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Post by valerie on Feb 25, 2009 15:58:22 GMT -5
The waiter left and Valerie's smile faded looking rather thoughtful, "Pup..." She started using his nickname again now that they were alone again. "...Do you have any parents?"
She knew she couldn't adopt him. She knew that if he did have parents, by the bruises on his arm they probably beat him. She knew that if he didn't talk to her, she couldn't get the police involved. And she also knew that he was on the run from the cops. For what ever reason.
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Post by pupdawkinseitz on Feb 25, 2009 16:33:45 GMT -5
"Pup..."
Pup looked up at her expectedly when she said his name, he smiled a little and then wiped his nose with his sleeve, before his smile faded a little as hers did. He felt like her tone was more serious now.
"...Do you have any parents?"
His eyes widened a little and his gaze dropped to his shoes. He didn't like to talk to his past with hardly anybody. He was so scared of somebody finding out he was Seitz' missing son and sending him back. Could he trust her? He was silent for a while. She was waiting. He looked into her eyes and sighed, deciding to at least trust one person in the world.
"I-I did have parents, until I ran away..." He answered a little shakily.
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Post by valerie on Mar 12, 2009 12:03:27 GMT -5
"Don't you think they'll be worry about you?" She asked, then decided not to guilt him. She tried again, folding the napkin a little nervously in her lap, "Pup... why did you run away? Do they hurt you?"
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Post by pupdawkinseitz on Mar 12, 2009 16:27:24 GMT -5
"Pup... why did you run away? Do they hurt you?"
Pup took a deep breath and a small tear trickled down his face. "I ran away cuz my mother hated me. She beat me, every day, she d-didn't care, My Daddy didn't even know, he was at work all day, and I was home with her...she don't love me, I couldn't stay, it hurt too much..." He got out, his dark blue eyes downcast and his face tear streaked.
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Post by valerie on Apr 2, 2009 21:15:17 GMT -5
She picked up her napkin and reached over, gently wiping the tears that fell. She bit her lip slightly, feeling sorry for the boy and wanting very badly to help him. She wondered if his parents would even care if she took him in. ...But, she couldn't. As much as she wanted to...
"What about your father, Pup? Does he know about this?" She asked softly.
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Post by pupdawkinseitz on Apr 2, 2009 21:22:24 GMT -5
"What about your father, Pup? Does he know about this?"
"No, he never knew that she hit me, she said I was a klutz, or she would hide the bruises. The maids and the household knew, but they w-wouldn't tell cuz they didn't want to lose their jobs. I ran away, and I've been hiding from him ever s-since."
Pup told her, pouring out some of his hidden story he had kept for so long. He had one secret he hadn't told anybody else, never. He said so softly, "My name's Stuart Dawkins Seitz."
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Post by valerie on Apr 3, 2009 11:55:05 GMT -5
"You told me, Pup. I suppose Seitz is your father's last name. Since you didn't mention that?" Valerie responded gently. She couldn't imagine why any woman would hit her own child. Men usually had the heavier hand, and perhaps some men of no class at all would strike an innocent child. Perhaps the same was for women. Perhaps not all had the maternal nature.
She handed the napkin to him. She didn't know who Seitz was, she hadn't lived here all that long and sometimes stayed away from the invitations to parties, too busy getting her apartment together, or her piano lessons were at the time.
"If we told your father, if we assured the maids that they would not--" She stopped, finding herself angry at the women who were supposed to make sure he was safe. Who ever this Seitz man was needed to either be a better judge of character, keep a firmer hold of his own house, or really had a devil of a woman for a wife.
Valerie started again, "If we could get at least one maid to tell him... Just one. If she does loose her job she can work for me. And if he doesn't believe you then..." She knew she was getting into trouble. But she couldn't help it now. "...then you can stay with me." She gave a small smile.
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Post by pupdawkinseitz on Apr 3, 2009 16:04:31 GMT -5
"You told me, Pup. I suppose Seitz is your father's last name. Since you didn't mention that?"
Pup nodded, using the napkin to wipe his face. His blue eyes were sad and had lost any twinkle, he wasn't exactly really scared, but still unsure about his past, and who he could trust. He wanted to trust Valerie, that's why he was telling her.
