Jenni and Zoe--The Christmas Gift (Part 4)

I waited to post this one to be more in sync with the time of year. Thank you for reading.

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The Christmas Gift (Part 4)
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Coming down the hand carved wooden staircase at 7:30 on a bright
Saturday morning Zoë was slightly startled to hear a scraping noise
coming from the sun filled kitchen. She had expected to be the only
one awake. Stifling a yawn, she crossed the living room and stood
at the kitchen threshold silently watching her twelve year old niece
climb on top of a straight backed chair to reach the high cabinet
above the stove. The girl was in her blue Disney princess baby doll
night dress and matching panties as she tried to stand tiptoe to reach a
tin of homemade Christmas cookies that were way in the back.

It was the day before Christmas Eve and Zoë had a busy day planned with
last minute shopping and errands to run. She had planned to get a
head start on the day by getting up early to double check her lists
and maybe wrap a few more gifts before her niece awoke, but it
appeared that Jenni had beat her to it.

"Jenni, sweetheart, cookies are not a very good breakfast choice."
She said softly and the girl jumped slightly and peeked over her
shoulder surprised to see her Aunt standing there, "Put them back
please."

Jenni twisted her mouth into a pout and was about to argue when
Zoë shook her head and stepped into the kitchen, "No arguments. Put
them away." When the girl hesitated, Zoë added, "Now, young lady," in
one of her firmer tones.

Jenni sighed and shoved the metal Christmas tin angrily back into the cabinet and let the door close with a loud bang. "I'm hungry." She offered as she slid off of the
chair and dragged it back over to the table.

"What would you like for breakfast?" Zoë asked and tightened the
sash on her rose colored silk robe. Jenni looked from the cabinet to
Zoë. "Cookies are not an option. Would you like oatmeal or eggs and
toast" She offered, growing a little irritated with her child's
stubbornness so early in the morning.

"I really want cookies 'cause I didn't get to try them last
night..." The girl sassed and crossed her arms in a disagreeable sulk
for emphasis.

She had been sent to bed early to fight off her
crabbiness with some extra shut eye, which was now apparent to Zoë
not to have done much good. The woman ran a hand through her long
auburn hair breaking the curls into soft waves as she turned on the
coffee pot which hummed as it dispensed a black, frothy liquid. She
then turned around and regarded her niece. "I gave you two choices;
now tell me which you would like for breakfast." Zoë said and bent
forward so she could look her little charge in the eye, "And
Christmas or not, if you use that tone with me again you will be
spanked."

Jenni bit her lip and backed up a step. Quietly she offered, "eggs
and toast p-please..."

"That's better, go ahead and get me an egg and the butter from the
fridge and I'll make it for you."

Jenni complied and handed the egg to Zoë, who took it and
tousled the somber girl’s hair affectionately. The two were silent as
the woman scrambled the egg and buttered the toast. The girl
meanwhile got herself a plate and fork and after her aunt dished her
food she smothered everything in ketchup.

Zoë added vanilla and cinnamon to her cup of coffee along with a fresh bagel with
blueberry jam and sat with the girl at the table. The child ate
slowly and mashed everything on her plate into a red mess as Zoë
began her morning routine on her laptop of checking e-mail. Since
she had closed her office earlier in the week her inbox was
completely full and she had been spending the better part of each
morning answering the piling e-mails.

After a while Jenni broke the comfortable silence, "I had that
bad dream again last night." She whispered not looking up to see if
her aunt was paying attention, "The one where a big mean black bird
takes me away. It flew high, so high above everything..."

Zoë looked over the rim of her laptop at her niece, her fingers frozen above
the keys. Her eyes held worry and her brow wrinkled in concern for
the child who had been plagued with this nightmare since she was a
little girl. "It circled in the sky and I tried to hang on, but it
dropped me. Lots of times in the dream you manage to catch me
somehow," Jenni shoved her plate aside while pushing her chair away
from the table to stand up, her eyes locked on the floor, "but this
time...no one caught me." She explained with a bit of scorn in her
voice and slowly walked out of the kitchen leaving Zoë to stare
after her in conflicted silence.

