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“What you need is a little more to drink. You’ve got to loosen up,” he advised, and handed me the drink that had been prepared for me. He tried to lift my hand to bring the glass to my mouth as if he was feeding a child.

“No,” I said. “I don’t need it.”

“You need it,” he retorted sharply.

Axel and Kathy Ann got up and went into the den. Charlotte Lily had already taken Birdy out and up to her bedroom, I imagined. Everything was happening so fast.

“C’mon,” Wyatt urged, “get with it.”

He put his arm around me and sat me on the sofa, bringing his lips to my neck while he fumbled with the buttons of my blouse so he could slip his hand under it to cup my breast while he pressed his lips to mine and then put his weight against me, driving me back.

“Now, that’s better,” he whispered, his breath reeking with the odor of his alcohol.

His hands were like spider legs, going everywhere. He had my jeans undone with his right hand while his left went over my hip. In a matter of seconds, he would have me half naked, I realized, and panic set in. I wasn’t going to end up like Mother darling.

“No,” I insisted, and pushed him so hard, he spun and fell to the floor.

“Whaaa,” he cried.

I leaped up, zipped my pants closed, and rushed to the front door.

“Hey!” he called after me. “Where are you going?”

I didn’t know where I was going, only out. Once on the street, I ran for half a block and then walked quickly to where we had gotten off the bus. Confused and lost, I realized I was sobbing. I clutched at the money Mother darling had given me and I hoped to see a taxicab. Maybe I had enough to get back to Cory’s apartment.

The streets here looked empty, however, and I walked and walked for some time before I recognized the downtown area where we had been. Then I saw the side street we had taken to go to see Keefer Dawson. I strolled down it and saw the lights were still lit in the shop. Maybe he could give me directions on how to get back, I thought.

When I entered, I didn’t see him or anyone else for a few moments. Then I heard, “Hey?”

He was sitting back on what was once an easy chair but now had no legs. Its stuffing leaked out of the torn arms.

“What are you doing here? Where’s Charlotte Lily?” he asked.

“She’s home. I was hoping you could tell me how I can get back to my apartment.”

He sat up quickly.

“You just left her.”

“You can say that,” I said, and he smiled.

“What happened?”

“One of her college boyfriends thought I was going to be his good time tonight.”

His smile widened.

“C’mon,” he said, standing. “I’ll take you back in Izzy’s pickup.”

“You don’t have to do that,” I said.

“I’m not doing it because I have to,” he replied.

5

Sinking Deeper into the Dark

A hate being dishonest with someone who bares his soul so willingly and is so trusting with his emotions, but Mother darling’s fears and dreams weighed heavily on my mind, and I was afraid she would think I had betrayed her if I told the truth. Keefer just started to talk frankly about himself. It was as if he had not found anyone to talk to before he met me.