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I glanced at my watch. "I have to go. I can't be late."

"Late for what? What do you do?"

"I help with the domestic chores in my greataunt and great-uncle's home."

"And they don't know who you really are?"

"Will you ever tell them?"

"It's not up to me. It's up to Grandma Hudson. She says for now it's better that they don't know. They might be embarrassed and ask me to leave."

"I see. Can I see you again?" he asked quickly. "How about coming to my home on Sunday for tea?"

"You're going to tell your family about me?"

'Well, not exactly," he said. "Not right away. I hope you understand."

"Oh, I understand," I said. I rose and looked at him. "Better than you can imagine. Thanks for the tea." I turned and hurried away before he could respond and before he could see the tears streaming out of my eyes. I didn't look back. I charged into the tube station, panicked for a moment because I didn't know where I was going, and then caught my breath and found the correct platform. My train was just arriving. I got into it quickly and buried myself in a corner seat. The train filled with people and then the doors closed.

I closed my eyes. What did my real parents bestow on me?

Anger and fear, I thought. They were the twin sisters always haunting me now.

When would I be able to send them packing? When would I be what my father said I would be, my own person? Would that ever happen? I wondered.

11

On Shaky Ground

.

The weather changed quickly before I reached

my home station on the tube and once again I found myself scurrying with my head down, trying to take advantage of every overhang to kie-p myself from arriving at Endfield Place soaked to the skin. When would I learn that in England carrying an umbrella is almost as necessary as wearing shoes?

Suddenly everything about the country angered me. Why did they have to drive on the wrong side of the road? Why did they have to have all these silly expressions? Why didn't they just call a subway a subway? How could they want to be traveling in a tube anyway? Everyone around me looked just as displeased, rushing here and there with stem, grouchy looks on their faces. I felt like stopping on the next corner and screaming.

Just before the last two hundred yards or so, the rain grew heavier. It was as if God was dumping a pail of water over me to snap me out of my misery or maybe drive me deeper into it. Running didn't

seem to help since I was splashing in puddles and doing more damage anyway. I just stopped trying to avoid the rain and casually strolled the remaining distance. Some people, well protected in their rainhats and raincoats and with their umbrellas, gazed at me as if I were some lunatic loose on the streets. Even drivers in passing automobiles slowed down to look my way. I smiled back at all of them.

"You think it's raining?" I said to myself. "The sun is out. It's a beautiful day. You're just too stuck in your English ways to see it."

By the time I reached the front entrance, my hair looked like a mop and my clothing was thoroughly soaked. Little streams of water ran down the sides of my face, down the back of my neck and down the front of my blouse. Leo stepped back and grimaced as if a wild creature had come through the door when he opened it.

"Blimey, miss," he said. "You'd better get into drier clothing quickly or you'll catch the death."

"Nonsense, Leo. I was named Rain because I love to be in it. I love it so much, you'd think I was English," I added and his eyes widened. He looked like he didn't know whether he should laugh or not but wanted to very much.

As I started down the hallway, Boggs stepped out of the sitting room and, after taking one good look at me, shouted, "Stop."

I did and drew myself to military attention, too. "May I help you?" I asked him.

"You're tracking a stream of water and making a mess. Take off those wet shoes."

"Yes, Commander," I said and did so. My feet were just as soaked. I shrugged. "Sorry."

"Get the fool a towel, Leo, and let her dry off a bit before she continues," Boggs ordered.