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"I was running by now, thinking maybe he

didn't realize it was me calling to him, but I couldn't

get to him before he started the truck and pulled away

from the curb. With all my might, I shouted. "'Daddy! Daddy!' I stopped when my lungs were ready to burst, my ribs aching, and I watched the truck go down to the next corner, turn and disappear. The rain came down harder and harder so I had to go inside. You couldn't tell the difference between my

tears and the raindrops streaking down my face." "What happened to him? Where did he go?"

Misty asked, her eyebrows knitted with concern. "Momma heard stories that he was with another

woman and he went north to San Francisco, but I

never knew if the stories were just some gossip or

what:'

"Your father just picked up and deserted you

and your brother? That's what you're telling us?" Jade

asked, still sounding skeptical.

"He wasn't the first husband and Daddy to do

that," I told her. I looked at them. "Your parents

dese

rted you, too. They just did it more respectfully

or, what word did you use yesterday, Misty, civilly?

Something like that anyway," I said.

"Isn't that against the law?" Jade asked Doctor

Marlowe. "What her father did?"

"Well, Star's father would be what we call a

deadbeat dad and yes, what he's done is against the

law," she replied. "There's even a federal law against

that now."

"Did your mother have him arrested?" Jade

followed.

"She went down to welfare and reported her

situation so she could get some money, but it didn't

get put at the top of anyone's list. It wasn't exactly

what you would call a high priority," I said. "Men are creeps," Jade muttered.