The Past Part 6

The Past
Part 6

On Dan’s third day of gainful employment, Tessa and Yaya received a visit from Sister Margaret, one of the teachers at St. Augustine. She arrived unannounced at the door, bearing report cards and an invitation for Tessa. Tessa answered the door. “Sister Margaret!” she said. “What brings you here? Come in.”

The nun sat down on the couch and accepted a tall glass of lemonade. “It is a hot one today,” she said, sipping her drink. “But I thought, Yelena, that you would like to see the children’s grade reports as soon as possible.”

“Of course, Sister. Thank you.” Yelena took the reports and opened them. As she read, a large smile appeared on her face. “You both did very well,” she told Tessa. “I think Daniel will be pleased with his math scores.” She handed the pages to Tessa to read. Their marks were all A’s and B’s--good scores indeed.

“We’ll be expecting equally good results next term, although the High School curriculum is a bit more difficult and moves at a faster pace.” Tessa turned her attention back to Sister Margaret. “Now, I understand that Daniel is working this summer, but I was hoping that Tessa here could help out with our Vacation Bible School. We’re running it for two full weeks, starting on July twelfth. I like to use the teenagers as runners and assistants. I’ve asked Lana as well, but Joey says he’ll be working at Grigori’s.”

“Would you like to help, child?” Yaya asked.

“I think that would be fun. What time do you need me?”

“We’ll be starting at ten in the morning and ending at three in the afternoon. We’ll also have a presentation on the Sunday following the conclusion of the session.”

“Dan could walk me there and back. Would that be okay, Yaya?”

“I think that would be fine,” Yelena replied. “Thank you, Sister Margaret, for the opportunity.”

“Oh yes! Thank you, Sister.” Tessa’s eyes were dancing with excitement. “I’ve never participated in something like this.”

“I’m glad to have you. The Church always needs enthusiastic young people. We will be having a training meeting on July tenth, at the church, at ten. We’ll provide lunch.” Sister Margaret rose to her feet. “Now I need to be getting back.”

“I will send something for the luncheon, perhaps some baklava?” Yelena Maxim escorted the nun to the door.

“That would be lovely. I’ll see you at Mass.” With that, the nun took her leave.

“May I go tell Danny?” Tessa asked. “It’s nearly two, so I won’t be interrupting his work or anything.”

“You may go. Just be careful on the street. Here.” She reached for her purse. “Bring home some ice cream and we will celebrate your grades and your jobs, paying and not.”

“Spaseeba, Yaya,” Tessa said in Russian, giving the old lady a hug and a kiss on the cheek.

“Drhasvoocheya, Tessa,” replied Yaya. “Your Russian is coming along well.”

“That’s because I have such a good teacher,” Tessa said as she headed out the door. “Dohzvehdanya!”

“Dohzvehdanya, child.” As the door closed behind Tessa, Yelena Maxim felt a sense of dread that sent shivers up her spine. She didn’t know why, but she felt as if something bad was coming.

July 14, 1982

Luke Clevik might be a power hungry bully, but he wasn’t stupid. The last place he had seen Manny and his girlfriend, had been outside St. Cecilia’s. Luke decided to watch the priest, figuring he would eventually lead him to Dan. It took nearly two months, but finally Luke had found him. New Jersey. Who would have thought to look in New Jersey?

Luke had watched the sweethearts as they left St. Augustine on the last day of school. He had followed them, but had been distracted by a foot patrol cop. He had lost them, and it had taken until today to find them again. Lounging on the bus stop bench, Luke watched Dan leaving Garibaldi’s General Store. It was quarter past two, and if Mangan was running true to form, he would be heading down to the school to pick up his china doll. From what Luke had observed the last two days, the girl was doing some bible school program at St. Augustine. He needed to get rid of her. Luke figured Danny-boy would be more pliable if his cute little skirt was gone. Gone, but not in a permanent-dead way; that might cause the wrong result. No, Luke wasn’t stupid, and he had an idea. Grinning to himself, he found a pay phone and made an anonymous call.

July 20, 1982

Tessa straightened the last little chair and stirred the giant cooler of red Kool-Aid. It was nearly two o’clock; any minute the four through six-year old VBS kids would descend on her position for their afternoon snack. She checked the plates of celery and the bowls of peanut butter, raisins and pretzel sticks. Today they would make their own “ants on a log” creations. Picking up a stalk of celery, she dipped it in the peanut butter and took a bite. As she was chewing, Sister Margaret came bustling in the door. She looked concerned. “Child,” she said. “I need you to come to the office immediately.”

“But Sister, the children will be here any minute.”

“I know. Mrs. Peevel can handle snack.” The nun reached for Tessa’s hand. “You must come with me.” Worried, Tessa obeyed.

As they entered the office, Tessa saw two uniformed police officers, and froze. This couldn’t be good. The female officer approached her. “Are you Tessa Hart?” she asked. Tessa nodded. “Good,” the officer said. “We’re here to take you to your uncle.”

“My uncle?” Tessa couldn’t believe her ears.

“Yes, your Uncle Andrew. He’s been very worried about you since you ran away. We have some questions for you about that, too.”

“Are you sure?” Tessa asked.

“I’m sure.” A third person entered the office. Tessa recognized her as Mrs. Ramirez, the social worker who had placed both her and Dan in the Kawolski house.

“I won’t go back there,” Tess said defiantly, unconsciously backing up against the wall. “I will not!”

“I’m not here to take you back to the Kawolski house, Tessa,” Mrs. Ramirez said gently. “I don’t know what happened, but I know that it was bad. Your uncle really has come for you, I promise.”

“Really?”

“Really. But Tessa, I need to find Dan. He may be in serious trouble; the police need to talk to him.”

“He didn’t do anything,” Tessa said defensively. “Except save me--save us both--from Archie the Rat Bastard.”

“We need to hear that from Dan,” the social worker said. “You need to tell us where he is.”

“I don’t know,” Tessa stated flatly. Technically, it wasn’t a lie. Dan usually left Garibaldi’s a little after two and arrived at St. Augustine a little before three. Tessa didn’t know where he was, exactly, at two-thirty.

“Are you sure?” This time the male officer spoke.

“Yes. I do not know where Dan is. That’s the truth.” Tessa looked him straight in the eye as she spoke. “Will you take me to my uncle, please?” She desperately wanted to get the cops out of St. Augustine before Dan arrived to walk her home.

“Very well. We’ll take you back to New York, to the station. After you have answered our questions, you’ll be released to your uncle. This way, please.”

Tessa followed the officer out the door. She was flanked on either side by the social worker and the other officer. She looked back over her shoulder and very calmly said, “Goodbye, Sister Margaret. Will you please tell Yaya and the others what happened?”

The nun nodded, “Indeed I will, child. Remember to trust God, and it will all work out in the end.”

Tessa smiled bitterly, and left.

Outside, they put her in the car. She cast a furtive glance around the area, looking for Dan. She saw him walking down the sidewalk. He stopped. Their eyes met, and, in her mind, Tessa silently screamed, “Run!” Then she ducked her head as she slid into the police car. When she looked up again, Dan was gone.

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