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The florescent lights seemed to flicker, casting harsh shadows
down the narrow hallway. Jenni's short legs struggled to keep up
with her Aunts long even stride. She kept her eyes glued on the
diamond pattern of tiles passing beneath her quick moving feet. The
only noise was the hard clicking of her Aunts heels. Her hand was
firmly clasped as she was pulled, anything but willing through a
heavy door.

The ladies restroom at Nordstrom’s was full and bright with smell of
breezy floral perfume. Women surrounded the long row of mirrors
clogging the damp counter top with purses and shopping bags as they
powdered their noses, and re-applied lipstick when Zoë entered with
Jenni in firm tow. Like every fancy restroom in America this one had
a little sitting room with a few chairs and a small couch off to the
side with a table full of magazines and cosmetic samples. The girl
stood anxious, wide eyed and red faced as her aunt set about
scolding her in this quiet spot of the restroom.

"I ought to turn you over my knee this minute young lady..."Zoë
admonished while lifting Jenni's quivering chin with her hand so
there matching eyes met.

The girl whimpered backing up against the wall and
pleaded with wide fearful green eyes, "Pleasssse Aunt Zoë, at home
okay?... but not here...Please don't..." she begged and bit her
lower nervously. Her plan had backfired and now she feared she would
have to pay the price in front of all these people instead of the
privacy of her room. Jenni's hands then went automatically to cover
her bottom. Her fingers felt the soft pink corduroy of her pants;
praying they would remain where they were.

Some of the other women in the restroom glanced curiously at
them; some shaking their heads, others with slight frowns on their
faces in wonderment of the child's misbehavior. Out of the corner of
her eye, Jenni recognized one of the elderly women just entering the
rest room who had witnessed her fit in the store over having to try
on clothes she hated for the children's choir recital at their
church tomorrow night. Jenni blushed as her attention was brought
back into focus as Zoë continued scolding her quietly so no one
would overhear her rebuke.

"I can't believe your behavior. I took you here today to buy you a new dress for church this weekend and you have been nothing but rude and disrespectful to me all day.
Whatever has gotten into you stops right now young miss, am I very
clear about this?" Zoë asked firmly.

Jenni stumbled over her words, but managed to squeak out a, "Yes, ma'am", despite her present fear of a spanking in public.

"All right, then this is your one warning." She confirmed and turned
Jenni around by her shoulder and landed three sharp, rapid spanks to
her pant seat. "Ow!" Jenni yelped, and hung her head to hide her
shamed red face. Her cry had turned many a curious head in their
direction.

Hot tears burned below her eye lids, but they wouldn't fall. Zoë's
stern expression softened a bit as she watched Jenni's internal
struggle surface as the girl rubbed her eyes willing the tears to
escape.

Her chastisement had been too much for the girl just then.
Jenni was in a delicate mind frame and Zoë knew early that
morning it was just a matter of time before the dam broke. Still
she hoped Jenni would be able to let go on her own without provoking
any assistance from her, but that was proving to be difficult.

"Oh baby....it's alright." Zoë comforted pulling the girl to her in
a tight hug and kissed the top of Jenni's head. The girl's shoulders
shook with frustrated dry sobs. "I think your extra tired and
apprehensive about tomorrow. I also think you're still upset about
that dream. Am I right?" Jenni just nodded automatically really
unaware though of exactly how she felt. "There's something else
though isn't there? Tell me sweetheart…" The woman urged rubbing her
child's back helping her to calm down.

"I can't cry...I haven't been able to cry." She complained bitterly,
desperately wanting to let go and release the corked chaos inside of
her. "I didn't mean to be bad and I'm sorry...I just need...I
mean..." Explaining her feelings and being able to cry were two of the biggest challenges she always faced. She pulled away from Zoë and mustering up her courage,
she gave her aunt a deep imploring look, "Will y-you help me?"

