After Three Years by Adriana Kelley (Chapters 13-15)

Chapter 13
Amazing Grace

"See y'all later," Dad said, as he made an U-turn, and left us in a
cloud of dust and dirt. Caroline was fumbling with her keys.
"Can't find the key," she muttered under her breath. "Need some warm
juice. Seems ever since I was pregneat, I'm more thirsty."
She leaned aganist the window, gasping for breath.
"There's a key under the doormat. You want me to get it?" I offered.
"No. I want you to just stand there and watch me in pain," she spat,
glaring at me.
"I sure wouldn't mind seeing you in pain, once in a while," I smiled
sweetly. "You sure do deserve it. You and your baby."
"Well, missy," she said through clenched teeth, "it's your daddy's
baby, too. You're just jealous of what we have and you don't."
"Oh, really? Well how about this," I said, reaching under the mat and
getting the key, "I'll let you be jealous," I unlocked the door slowly,
"while I go in the house and drink some nice, warm juice," I opened the
door and slammed it behind me quickly, "while you freeze," I yelled. I
locked the door back, and let out a big sigh of relief.

After starting the fire, and heating up some warm apple juice, I sat
in the den to watch television by the fire. I sipped my juice, while
flipping through the channels.
In the middle of 'The Bill Cosby Show,' I sensed that someone was in
there. I turned around and low and behold, Caroline was standing there,
holding a butcher knife. Her eyes were like tiny, hot coals. Her face
was a deep red, and she was breathing heavily and fircely. Her curly
hair was tangled and messy.
"Huh? How did you get in here?" I asked, standing up slowly.
"Does that matter? It's time to get rid of you, once and for all."
her words were very low, but it sent a cold chill down my spine.
"What do you mean?" I looked around for an escape. Caroline was
standing in front of the only escape there was.
She took a step closer, and I took a step back. "What do I mean?" she
laughed loudly, "I mean it's time that you be buried by your mother.
It's time."
"Caroline, please! No!" I cried, backing up against the wall.
She ran toward me, the knife raised, her laughing growing louder and
wilder.
I screamed when she stopped in front of me, the knife still raised.
"Good-bye, girly." she whispered.
If I die, I thougtht, I wanna die right. So I began to sing Amazing
Grace.
"Amazing Grace
How sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me
I once was lost
But now I'm found
Was blind but now I see"

I don't know if it was the song, God, or her senses, but Caroline
dropped the knife. "Git out! And never come back!" she screamed.
I ran out of the room, my heart racing. I grabbed a coat out of the
hall closet, and just as I opened the door, Suzie ran into my arms.
"Red! You come back!" she cried joyfully.
Dad walked in and smiled. "Lunch ready, yet?" he asked.
"Getting ready to start on it, now," I heard behind me. I wirled
around to see Caroline standing there, smiling sweetly.
Dad looked from me to her, and lifted one eyebrow. "Why you got that
coat, Red?" he asked.
"Oh, she told me she was going out on a walk, didn't you, Red?"
Caroline replied for me. She looked at me, her eyes wide. "Red?"
"Yeah, but uh, I've had a long day. I think I'll skip lunch, and take
a nap." I answered, turthfully. I didn't know where I'd find the energy
to run away again. I was too tired.
"Fine," Daddy shrugged. "Hope you sleep well."
I smiled and nodded, before making my way down the hall to my room. It
seemed as though as soon as my head touched the soft pillow, I was
asleep.

"Wake up, Red! It's time to eat. You slept all the way till dinner
time," Suzie exclaimed, shaking my sholder. My eyelids fluttered open. I
yawned and stretched my arms above my head. "Betta go wash yer hands.
You betta go wash yerself!" she said holding her nose. "You stink!"
I laughed in spite of my sleepiness. "I will after I eat. I'm
straving."
I didn't know how I was going to face Caroline again. Flashes of her
enraged face kept coming back, slapping me in the face. The huge butcher
knife. The song I sang, Amazing Grace. It really was amazing grace. It
was like an angel stopped that knife from cutting into my heart. Even
though I'd been stabbed in the heart plenty of times, emotionly, I still
lived on. I wasn't ready to die. There was still hope for this family.
There was still hope for me.
I slowly climbed out of bed, still stretching.
"Get moving, Red," Suzie cried, throwing her little baweled fist in
the air, "you're moving slower than a snail." She laughed at her own
joke.
"I'm coming," I said softly.
I combed my hair with my fingers, and smoothed out my shirt and pants.
I walked into the bathroom, where I goggled and splashed water on my
face. While drying my face with a paper towel, I noticed a small clear
bottle in the trash bin. Wonder what that is. I picked it up out of the
trash bin, as I dropped the soaked towel in it.
It read: Sharp Poison! Keep out of reach of children!!

The small, empty bottle slipped out of my trembling fingers. What could
Daddy or Caroline want with sharp poison? I wondered.
I quickly stood and washed my hands again, thorghly. Hope it's not
for anything bad. It isn't, I conviced myself.

