Page 46
Story: Runaways (Orphans 5)
"I don't like my mother being someone's maid," Gerry said.
"I'm not being anyone's maid, Gerry. The girls have helped us a great deal. Didn't Dad tell you how he got the lawn all cut and raked?"
"Urn," Gerry grunted. He watched us eat. It was very uncomfortable, all of us keeping our eyes down, trying to be friendly, trying to make Norman and Nana feel comfortable too.
"Wait a minute," Gerry said suddenly, "where's your bracelet and watch, Mom?"
"What's that?" Nana looked at her wrists. "Oh. I guess I must have left them upstairs."
"Where upstairs?" he demanded, looking at us. "On the dresser where I always leave them, Gerry. Really, I wish . . ."
He didn't hesitate. He left the kitchen quickly and went to the stairs.
"Don't mind him none," Nana said. "He's always suspicious of strangers, always was, even as a little boy, right Norman?"
"Yes, he was."
"And he's worrying about us all the time," she added with a forced smile.
"I would too," I admitted.
We ate a little faster, despite the effort Norman and Nana made to make us feel comfortable again.
Moments later, we heard Gerry's heavy footsteps on the stairs and then saw him fill the doorway. He had a wry smile on his face.
"None of it's there, Mom. I checked your jewelry box, too."
"It's not?" She looked puzzled. "I'm sure I put them there," she said.
He scanned us.
"No one's leaving this house until that watch and bracelet are returned," he announced.
"We didn't take anything," I cried.
"Of course we didn't," Crystal said. "Why are you accusing us?"
"Please, Gerry, these girls . . ."
"You don't know anything about them. There are girls on the loose everywhere these days, running away from home, from jails, becoming little prostitutes."
"That's not who we are," Crystal cried defensively.
"You don't look exactly like Mary Poppins." His face grew stern again "I want that jewelry."
"We didn't take it," I insisted. "We don't steal." He nodded. "Sure you don't."
"Wait a minute," Norman said. "Seems to me I remember you taking them off before you started cooking last night, Nana."
"Yes," she said her eyes growing sharper. "Yes." She turned and then she went to a drawer in the cabinet by the sink and produced the watch and bracelet. "Here they are. I just forgot," she said.
Everyone was silent a moment.
"I think we're owed an apology," Crystal declared, her eyes fixed on Gerry.
"I think you got enough from my parents as it is."
"I wasn't referring to them," Crystal said. "You should apologize, Gerry," Nana said. "Aaa. I don't like it," he said. "I'm leaving for work, Dad. I'll talk to you later." He glared at us.
Table of Contents
- Page 1
- Page 2
- Page 3
- Page 4
- Page 5
- Page 6
- Page 7
- Page 8
- Page 9
- Page 10
- Page 11
- Page 12
- Page 13
- Page 14
- Page 15
- Page 16
- Page 17
- Page 18
- Page 19
- Page 20
- Page 21
- Page 22
- Page 23
- Page 24
- Page 25
- Page 26
- Page 27
- Page 28
- Page 29
- Page 30
- Page 31
- Page 32
- Page 33
- Page 34
- Page 35
- Page 36
- Page 37
- Page 38
- Page 39
- Page 40
- Page 41
- Page 42
- Page 43
- Page 44
- Page 45
- Page 46 (Reading here)
- Page 47
- Page 48
- Page 49
- Page 50
- Page 51
- Page 52
- Page 53
- Page 54
- Page 55
- Page 56
- Page 57
- Page 58
- Page 59
- Page 60
- Page 61
- Page 62
- Page 63
- Page 64
- Page 65
- Page 66
- Page 67
- Page 68
- Page 69
- Page 70
- Page 71
- Page 72
- Page 73
- Page 74
- Page 75
- Page 76
- Page 77
- Page 78
- Page 79
- Page 80
- Page 81
- Page 82
- Page 83
- Page 84
- Page 85
- Page 86
- Page 87
- Page 88
- Page 89
- Page 90
- Page 91
- Page 92
- Page 93
- Page 94
- Page 95
- Page 96
- Page 97
- Page 98
- Page 99
- Page 100
- Page 101
- Page 102
- Page 103
- Page 104
- Page 105
- Page 106
- Page 107
- Page 108
- Page 109
- Page 110
- Page 111
- Page 112
- Page 113
- Page 114
- Page 115
- Page 116
- Page 117
- Page 118
- Page 119
- Page 120
- Page 121
- Page 122
- Page 123
- Page 124
- Page 125
- Page 126
- Page 127
- Page 128
- Page 129
- Page 130
- Page 131
- Page 132
- Page 133
- Page 134
- Page 135
- Page 136
- Page 137
- Page 138
- Page 139
- Page 140
- Page 141
- Page 142
- Page 143
- Page 144
- Page 145
- Page 146
- Page 147
- Page 148
- Page 149