HITCHHIKER

BY CORNER GHOST
cornerghost@hotmail.com

[ part 4 ]

“That will be for me.” Amanda said.

“It might be, but it could be the police trying to catch me out!” I said as I carried her down stairs.

I picked up the handset in the Kitchen. “Can I speak to Amanda please?” It was a woman’s voice, one that I’d never heard before.

“I’m sorry, Amanda who? I’m afraid there’s no-one here except for me.” I said cautiously, and I held the phone so that Amanda could hear.

“Mr. Argent! I know my daughter is there! Tell me is she still being an exhibitionist?” The woman asked.

“Mummy!” Amanda exclaimed, blushing slightly.

With the identity of the woman caller confirmed by Amanda I left the young girl talking on the phone with her mother while I went upstairs to make my bed. I glanced outside the window to see two women getting into a car and driving away I didn’t really take any notice of them.

I drew the curtains and then went into Wendy’s room. I didn’t even think about what I was doing. I continued to clean up the room, it could really do with a hovering, but that could be done tomorrow. I sat down on the bed, Wendy really did love this room, she would pick out a dolly to sleep with her during the night . . . I would carry her upstairs to the bedroom and make out that I was going to drop her onto the bed.

She was going through a phase of making me check the wardrobe and under the bed for monsters . . . I don’t know where she got the idea from. I would read to her from a book . . . what was the title now? . . . My eyes fell on the bedside table; there it was – still – ‘The folk of the faraway tree’. I picked it up and started turning the pages, glancing through the stories and lost in my thoughts.

“. . . daddy john.” I looked up to see Amanda watching me, “Mummy says she wants to talk to you daddy john.” She repeated. I got up from the bed, somehow the pages of the book in my hand were damp, must have been something in the room I suppose.

I held out my hand to Amanda and she pulled me down the stairs to the phone, I picked up the handset. “Hello?” I said.

“Thank you for looking after my little girl.” Amanda’s mother said, “I’m glad she’s found a good man like you to help her!”

“I’m sorry Mrs. . . . err,” I realised I didn’t know her surname.

“I’m Janet.” She said, which cracked me up. “What’s so funny?” She asked me.

“Hello Janet, my name is John.” Which made her none the wiser, “There’s a series of pre-school books called the Janet and John stories, I guess I’m in a childish mood at the moment.”

“Yes, Amanda does have that effect on people.” Janet said. “Now John, I know she can be a bit forward for her age, but she is a good girl really.”

“Except when she’s clumsy.” I said and at the enquiring tone at the other end went on to explain about the wet clothes and the spilt milk.

“Oh I wouldn’t worry about that, she’s just playing with you – I understand you tied her up earlier.” Janet said calmly.

I was having visions of policemen hammering down my front door and dragging me away to some dark pit when she finished, “Well . . . err . . . you . . . I mean . . .” I stammered but was surprised when Janet then said.

“Good for you! She’s wanted her father to control her properly for years, you know you’ll going to have to tie her up tonight, or I won’t be responsible for her actions.” Janet said ominously.

“Janet I’d better tell you that I’m not comfortable with this, from what Amanda said I’m just a little more relaxed than her father was. And if people find out how I’ve treated her . . .”

“John, I give you full permission to tie her up and to punish her. She’s brought up to realise that if people do the wrong things they will be punished. She wants you to be strong and to punish her without feeling guilty yourself. She’s already told me how you’ve looked after her, and you’re the first man to have given her a bath in over 6 years.” She paused, “Look I’ll be there tomorrow, no it will be your Sunday, just keep her safe until then. I understand that arrangements have been made so that you don’t have to worry about groceries and the like, so take it easy and I’ll see you face to face. Kiss Amanda goodnight for me won’t you.” And with that Janet hung up

I was slightly in a daze as I hung up the phone and looked at Amanda who was gazing up at me with a smile on her face. “Well?” She asked.

“Your mother will be here the day after tomorrow and you’re to stay with me until then.” She stared to jump up and down in pleasure, “HOWEVER! You are to behave yourself, no more soaking you clothes just to get naked, and no spilling of milk. Okay?” she smiled sweetly at me.

“Okay daddy John.” Then she yawned I looked at my watch, nearly ten o’clock, where had the time gone to?

“Bedtime I think young lady.” I said to her, she held up her hands to me.

“Carry me daddy.” She said, I reached down to her and lifted her up in my arms, holding onto her as I walked upstairs to Wendy’s room and lowered her onto the bed. “Tell me a story daddy John.” She asked me.

I picked up the book and began to read from the first chapter, after a few minutes she closed her eyes and fell asleep.

* * *

I went downstairs to the living room and turned on the television, switching to the news – always depressing. The local news was a surprise.

‘Two men have been arrested charged with the kidnapping of an American girl — one man is believed to be the girl’s father. The local constabulary reports that they had been contacted by the FBI regarding a ward of court order that had been placed on the unnamed girl. The men gave themselves up voluntarily.”

I noticed that the report failed to mention that Amanda herself was missing.

I shook my head at the news report and didn’t really hear the rest of the news. So Amanda didn’t have to worry about being caught by her father for the time being.

I found that the events of the day were catching up with me and so I went to bed, switching off the television as I did.