I sat down and tried not to meet Caroline's eyes.
"You slept well?" Dad asked, a gentle smile on his lips.
"Yeah. I was exhausted," I smiled back at him.
Caroline sat a basket of biscuits in front of me. "There," she said,
"everything's set." Our eyes met the first time since the attack. Her
eyes were like glints of cold steel.
"What about kool-aid?" Daddy asked.
"Oh, yes," Caroline said, gleefully. "Drinks! How could I forget?
Four kool-aids coming right up," she said winking at Dad.
She's acting strange, I thought to myself. She seem's very happy, But
weird and angrey. Must have something to do with the baby. Pregnecy.
Caroline came back holding two glasses of kool-aid in each arm. She set
them in front of us, looking at each cup carefully.
"Ice?" she asked, looking around.
"Yeah," Dad and Suzie said at the same time.
"No, thank you," I said. It seemed like my period was on its way, and
I wasn't up for any more cramps. My reply seemed to make Caroline's
silly mood more silly. "Oookay!" she whooped.
I looked at daddy and shook my head. "What's wrong with her?" I
whispered.
Daddy shrugged. "Must have somthing to do with the pregnecy," he
whispered back.
That satisfied my suspision. "That's the same thing I thought," I
concluded.
When we were all eating, I became really thirsty. I picked up my
glass, and just as I was about to drink it, I happened to look over at
Caroline over the rim of my cup. She was starring at me with a evil, nasty
smile of satisfation. She seemed to be waiting for me to drink the
liguid.
I placed my glass back down on the table. Her smile ceased. What's
going on? I wondered. I looked into the glass. It seemed thicker than
usual. Just in case she has medication in there, I told myself, I'll
switch glasses with her. So I continued to eat my dinner, without touching
the drink.
Finally, when her napkin dropped, I made a quick dash and switched
glasses with her. And I made it just in time. We continued with our
dinner.
Fortunatly, Caroline didn't notice the change in drinks. For she
picked up my glass and took a huge swallow. It wasn't ten seconds later
before her eyes seemed to buldge out, and she let out a nasty croke. It
was the scariest thing I'd ever heard. She gripped her throat, her tounge
sticking out, as another croke escaped from her throat. And she fell to
the floor.
I screamed as Dad and I rushed to the floor beside her. Her eyes
rolled over and over and over.
"NO! NO! OH GOD, NO!" I screamed.
Her eyes seemed to stop rolling and glare at me. Glared at the child
whom she abused. The child she always hated. The child who had a place in
her love's heart that she'd never have. The child that she always
wanted to get rid of. The child she had just tried to poison.
Than she closed her eyes forever.

Part Two
The past reveals itself

Chapter 14
Living on Lies & Threats

The wake was held at Caroline's mother house, Dorthy. I knew the lady
didn't like me from the first time she gazed apon me. Her eyes were
just as cold as her daughter's, if not colder. I pulled my sholders back,
and held my head high. I did feel sorry for Caroline, despite what she
had tried to do to me. It all came back on her.
Than there was Dad and Suzie. Daddy didn't have his beloved Caroline
anymore, and Suzie, well Suzie was like me.... motherless. She looked
up at me, her eyes wide with fear.
"What happened to mommy?" she asked. She asked me this question so
many times since Caroline's death, which was two days ago. I knew she'd
never forget the horrid sight of Caroline dying the way she did. Neither
would I.
"Mommy died, Suzie. I told you before," I said, softly, pushing her
curly hair out of her face.
"Did she go to heaven?"
"I don't know," I replied. I wasn't getting ready to lie to Suzie.
Her mother was an evil woman, who had try to murder me, twice. The
thoughts of not switching cups with her sent a chill down my spine.
Dorthy lived in a huge mansion by herself. She somehow blamed me for
Caroline's death, even though it's sort of true. But if Caroline hadn't
bought that poison in the first place, no one would've been dead. So I
put half the blame on her.
Daddy's so hurt and confuse. He don't know who to blame. I overheard
Dorthy and he talking, and Dorthy thinks he should send me away. She'd
pay for it. Instead, Dad thinks we should move back to WesBrige. I
didn't want to go back at first, but now, it seems like the best thing to
do. I wasn't succeding in school much down here, anyway. I just didn't
know if I would be accepted by my friends, again, once I got there.
Abby, expecially.
"There you two are," Drothy said, coming into the den. She picked up
Suzie and smiled. "My only granddaughter. All of these boys we have in
the family. I'm thinking about adopting you from your father. How about
that?"
"No, you're not," I protested.
"Shut-up, you murderer," she snapped. "I wasn't talking to you or
about you. I usualy don't allow dirt and rags into my home..... or even on
my property." Her glare was like lava, and was melting me with the
heat. "You Harrises have put a bad name on the Winkins'. You flithy
little..."
"No, it was your daughter. The slut that she was.... I'm surprise you
called your name good before she married my dad. I know the story of
her life. All y'all do is cover it up with lies, deceit, and smiles."
Her mouth turned down in frustration, as she shook her head. "She
didn't want to believe the turth about my mother, and neither did you. So
you lied to me."
"It's not my fault your stupid mother is dead. Dead is dead. She's
gone. So get over it. By the way," she added with a slick smile, "I'm
happy you've found out. Now you won't think you're one of us. If anyone's
been living a lie, it's you."
Tears of hurt and anger trickled down my cheeks. "Wrong," I said
softly, "that, is what isn't my fault."
Suzie kicked Dorthy. "You made Red cry!" She scrambled out of her arms
and over to mine. "You mean, mean lady," Suzie chanted.
"I'm not mean, baby," Dorthy hissed, "I'm just upset that the
murderer of my daughter isn't in jail or...or dead! Dead like she's supose to
be," she looked at me and pointed an acusing finger, "If Caroline
didn't succede in one thing, it's killing you."
She stormed out of the room in a huff, leaving me trembling. I couldn't
wait to get back to WesBrige.

