Chp 1 Pt. 2 Moving Again

Ahsoka

I reach the place I call home and hesitantly walk up the porch steps. I quietly open the front door, trying to sneak into the safety of my bedroom. Unfortunately, my father notices I am home and he throws me against the wall, grabbing me by my neck.

“What the fuck do you think you are doing Ahsoka. Child services showed up today to speak to me asking me about the bruises and cuts.”

Tears sting my eyes as I struggle to breathe under his grip and let out a whimper. He’s really angry. He lets go of my neck and I drop to the floor gasping for air. He then kicks me in the stomach twice and throws a fist into the wall. I am curled up in a ball trying to breathe.

“Pack up your shit. We are leaving!”

He walks away, making some phone calls. I slowly pull myself up and head to my room to gather what I can. I know a moving truck will be here shortly and whatever I don’t have packed gets left behind. I don’t know how he packs the house so quickly to have us out within the hour, but he does every time. Once I finish packing my room I head to the living room and sit on the couch like I do every time we are preparing to leave. The house is surrounded by packed boxes. Father sits next to me and I stiffen as he places his hand on my shoulder.

“Don’t worry Angel. I found the perfect little town in the middle of no where in Oregon. You need to be more careful, no one is going to take you away from me.”

Again with the whiplash. I look at my father and sign ‘sorry’ to him.

“It’s okay Angel. I know you will do better next time.”

I despise that nickname. I know there is an underlying threat in his words. I better not mess up again or the next beating will be worse. The look in his eyes frightens me, thankfully the doorbell rings signaling the truck is here. Father kisses the top of my head before getting up and answering the door.

I move out of the movers way as they begin loading up the truck and I head to my fathers truck. I sit in the font seat knowing that is what he will want and I wait. It doesn’t take long to hear the back of the moving truck slam shut. I look in the rear view mirror and see my father heading this way. The door squeaks as he gets in the truck and begins driving away.

I watch as the desert we’ve been living in turns into a lush green forest. It reminds me a bit of Montana but here we are in the mountains. I can see the deer on the side of the road, hopping away and little squirrels scurrying across the road. We eventually come to a quaint little town along a river. It’s actually very beautiful here, cold but beautiful.

Father pulls up to a house that is tucked away into the forest with no neighbors in sight. Father gets out of the car and starts instructing the movers what goes where while I head inside the house. It’s a single story with three bedrooms and two and half bath. The kitchen is gigantic stainless steal appliances and leads into the living room. The living room has three huge windows that take up the whole wall that shows a view of the mountains.

“What do you think my angel. This can be your room.”

Father leads me to a bedroom just down the hall from his. It’s actually huge and has it’s own bathroom. I better answer father before he gets angry.

“I like it father,” I sign to him.

“Good, get out of the way so the movers can set up the furniture,” he says in a cold tone.

I decide to head outside and sit near a tree while the house is set up. Father decides to order take out which I’m thankful for. We don’t have any food in the house for me to cook yet. I wonder a bit into the woods, breathing in the fresh air. I love the sound of the leaves rustling on the ground as I walk. The farther I walk into the woods, I notice some wolf tracks. I scan my surroundings and decide to head back. Don’t want to get caught up against wolves.

When I make it to our backyard I find father standing at the back door, waiting for me.

“You start school tomorrow. Do not be late and if I were you I wouldn’t make the same mistake again.”

I walk back into the house and as always I am shocked. How does he set up everything so fast. There is no way he had time to enroll me in school already if he unpacked the whole house.

“Yes father,” I sign as he turns to head to his room.

I head to my own room and get everything situated as I would like it. I quietly break down my boxes and take them outside so he doesn’t get angry with me for being to loud. I double check the rest of the house and find it truly all unpacked. I don’t know when he did this or how he did it so quickly. I prepare for my first day of school only to realize I no longer have a backpack or school supplies. I left it in my old principal’s office. I sigh to myself. I’ll just have to pick some up later and go without on my first day of school.

The next morning I wake up planning to head to the store to grab items to make father’s breakfast, but I find that the kitchen is already fully stocked. When did he go grocery shopping? I quickly make father’s breakfast just the way he likes it and have his coffee ready before he makes his way out of his bedroom. He has a backpack over his shoulder and drops it at my feet as he sits down to eat his breakfast.

“Don’t lose this one this time. Go, the bus is here and they are expecting you today.”

I look out the window and notice a bus at the end of the driveway as it honks it’s horns. I pick up my backpack, give my father a kiss on his cheek and head out the door before father changes his mind and stops me. The bus doors open up and I am greeted by an elder gentleman probably close to his sixties.

“Well hello there darlin. I hear it’s your first day here.”

I doubt he knows sign language, but I sign to him anyway. What I don’t expect is that he signs back.

“I apologize young lady. I was not made aware you are deaf.”

“Not deaf, mute. I can hear just fine.”

“Oh I again apologize for jumping to conclusions. You’ll fit right in here. There are a few teachers as well as the principal that knows sign language. Everyone learned because there is a kid a few years younger than you that is completely deaf,” says the bus driver.

“My name is Ahsoka,” I sign to him.

“Ashoka like from Star Wars?” I do my best to not roll my eyes and nod my head yes to him. “Well welcome Ahsoka, my name is James. Go on and take a seat so we can get everyone to school on time.”