Zoë smiled softly. The woman already knew what Jenni wanted her to
do, but she also knew it was very important for the girl to say it
herself. "How so baby?"

Jenni swallowed hard not really believing what she was actually
about to ask for, but deep inside herself she knew it was the only
way she'd have any kind of a release. She realized then that she
needed it like she needed air in order to live. It had been a month
since she had earned herself a real spanking other than a reminder
swat here or there. No matter how much she hated them she counted on
spankings to help her remain in control of her emotions and to
release them in healthy tears from a hot stinging bottom rather than
in an angry temper tantrum.

"Will you spank me? I mean not like how when I am in trouble, but
just a little one, so I can let go?" She whispered while twisting the
hem of her shirt into a wrinkled mess. The woman smiled approvingly
and nodded.

"That was very brave of you to ask me that and I'm very proud of you
for it. Thank you for trusting me enough to ask me for what you
need. You can always do that." She confirmed and lifted the girls
chin so their eyes met. "Were almost done here then we'll go home. I
think a hot bath and a nap will do you some good as well. You can
even use my Jacuzzi bath. Would you like that?"

Jenni nodded, smiling a little as Zoë led her out of the restroom
and into the heavy flow of holiday shoppers.

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Cool glossy tile led through a high frosted glass doorway.
Skylights and a large window covered in gauzy curtains allowed
natural sunlight to grace the room. Carpeted steps led up to the rim
of a deep Jacuzzi bathtub with beaten gold facets. A large lifted
cabinet held soft towels, bath oils, sea salts and sweet soaps and
lotions. The spacious countertop held double sinks and fresh cut
sunflowers with an oval mirror above. The room portrayed the epitome
of warmth and grace. Zoë's bathroom was her space and truly
reflected her personality. It was also the only place she had any
real privacy and could re-energize herself from the constant demands
of her patients and her child. It was considered a real treat to
Jenni to be able to enjoy this room for a relaxing bath.

Zoë entered carrying a small bundle of clean pajamas and the girl's
bathrobe. Trailing behind her, a bit nervous now, was Jenni who
stopped dead in the doorway as she watched with round unblinking
eyes as Zoë set her things on the countertop before opening the
cabinet to select fresh soap and bubble bath. The woman put the
matching lavender bar and bottle next to the tub before turning and
going over to Jenni drawing her in a tight hug.

"Don't look so afraid. You're not in any kind of trouble and this is
just to help you feel better." She said drawing the child with her
as she went back into her room and seated herself on the high sleigh
bed covered in a thick fur throw to fend off the new chill that
rested in the winter night.

"This is not a punishment spanking Jenni, but once I start I will
decide when to stop. Do you understand that?" Zoë asked, wanting to
make it very clear that while this was voluntary on Jenni’s part, she as the
parent would hold the control in the situation. The girl nodded
barely moving her head.

"I need to hear you speak honey so I know we understand each other."

"Yeah... I mean, I know..." The chocked words felt heavy and un-
natural on her tongue. She sucked on her lower lip anxious for it to
begin, feeling so different just then. Under any other circumstances
she would be fighting and pleading her way out of a spanking, not
standing there waiting, wanting, and restless for it to start.

In a well practiced graceful movement Zoë reached to unbutton
Jenni's pink corduroy pants that the child just an hour ago would
have begged to keep on. Her skilled fingers easily found the zipper
pulling it downward before gently tugging the fabric down Jenni's
slim legs to her knees where they rested. The girl licked her dry
lips, her eyes growing bigger as her Aunt pulled on her wrist to
move her closer to her right side. For a small second Jenni
hesitated and the woman could feel the slight resistance in the
wrist she was holding.

Very quietly she assured her niece, "Trust me Jenni..."

