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Show 20-4 I must have slept. When the sound awoke me, I jerked up and my arms and hands were asleep from the weight of my head. I sat up and wiped my face on my sleeve. Voices from the front of the house. Mother's voice, loud. Then a car door slammed. I sat for a moment, squinting through the sun to the house. Fidelio got up and came to sit beside me. I got up, brushed the dirt and grass off my shirt and knickers and picked up my books. More voices. Father's and Mother's. Not angry. Mother was crying. I stood, my arms about my books, not wanting to move. They didn't know where I was. I could stay here and put off finding out what was wrong. Mother didn't cry often and not like this. She hadn't cried like this for Paul. I walked slowly to the house, my eyes on the back door. The house was now quiet. Fidelio ran from my side and around the house to the car standing in the driveway. He circled the car and then ran to the back door. I opened it and we both went inside. Father was on the phone. I couldn't see Mother. "I'd really appreciate it, Ruth. I have to go back to the hospital this afternoon and I hate to leave her like this." He paused. "Yes, she's here now. No, I haven't, but I will. Thanks, Ruth." He hung up and stood looking at the phone for a moment. I stood at the back door, my books in front of me. Fidelio wagged at Father and then trotted to the front of the house. Father rubbed his fingers hard on his forehead. "Annie." I waited. "Your mother has had a bad morning. She's u p s t a i r s r e s t i n g . You probably heard h e r ." I still stood, my back to the door. Father sat down at the kitchen table and pulled a chair out for me. |