I looked in at Amanda sleeping peacefully in the bed. I tiptoed to the bathroom and did the necessary ablutions, wincing as I flushed the toilet, hoping the noise didn’t wake my ‘guest’.

I undressed and fell into bed, I don’t even remember trying to sleep – something that I’ve had to do since I lost my family (no since I lost Wendy, the wife was no loss at all!).

I faintly remember a noise during the night and a feeling of warmth behind me, but it didn’t wake me.

What did awake me wasn’t the noise of the dawn chorus, people starting cars or lawnmowers. But the touch of lips on my ears, and the feeling of flesh on my arms. I opened my eyes to find Amanda was on top of me.

“Good morning daddy John.” She said as I rolled over, she draped her body over my chest as if to try and hold me onto the bed, it was then I noticed that the tee-shirt was missing.

“What happened to the tee-shirt?” I asked her

She shrugged, “I prefer Nickelback, at least I’ve heard of them!” she said.

“I’m sorry? Is that some kind of change machine?” I asked her.

She raised herself up and put her arms on her hips. “They’re a pop-group!” She exclaimed. But I was conscious of the fact that she was now straddling my body and displaying to me all of hers. I shook my head. “Yes they are!” She insisted misinterpreting my actions.

“I believe you, but why are you in my bedroom like that?” I asked her.

“I couldn’t sleep last night, and so I crept in here, I did ask you if you minded, but you didn’t answer me.” She giggled, “Your ass looks funny you know.”

“Not as funny as yours is going to be in a moment.” I said menacingly. She gave a small scream and jumped up, but I managed to move my legs to catch her. I pulled her arms and held onto her as I turned myself around to sit on the edge of my bed, I positioned her over my lap and started to spank her.

Instead of hearing her cry in pain she started to laugh, “What’s so funny?” I asked her, “you’re supposed to be crying!”

“It’s your . . . your . . . thingy, it’s poking into me. Now I was embarrassed.

“I’m sorry Amanda, I didn’t mean to . . .” I started to say but she laughed.

“It’s okay, mummy said that men can’t help what their thingys do!” and she ignored it, which was more than I could do. I pushed her back so that she was standing on the floor.

“You know Amanda; you’re making this very hard for me. . .” It was completely the wrong thing to say as Amanda started to laugh out loud. “That wasn’t what I meant” I said and went to the bathroom.

I was sitting on the toilet, doing what everyone does on there, when there was a knock on the door. “Daddy John . . . you’re not . . . angry with me are you?” Amanda asked, her voice was so sad and tearful.

“No Amanda, I’m not angry with you, it’s me that’s the problem. I’m embarrassed and didn’t want you to see me like that.” I said, realising that I was telling her the truth.

“But mummy says it’s normal for a man’s . . .” She started to explain.

“Yes, yes it is. But I shouldn’t let a young girl like you see me like that, it’s not right.” I tried to explain.

“But you’ve seen me . . . it isn’t fair.” Amanda said.

“No Amanda, life isn’t always fair.” I said as I flushed the toilet. I opened the door, finding out I hadn’t locked it – when you live alone you don’t think about such things – Amanda could have opened the door at any time! I went to the sink and quickly washed my hands before I opened the door.

Amanda was leaning on the doorpost swinging on one foot her head down. I crouched down in front of her and held her hands. “I’m sorry Amanda; I’m not used to having pretty young girls standing naked in front of me. I get flustered and confused. I find my self all tide tongued and mix my worms up completely.”

She giggled at that then she hugged me, very disconcerting to be hugged by a naked girl, even one as young as Amanda, you never know where to put your own hands, I settled for wrapping them around her back and hugging her as well.

“Now young lady, I think you’d better use the toilet and wash your hands. I’ve got you clothes from yesterday in your bedroom, I suggest you put them on. Then I’ll cook you breakfast.” I told her she smiled at me and nodded.

I went to my bedroom and dressed.

* * *

When I got downstairs and checked the larder I found I was in trouble, no eggs! No rashers of bacon. I had cereal but not milk – Amanda had taken the last of it yesterday!

I was thinking about going to the corner shop to buy something, but that would leave Amanda in the house alone, and she wouldn’t know where I had gone!

There was a knock on the back door! But the garage was locked and closed, I did that yesterday! I opened the door to find myself looking at a woman. She handed me a large box. And then she looked around the kitchen.

“You live here all alone?” She said. When I numbly nodded she shook her head. “No wonder you don’t have much to eat! Now take this, both of you will need it and it should keep you until Monday!” She shook her head again and then left!

It was done so fast I didn’t even have time to ask, “Who the hell are you!” I carried the box to the kitchen table and opened it. There was a chiller container, quite large, several items of clothing, fit for a 10 year old – including socks and knickers. And a Video camera with batteries and tape!! I understood the clothes but why a camera?

In the chiller I found 12 eggs, a quantity of rashers and bacon, several prepared meals. Fizzy drinks in small plastic bottles. And 4 pints of milk (semi-skimmed). It was more like a care package than supplies.

Then I noticed something else in the bottom of the box. Several pieces of leather with buckles on them, handcuffs and keys!

The food I put away in the fridge, and the freezer. The clothes I left on the table. The Camera and others I also left on the table, it was all very mysterious indeed.