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Sad Songs

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Daddy called the next morning, and I

immediately told him about Gisselle and I changing roommates. Gisselle was peeved that he had asked to speak with me first, so she sat in her wheelchair and sulked in the hallway, threatening not to speak with him at all while I spoke to him.

"Is that working out?" he asked, his voice full of surprise. "Someone else sharing the room with Gisselle, I mean?"

"Her new roommate's Samantha. You remember which one she was?" He said he did. "She has grown very fond of Gisselle very quickly," I explained.

"I can talk for myself," Gisselle fumed. "Give me the phone." She wheeled up to me, and I handed her the receiver.

"Daddy," she spit into the phone. "I hate it here, but at least I have a roommate that doesn't nag me to death," she said, eyeing me. "Yes," she said, suddenly turning syrupy sweet. "I have gotten off to a good start in my schoolwork. I got an A+ on my math homework and an A on my English just yesterday. And that was without Ruby's help too," she added. "But none of this means I like being here. You can tell that to Daphne," she added and thrust the phone back into my hands.

"Hi, Daddy." "Should I come up there?" he asked. He sounded so tired, his voice so small and thin.

"No. We'll be all right. Besides, we have the tea at Mrs. Clairborne's house today."

"Oh. Well, that sounds nice. I don't mean to put a great deal of burden on you, Ruby," he said, "but . ."

"It's all right, Daddy. Gisselle is going to like it here after a while," I said, glaring at her. "I'm sure."

"Is there anything you girls need?"

"No. We're fine, Daddy. Are you all right?"

"I have a little chest cold. Nothing serio

us. I might be away for a week or so, but try to call you from wherever I am," he promised. "And if you should need me . . call the office," he added quickly. I knew that meant don't bother calling Daphne.

"Is everything all right at home, Daddy?"

"It's okay," he said.

"How are Nina, Edgar, and Wendy?"

He hesitated a moment. "We've replaced Wendy," he told me.

"Replaced her? But why?"

"Daphne wasn't happy with her work. I saw to it that she had a good recommendation and a few good leads. We have an older woman now. Daphne picked her out herself at the agency. Her name's Martha Woods."

"I feel so bad for Wendy."

"She'll be all right," he said quickly. "Enjoy your weekend. I love you," he said.

"And we love you, Daddy," I told him.

Gisselle smirked. "What about Wendy?" she asked. "Daphne had her replaced."

"Good. She was too uppity anyway," Gisselle said.

"That's a lie. She put up with a lot from you, Gisselle. I'm sure the new maid won't."

"Yes she will, or she'll go too," Gisselle promised with a smile. Then she took off, wheeling herself back to her room in a fury. I was sure she would do something to embarrass us at Mrs. Clairborne's tea, maybe by wearing something inappropriate just for spite, but she surprised me by dressing herself in a pretty light blue dress with matching shoes. She had Samantha brush out her hair and pin it back at the sides. Mrs. Penny had told us that Mrs. Clairborne did not like to see her girls wearing makeup, but a slight tinge of lipstick was permissible. I thought Gisselle would be defiant and do her eyelids and her cheeks, but she surprised me again by being conservative with her makeup.

Samantha wheeled her out to the main lobby to join Abby and me at a little before one-fifty.