I didn't shed one tear at Caroline's furneal. She was more wicked than
I'd thought, knowing who was her mother. I was in a bigger mess than
before. Dorthy made it clear that she didn't want me alive. Who knows
what she'd try to do before we moved away from Sandre. The limosine took
us back to Dorthy's mansion. I stayed close by daddy's side, no matter
what. I didn't want to take the chance.
Maids were everywhere serving drinks and hors d'oeuvres. Laughter,
music, and chatter filled the air. This is how they mourn? I wondered.
Dad even seemed to be in a deep conversation with this guy about trucks.
I was exhausted from all of the whirl wind of activity. I knew daddy
wouldn't be ready any time soon. And I diffently wasn't going to ask
Dorthy if I could lie down someplace. So I decided to find my own place
to lie down, rather take a nap. I'd make it quick.
So when I was sure no one was looking, I started up the stairs,
taking them two at a time. At the top of the staircase, I looked around in
awe. Just all of the pictures seemed as if the would cost a fortune.
I walked into a bedroom that was almost as big as our kitchen, living
room, and den combined. I gasped at the huge draperies, the fine
furniture, the beautiful, big bed, and the sliding doors that led to a miduim
sized balcony. I walked out onto the balcony and as I did, the first
flurries of snow came brushing against my nose. The land overlooked acres
and acres of gardens and all types of flowers. Stone fountains and
stautes looked tiny, but beautiful, from the view I had. It looked magical.
Caroline was living in her own little kingdom, I thought bitterly. She
should have stayed there.
I laughed to myself. If only she would see how her family and friends
were celebrating after her furneal. It seemed as if I weren't the only
one she'd torture.
"What are you doing in here?" Zilannie, Caroline's younger sister,
shrilled. "This is Caroline's old room. Since she's dead, this room
stays off limits. We don't allow sadness, gloom, and despair in this house.
It's a house of happiness. We also don't allow murderers," she added
with a glare.
"I'm not the murderer of your deceased sister. If anyone was a
murderer, it's her. She tried to kill me twice!" I stated.
She gasped and shook her head. "You...you lair! How dare you say that
about Caroline. She would never! She loved you too much. She even called
the day she was murdered and told me that you had tried to stab her.
Since that didn't work, you poisoned her three hours later."
The lies took my breath away. How could Caroline lie about something
like that. That was just what she tried to do to me. The look on my face
must have been taken for guilty, for she nodded and smiled, satisfied.
"Just remember, Red Harris, what comes around, goes around. You will
regret what you have done. Now get out!"
I ran pass her and out of the room, shaking my head. How many other
people believed that I killed Caroline? I went to one of the restrooms,
and locked the door behind me.
I sat there trembling. I knew they were going to get revenge. One way
or another. I tried singing softly to myself, but that didn't help calm
me down, either. I leaned against the wall, slid down to the floor
helplessly, and fell into a deep sleep.
When I awoke, I felt much better. I splashed water on my face for
refreashment. I combed my fingers through my hair and made myself look
bright and happy. I will not let these people's threats get to me, I
decided.
Most of the guest had already left when I came downstairs. I found
Dad and Suzie in the dinning room, where they were about to eat.
"Where were you, Red?" Dad asked. He looked sad and tired. Suzie was
bouncing around impatiently.
"Yeah, where you went, Red," Suzie demanded. "We wait on you long
time."
"I... I looked around a while, than I went in to use the restroom."
"Oh?"
"Yes. Soo... what are they serving for dinner?" I asked.
"We're waiting on Dorthy and Zilannie. They'll tell us."
The thought of facing one of them, sent chills down my back. But both?
That was like dropping one hundred pounds of ice inside my stomach,
causing me to freeze up. Would they convice Daddy to send me away? Would
they take Suzie? Would they try to kill me? The questions were racing in
my mind so fast, I felt dizzy.
"I need something to drink," I said, standing up.
A butlar entered immediately, as if he was hovering around the conor
waiting for a request.
"What type of drink, Madame?" he asked, his gray eyes hard as stone.
"Wow! You came quick," I smiled, trying to break the ice out of his
eyes.
"I'm a butlar, head servent of the household. That's my job. To
supply your every need," he replied, crisply.
Dorthy must have planted the lies in his head, too, I thought. Wonder
who else.
"Well," I said, my voice just as even, "I would like something to
drink."
"What kind of breveage, your highness?" he said in a fake british
accent, his voice full of sarcasm.
"Do you have any kool-aid?"
"Kool-aid? We have soft drinks, tea, leamon water..."
"Do you have, Pepsi?"
"Very good, Madame."
Just as he walked out, in came Dorthy and Zilannie.
"Sorry we took so long, but we had some important matters to take
care of." Dorthy said, throwing a glare my way, before stitting down.
She waved her hand to the servents, as an order to bring the food in.
The butlar came with my drink, first.
Then came the appertizer, Escarole, tomato, anchovy, and olive salad
with xató dressing. I'd never tasted it before, but it looked good. Dad
picked through his, until the main dish came. Ranch style steak with
bourbon sauce, green beans, and fresh bread glazed with honey. I was
impressed, but I didn't show it. I didn't want them to know I enjoyed
anything to do with their lifestyle.
"Caroline's furneal was so big," Zilannie said. "She was a good
woman."
"Umph," I grunted.
Dorthy glared at me again. "I remember at my mother's sister, Irish,
her birthday celebration, how Caroline was so happy to see you girls.
Even though you were her stepdaughter, she accepted you as her own. I,
also, was happy. I accepted you as one of us. But if I knew you would kill
my daughter in less than a year, or at all, I would have thrown you
out." Her words were bitter, and were ment to hurt.
"Dad! Are you gonna let them talk about me that way? Are you gonna
just sit there and let them acuse me of killing Caroline?" I cried,
pointing at Dorthy and Zilannie.
Dad looked from me to them, his face covered with a blanket of
confusion. "I don't know," he mumbled, picking up his fork.
"What!! Daddy you were there," I screamed, jumping out of my chair.
"She was the one who had try to poison me!"
Daddy dropped his fork, but didn't say anything. He stared blankly at
his plate.
Dorthy and Zilannie wore slick smiles of satisfation, nodding their
heads. "She's wild and crazy," Dorthy said, reaching across the table and
patting Dad's hand. "Let us keep her.... we'll tame her. You go ahead
and get on with life."
"No," Dad said sighing deeply as if it costed great effort. "I'll
keep her. She'll do better with me."
Dorthy grimiced and looked at her daughter for help. "Wayne," Zilannie
said softly. "We can help you, we can..."
"No," Dad cut in firmly. He looked up at them. "She's fine with me. I
think it's about time we go. We have alot of packing to do." He stood
and nodded at them. "Thank you for the dinner. Red, Suzie," he nodded at
us and we stood. Good-bye, I thought happily, to the only hell on
earth, Sandre.