With a deep shaky breath the child nodded noticeably and allowed
herself to be drawn across her Aunts lap. Her fingertips just barely
touched the carpet and her toes hovered inches above it. This was no
new position to her as she often found herself feeling those solid
firm thighs below her stomach at least a few times a month, but this
was the first time she could remember never dreading the sting that
was to come. Instead she opened herself to welcome it thinking about
how soon she would be able to let herself have that much needed cry.
How wrong she was…

Zoë wrapped her arm around Jenni's waist gently and rested her right
hand on the tight seat of those star speckled panties. The girl
clenched her cheeks involuntarily at the touch, and then tried to
relax, knowing Zoë wouldn't start until she did so. With that
movement the woman raised her hand and set about bringing it down in
crisp firm spanks first to the left and then to the right
alternating evenly back and forth.

Quickly a warm buzzing sting developed and the girl wiggled and squirmed slightly, but didn't cry out. After a good minute of this Zoë paused for a moment hooking her
fingers in the elastic waistband of Jenni's panties drawing them
down her pink bottom, past her untouched thighs to her knees. Jenni
whimpered as they became tangled with her pants as she began to kick
with the growing intensity of her Aunts hard palm on her bare
behind. The loud slapping of skin on skin rang in the girls ears as
she cried out in pain.

“Oh… Owwww! It hurts!"

The determined woman said nothing in response; instead she increased
her brisk pace and the strength of her hand now focusing on the
lower untouched region where the bottom meets the thigh. She waited,
just as anxious, as Jenni for the tears to start. The girl cried out
with deep desiccated heaves, but no tears. Zoë hadn't wanted to
cause Jenni this level of pain as she saw her child's bottom go from
pink to crimson under her hand. Usually Jenni was wailing by now,
trying to beg off, promising anything to stop the steady stream of
spanks from raining down on her tender young bottom. It had been
almost a solid ten minutes of firm spanking and not one tear had
escaped. For once she knew her hand would not be enough.

On pure gut impulse she reached across her charge, her fingers
gripped the handle of her cherry wood hairbrush. She fingered the smooth
hard wood before landing its back sharply against Jenni's red behind
leaving a burning oval mark that faded slightly before another
landed to match it on the opposite cheek. At this, the small girl jerked forward, thrashing
her legs to kick away the searing burn digging itself deep into her
flesh. She twisted to look over her shoulder watching as this new
implement landed again to her bare thigh causing her to drop her
head with a wail. Water stung her eyes, welling its way forward
as another spank mirrored itself on her left thigh.

"Let it go sweetheart….Please, let it go..."

Zoë pulled Jenni's body close, snapping her wrist and giving the girl
a hearty half dozen. Halfway through, a flood erupted forth from
those small shoulders, shaking its holder with a long throaty moan.
More loud howling followed as the hairbrush found its mark three
more times, making sure the tears continued before being set aside.
Her aunt reached down her hand and massaged the tense spot below the
child's neck helping to ease her into this release.

Jenni lay limp across her aunts lap bawling. Her pants lay several
feet away. She had kicked them off at the beginning of the hairbrush's
assault. Her panties hung off one small ankle. The cries came from
deep within the pit of her core flushing her entire being with
searing salty tears. She struggled to speak, her tone trembling and
weak with exhaustion.

"H-hhoolld..." She tried her voice faltering under the weight of her
sobs and with her effort then, the fabric from her ankle dropped to
the floor. Zoë reached around the girl pulling her face up into her
lap where she cradled her one love kissing, Jenni’s damp face
murmuring, "What baby?...tell me?"

"H-hoollldd m-meeee...Just hold m-meee!"

"Shhhhhh...It’s alright..." She soothed, holding her child close
rubbing her back in slow circles. Jenni buried her face in Zoë's
chest, finally calming down a bit. The stiff tension in her back
relaxed as her normal pattern of breathing returned to her. She
turned her face, eyeing the hairbrush that lay close by.

