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Show in my father's house/ 47 "How come you're living with Aunt Gerda now and not your real mother?" I asked. Leora shrugged. "Because Daddy and Aunt Gerda say so," she choked. "She makes us call her 'mother.' She's not my mother." Leora sobbed loudly and pressed her mouth against her forearm. "Daddy says we must stay with Aunt Gerda and that's all there is to it. We even have to ask before we can go upstairs to visit Mother." "Daddy said so?" Leora nodded. "But why?" "Aunt Gerda doesn't have enough kids and Mother has too many." "But...that*s not fair." Leora nodded. "What would happen if you went upstairs to see your mother anyway? "Aunt Gerda says Daddy will beat us." I couldn't believe it. "Beat you? Daddy?" Leora rubbed her eyes, fingers oversized behind thick glasses. "If he didn't, Aunt Gerda would." "For wanting to see your own mother? That's not fair." Leora shrugged. "That's the way it has to be. Even Mother says so." "Daddy should let you stay where you want. I'll tell him," |