"....and than we left and finished up the packing." I finished telling
Aunt Molly of my adventures from running away with Helen to the
argument with Dorthy and Zilannie.
We were sitting on her queen sized bed in her room, talking. Daddy
was gonna sleep in the guest room, Suzie and I in her room, and Aunt
Molly insisted she sleep in the livingroom.
Aunt Molly shook her head. "I hate to admitt that I'm glad she's
gone, Red. Caroline Winkins was a very bad lady. If nobody believe your
story, I do." She smiled weakly at me.
"Thanks," I sighed. "It's been really hard lately."
"I know, sweetie," she said patting my hand. She laughed lightly. "I
have something for you. Well, Wayne told me to give it to you." She
reached under the bed, and took out a bag. She carefully took out a white,
pearl necklace, two pearl earrings, and two white sation, shoes. The
heels were, at least, four inches high.
"These belonged to Londa, your mom," she spreaded the contents out on
the bed. "The gown, Wayne burned it up. It was too much for him. It was
her prom gown. The most beautiful gown I'd ever lain my eyes on." Aunt
Molly sighed as the memories flooded through her. I could almost see
them through the far away look in her eyes. Sad memories, happy memories,
angered, and exciting.
I looked at the beautiful remains of one of my mother's happy
moments. How much I didn't know. I ran my fingers over the smooth, but cool
matrials of the bottem of the shoes.
"Do you have pictures?" I suddenly asked.
"What? Oh, pictures! Of course I have pictures. Wait right here," she
instructed. She jumped off of the bed, and ran out to get pictures of
the lady I had never, and never would know, who they called my mother.
I'm really about to see her, I thought. Will she look like me? Would
we have anything in common? What color are her eyes? Is she pretty? The
questions raced through my mind quickly, like little, fast, firey
darts. Wait! I have seen her before. The newspaper clipping. That was just
one. And it wasn't colored. Now I'll see how she really looked.
I was excited and afraid at the same time. Afraid she woudn't be who
I dreamed she would be. What if she really were ugly. What if she were
like Caroline? Or worse of all, what if she wasn't my mother? Just
someone who they suspect. The thought of all those lies again made my
stomach flip, and sent chills down my spine. Where was Aunt Molly? And why
was she taking so long? It really did seem as if I were on pins and
needles. My heart was was pounding and it even seemed as if I broke out
into a small sweat. I played with my fingers to busy myself.
"All right!" I nearly jumped off of the bed at Aunt Molly's voice.
"Wow, Red! You all right?"
"You scared me," I whispered, my voice shakey. This is so stupid, I
told myself. Why am I getting all upset about seeing pictures of my
mother? "But it's about time," I added, more firmly.
She smiled. "I put it away in an old chest of mine to get away from
all the sad memories. I couldn't seem to find it at first.... stupid
chest was packed." She lifted up a tissue box. "I brought this, 'cause
before this talk is over, there will be plenty of tears. My bed will be
drenched," she joked, half heartedly.
She sat the album in front of me, brushing off the thin layer of dust
that had settled in on it. I closed my eyes. All my imaginations were
going be history when I flipped open the picture book.
"Go on," she urged, "open it. This is good for you. It's about time
you know her."
"I can't know her by pictures," I aurgued.
"Oh, she's just like you. Well, you're just like her. In one look,
you know what she's all about. You know when she's lying, sad, happy, or
mad. Her life was like an open book. Now go on," she placed the book in
my hands, "open the book. You asked for it."
I slowly flipped the cover. There was Dad and Mom. My real mother.
She was more beautiful then I imagined.
She had the most beautiful smile. It was a flirtous, serious, but
full of youth in all, smile. Long, red eyelashes, and perfectly arched,
eyebrows matched her cream complection. Her dazzling green eyes, were
almost the color of ripe olives. She had a dimple in each cheek,
complimenting her heart shaped face. Her wavey, red hair flowed freely to the
small of her back. It was almost as red as Ann Shirly's hair, off the
moive, 'Ann of Green Gables.' Her slender body had all the right curves,
and shapes. Nothing was out of place on her. Everyplace on her where I
looked, there was a hint of me. Even though I was sure I wouldn't be as
beautiful, I knew that this was defintely my mother.
What would my life be like if she was still living? I wondered, still
looking the picture over in disbelief. What if Daddy had never cheat on
her? How would I look? Would she have me looking as pretty and made up
as she? Tears blurred my vision of her, as they slipped down my cheek,
onto my chin, and finally on the picture.
"You were right," I sniffled, "we might have to use that whole tissue
box, and more."

