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Show in my father's house/ 243 her husband, the father of her children, unless she had reason, would she? My father always claimed we were the noblest spirits on earth, said God chose us to lead a superior way of life to raise a superior human being to the Lord. But I didn't feel superior - I felt small and frightened. I wondered how all this confusion and trouble could come to people supposedly better than other people. Something was terribly wrong, I knew that. But I didn't know,;what or where or whose fault it was. Somehow, I lulled myself into believing that our Nevada neighbors had forgotten or ignored the rumors about us. But one Monday, I stood in line beside the tetherball pole waiting my turn. Sally won the round before me, but I knew her game. I waited until she set it up for me, then punched it around in two high, heavy strokes. I grinned at her. "Too bad, Sally." She stuck out her tongue. "Sore loser," I said. She packed off, yelling-and pointing, "Jeannie's dad has seven wives! Jeannie*s dad has seven wives!" Her chant rang through my head and made my cheeks burn. Other children stood watching, staring at me. I felt a circle form and I moved away, afraid they would join in or maybe throw rocks at me. The bell rang and I ran into the building, my eyes stinging. Sallys voice followed me like an enormous horsefly. As I entered the classroom, full realization hit me. I understood the fear of the past weeks, my guilt over breaking my arm. The town knew all about us. Soon the police would come again, asking questions. Rumors of arrests would circulate. And .we would move again. |
