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please, I don’t feel good, and I just want to go home.”
    “I’m sorry,” Rick said, releasing her. “I just wanted to talk to you. I’ll walk you home.”
    They headed up Main Street for the pedestrian bridge over the rail yard that led to the old apartment house where Ann still lived. Walking past Carnes’ barn stirred thoughts of a future she had dreamed of with Rick, but now knew it would never happen. Why did things have to get so complicated? Everything had changed now she thought. Their lives would never be the same again and Rick would never know why.
    “I’m really excited about us going to college together next year,” Rick said, trying to cheer Ann up. “Applications have to be in right after Christmas break. I’ll pick you up during the break and we can fill them out together at my house. I can’t wait to get you away from Tank Johnson and Bankstowne High next year. Our lives will be perfect together without him around.” Rick talked on as they climbed the stairs to Ann’s apartment.
    Ann stopped at her door. Her hands shook so badly she had difficulty getting the key into the lock. She didn’t open the door and invite Rick in. Instead she turned with her back against the door and confronted Rick.
    “Are you kidding? My parents don’t have money for me to go to college. My daddy thinks the only role for women in this world is cooking for men and having their babies,” Ann snapped.
    Baffled by her sudden change of attitude, Rick tried to reassure her. “You can get scholarships. I know you can. You have the best grades in the class, but you have to apply. They don’t just give them away. How do you think I can afford it?” Rick asked. “My parents lived through the Depression too, and they think getting a job at the Coastline Shops is more important than going to college. They don’t think being a writer is a real job. My experience as editor of the Railroader is going to get me a scholarship right here at Cannon College. Commuting together will be fun, almost like being married.” Rick looked for a reaction but nothing came. “You’ll make a great teacher. You’re good with kids, and they give out lots of scholarships to prospective teachers at Cannon every year. We could have a great life together.”
    “Good for you,” Ann said. “I’m glad you have it all figured out. You live in a normal family, but I have to stay here to help take care of my mother and protect Jo Lee from my drunken father. His drinking is getting worse, and I think my mother’s sick. But she’s scared to tell him, and now . . .” Ann couldn’t continue, breaking into uncontrollable sobs. She pulled open the door and slipped inside, slamming the door behind her.
    “I won’t leave until you come back and tell me what’s going on,” Rick said as he pounded on the Nestlebaum’s door.
    Ann ran past her mother to the bedroom she shared with Jo Lee and buried her face in her pillow.
    Alice ignored Rick’s shouting and pounding on the door and followed her upset daughter into the bedroom. “Ann, what in the world is the matter, and why is Rick beating on our door? Did you two have a fight?”
    Ann mumbled some words but was sobbing too hard to be understood.
    Alice sat on the side of her bed, drew her daughter to her, and held her tight like she did when Ann was a baby.
    “He raped me, momma. He raped me!” Ann blurted out. “I’m so ashamed. He was so strong I couldn’t fight him off!” She pulled away from her mother and collapsed on her bed, sobbing.
    Alice was on her feet instantly. “I’ll call right now and speak to his mother before your father gets home. He’ll kill Rick if he finds out.”
    “Not Rick. It was Tank Johnson!” she screamed. “That bastard forced himself on me then laughed and said to tell Rick, ‘Not bad for white trash.’” Her body heaved with uncontrollable sobs.
    Alice tried to console her devastated daughter but couldn’t offer anything beyond her gentle touch.