I woke up when I felt a warm hand on my head. I knew it was Dad
because of how big it was, but I didn't open my eyes. I heard him sigh in
deep sadness. He choked back a sob, and ran his fingers through my hair.
It was about neck length now. I hadn't gotten it cut in a while. I'll
let it grow long, I decided. As long as mommy's.
"Love you," he whispered. I felt his tears on my cheek when he leaned
down to kiss it. I was on the verge of telling him the same back, but I
held my yearning in. "Sorry to keep that in so long. I just couldn't
tell you."
His clean shaven face felt smooth on my own. Even though my eyes were
closed, a tear made its way out.
"Red," he whispered, surprised. "I thought you were sleep."
"Well, I ain't." I sniffled. "You woke me up." My eyes were still
closed, but I knew he was wiping away his tears.
"Sorry. I was just.... just, uh.."
"Feeling guilty," I finished for him. I opened my eyes and starred at
him through my blurred vision. "Aunt Jenny was right, though. It's your
fault that Mom is dead."
"No, it's not. It may seem that way, just like you to Caroline."
I sat up, fury and rage replacing my sleepiness. "So you're believing
it, too, uh? You think I killed Caroline!"
"No, that's not what I ment..."
"It's excaltly what you ment. You were there, but you think I did it.
You don't know that she tried to kill me, before. But God had mercy on
me. He saved my life from that wicked witch. She was gonna stab me to
death with a butcher knife. But I began to sing Amazing Grace, and God
saved my life. She told me to get out and never come back. And as I was
running, you and Suzie just happened to be coming through the front
door. I already had my coat, and you asked why I had it. Remember?"
He didn't respond. He just looked at me and shook his head.
"Yes, I know you remember it. You just don't wanna believe it. So
when she figured she couldn't get rid of me that way, she decided she'd
poison me at dinner time. You remember how happy she was, don't you?" I
didn't wait for his answer. I just continued on. "So when Suzie woke me
up for dinner, I decided to refresh myself. I saw a bottle of sharp
poison in the trash can. It shook me up a bit, but I didn't worry about
it.
"At dinner, she was acting really werid. You and I thought it was
pregnecy things. But if you had look, you saw she looked at each cup
carefully before placing them down in front of us. I remember the evil smile
of satisfaction when I picked up my cup to drink. That's when I noticed
how thick my drink looked. So when she wasn't looking, I switched
drinks with her.... just to be on the safe side."
"And she counldn't tell, huh?"
"Fortunatly, she couldn't. She took a big gulp, and died."
"You expect me to believe that, don't you, Red. Well, honey, you made
it even more clear that you did it. But I ain't gonna say a word. I
love you too much." He searched my angered eyes. "I mean, how can you
expect me to believe that? Caroline wouldn't do nothing like that. She,
herself, loved you too much. I.."
"You know none of this would have happen if you had kept your
harmones in controll. If you stayed faithful. Now look, both of your wives are
dead, and you're blaming me on one of them. Why don't you just go back
to bed."
"Red.."
"Go! Please."
He sighed deeply, and walked out slowly.
When I was positive he was gone, I fell back onto the pillow, and let
the tears of anger, furstration, hurt, and pain, flow. How I wished
that I hadn't woke up. With Dad believing Dorthy and Zilannie's deceitful
lies now, I knew that the worst was yet to come.

