Charlie Ann

The room contained a small desk with a computer and two small chairs.  Two metal file cabinets were used for Hank’s former pesticide business.

At 3:10 AM, Hank stormed into the room  and produced an  enormous clamour when  the door slammed onto  the bedroom wall. Startled by the emerged tumult, Debra, who was asleep, reacted  by jumping to a standing position.  Still in a drowsy state, Debra attempted to ask Hank what had happened when he struck her in the face with his fist.

“You bitch! we’re out’a beer. I told you to buy enough.  Now the guys are leaving because of you.”

She began to tell Hank that she bought all the beer she could with what money she had, but before finishing, he hit her hard a second time.  She fell back dazed onto the chair.  For the second time she was almost out cold.   He started throwing things around in the room like a  madman.   “You stupid bitch!  Why do I put up with you?  Get up, you ugly bitch!  I said get up.  I’m not finished with you.”  He pulled her to her feet and gave her a quick back-handed slap to her face.  “I’m going to bust your face!” he shouted.  “I’m sick of you making me look bad in front’a my friends.”  He threw her toward the desk.  She fell onto the desk and her body smashed against the computer.  Hank grabbed her and again threw her against the wall where she collapsed and fell to the floor between the chairs.  Debra tried to crawl away, as Charlie Ann  ran into the room crying.

“Mommy!  Mommy!” she cried.  “Don’t you hurt my Mommy!”  As she ran across toward her mother, Hank snatched her. She continued to cry out, “I want my Mommy!  I want my Mommy!”

Hank responded with,  “If you want your mommy, I’m going to give you to her.”  He  lifted  her up, looked to where Debra had fallen on her knees and hurled Charlie Ann toward her. Debra knew she had to  protect her child at all costs. With her last bit of adenaline, Debra was able to maneuver herself in-line with Charlie Ann’s trajectory and cushion the impact.  As a result of Hank’s powerful force, Debra was careened against the metal file cabinet rendering both her and Charlie Ann immediately unconscious.  Within seconds blood flowed from both their bodies.  Hank looked at their motionless bodies and his rage rapidly evaporated. Frightened, he bolted out the door.