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Show in my father's house/ 29 "I believe it is her turn." "Are you married to Aunt LaVona?" His eyes went wary, the pupils hard as little rocks. "Yes.., he said at last. "And to Aunt Helga and Aunt Gerda and...all the others?" He cupped my chin in his hand and his eyes bore into me. "Yes, but you must not tell anyone. Especially not strangers." He never looked at me this way! I didn't want to hear anymore about it. I put my hands on his thin cheeks and pouted, "Do you love Aunt LaVona more than you love me?" Instantly, his expression changed. He groaned and laughed at once, throwing his head back and rolling his eyes. Then he clicked his lips against his teeth as he did before speaking at meetings. "Each of the mothers is a jewel in daddy's heavenly crown. Each is special. Your mother is a ruby. Aunt LaVona is a sapphire. But you -- you are a star hurled from the sky. I'm counting on you to shine for others, to wear your own crown someday." Then he set me on the top step. "Daddy must say goodbye now," he said firmly, and turned to go into Aunt LaVona's apartment. I hoped she wouldn't be home. To my delight, headstrong Aunt LaVona was not at home to my father that night. She had scheduled him for her anniversary, later in the week, so she turned him away. In a few minutes he |