MariasStory

By:LilyWalker


Itsfivefiftyfive,thebabycriesinthecribnexttome.Iopenmyeyesandstareoutinto
thedarkroom,tootiredtogetup.MybeatingswereharsherthanusuallastnightandIache
everywhere.Thepiercingsoundofthebabyscrygrowslouder.Soonmymasteryellsfromhis
room,Shutherup,itstooearly.FinallyIurgemyselfup,infearthattomorrowIwon'tbe
abletogetup,ifhecomesinhere.Ipickupthesmallcryingbaby,hereyesglistenastearsroll
downherface.IpretendthatIamhermotherbecauseIdoalloftheworkamotherdoesand
Mrs.Gordonhasntbeenhomesincethebabywasborn.AsIcradleher,Iwalkintothekitchen
toprepareherbottle.OncethebottleisreadyIgrabablanketfromthebasketandlayitinfront
ofthetv.Ithenputthebabyontheblanketandputapillowdowntosupportherback.Iturnthe
tvontothekidschannelandgiveMollyherbottle.AsshehalfpaysattentiontothetvImake
coffeeforMr.Gordonintheotherroom.


MynameisMariaSanchezIliveinthebasementofagianthouseinBeverly
Hills,California.IamoriginallyfromMexicobutIwasbroughtherebymymasterMr.
Gordonthreeyearsago.MylifeinMexicowashard,myparentsbothworkedlonghours
insweatshopssoIstayedhometotakecareofmytwosisters.Onedayawhiteman
dressedverynicelywaswalkingaroundtothehousesandlookingatallofthewomen,
whenhecameuptomeheaskedmeinspanishifIwouldliketocometoCaliforniawith
himtogetabettereducationandnothavetoworryaboutfood.Whenmyparentscame
homehetalkedwiththemforwhatseemedlikeforever.Whentheyweredonetalkingmy
parentstoldmeIwouldbegoingtoCaliforniawiththisman,theyexplainedtomethey
neededmoneytosupportmysisterssotheysoldmetohimfortwentydollars.We
walkeduptoanice,smallcarandhetoldmetogetinthetrunk,Iobeyedtoavoidany
tensionbecauseIwasgoingtobelivingwithhim.Wedroveforhours,Isleptmostofthe
time.FinallywedroveupasteephillandIheardwhatseemedlikeamotorofsomesort,
thecarenginestoppedandthesoundbeganagain.
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Thecardoorslammedandfootstepscametowardsme,heopenedthetrunkofthe
carandwewereinsideabuilding.Heleadmeinsideandthroughahugeentrywayand
openedadoorwewalkeddownsomestairsandtherewasathinmattressonthefloor,
therewerebarsontheonlywindowintheroom,andadimlighthangingfromthe
ceiling.HetoldmetowaithereandhewalkedupthestairsclosedthedoorandIheard
thelockclick.

Mr.Gordonismymaster.Hehasonedaughter,hernameisMolly.Mollyisa
littleundertwoyearsold.IrememberthedayMrandMrsGordonlefttohaveMolly.It
wasaroundeightoclockinthemorningandIwasinthekitchenmakingbreakfastfor
them.Mr.GordonwasinhisstudyworkingwhileMrs.Gordonrestedinherbed.Outof
nowhereMrsGordonscreamedlikeIhadneverheardanyonescreambefore.MrGordon
andIrushedintoseewhatwasgoingon.Shewassittinguprightonthebed,herface
drippinginsweatandshewascrying.MrGordonwithinsecondswasbyherside,hetold
metogetMrs.Gordonsshoes.IhelpedMrGordonwalkMrs.Gordontothecar.Itwas
almostpainfultoseethemdriveaway,Mrs.GordonwasaveryniceladyandIwas
nervoustoseewhatwaswrong.TwodayslaterMr.GordoncamehomewithMolly,he
wasawreckandhewasunusuallymadallofthetime.Imadethemistakeoftryingtoask
whereMrs.Gordonwas,Igotslappedandlockedintheclosetforacoupleofhours.I
thinkMr.GordonblamedMollyforMrs.Gordon'sdeath.

