Zero to Hero

CHAPTER 1

RENE IS ECSTATIC. At last this drawing is working. Who would’ve known that all she needed was the extra canvas size and with every extra stroke she can see this masterpiece coming to life. For the first time ever the colors blend perfectly and she switches red to green and green to blue, this is beautiful! This one will make her daddy proud and now he will love her. She feels the pain shoot through her head from her hair being pulled as her father grabs her by the hair to pull her away from the wall but then shoves her nose into the painting.

Look at this f#@*in kid drawing on the walls! What is this? What the f#@* is this?

He grabs her little forearm and shakes it to send the crayons flying leaving bruises on her arm from his finger imprints. Then he grabs her arms and throws her across the room away from the wall.

You stupid little bitch!!

Sara turns ice cold with the shrill yell of her daughter and rushes in from the kitchen just in time to see her daughter slide across the floor. She runs to block Victor’s onslaught only to receive a fist on her already black eye. She tries to get herself between Victor and Rene to respond to her pleading screams but he grabs her by the cast on her broken arm and slings her into the wall with the artwork.

Can you see this f#@*in mess? Why didn’t you bring the f#@*in soap and water… bitch! I have to think of everything in this f#@*in house! If you were a mother to this child you will stop the f#@*in child from doing shit like this, you’re real f#@*in trailer trash!

He storms closer and jerks her upright by the good arm only to send her to the floor with a fist to the stomach.

Do you know how much f#@*in money this will cost to repaint… do you have any f#@*in idea? No of cause not, you come from the f#@*in trailer park and you don’t paint your f#@*in trailers do you?

He kicks her in the ribs and you can hear them crack under the pressure of his shoe.

Well this is no trailer and I expect f#@*in respect for the walls when I pay more than a f#@*in million for them.

She curls herself into a little ball, holding her cast over her face to protect as much as she can but he kicks her on the back before he turns his attention to Rene again. She has crawled in behind the couch laying curled up in a ball to try and make her as small as possible. Sara screams…

Leave her she’s only a baby!

. . . but Victor walks around the couch and slaps her on her back as hard as he can before he makes his way to the front door.

Now I am f#@*in late because of you… and I have not eaten… what a bunch of f#@*-ups I have to live with, but that will teach me to take a f#@*in wife from the f#@*in trailer park!

He takes the keys from the flower table next to the front door before he walks half way out and then looks back in towards Sara.

This had better be f#@*in clean when I get home for lunch… I have a good mind and take a sick day to ensure that this is done properly! F#@* it!! You have to learn to do things on your own some time or another!

He slams the door closed behind him before he locks it behind him. Sara has crawled to Rene and tries to lift her onto her lap but the unbearable pain leaves her hugging the child on the floor. This only lasts a second or two before she crawls to the window to ensure that Victor is really leaving. Even after he’s left with screeching tyres, she checks the window like a hawk. When she is certain of their solidarity she struggles to her feet and then takes Rene by the hand and helps her to her feet also.

Today we’re getting out of here… today!

She picks up the phone and starts dialing.

I told you before Victor Mansfield, you can lock the phone but you cannot stop me from dialing emergency numbers, and this time I’m dialing.

Fire brigade good morning, can I help you?

Yes please, my daughter and I are locked up in the house.

This phone is registered to Victor Mansfield at King Arthur Drive 34…

That’s correct he locks the phone and locks us in before he leaves for work.

Then you should be calling him not the fire brigade, just ask him to…

This is an emergency! He abuses us and locks us in every day!

Calm down madam, is he there right now?

No he left for work.

So this is a domestic dispute but you are in no immediate danger at the moment?

Correct but lunchtime he’s coming back and we must be out of here before then.

We don’t have a unit available right now…

NO, NO! You cannot do this! You don’t know him!

As soon as we have someone available…

I’ll set this place alight so help me God I’ll set this place alight.

Wait, wait… is there someone I can phone for you? I’m sorry I want to help but our people are really busy.

The silence lasts only three seconds but to the operator it seems like an hour.

Hallo are you there… is there someone I can call for you, otherwise I’ll make a plan but it will take some time.

My mother… she will have ten thousand, I told you so… her number is 555 3462.

Hang on…

The dialing of her phone sounds in the background and when Jane answers you can hear from her voice that she’s just woken.

Hallo.

Good morning madam, I am Adele from the fire brigade and I have your daughter on the line, I’ll put you through.

The moment Sara hears her mother’s voice she starts crying uncontrollably and unable to utter a word but her mother only says a few before slamming the phone down.

Pack! I’m on my way!

Sara opens the window when she hears the distinct sound of two Harleys stopping in front of the house. She never thought she will ever be happy to see her mother’s rattle cage she calls a car, but today it spells salvation. The moment the car stops next to the motorbikes in a puff of smoke, her mother is out the car and ready for action. In her stride she lights her cigarette and flicks her match into the garden as she makes her way to the front door. She tries the front door and drops her shoulders at the words from inside the house.

He locked us in.

She looks over to the guys approaching her.

Boys, break down this door!

They stand in front of the door, count to three and then storm the door simultaneously. The combined weight of the two heavies breaks the door from its hinges, sending it crashing to the floor. They walk through the open doorway and then stand to the side to allow Jane to entre, now anxious to see her family. She’s still in her pajamas wearing her bunny slippers with matching nightgown and her curlers are all pinned in place with skewer sticks. When she grabs Rene to hug her she cunningly points the cigarette hanging from her mouth away from the child.

My little angle.