Chapter 15
Daddy's Side
Three days before Christmas

I stood in our new home in front of the big christmas tree Dad bought
three weeks ago. Back in WesBrige, again, I had adjusted well. Back to
WesBrige High, visiting Jesse, Ronda, and Eshi occasionally. I was
meeting Abby, secretly. She wasn't allowed to even speak to me. Otherwise,
everything was going smooth.
"Ready to go?" I heard behind me. I turned around to see Dad standing
there in a white cotten shirt with the sleeves rolled up just above his
elbow. He wore blue jean pants and the same brown work boots.
He and I hadn't gotten along as well as we use to after the night at
Aunt Molly's. He still blamed me for Caroline's death, which hurt me
the most out of the whole complicated situation. So our home wasn't the
usual cozy place that it was before. It was just a house we lived in.
"Yeah, I reckon." I replied. He claimed he wanted to take us
somewhere. It was a surprise.
I wore a knee grazing navy-blue dress, with three quarter sleeves.
The short, white boots that I had brought with my leftover christmas
money, fitted my feet perfectly. My hair was down in big curls at the tips.
I liked to wear it so that it bouced agaisnt my skin. My hair, now,
grazed my collarbone. My dress was completed with a real gold necklace
Aunt Molly had given me. I always wore it as a reminder of her. Even
though she lived one hour away in Columbia, I always felt close to her
comforting words when I wore the necklace.
"Suzie's ready?" he asked. This was how our conversations always
went. Questions boucing back and fourth between eachother. No jokes,
warmness, no love.
"Yeah. She's in our room playing with her dolls."
That was another thing. Suzie and I shared rooms, again. We had twin
beds, and different sides of the room to ourselves. Daddy thought it'd be
good if Suzie had someone in the room with her since her mother's
death. Just in case she needed the comfort of knowing I was
there.
We had boxes stored up on the third room that still needed unpacking,
but paid no mind to them.
"I'll go get her." I said, turning on my heel, and walking away from
the unbearable coldness.
Suzie looked up from her doll with big wide eyes, as if saying, Not
now, my dolls and I need peace. Suzie couldn't stand the coldness in our
home, either. She always tried to make small talk. For she knew that
the familar warmness had disapppered.
"It's time to go, Suzie," I smiled, walking over to where she sat.
"Already? Where are we going?"
"I don't know. Daddy said that it's a surprise!" I said, adding
enthusiasm to my voice. It worked.
"Okay!" she smiled. "We gonna get suprise, right?" her voice bubbled
with excitment.
"Yup. That's right." Suzie's curiosity was contiguous. Where are we
going? I wondered. What did Daddy have in mind?

"Why are we in Columbia?" I asked. Dad gripped the steering wheel
tighter, his kneckles white. "That's for me to know, and you to find out."
He didn't seem angrey.... just nervous. He kept glanceing at me in a
hopeful sort of way. I guess he wanted me to somehow get things warmed
up a little.
"I think I wanna learn how to drive," I started off. "I'm kinda
afraid, but if you teach me, taking me step by step, maybe I'll try."
"Sure," he said. Relief filled his face. "I first learned to drive
when I was eleven. Dad taught me how to drive a stick. Ma taught me the
regular way."
"Oh."
"Soo... ya hungrey?"
"Not really. I ate something a couple of hours ago."
"Where are we going?" Suzie asked.
Dad smiled a tight smile as he slowed down at a cruve. "We're almost
there. Don't worry. I think you'll enjoy it."
"Can you at least tell us where it's at?" I asked.
"Uh... Hilmore. Do you know where that's at?"
"Hope in South Carolina," I smiled.
"Yeah, yeah, any other clues? You should know."
I rolled my eyes. He was trying too hard. "I give up, Da."
He laughed a small chuckle of delight. "It's where I grew up, honey. I
thought y'all knew!"
I tried to sound interested. "Oh. Why?"
"Well, you'll see when we get there."
Hurry up and get here, Hilmore, I thought. I have to know what Daddy's
got up his sleeve.