Forawhilehewouldsitinhisstudyanddrink,andwhenhedrankitonlymade
himworse,Iwasbeatenregularlyandtheywereveryviolentunlikeanybeatingsbefore.
Therewasalwayssomuchhateinhiseyesthen.

ItsnownineoclockandMr.Gordonisawakeheisdressedexactlylikehewas
thedayhebroughtmehere.ThedoorbellringsandIanswerthedoor.Mr.Stanley,our
neighborwalksin.Mr.GordongivesMr.Stanleywhatlookslikealistofthingsformeto
do.Mr.Gordongrabbedhiscarkeysandleft.FortherestofthedayIcaredforMolly
andcleanedthehouse.WhenIputMollytosleepIwentupstairsandpolitelyaskedifI
couldeatandhesaid,Youungratefulgirl!Hegrabbedmyhairandtookmedownto
thebasement.Hegrabbedabatfromoneofthecabinetsandbegantobeatme,he
wouldntstopuntilmybackwasblackandblueandIbeggedhimtostop.Heleftme
lyinginthebasement.


ThenextdayMr.Stanleyleftearly,whenIknewitwassafeIwentupstairsand
sawthatnoonewashome.IrantothefrontdoorwhichMr.Stanleyforgottolockand
ranoutsideandtooneofthehousesdownthestreet.Ipoundedonthedoorandbegged
themtoletmein,awomanopenedthedoorandaskedmewhereIwasfromandItold
himMr.Gordon'shouseandthatheabusedmebutIdidntknowmuchenglishandIwas
talkingsofast,Idontthinksheunderstoodme.Shestoodupandpickedupthephone
anddialedanumber.Shetalkedonthephoneforalittlebit.Aboutfiveminuteslaterthe
doorknockedtheladyopenedthedoor.Mr.Gordonstormedingrabbedmeandtookme
tohiscarandwedrovehome.Helockedmeintheclosetforhourswhenheletmeouthe
gavemeablackeyeandputmeinthebasementwithsomebreadandwater.


Islowlywalkeddownthesteps,asIgottothebottomofthestairsIwas
astonishedtoseeayounglatinagirlaboutsixteenyearsoldcradlingMolly.Iintroduced
myselfandshetoldmehernamewasMaricelia.Shetoldmehowshegothere,andItold
herhowIgothereandIwarnedheraboutthingsshecangetintroublefor.Astheweeks
wentbyItriedasbestIcouldtoprotectMariciliabutsheremindedmesomuchof
myself,allstubbornanddisrespectful,itwasreallyhardtokeeptrackofher.Webecame
reallyclose,andIreallylovedhavingsomeonearoundwhowouldntbackhandmefor
askingaquestionatthewrongtime.

OnedayMr.Gordonwentovertoafriendshouseandlockedusinthebasement
withMolly.WhenweknewhewasgoneIgrabbedthebatfromthecabinetandbeganto
hitthelock,finallyitbudgedandthelockfelltothefloor.MariceliagrabbedMollyand
weranintoalloftheroomslookingforawindowwithnobarsonit.Finallywechecked
Mr.Gordonsroom,wewereforbiddentogointotheroomanditgaveusthechillswhen
wewalkedinsidetheroom.Thewindowwasopenandhadnobarsonit,weallslipped
outthewindowandrandownthehill,luckyforustherewasanintersectionsowewere
wavingatallofthecarswaitingforsomeonetocare.


Apolicecarstoppedandaskedusifwewereok,Iexplainedeverythingthathas
happenedandheknewspanishsoheunderstoodeverythingweallgotintohiscarandhe
tookustothehospitalwhereour

woundsweretakencareof.Becausewewerebroughthereillegallyacoupleweekslater
weweretakenbacktoourhomesinMexicoandMollywastakenintochildservices.

StilltodayIhavenightmaresofthedaysandnightsinthatdarkbasementwith
thathotheaded,abusiveman.Iamsogratefultobebackwithmyfamily.Ialsoamso
gladtobeworkinginadirtysweatshopinsteadofthatterriblehouseandbeingableto
seemyfamilyinsteadofthathorribleman.

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