"How did you know?" Jenni whispered, sniffling while rubbing her eye
with a balled fist.

"I always know what you need, sweetheart, but sometimes it’s hard to
ask for… isn't it?" Jenni nodded in response, sighing deeply
to herself. She suddenly was feeling thankful for the strength and sense of
knowing that seemed to be Zoë's particular gift.

"Thanks...I feel lots better. Kinda like I can breath again ya'
know?"

"I do know. One day you'll find out just how much I understand, but
that's a conversation for another day." Zoë confirmed, closing the
matter before Jenni could question her.

Over the last few months something had edged its way into her consciousness that needed to be dealt with. Zoë had asked the universe for clarity and guidance to put the matter behind her, but through Jenni it kept rearing its ugly head. She decided, with that thought, to offer a bit of insight to her child's puzzled expression.

She traced a tear streak down Jenni's face as she continued, "There are many choices in life. With awareness and healing come even more choices. Until your older
I'll be making some of them for you, but you have to know that I
make them because I love you and not for any other reason, but my
love for you."

"I don't understand?" Jenni tried terribly hard to listen and absorb
what her aunt was telling her, knowing it was of profound
importance and worth. However, her young ears couldn't digest the
full meaning behind those words.

"I don't expect you to baby, not today at least....Dry your tears
now and its bath time then off to be with you."

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Zoë was busy folding laundry when the doorbell rang. Not expecting
anyone, she undid the dead bolt and cautiously opened the door. Eye
level stood a slender woman wearing a black coat. Her hair was a deep curly reddish blonde. Her pale face portrayed cool cerulean, hollow eyes that made her seem much older than her true youthful age. Startled, Zoë's mouth dropped open, her hand letting go of the door which slowly swung all the way open.

"What in the hell are you doing here?" Zoë could feel her face flame
sending fire to warm her cheeks against the chilly December air. She
crossed her arms under her breasts blocking the doorway. She never
cursed and even surprised herself with her choice of words just
then. Her jade eyes blazed, melting angry daggers into the woman
standing across from her.

"Is that anyway to talk to your little sister? Honestly Zoë I
thought you, of all people, still had some compassion left in you."
Lydia chided, twisting her full lips into a menacing smirk that made
the anger Zoë felt magnify.

"One phone call and the police will be here to arrest you for
trespassing and violating a restraining order… I assume though, that
you never received that notice. The police would sure be interested
in knowing your whereabouts, what with a warrant out for your arrest
on abuse and neglect charges." Zoë shot icily, stepping forward
while trying to restrain herself from giving the woman the tongue
lashing she deserved.

"Look Zoë, I just wanted to give my daughter her Christmas
present and say hello." Lydia explained nervously indicating with a
nod to the brown paper bag next to her feet, simply as if
her sudden appearance after five years was something of normalcy.

"You have a lot of nerve showing your face after you abandoned her,
half starved and beaten on my doorstep five years ago. It's taken a
lot of love, time, and therapy to give that child any kind of a
normal life and I'll be damned if you will interrupt that with your
presence." Her voice shook with the thought of all the things this
woman had done to Jenni. Try as she might she couldn't keep her
internal fury from showing on her face.

"I admit, I have done some things in the past, but I never
meant to really hurt her... I’m better now. I gave up drinking and I have
been going to AA for the last few months. I have a job
working in a new florist shop downtown...and I just thought--"

"You thought that after what you did you could come waltzing in
here, be forgiven, and embraced and we could play happy family? No
Lydia... I buried you many years ago the first time I saw bruises on
that child. I suspected something wasn't right with your treatment
of Jenni early on and I still kick myself for not listening to my
gut and getting her away from you sooner. You are not my sister and Jenni is not
your daughter. You gave up the right for some cheap red wine." Zoë's
sharp bitter words held a cut throat truth that silenced Lydia and
brought glistening tears to her eyes for the briefest moment.