We pulled in front of a two storie blue and white house in the
country. It was beautiful and would have been spacious if all the cars wasn't
there.
"surprise," Daddy said, weakly.
"Where are we?" I demanded, softly.
"This Ma's house. We're having a little christmas get-together-thing.
I thought y'all might enjoy being around your cousins. Y'all haven't
seen them in so long. And my mama...." His voice trailed on. "She misses
y'all so much. Always calling and asking about ya. Ya haven't seen her
in about five years, now, and that's a shame." He turned the engine
off, and leaned against the worn seat. "You see, rich and poor don't get
along well, and Caroline..... well you figure out the rest.
Even after she left me, I didn't take the time to come over and
visit. That don't make no sense."
"Any," I corrected him.
"Right. Anyways, she called and invited me, I told her we would be
there, and here we is. Y'all cool with that?"
"Yeah," Suzie agreed. I knew she probably couldn't wait to get out,
and get into house. To get to know our other family. I didn't blame her.
We'd been in the car for two hours for the little family reunion.
When I didn't reply, he bit his lip nervously. "Red?"
My experince with Dorthy wasn't what I anticipated. She was one of the
worst women I'd ever known.
As if Daddy read my thoughts, he smiled. "Mama ain't nothing like
Dorthy, if you wanted to know. She's the motherly type who goes all out of
her way for one person. I'd hoped y'all would agree right away. Don't
you want to see your consins?"
"Yeah, I reckon so. But please, if I get uncomfortable, can we just
leave?"
"All right. Billy ain't gonna be there, if ya wanted to know. Fool
done got himself in jail. So don't worry."
As soon as we got out of the truck, I heard laughter and talking. It
had to be in the house. It was way too cold for anyone to be outside. I
could see the christmas tree glittering inside the house, and could
smell the aroma of peach cobbler. It seemed warm and inviting.
"Are your brothers and sisters mad at you for not visiting so long?"
I asked Dad, who locked the truck.
"Hope not," he replied.
Hope? Oh, boy. As we walked closer and closer to the home, the laughter
became louder, the aromas heavier and better. While passing by one of
the five windows, a girl peeked out.
"Uncle Wayne's here," she screamed.
The door burst open, and all of daddy's sisters came out, and showered
us with hugs and kisses. His brothers stood back with arms crossed and
smirks on their lips. I reconized all of my aunts and uncles, but as
for my consins, I couldn't hardly remember a name.
"What a fine gal you turned out to be. Look just likes ya mama,"
Uncle Harley said. He hugged me, and I got the whiff of ciggerate smoke.
Grandma pushed her way through the crowd. "Wayne!" she smile,
delightness filled her small face. "My boy, my boy!"
Grandma was once a very beautiful lady, but now, was the grandmother
type. She had a head full of gray and brown hair pulled into a lose
bun. Her brown eyes were soft and warm and had crinkles under them. They
made her look like she laughed alot. Her small brown lips always had a
welcoming smile. And she was so small! Small and short was the first
thing I thought when I first saw her. Even I was taller than her. But she
was still strong, healthy, and well, grandmotherly. Daddy had been
right. Grandma was someone I could feel comfortable with. Beats ole Dorthy
and Zilannie. I knew Daddy grew up with a lot of love.
"Come on, flurries of snow are coming down, and we don't wanna get
the babies sick!" Aunt Molly said. Aunt Dana picked up Suzie with one
arm, and wrapped her other, around my sholders. She winked at Dad.
"Been hiding these girls from us long enough. Let's go in and chow
down. Y'all made it just in time for dinner."
As we walked in the house, Dad, Suzie, and I shrugged off our coats.
The house was just how it was five years ago. It was warm, cozy, and
full of love.
In the den, where everyone had lain their coats and hats, were all of
my older cousins sitting around the fireplace. Mostly fifteen through
twenty.
"Hey, Red." Rochell, my closest consin greeted me. It had been so
long since I'd seen her. And she was the only name I remembered. I'd hope
to catch on to the names I couldn't remember.
I waved and smiled shyly.
"Oh, so you can't speak to us now, huh? We ancient to you, huh? Be
that way."
"Sorry, girl," I laughed, losening up a bit. "Just didn't see you so
long. You look different."
She nodded. "You look different, too. Anyways, you hungrey?" Before I
could reply, she took my arm and began leading me out of the cozy room.
Inside the kitchen was a feast. The huge turkey, chicken, pig, and
hen were all on the stove. The drinks were in the dining room, as were
the stuffing, cornbread, collards, beans, and macaroni and chesse. The
desserts were all on the counters. Everything looked delicious.
I quickly piled my plate down, and went in the dinning room to eat.
Rochell's plate was way bigger than mine, but she didn't seem embaressed
at all by her raveous appetite.
"So, " she said, taking a huge bite out of a drumstick. "How has it
really been going? You know," she took another bite, "I heard a little
about what happened with Aunt Caroline, but you know Ma, she wouldn't
really tell me nothing."
"Well, it's a rather long story," I began.
"So what's our rush? We have all the time we need."
I really didn't feel comfortable talking about Caroline, now. Now or
at all. She was gone out of my life for good, now, and I wanted to
forget her. I defeintly didn't want to bring her name up in this house.
"I really don't want to talk about it. I mean, she was really mean.
And she wasn't who you think she was."
Rochell seemed offended. "You can't talk to me now, since you live in
the city, huh? We use to tell eachother everything! And now you can't
tell me one lousy thing that was running around in newspapers, and on the
t.v." Her hurt look was too much to bare. So I gushed the whole story
out to her, not waiting for a breath.
"Wow," she said when I was done. "That means she ain't my aunt,
right?"
"Right."
Rochell shook her head. "I just can't believe that, Red. Aunt Caroline
was so... so different. That's what we liked about her..... until she
ran away three years ago. Mama always said she isn't who we think she
is."
"Caroline was nothing but bullsh**. She deserved to be dead."
Rochell nodded in agreement. "Yeah. Now that means all Uncle Wayne's
sins are behind him. All of his horrible past." She smiled and hugged me,
trying not to get her sticky fingers on my dress.
"Oh!" we heard grandma shrill. That winds gettin' heva, an' that
snow's heavier. Make sures nobody go out ther."
As the hours flew by, the snow and wind did get heavier. All the
while, though, we played games, listened to old, funny storys, and drunk
more and more hot choclate. All the ladies decided it would be fun to
make choclate-chip cookies.
"Let's have a contest," Aunt Sally suggested. Everyone agreed. So
there was Aunt Molly's team and Aunt Sally's team. All of our uncles would
be the judges.
I ended up on Aunt Sally's team, which I didn't mind at all. Aunt
Sally was the best cook of them all, besides grandma.
Aunt Sally decided that we would add extra margirine and brown sugar.
We also added chopped nuts.
Aunt Molly's cookies were in the oven first, but that gave us more
time to shape our cookies evenly. We made them big and fat. Aunt Sally
made sure we didn't bother them too much. "They'll come out nasty if you
do," she assured us. The sweet aroma of choclate-chip cookies filled
the air and made our stomachs rumble with hunger. I didn't remember
eating so much in my life. Or having as much fun. It felt good to let go and
be free, than being afraid and wondering what's hiding in the next dark
cornor of life.
Finally Aunt Molly's team was done with their first batch. They
looked and smelled delicious. Dad and his brothers couldn't wait to judge.
But Aunt Dana had other things in mind.
"No! Don't eat 'em yet," she insisted. "If ya gonna eat one team's
cookie hot, eat the other teams's the same way. And vise versa. By the
way, eating 'em cookies that hot will rotten yer teeth out."
She placed the batch of cookies on the stove, and hovered over it
like some guard.
"Dang," Unlce Harley laughed. "You act like they yers, Dana. Give us
a break." She just smiled and shook her head.

