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the vanity table. "I don't need your help or your

mother's or my father's either."

She scooped up her suitcase.

"'Where are you going?"

"Away," she sang.

"By yourself.'"

"No, not by myself, stupid. I met someone

who's fun to be with."

"You mean Roy?"

"No, not Roy. Roy is too in love with himself

and his glory as a college star. He's not going

anywhere."

"But... who

"Baby? You want to know whose baby I have

inside me? Well, that's for me to know and you to

wonder about." She laughed, "Don't look so surprised.

It makes you look even dumber than you are. Here, I

changed my mind. Give me the food."

She reached out and with her free hand took the

plate from me.

"This is what I think of your mother's cooking."

She dumped it on the floor. Then she pushed past me

and started down the stairs, her suitcase banging

against the balustrade. Dave came out of the living

room and saw her descending.

"Where do you think you're going now?" he

demanded. "Away from here!" she shouted, and

opened the front door. I watched from the top of the

stairway.

"Betsy, don't you dare leave this house," Dave