Chapter 16 "The Stranger"

It was a blissful day, clouds draped against the blue sky. May and Red had successfully completed another day of language study, and were encouraged by an outing with their language helper. They went to the cheapest vegetable stand in town and stacked up on fresh potatoes, tomatoes, and cucumbers. May was elated that she would soon be in her comfy apartment where she could shower and rest after the long morning. Red was looking forward to teaching the Smith children the difference between adjectives and adverbs, as she regularly taught them English on Tuesdays.

The sisters parted for the afternoon, or at least that is what they thought they were doing. They divided the small bills amongst each other in order that neither sister would have a hassle with the rickshaw driver over the correct change. May entered on the right side of her rickshaw, leaving Red talking to a man standing on the left side. May’s driver started the rickshaw, the sound of the engine signaling the man talking to Red to jump in the back with May. The driver pressed the gas and before May could even decipher what was happening or why this stranger had jumped into the back of her rickshaw, they had taken off down the road leaving Red in a daze of dust and confusion.

May shimmied as close to the right side of the rickshaw as she could. Her right hip and shoulder pressed into the metal side. In decent English, the stranger told May he spoke French, English, and Arabic. She avoided eye contact and simply said, “that is good”. The driver asked May where she was going. May found this question to be odd as she had already told him the street name before she got into the rickshaw. She repeated the answer.

The stranger asked May where she was from. May, avoiding eye contact and trying to be as short as possible, answered, “America”. The stranger told May she was beautiful. May knew this was not a good situation and she turned as far to the right as possible, squeezing her bag of vegetables tighter. The stranger asked May if she lived with anyone and if there was anyone at her house right now. May knew she was in trouble and waves of helplessness began to wash over her as there was no one to turn to for help. She contemplated not saying anything but wondered if that would upset the stranger. She decided stating she had roommates waiting for her to get home would stop the stranger from trying anything.

Fear began to overwhelm her because she knew neither of the sisters were home and she did not want the stranger to know where she lived. May knew if the driver did take her home she would be in serious trouble. Remain calm, think of what to do next, remain calm, now is not the time to panic, remain calm May, remain calm…she repeated to herself.

It seemed like the ride was faster then any other rickshaw ride she had been in, she felt like she was in the buggy of a roller coaster wishing she could get off before she was overwhelmed with fear. Vegetables stands and buildings were passing by her quickly. She saw the bright orange and blue building a hundred yards in front of her approaching rapidly. The stranger continued telling her she was beautiful as he slid closer to her. She became nauseous. You can jump out May, you can jump out of this rickshaw and it will not hurt that bad.

She knew if she passed the orange and blue building she would have no other choice but to go home or be taken to somewhere she did not want to go. The right hand turn at the blue and orange building, opened the opportunity for her to go to her boss’s house and she knew Red would be taking that route so if she jumped Red would see her.

“Hena yameen (turn right here).” May loudly told the driver. “Hena yameen, hena yameen, hena yameen… right here, right here, right here.” The driver pretended not to hear her. May slapped him hard on his arm and screamed at him to turn right, she could not think of the word for “stop”. The stranger quickly said something to the driver in Arabic and he turned right, barely missing the turn and just barely avoiding the car turning left. That was the moment May understood she was by herself against a team and they had their plan from the beginning. Three minutes May, three minutes. You will be there in three minutes and you will get through this, if you get closer to Mr. Smith’s house you will have a better shot at safety.

The stranger moved his body up against the right side of May’s body. She was already pressed hard against the side of the rickshaw she could not move over anymore. The stranger put his arm around May. He began speaking obscenities to her. She could do nothing. She could not turn any further away. You will get through this May, you will get through this but you must do something right now before he touches you, you must act. You have got to do something right now. Jump or say something or scream or hit him or hit the driver. Do something!

She began to talk to him calmly and without looking at him. All she could muster was to tell him he spoke English well. May asked him how he had learned the language. He answered her and then continued telling her things he wanted to do to her. The next turn was approaching quickly. “yameen hena” she yelled at the driver. He was not going to stop. She had one foot out of the rickshaw and was ready to do a jump and role. She smacked the driver again and yelled “hena yameen” he skidded and turned. Is this really happening? The stranger pulled his arm tighter and she said no, no, no. You must jump out – you must or you will regret it later. Just jump – you will be okay.

“STOP,” she yelled at the driver. “Stop here, stop now, HENA!” May jumped as the driver began to slow down. She was in shock, still hugging the vegetables, she ran to her boss’s doorbell and rang it thirteen consecutive times, afraid the stranger was following her. Red’s rickshaw pulled up a minute later. May continued ringing the bell. McCaine opened the door. The sisters entered and closed the metal door. The clang of metal door hitting the lock rang safety to May’s ears.