~ Twist Of Faith ~

by

Kelly McDonough

"Are you ready to go with Father Michael and Dean in the van?"

"I don’t know. I can’t imagine there are that many kids out there living like this."

"Hundreds and thousands of them," Sister said. "Sadly, we only see thousands pass through here. We’d do more, but we just can’t handle it."

Dean arrived and Michael introduced him to Kathleen. He was about twenty-eight years old and looked like he’d seen war in the streets. Which is exactly what it was, Kathleen couldn’t help thinking. "I’ll get the van warmed up, Father Michael." Michael just nodded his okay. He knew Kathleen needed to talk to him alone. He knew how he’d felt the first time he’d seen the horrors some of these children went through, and he needed to reassure her that her instincts were right on about this. He nodded to Sister Rosemarie, and she left the room. She understood they needed privacy.

"Kathleen, what you’re about to be a part of tonight is so important. If we find only one child and bring him or her back, then we’ve done good. You handled that little girl just right."

"Michael, the man who did that to an eight-year-old girl is sick. He’s a bastard, and I hope he gets put in jail for the rest of his life."

"Sister and the social workers will take over from here. Now, be prepared to hang out in the porn district. It’s where we find most of the kids."

"I’ve never been to the porn district."

"It’s not a pretty sight. Kids are forced to sell their bodies in order to stay alive. And in most cases, they’ve turned to drugs to help them cope. So, they aren’t always nice to us when we approach them."

"How do we approach them?"

"Honey, you’re about to see how, first hand." Michael reached for her hand. Putting her hand in his was so natural, Kathleen felt like she’d been doing it for years. Together they hopped up into the van. Michael let Kathleen sit in the front with Dean.

"Ready to go to our most productive corner, Father? They should be out in droves before the holidays."

"These kids don’t believe in Santa Claus, they believe selling themselves is a way of life. I just don’t understand how anyone could allow this stuff to happen to their children."

Dean smiled. "Spoken like a true mother. In fact, you sound like my own. At first, she wasn’t too keen on my getting involved with Covenant House. Sometimes, it can be dangerous. I mean these pimps and porn kings don’t want nobody messing with their money makers."

"Dean, how long have you been doing this?"

"Two years. And you know what? Some of the stories these kids tell me, still shocks me. Nothing shocks sister, though. Through the years, she’s taken care of thousands. And some of them actually come back years later to tell her how their lives were straightened out. Sister just cries when she hears stories like that."

"But, she doesn’t cry when she sees these kids day in and day out? I’d be a basket case."

"Kathleen, she can’t cry. There’s no time. There’s always another child right behind the last one. She has to take them in and set them on a path--a better path than they’re on."

"Do any of the kids go back to living in the streets once they’ve been to Covenant House?"

"Yes."

Kathleen didn’t say anything. Michael knew exactly what she was thinking.

"Shocked?" Dean asked a still Kathleen.

"Yes."

Michael took over the conversation. "Kathleen, some of these kids are so far gone or so afraid to believe they can have another life, they go back to what they know. And a lot of times the need for drugs drives them back to the streets."

"Here we go, Father. Do you want to get out, or do you want me to handle her?"

Kathleen watched the two men communicate. There was a silent communication going on between them. "I’ll go, Dean." Michael jumped out of the van. He slowly approached the girl. It was apparent she thought Michael was a john. He talked to her for a bit. Then, she started walking away. Michael yelled something to her, but she continued on her way. Michael came back frustrated.

"She’s too afraid her pimp will kill her, and she needs drugs. She asked me if Covenant House provides drugs. When I told her no, she walked away."

"You can’t save all them, Father," Dean reminded him.

"Maybe not. But, you sure as hell can try. That girl can’t be more than thirteen. Will you guys give me a chance to talk with her?"

"Don’t be disappointed if she ignores you," Michael told Kathleen, gently.

"Let me move the van up the block a bit," Dean said as he slowly drove past signs that yelled out sex, live sex and triple x sex.

Kathleen had one thought going through her mind. She was there to try and help. So she would. She hopped out of the van. She approached the girl. She didn’t know how the girl was going to respond to what she had to say, but she had to try. Michael and Dean watched as Kathleen conversed with the girl. The girl seemed intent on what Kathleen was saying. Ten minutes later, Kathleen walked back to the van with the girl. When she saw Michael seated in the back seat, she backed up. Kathleen immediately assured her she could sit with her and talk while Michael and Dean drove.