"Aunt Zoë I can't find my..." Jenni' s voice broke the hard stillness
as she trotted down the stairs wrapped snuggly in a pink bathrobe.
She froze on the last step, her eyes dilated in shock of seeing her
mother on the front porch. She broke into a clammy
sweat that sent gooseflesh rapid all over her body.

Zoë turned around sharply at the sound of her niece. Her eyes scanned her child for a
moment before turning back to Lydia and then to Jenni once more.

The girl moved forward slowly; any emotion on her flushed face
unreadable. Her bare feet squeaked on the polished floor as she
approached the doorway to stand next to her aunt.

Zoe blocked the way with an arm in front of Jenni's chest pushing her backwards. The
girl could feel the passionate animosity flowing through her
keeper’s veins.

For what seemed like the longest moment of her young life Jenni
stood quietly and alarmingly tranquil, taking in the essence that was
her mother; the woman radiated the dense vacant disease of denial. This
reached deep into the little girl's core, twisting her insides
into black ailing knots.

Memories flashed, blurred and exploded before Jenni’s eyes like
fireworks cracking the night.

Flash; she’s small again and being given a bath when her mother
holds her underwater until she’s spitting liquid from her lungs…

Flash; she’s four, feeling the belt cut her baby flesh and drawing
blood on her back…

Flash; it's her birthday and she spends it locked in her closet…

Flash; she's six, alone in a dark bathroom with a bleeding
gash on the back of her head, surrounded by glass from a broken wine
bottle…

Flash; she's seven years old. She’s hungry, and bruised crouching
down on a doormat hugging herself for warmth. The door opened and she looked up meeting her deliverance for the first time…

With every cell in her body vibrating with adrenaline and raging
hatred Jenni sprang forward under Zoë's outstretched arm and clawed
savagely at her mother; biting, scratching and pounding her small fists, and feet all the while screaming furiously.

Zoë was quick to grab Jenni about the middle, pulling her back
with much difficulty. She held strong holding the girl tightly to her.

Jenni’s vital purpose just then was to cause as much pain and suffering to her previous
tormentor as her abilities would allow. She fought hard against her
aunt's strength. Not able to escape, she used her only other mode of
attack; her voice.

"GO! GO AWAY YOU EVIL THING! I HATE YOU! I HATE YOU 'TIL YOU DIE! GO AWAY, GET AWAY FROM HERE!!!" She yelled viciously throwing her
voice until it was horse.

Like a bleeding wounded animal, Lydia back away down the steps,
forgetting the bag she had brought on the porch. Zoë used all her
focus and vigor to keep Jenni from going after the woman who ran
to her car down the drive.

Jenni's wailing gave way to deep guttural gagging as she chocked and coughed through her tears as a grey station wagon sped away. The girl went limp and
stood still long enough for Zoë to loosen the grip on Jenni's arms. The child used that lax space to yank herself free. She ducked around Zoë and made a mad dash up the stairs leaving the woman once again to stare after her in exhausted awe.

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The rough, unworn cream carpet itched her face. The
girl lay curled up under her twin bed her knees brought up to her
chest alongside a Barbie doll. Her field of vision was blocked with cloudy tears and by a pink ruffled bed skirt. Her shoulders burned and shook with heavy sobs. After a few minutes she could see her aunts bare feet pad softly into the room from the inch
of space from the floor to the bed skirt, leaving unsure depressions in their wake.

A moment later, a blinding light hit Jenni's eyes making her squint
as the fabric was lifted and her aunt’s face appeared. Jenni stared at her, the trembling now taking over her entire body. Her eyes were round, guarded with a
hint of hostility still residing as she was still in a far away
place and had not yet returned to herself. She had her thumb in her
mouth, resting it there for comfort as her eyes closed. She was
fully reduced in the experience of a small child. Zoë said nothing,
but slowly reached out a hand to rest on her niece's bare arm. When
Jenni folded in on herself like this she needed human touch to bring
her back to reality. The girl filched at the warm contact, but did
not pull away.

