Page 17

"You only need the one coat," Mommy instructed, "and the boots you're wearing. Don't forget your gloves."

"I'm taking my fiddle," I said.

"Your fiddle? Melody, please. That's a backwoods, mountain person's instrument."

"Daddy loved to hear me play."

"Well, he can't hear you now. You're not going to play it much where you'll be going, I'm sure. Maybe you'll learn how to play the guitar or--"

"I won't go if I have to leave the fiddle, Mommy." I folded my arms under my breasts and planted my back firmly against the wall. "I won't. I swear."

She sighed.

"I guess it will take time to get the shanty town out of you. Suit yourself." She marched down the corridor to finish packing up her cosmetics. I had forgotten my own toiletries and had to open one of the suitcases to get them in. I was still struggling to close it when Archie Marlin arrived.

He wore a brown sports jacket, a shirt and tie, and brown slacks. He looked a little better dressed than usual.

"Hi," he said, entering my room without knocking. "Almost ready?"

"No," I said mournfully.

It only made him smile. "I bet you're excited, huh?"

"No," I said, firmly this time.

"Scared, huh? Well, there's no need to be scared. I've been down this road before and there's nothing to fear." His voice was full of bravado.

"I'm not scared. I'm upset we're leaving so quickly."

"Best way to go is to just get up and go." He snapped his fingers. "Either you're a man of action or you're just a talker." He straightened his shoulders and pumped out his chest. I turned away so he wouldn't see the tears glistening in my eyes. "Haille!" he called.

"Oh, you're here, good." Mommy came into my room. "I'm just about packed. You can start loading the car, Richard."

He widened his eyes.

"She knows it's your real name and Archie's just a nickname," Mommy explained.

"O

h? Good. Never liked that nickname." Archie-Richard winked at me and went to get Mommy's bags. "Are you packed?" she asked me.

"The bags are full. I just have to get this one closed."

"No problem." Archie paused as he dragged Mommy's two largest bags over the floor. He left them a moment to sit on my suitcase, pressing the fasteners in and snapping them shut. "You need anything, Melody, you just ask," he told me. I snorted, hating the idea of asking him for anything.

"While we pack the car, why don't you go say good-bye to Mama Arlene?" Mommy said.

I lowered my head and put on my coat. Then I took my fiddle in its case and started for the door. Archie complained about how heavy Mommy's bags were. He struggled to get them down the steps behind me.

"Careful!" Mommy screamed. "Some of my nicest things are in those bags."

Daddy could have picked them up with just a couple of fingers, I thought.

I knocked on Mama Arlene's trailer door.

"Melody, honey, what's wrong?" She knew there was something the moment she looked at my face.

"Oh, Mama Arlene. We're going away. We're leaving Mineral Acres for good!" I rushed into her arms.