at her graduation, and maybe even go to college on a scholarship.

She knew it would be impossible to keep good grades if she had to change schools as much as she had in the past. This was the first time in the five years since Nana died that she had spent more than two months in the same school; except for the time when she was twelve, and she had been allowed to stay with the Kyles for eight months.

Because of the Kyles, Callie had been able to spend nearly her entire seventh grade year in the same school. She had even made a few friends.

The best friend she made was twelve year old Ashley; the Kyles’ daughter with whom Callie had shared clothes, bedrooms and secrets. Ashley and Callie had become very close during the eight months they shared a bedroom.

Callie would never forget their last day of seventh grade. She and Ashley had walked home from the school bus stop excitedly talking about eighth grade, boys and summer.

When they arrived home, they saw the Social Worker’s car parked in the driveway.

What do you think she’s doing here, Cal, Ashley asked.

"Don’t worry, Ash. She’s probably just here for a welfare check. CPS has rules that the Social Workers have to check on us every few weeks."

Callie was far more concerned than she let Ashley know. She hadn’t seen a Social Worker in months.

Today is the last day of school. Mary probably needs my report card for her file. She knows how well I’m doing here; I’m finally catching up in school. I’m sure she isn’t here to move me. Come on; let’s go show her my awesome grades.

The girls walked into the house and found Mary sitting in the living room with Ashley’s mother Carol.

Carol looked very upset, but she quickly put on a smile and greeted the girls.

Hello girls, I hope you both had a wonderful last day of seventh grade. I’ve made some special snacks for your party. Please go change your school clothes and then come back in here with us. Mary has been waiting for Callie to get home.

Hello, Callie. It’s good to see you, Mary said.

Callie excitedly extended her report card toward Mary.

Hi Mary; look at my awesome grades.

Actually, Callie, I’ve been waiting for you. I’m afraid we don’t have time for snacks, and you don’t need to change your clothes—unless they belong to Ashley. You need to get your things ready. I’m moving you to a new home today.

Callie’s report card fluttered to the coffee table. Mary hadn’t even looked at it.

Callie was stunned but she wasn’t surprised. This had happened to her so many times before that she was used to it; if a child could get used to such a thing, but this time it hurt. She had been doing so well here.

"But I don’t want to leave here. I’ve been doing so well here. I have friends here, and I’m finally getting caught up in school. Why are you moving me? I love it here."

"Callie, Child Protective Services has decided to move you to another home. We are afraid you are becoming too attached to the Kyles."

"You mean you’re moving her because she’s too happy here," Ashley shrieked. "That’s not fair. Please don’t take her, she begged. Mom, can’t you do something? Please don’t let them take Callie away," she cried as the tears rolled down her cheeks.

Carol was crying too, but there was nothing anyone could do. She could tell that even Mary felt horrible about it, but her hands were tied. She had to follow the rules, and the rules do not allow Foster Children to stay in one home for too long. Ashley and Callie hugged each other and cried as Mary took Callie’s things to the car.

Mary put Callie’s things in the car and then she came back into the house to lead Callie away. Callie didn’t even look at Ashley and Carol as she left. She could actually feel their sadness. She couldn’t bear to see them crying and waving goodbye to her as she was taken away, and she didn’t want them to remember her crying.

The girls had promised to keep in touch, but Callie had moved so many times since then that she didn’t even have Ashley’s phone number or address anymore.

Callie’s thoughts returned to the present. She wasn’t surprised to find tears on her face. It always made her sad to think of Ashley and Carol Kyle.

Stop feeling sorry for yourself, Callie Hunter. If you’re going to save yourself, you’ve got to focus, she told herself. There will be plenty of time to think during the walk to town. Maybe someday you’ll get to see Ashley again.

Callie was sustained by the hope that someday there were a lot of people from her past who she would see again; if she ever got out of the situation she was in.

She had realized weeks ago that she was going to have to leave if she was going to survive, so she had started to make her plan to escape. She knew she would have to be calm and careful and wait until she was alone in the house. She also knew that she would have to prepare herself. She was more than ten miles from the nearest town. She was going to need food and water. Callie’s thoughts were jumbled.