The clock on the nightstand jumped minutes tangling the substantial
silence with a constant tick...tick...tick, and still no sound or
movement on behalf of Jenni. Zoë slowly inched her way forward, allowing herself more contact with the girl. Her hand massaged the girls arm and occasionally wiped a
tear away with her finger. After an hour or so, Jenni's thumb slipped
from her mouth as she peeked her eyes open to meet her aunt's
worried gaze.

"Why'd s-she hav' to do that?....W-why' d she hurt me like she did?"
A cautious, hesitant whisper cut the stuffy air beneath the bed. "I
know... I mean, I didn't do nothin' to make her, it’s not about
me...it's about her...s-she' s jus' sick. She's just sick in her head...and took it out on me." She confirmed to herself finally able to come to her own conclusions about her mother. Her words were chopped and small, but held firm reasoning that had been
lacking before her outburst. She sounded old then, feeling herself
as if she had lived many, many moons beyond her short life and in
many ways she had.

"Come here to me, sweetheart," Was Zoë's only response. Jenni scooted
out from under the bed into her aunt's lap. Zoë leaned her back
against the bed, supporting herself and Jenni as she rocked the
small girl in her arms. She thankful that Jenni had come back to her. From
that moment on, with that brief depth of insight and awareness, Zoë
knew Jenni had started to truly heal.

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The brown paper bag was crumpled and soiled. Zoë brought it into
the house and sat with it next to her on a green velvet settee that
was in front of a wood fireplace, which blazed with charring logs
and sparking tree sap.

It was late by the time she had got Jenni calm enough to eat
something and be tucked into bed. She had nearly forgotten about
the bag Lydia had left until she had went downstairs to lock
everything up for the night. She unrolled the top of the bag and
peered inside. It was stuffed with new clothes. Pulling out one of
the t-shirts Zoë sighed heavily. None of them would fit Jenni as
they were meant for a much smaller girl. Deeper in the bag folded in
with the clothes was a bag of hard peppermint candy; pure poison to
Jenni who was deathly allergic. There was also some nail polish in
bright neon colors which Zoë knew the girl would detest. All of it seemed to be thrown together last minute and haphazardly at that. None of it seemed to have been bought with Jenni in mind.

She was about to trash the bag in the fire place when she realized
it wasn't all the way empty. In the flickering light she reached in
a hand and drew out a coiled piece of worn brown leather which
unrolled it's self from Zoë's hands sending a piece of notebook
paper fluttering to the floor. Zoë reached out and unfolded it
straining a bit with her eyes to read the scrawled print;

"Zoë-

Hope you are able to find some use of this....

~Lydia"

Zoë let the note fall to the floor through her fingers as she
reached to examine the leather closely. She had recognized it almost
as her father’s old belt. As a child, she had been terrified of it and often
bore the brute of what her father called discipline for both her and
her little sister. She still had faint scars on her back
from where the sharp edges had cut into her skin. The ancient stigma
of her childhood clouded her eyes, but tears never fell. She had
cried herself dry many years ago.

She wondered how Lydia had came by the strap and knew deep
in her soul that her niece had no doubt been whipped savagely with
it as well. For all her compassion and insight the woman could not
feign any grain of empathy for her sister any longer as she knew
just what Lydia wanted her to do with that belt. She then sat for a
long moment deep in her thoughts fingering the worn leather.

She considered then her nieces relationship with her mother, if you
could even call it that. Jenni was is a complete stranger to her
mother. Yet, Jenni knew her mother; Lydia’s core, mind set and had made a
conscience choice to work toward compassion and understanding. Lydia
on the other hand ran. She had always run away from her problems and
made no effort towards her daughter. She denied her actions despite
the physical, emotional, mental and now sexual ramifications on her child. That
seemed to hold no dear weight, no real importance. The woman
was to far gone and despite how much it hurt Zoë to unbury the past
she had to do what was best for all of them in the long run. Still
she was conflicted...