"You know what it’s like to have to have sex without love. But, you didn’t get money for it?" the girl said staring hard at Kathleen.

Oh well, now Dean would hear part of her life’s story. "Yeah, I did. I had a roof over my head and food in my mouth and a place for my children to live. Do you have any children?"

"Are you kidding me? The last thing I need is a kid to slow me down. I have had abortions. I bet you don’t like me for that," the girl challenged.

"It’s not my place to judge you," Kathleen said, calmly. "However, if you’re asking me if I ever had one or would, the answer is no."

"Tell me about that guy again. Did he ever beat you?"

"No. Has Pedro ever beat you?"

"Yeah. And if he sees me in this van talking to you, I’m gonna feel it later tonight after my work is done."

"So, do what I said. Come with us, and we’ll help you get a better life. Only thing is, this life is one without drugs. You just have to come to terms with that. But, no one will beat you. And you don’t have to have sex unless you love somebody."

"My real name’s Leah. I just told you it was Cherry because that’s how everybody knows me here."

"Leah," Kathleen proceeded cautiously. The girl was letting her defenses down and Kathleen sensed it immediately. She decided to go in for the kill. "Would you like a house where there are beautiful things and good people to lean on?" Kathleen was wise enough to know not to say take care of her because the girl had made it abundantly clear out on the street--she could take care of herself.

"Yeah. That would be nice--but, I don’t believe it’ll happen. They’ll just put me with another foster family and someone will wind up abusing me there, too."

"You’ve already been in foster care?"

"Yeah. And the old man liked sex--a lot. I finally decided if I had to do it, I was going to get paid for it. I did good, real good for myself when I first started. Then, Pedro approached me. He made all sorts of promises. Said he’d protect me. So, he became my pimp. And that was the biggest mistake I ever made--trusting a pimp. Not only did he want free sex, he wanted me to bang too many guys a night. I couldn’t handle it. Then, he turned me on to heroin, and I learned I didn’t have to think about what I was doing. I just had to do it."

"Leah, are you high right now?"

"Yeah. Will they still let me into this place?"

"Yes," Kathleen assured her. "You haven’t heard of Covenant House before?"

"No."

"What if I promise you that you’ll be treated with respect by a new family?"

"You think a nice family’s gonna want someone who’s been doing what I’ve been doing?"

"I know so. How old are you?"

"Fifteen."

The saying ‘sweet sixteen and never been kissed’ ran through Kathleen’s mind. She just wanted to get this girl to go back with them.

"I’ll go. But, if Pedro finds out, there’ll be hell to pay."

"Don’t worry about Pedro. You won’t be visiting this part of town again if you do what we say."

Leah nodded, and Kathleen told Dean to take them back to sister. Michael just looked at her. She knew what he was thinking. He was thinking she’d done good. There was one more child off the street.

Leah stuck close by Kathleen. They entered the foyer and sister greeted the young girl with a smile and a warm welcome. When Leah heard Dean refer to Michael as Father, she did a double take.

"You’re a priest?"

Michael nodded.

"Good looking priest. Thought I was getting a hot looking guy tonight. Guess not."

Kathleen thought it again for the one thousandth time. Michael could have any woman he wanted.

Michael didn’t react to Leah. If he felt anything, Kathleen couldn’t tell. She knew Leah was wary of him.

"How about we go get something to eat?" Kathleen addressed Leah.

"Yeah. I could use some good food. What have you got?"

Kathleen looked at sister.

"There’s chicken strips, mashed potatoes, green beans and pie for dessert."

"Thank you," Leah looked at sister. She had no idea how that little thing made sister feel. "I appreciate your hospitality. Do you have a place for me to sleep, too?"

Sister assured her she could have her own room for as long as it took to get her back on her feet. But, first sister wanted to get food in her body and get her to come down from her high. She’d seen it enough times to know it was heroin. And she knew when Leah came down, she might flee--she just had to wait and see. Sister looked at Kathleen. She realized Kathleen had formed a bond with Leah. "Would you like to eat with her, Kathleen?"

"Would you like me to join you, Leah?"

"Yeah. That would be cool."

Kathleen looked back at Michael and Dean. They were going back on to the streets.