Why did I wait so long, she wondered. "If I wasn’t so afraid of him, I would have left already, but I guess if I wasn’t so afraid of him, I wouldn’t have to leave…‘you’ve got to focus, Callie’…and I know if he catches me trying to leave, he’s going to kill me... ‘focus Callie, listen, figure out if he’s still in the house…scared or not, I’ve got to at least try to get out of here today."

He had promised her that if she ever ran; if she ever told anyone what he had done to her, he would kill her, and she believed him.

She knew that her escape would require money and some outside help. She had neither. She had no family to turn to. She was on her own.

I can’t go to the police Callie thought. "They wouldn’t even try to help me. All I’d be to them is another runaway. They’d just bring me straight back to him. I can’t risk being brought back here. Not now… I can do this…And even if I had anyone to call for help I couldn’t…I’ve made my plan…They don’t even have a phone in this house…I’ve got my things packed…They have their cell phones, but what are the rest of us supposed to use? This place is like a prison. I could ask to use the neighbor’s phone, but they would probably tell him…today’s the day… Calling Mary wouldn’t do any good. Even if I could reach her, she couldn’t help me now that they have guardianship...focus Callie!"

As part of her CPS Permanency Plan, they had been awarded permanent guardianship of Callie until she was eighteen. It would take time for Mary to get permission to remove her from their home. A judge would have to issue court orders before Callie could be moved, and no judge would issue court orders without evidence proving that she was in danger.

He’s not going to let me go. He’s going to try to find me. He’ll be too afraid of what will happen if other people find out what he’s done.

Ironically, the fear that had previously held her there was now the fear that drove her. She could not let him find out about her secret. She knew that he would kill her if she was still there when he realized what had happened. She had to run now.

The boys were at a sleepover at their friend’s house, his wife was out of town, and he had a meeting today which would keep him away for two hours. This was the chance she had been waiting for. She had to leave today. She was almost out of time. She still had nowhere to go, but anywhere was safer than here.

There would be no Valedictorian speech and no college scholarship, but she did not allow herself to think about that now. She did not allow herself to dwell on the fact that now she would never be able to even graduate high school. She did not cry. She did not indulge in self-pity. There was no time for that.

Chapter 2

The sound of a cell phone ringing interrupted Callie’s thoughts. Just as she had suspected, he was still in the house.

She strained to hear his voice, trying to mentally visualize where in the house he was standing. She could hear his footsteps and the sounds of his keys jangling as he walked across the living room floor, back across the ceramic-tiled entryway and out the front door.

A few minutes later, she heard his car start, and the crunching of gravel as he backed out of the driveway.

Finally he’s gone. Now is my chance!

She jumped up from the bed and ran to the corner to grab her bag. Quickly, she put on the jeans and shirt she had stolen from Ben, one of the foster boys who lived in the house. Very carefully she tucked her long, blonde hair up into the stolen beanie, checking to make sure that not a single strand showed. If she was going to escape it was critical that she not be recognized.

The stolen clothes were much too big for her very small frame. They were ill-fitting and they looked sloppy.

I hope these baggy clothes and this beanie won’t attract attention. I sure wish I could wear a hoodie. It would work better to hide the way these baggy clothes are hanging off of me, Callie thought. But a hoodie would definitely attract attention to anyone silly enough to wear one during the first week of June. I feel so bad about stealing Ben’s clothes. He doesn’t have any more clothes to spare than any of us. He barely has anything to wear to school; but this is my only hope to get away and if I dress like a boy, I’ll have a better chance. Hopefully, he’ll understand.

Still feeling guilty, but not knowing what else to do about it, she quickly wrote a note of apology for taking Ben’s clothes without permission. She promised to return them to him at her first opportunity.

She placed the note on the desk where she was sure it would be found. She stuffed her pockets with the two pieces of her ragdoll, the protein bars she had been hoarding for the last few weeks, two bottles of water and the little bit of money she had saved. She took one last look around the room and prepared to walk out the door.

She hesitated. She was afraid. Callie had heard of abused animals that had been in cages so long that when the cage door was left open, the animals didn’t even try to escape. Instead, they sat cowering at the back of the cage until they eventually died, even though freedom was only a few steps away.

I guess I understand how the caged animals feel, Callie thought. "But I’ve got to go. I can’t let fear of the unknown hold me here because I know what will happen to me if I stay. I’ll be safer alone on the street than I would be staying here. I have to run. I have