"I can't mention his name, not if I don't want to be found. My daddy's an important businessman, he works for the World. He's Pulitzer's assistant. He's w-well known, and I know he probably told the cops of me missing. He probably didn't publish it in the paper cuz he didn't want to start rumors," He explained, softly sniffling.
"If we could get at least one maid to tell him... Just one. If she does loose her job she can work for me. And if he doesn't believe you then......then you can stay with me."
Pup shook his head vigorously, trembling slightly. "I can't face him, if my Mother finds out, s-s-she'll make me go back. I can't go back, I c-can't, I can't!" He exclaimed, shaking terribly, awfully scared.
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Post by valerie on Apr 4, 2009 0:31:39 GMT -5
"Pup," She spoke softly and concernedly, moving her chair closer to him. A few of the older ladies down the tables began whispering. She glanced to them, before placing a hand on his shoulder and wiped at his face with her own hand. She heard a woman gasp a table or so infront of her.
Valerie spoke calmly, and firmly, "Pup, listen to me. We must tell your father. If he does care for you at all, then we must tell him."
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Post by pupdawkinseitz on Apr 4, 2009 10:08:52 GMT -5
"Pup, listen to me. We must tell your father. If he does care for you at all, then we must tell him."
Pup shook his head again, he just couldn't stop the tears. "He won't believe us! I don't even know if he cared for me. My momma acted like a different person around him. E-Every night, when he was there, she'd tuck me in goodnight, and s-she'd tell me she loved me, but that sure as heck wasn't right cuz the next day she'd beat me again! What if he tells my Mother? She'll make me go back! She wants be back so she can blame me for my sister's death. She'll tell me she wishes I was never born. She tells me of all the trouble I cause...S-She..." Pup couldn't talk anymore, he was so worn out and scared.
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Post by valerie on Apr 4, 2009 12:27:12 GMT -5
Valerie felt tears coming to her own eyes and the muscles at the corners of her lips beginning to pull. She turned away from him, remembering she had to be strong, for him, she had to be the grown-up. She picked up her water glass taking a few hard gulps.
She wouldn't drag him out of here to confront his father. If he needed anything at all it was the lunch she had promised him. She saw the waiter approaching with their food and spoke quickly, firmly, "All right, we won't go to your father today. Please, calm down, Pup. I didn't mean to upset you. Understand that I'm trying to decide on what is best for you. Now, dry your tears."
Valerie smiled to the waiter as he set their plates down, "You can go ahead and bring the dessert and check as well. Thank you." The waiter nodded, giving a rather annoyed look towards Pup before leaving to the kitchen again.
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Post by pupdawkinseitz on Apr 4, 2009 12:38:15 GMT -5
"All right, we won't go to your father today. Please, calm down, Pup. I didn't mean to upset you. Understand that I'm trying to decide on what is best for you. Now, dry your tears."
Pup nodded and rubbed his eyes, trying to pull himself together. He had always been jumpy and sensitive, but maybe all abused kids were that way. He sighed and looked at his food. He was really hungry. He hoped Valerie wasn't mad at him. He was just so terrified of his father and mother.
He picked up his sandwich and took a bite and then ate some soup. It warmed him right up and he couldn't help but feel better. It felt good to be content with a nice meal for once, instead of his stomach bothering him all day, and worried about when his next meal would come. He gave Valerie a small smile, his way of thanking her.
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Post by valerie on Apr 4, 2009 12:43:10 GMT -5
She took another drink of water and reached to him, wiping at his tears with a napkin again, "I know you're scared and upset. But if you do want to stay with me, even just for a few nights, I would very much like it if you did."
She returned his smile with a sympathetic one of her own.
((Ack, Work! I'll be on later tonight, but off an on.))
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Post by pupdawkinseitz on Apr 4, 2009 13:05:41 GMT -5
"I know you're scared and upset. But if you do want to stay with me, even just for a few nights, I would very much like it if you did."
Pup looked up at her in surprise, but his dark blue eyes brightened. "You mean me?? Stay with you?? You mean it? You really want me to??" He couldn't help but grin then, that wide grin that lit up his whole entire face.
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Post by valerie on Apr 5, 2009 1:10:34 GMT -5
She smiled radiantly and nodded, then speaking modestly, not wanting Pup to think he had to, or that he owed her, or something like that. "That is, if you don't have anywhere better to stay tonight... My apartment is on Fifth Avenue, so we can take a carriage to pick up your things... if you'd like."
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