After all the cookies were gone, the guys decided that it should be a
tie.
"It was so hard to choose between. Y'all always give us hard
decisions like that. They both were nasty," Dad joked.
"You sure did eat a good helping of 'em, sure did," Grandma smiled.
Dad patted his stomach, and groaned. "What y'all tryin' do to me? Make
me lose my good shape or handsome face?"
"Nope we trying to kill you," Aunt Molly laughed.
"And ya ain't handsome," Uncle Harley added, with a small grin.
"Oh, Harley's just sayin' that 'cause Wayne use ta always get the
ladies that he wanted," Aunt Dana said, nudging Uncle Harley.
Uncle Harley smiled. "Boy was I glad when Londa came out of the blue.
Well.... at first I liked her, but Wayne got her just when I got the
nerve to talk to the gal. For the first time! But," he added, glancing at
Aunt Sally, his wife, "I'm glad I found Sally. She was the prettiest
thing on the block."
"The block? You mean the whole state!" Aunt Sally joked. She winked
at him, as she flopped down on the sofa. I didn't blame her. I was
exhusted from all the excitment the day had brought. I flopped down beside
her.
"Tell us about..... Londa," Rochell said, glancing at me.
Dad glanced at Rochell's mom, Aunt Dana, before replying. "I left home,
and moved in with your uncle Dan, who at the time, lived in Columbia. I
registered in a school, and boy was I popular. All the women wanted
me," Dad smiled that half smile, and poked Uncle Harley. "Harley lived
there before me, and wanted to talk to Londa, but never had the nerve.
Well..... I sorta made a bet with him."
"Sorta? You broke the bet and took the girl before due date. She
could've been my wife today!"
"Harley?" Aunt Sally said, arching an eyebrow. "Who is it.... me or
Londa?"
"Oh, Sally, you know what I mean. I was just..."
"No. I don't know what you mean." Aunt Sally insisted.
"Oh, just forget about it. Change the subject," he said,
breathlessly. He leaned against the wall, his eyes closed, and sighed.
"Damn, boy! I was just teasing you," Aunt Sally cried.
"Shut-up, Sally. Young eyes are around," Aunt Molly warned.
Aunt Sally fished out a ciggerate, and lit it. I wondered how she kept
her teeth so white, straight, and beautiful with the way she smoked.
Dad said she was smoking ever since seventh grade.
Everything was quiet for a while. The fire crackle, and the wind
wirling was the only thing sounding. Finally a big, loud crash broke the
silence.
Everyone ran to the window to see what happened. A red jeep had
crashed into a tree, it lights still flashing. Since it was already dark,
the men grabbed flashlights, and ran out to see if they could help.
Comotion filled the house as grandma and the aunts went to get
first-aid kits, and blankets. Rochell was calling the police, and the babies
began crying for no reason. I decided to help out, by opening the
garage and turning the lights on. At least it would give them a little more
light.
Uncle James ran in, holding a girl, probably around seventeen or
eightteen.
"She's alive," he annouced. "I think she's unconscious. Pretty lil'
thing." He looked around. "Anyone called the police?"
"Yeah," Rochell replied. "They're on the way with an ambulance."

We all stood in the waiting room. Daddy had become very quiet. His
sisters and brothers had too. It was like they knew something that we
didn't know. Something about the girl. When I questioned Aunt Molly about
it, she kept trying to change the subject. Finally I gave up, and when I
did, she avoiding me for the remainder of time.
Uncle James walked back in with a smile on his face. "She's all
right. It was just the shock of it all. She even will be able to go home
tonight if she want to. She lives in, uh, WesBrige." Uncle James glanced
at Dad quickly before continueing in a rush. "Nineteen years old, and
needs a ride home. Anybody can take her, but I'm busy. Anybody? Anybody
can take her home? Wayne?"
"I guess," Daddy sighed.
What's wrong with him? I wondered.
"The name's Sarah Hannah. Sarah Hannah Velisunssa."