After her hug she throws Rene onto her hip and turns to Sara.

Are you ok? What happened did he hit you again?

Sara doesn’t get a chance to answer.

Where is this asshole… I want him to face men for a change, let’s see how he does then! O sorry…

She points in the direction of the heavies.

This is Boris and Derrick, they’re some friends from the bar, and always willing to help a damsel in distress.

Sara looks at the bikers with their leather jackets with torn off sleeves to display their eagle biker emblem tattooed upper arms. The long hair bound in pony tails is not what she expected to see from strong men, but the massive forearms and broad shoulders testify of their brute strength. Although they’re not exactly her idea of knights in shining armor, they have shining armor to drive them away from this place.

Hi, I see you have motorbikes.

Derrick smiles like a cat with a fresh saucer of milk.

Yes and you must feel the power, wow… it indescribable… and there is no other motorbike like a Harley. The vibration is unique you cannot believe it… but you’ll feel it, you’ll feel it.

Nice and thank you for coming, but I think I’ll drive with my mother as I have a baby… with suitcases?

The two bikers protest together as Derrick explains.

No, no the bikes will only add to the intimidation factor with your husband… and now we see he’s not here.

Sara grabs one suitcase but drops it with the pain shooting though her side, and then squeezes past them through the doorway without the cases as if nothing has happened.

Forgive me if I don’t want to stay and chat, but I never want to set foot in this house again. Never again! Mother! I want to go please!

Jane wants to take a case but the heavies are there first.

Boys, first stop police station and then the hospital. This man is relentless and will stop at nothing to ruin Sara’s life… including trying to take Rene in court. From now on everything by the book… everything.

As they leave the driveway the minister’s words sounds in Sara’s ears. ‘It is much easier to give up and walk away, than to work on your marriage. Remember it takes a lot of effort and an enormous amount of dedication to be blessed with a happy marriage. Work hard my child, work hard.’ She swore she’ll never divorce her husband like her mother did, and family is the one thing she wanted for Rene… a stable family with a father. What has gone wrong? Why is she leaving her dream behind? She’ll be thrown out of the church like her mother was! For a moment she wanted to stop the bikes and try just one more time to make it work, but the thought of the black and blue marks all over little Rene’s body silences her…

CHAPTER 2

MOTHER I NEED the car, and yes I’ll be back before you have to leave for work.

Jane opens the mixed vegetables pot to peep inside and then the chicken on the other plate of the small cooker.

Where to now? You know I have to sleep this afternoon and who will finish the food?

Sara looks at the food and back at her mother.

Turn it off, I’ll continue when we get back and that way you can have hot food before you go to work, I’ll be quick.

Jane points at her with the knife.

This cannot become a habit, that thing doesn’t run on air or water, it is expensive. Where are you going?

Sara wants to experience her newfound freedom, but thinks quickly before answering.

I must see the priest he will be at the cathedral today.

Jane’s disapproval is obvious when she jerks the pots off the plates and crushes them down on the sink, spilling the boiling water everywhere.

Now there is a proper waste of time and money. What is it you expect to hear from the stupid asshole? Do you really think they will not chuck you out like a filthy dog… no correction they will keep the fu… She glances at Rene and rethinks her language.

 . . . Filthy dog… they will keep the filthy dog, but you are out my girl, you are out!

Sara is adamant and tries to convince her mother.

Just because you were thrown out doesn’t mean I will be thrown out, times change and I’m sure people are not thrown out because of their mistakes or sins… those are forgiven. Just the other day I read of a homosexual bishop that was sworn in, and I think that is also a sin… well they were against it at first.

Jane throws her arms in the air and shrugs her shoulders at the same time.

O yes I forgot. You are nineteen and knows everything, bring a pen lets update the encyclopedia.

I’m not being clever, it is just logic assumptions, and everybody can see that the church changes with the times. We are in the modern era.

Jane removes the glove from her hand leaves it on the pot and then turns the cooker off.

Do as you see fit, but I will go to sleep and remember I leave ten past five in the afternoon. And only to the cathedral and back, it is expensive to maintain that car.

She walks to her bed and draws the little curtain for her limited privacy before she drops the gown to the floor on top of her bunny slippers and then disappears under the covers. Sara needs no second invitation and immediately checks her lips and hair before straightening Rene’s clothes and pushes her out the door towards the car. The old Chevy huffs and puffs and blows smoke before she pulls away with a jerk and a jump.

As promised Sara is back in time to finish the food and wakes Jane with a piping hot plate of food.

See I can keep my end of a bargain.

She sits up rubbing her eyes.

What time is it?

Sara passes her the plate with a knife and fork and then sits next to Rene on the bed with her own plate on her lap.

And I was right again!

Jane reaches out both hands one for each lady.

Let us just say thank you.

They all hold hands forming a circle around the prepared food.

For what we are about to receive Lord, make us truly thankful. Amen.

They all drop the hands and grab utensils.

Yes my girl you were right to cook the food and I do enjoy it when we eat together.

Sara drops her shoulders to show her disappointment in the misunderstanding.

No mother, I was right about the church. I spoke to the priest and the only difference is that I must have my marriage annulled instead of getting a divorce. See you cannot get a divorce because the Holy Scripture says that you are not allowed, but you are allowed to have your marriage annulled. Easy isn’t it?

Jane starts smiling.

Yes very easy, actually way too easy!

Now what is that supposed to mean?

Jane points with her knife again.

"Think about what you’re saying, and I must admit I didn’t understand it when Reverend John explained it but now I can see