Lydia was her baby sister and Zoë had mothered her, shielded her,
and loved her when they were young. A tear escaped her eye and
rolled slowly down her cheek clinging for a moment on her chin. She
made no effort to wipe it away. It signified too much to be
discarded so easily; her childhood, the abuse, the finality of her
relationship with her only sibling. That all ended and sealed itself
away in her heart as the salty orb dripped from her chin and
dissolved into the plush rug. She had made her choice as she re-
coiled the leather with the note and stuck them back in the bag.

Zoë reached for the cordless phone that rested on the wood end
table. Slowly she punched a few keys with a long manicured finger
and brought it to her ear. With great difficulty she made a decision
that she prayed she'd never have to make, as it would alter their
lives; hers, Jenni's and Lydia's, resurfacing the ugly bitter truth
buried so long ago by one and still so raw and festering in one so
young.

"Hello, I'd like to speak with Sargent Hayden please....Tom? It’s
Zoë Kelly...I'm not calling about pleasantries this time. I'd like to
report the whereabouts of a Lydia Marshall. I believe you have a
warrant for her arrest on file..."

<><><><><><> <><><><><><><><><><>

The hall clock chimed softly as midnight came to settle about the
large sleepy house. In the chilly winter moonlight Zoë drew her robe
tightly around her and retied the sash as she slipped quietly into
her niece's room. Jenni was curled up on the side of her bed facing
the wall, her small body bundled in hand made quilts while clutching
her frayed teddy, Mr. Bear. The woman watched as the little
girls chest rose and fell with long deep breaths. The child's eyes
zipped back and forth below her lids as she was fully in REM sleep
where imaginings take over. Beneath those closed eyes a dreamscape
unfolded...

`...A huge hovering blackbird took hold the girl's shoulders drawing
her upward into the cloudless sky...'

Zoë padded across the room and eased herself onto the bed next to
Jenni, curling her body around to mold with her child's…

`...The bird circled above the land carrying the screaming child
fighting to be let loose from those perilous claws...'

She wrapped her arm around the girl pulling her gently to her breast
and adjusted the covers about them making sure Jenni was warm enough
on this cold night. The girl, during this time, shifted and turned a
bit toward the new affection beside her. The woman stroked the long
hair, admiring the soft rich suppleness of it and leaned over a bit
to brush her lips with a kiss to Jenni's cheek…

`....In a frightful moment the black danger above her let loose its’
treacherous grip and she was sent plummeting towards the earth. Her
arms and legs searching, reaching, and grabbing for any kind of safe
haven...'

In the pitch dark Zoë felt Jenni's hand grip her arm pulling it to
her small chest. For a second time that night, tears forced their way
down her face turning her clear eyes glassy with a grave heart. Her
lips parted slightly; her ears not hearing the words that came from
her mouth as they surfaced from her spirit...

`...In the realm of her nightmare, Jenni screamed as the hard earth
neared, closer, and closer until...'

There was a deep aching rawness that lay exposed in Zoë's core that
night and she couldn't help but feel responsible for whatever trials
and tribulations that had yet to arrive from her choice. The only
hope and salvation in this world, of her conscience and her soul,
rested there beside her in that bed.

"Forgive me..." She breathed, finally letting her troubling thoughts
retire for the night.

‘...A lightness enveloped Jenni causing her to slow her fall into a
soft drift downward. She stopped mid scream, the sound echoing away
into the nothingness around her. She sensed a superior grace and
strength holding her, wrapping its arms safely around her. She
turned welcoming her keeper’s brilliant love to break her fall...'

The girl peeked her eyes open for a split second, feeling still as
if she very far away deep in a reverie as her ears registered
that breathy whisper. It was almost inaudible and the words carried
such sincere sweet sorrow that her subconscious clung to it as she was
pulled willingly back into slumber.

<><><>The End<><><>

Coments welcome