Even though daddy joins us for the first time in a while, supper is quiet. Mary eats like she ain't at all hungry, while I stuff my face in whatever I find. She's actin' like a proper lady, all tall in her chair and whatnot, while I'm actin' particularly like swine. Daddy don't even comment. Not even once.
The food tastes alright, so I know Cecile cooked it, but I ain't brave enough to face her just yet. I feel sorta bad, not even knowin' 'bout her husband. I've come to realize that she would do no good lyin' to me, so it mustn't have been a lie. I thought I had really known her before, but I guess not.
Sometimes, when I felt sad for no real reason at all, I'd tell her stuff. And she'd tell me. I kept no big secrets and I expected the same of her. I guess you can think you know someone and not really.
Mary attempts to keep up the conversation, askin' daddy 'bout all sorts of things. I ain't really payin' attention, I never do when she talks, and daddy seems to be on the same page as me. I wonder if he's thinkin' of that strange man. I sure know I am.
"Daddy will I ever get to write that letter to James?"
Daddy's fork drops to the table, the clatterin' ringin' across the kitchen. He looks angry all of the sudden, all his color rushin' to his face. He ain't paler than a ghost no more. Mary jumps back a little, squealin' 'cause she's more afraid of daddy than I, though I can come up with no reasoinin'. I knew I shouldn't have asked, but I couldn't help myself. He promised two years ago I could, and yet I haven't written yet.
"Daddy it was jus' a question. I miss my brother."
"I told you Corinne," he snaps, not lookin' even near me, "He ain't allowed yet."
I know he'd lie, before he did. But I didn't know it'd upset me this much. James is my brother, and I deserve to write this letter! I should back down if I don't want a spankin' but I jus' can't. This is James, my brother.
"That ain't fair, daddy."
"Either you don't speak to me like that or you don't speak at all."
I should count my blessings, he hasn't laid one hand on me. And he doesn't look like he will. I should leave it alone. I should, but I won't.
"Fine, daddy I won't speak at all."
I leave a corner of my food untouched, and storm away like a little girl. But I don't care, let Mary tell Miss. Lizabeth to scold me later. I'm done. I keep walkin' after i reach the door.
The food tastes alright, so I know Cecile cooked it, but I ain't brave enough to face her just yet. I feel sorta bad, not even knowin' 'bout her husband. I've come to realize that she would do no good lyin' to me, so it mustn't have been a lie. I thought I had really known her before, but I guess not.
Sometimes, when I felt sad for no real reason at all, I'd tell her stuff. And she'd tell me. I kept no big secrets and I expected the same of her. I guess you can think you know someone and not really.
Mary attempts to keep up the conversation, askin' daddy 'bout all sorts of things. I ain't really payin' attention, I never do when she talks, and daddy seems to be on the same page as me. I wonder if he's thinkin' of that strange man. I sure know I am.
"Daddy will I ever get to write that letter to James?"
Daddy's fork drops to the table, the clatterin' ringin' across the kitchen. He looks angry all of the sudden, all his color rushin' to his face. He ain't paler than a ghost no more. Mary jumps back a little, squealin' 'cause she's more afraid of daddy than I, though I can come up with no reasoinin'. I knew I shouldn't have asked, but I couldn't help myself. He promised two years ago I could, and yet I haven't written yet.
"Daddy it was jus' a question. I miss my brother."
"I told you Corinne," he snaps, not lookin' even near me, "He ain't allowed yet."
I know he'd lie, before he did. But I didn't know it'd upset me this much. James is my brother, and I deserve to write this letter! I should back down if I don't want a spankin' but I jus' can't. This is James, my brother.
"That ain't fair, daddy."
"Either you don't speak to me like that or you don't speak at all."
I should count my blessings, he hasn't laid one hand on me. And he doesn't look like he will. I should leave it alone. I should, but I won't.
"Fine, daddy I won't speak at all."
I leave a corner of my food untouched, and storm away like a little girl. But I don't care, let Mary tell Miss. Lizabeth to scold me later. I'm done. I keep walkin' after i reach the door.
