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Mama smiled, turned, and opened a drawer under the kitchen counter to produce an index card.

"Your father's attorney and our attorney, Mr. Derward Lee Nokleby-Cook, is at this telephone number. Do you want to call him and ask him what I can and cannot do? Hell be really happy to explain it all to you clearly."

Betsy stared at the card, then looked away without reaching for it. She turned back after a moment.

"How much is in my trust? I don't even know that." Mama put the card back in the drawer.

"Your father had two life insurance policies. He has assigned two hundred and fifty thousand dollars to you to be transferred completely when you reach the age of twenty-five, as I have already explained."

Betsy's eyebrows rose. "Two hundred and fifty thousand?"

"And it earns interest, so it will be worth more."

"Well, why can't I have some of that now?" Betsy whined.

"I told you that as you show responsibility and improvement, I'll give you the funds you need or want to use for sensible things. Your father had no idea about Panther, of course, since you never bothered to call or tell him about his birth, so he didn't include him in the will, but a portion of your trust will be used to fulfill the baby's needs. As he grows, he will require more and more."

"I should decide what he needs and doesn't need. I'm his mother,"

Mama nodded, "Yes, you should. And you will when you show you are capable of making wise, mature decisions."

"I'm capable of that now!"

"I don't see that. I still see a high-strung, selfcentered, irresponsible young girl. However," Mama continued with a smile. "I think in time you will improve if you carry out your duties in a responsible manner.

"Your father placed a very serious and heavy burden on me when he made me sole trustee of your legacy and clearly assigned me the task of helping you achieve maturity and evaluating that maturity, And I," Mama added firmly, "take my obligations very, very seriously.

"Now, it's time for Panther to be fed, and don't rush the food and make him gag like you usually do. You're not going anywhere today. After you finish the silverware, we have to air out our rugs, polish the living room furniture, and vacuum the entire downstairs...

Betsy said nothing. Her eyes were full of such hate and anger, they looked red.

"I'm calling someone," she said abruptly, and marched out to use the phone in the hallway. Mama shook her head and looked at me.

Seconds later. Betsy came rushing back into the kitchen, "What happened to the phone?" she demanded.

"Use of the phone is a privilege in this house. I will decide when it can and cannot be used. I told you, if you want to call our attorney, you can do that."

"I'm not interested in the attorney. I want to call someone else. You can't tell me who I can and cannot call. My father didn't even do that. Where

is it?" Betsy demanded.

Mama turned away and took a mixing bowl out of the cabinet. "I have work to do," she muttered.

"What if someone wants to call me?"

"I'll let you know."

Betsy looked at me, her face contorted in defeat and frustration.

"I told you to look after your child,' Mama said as she opened a jar of sage.

Betsy stood their fuming for a moment, then made a mouselike sound, turned, and stormed out of the kitchen.

"Where is the phone. Mama?' I asked.

"The downstairs phone is locked in the hall closet, and the phone has a lock on it as well." She smiled at me. "Don't worry yourself about any of this, Noble. We have years of neglect and spoiling to overcome as regards Betsy.

"But." she said, running her hand lovingly over my cheek. "we have so much help around us. It's only a matter of time. Please go see if Baby Celeste has awakened from her nap." Then Mama kissed my cheek. It had been so long since she had done that. My heart filled with joy and hope.