I Love to Write
Capricorn in Aquarius - Part Two
Kathleen must have covered me up when she went to bed. There was a lightweight but still serviceable quilt over me when I awakened. The sun was shining in a froth of clouds in the one window; the storm was over, but everything was wet and drippy outside.
I sat up just as Kathleen came into the bedroom. She was carrying a neat bundle of the clothes I had worn the day before. She had washed and pressed everything while I was being fed and bathed and generally looked after. The rooms were very quiet now in comparison to last night.
"I-Is Johnny -?" I began.
Kathleen was already up and dressed. She evidently had either been up for hours or else all night. Her bed on the opposite wall was neatly made. She frowned reprovingly at me as she handed me the clothes and signed me to get dressed. "You never mind about Johnny, miss. I don't know what you or he were thinking of last night, but you've got to go get dressed and be ready when those policemen come back to search and take you home. You shouldn't be with him. He's too old for you, and he is - "
She saw the scowl on my face and stopped for a minute, then resumed. "He's in trouble with the law, so he is. I felt badly for him, and let him stay with Lucas because he had no place to go -"
I KNEW all that! Kathleen stopped as she saw my expression change. There was no question in her voice as she said, "You've met."
"I know him!" I struggled into the blouse and jumper I had worn. "We're going to get married as soon as possible We're already engaged - "
Kathleen frowned again. "You mind what I say, missy. Go away from here and don't see him again. He's not for you...you'll have nothing but misery and sadness if you stay with what you're planning to do - "
Who was she to tell me what to do? She wasn't my mother! Hot words bubbled to my lips, but she stilled them with a work-roughened hand.
"You come to breakfast," she said. "You can't go hungry. The children are already clearing the sidewalks and stairs -" I was marginally aware of yells, squeals and screams outside; the usual noise of carefree kids.
I followed her into the kitchen. I could smell bacon and eggs as well as coffee brewing on the stove. My stomach cramped in response; yes, I was hungry again.
I sat down and dug in with abandon.
(To Be Continued.)
Kathleen must have covered me up when she went to bed. There was a lightweight but still serviceable quilt over me when I awakened. The sun was shining in a froth of clouds in the one window; the storm was over, but everything was wet and drippy outside.
I sat up just as Kathleen came into the bedroom. She was carrying a neat bundle of the clothes I had worn the day before. She had washed and pressed everything while I was being fed and bathed and generally looked after. The rooms were very quiet now in comparison to last night.
"I-Is Johnny -?" I began.
Kathleen was already up and dressed. She evidently had either been up for hours or else all night. Her bed on the opposite wall was neatly made. She frowned reprovingly at me as she handed me the clothes and signed me to get dressed. "You never mind about Johnny, miss. I don't know what you or he were thinking of last night, but you've got to go get dressed and be ready when those policemen come back to search and take you home. You shouldn't be with him. He's too old for you, and he is - "
She saw the scowl on my face and stopped for a minute, then resumed. "He's in trouble with the law, so he is. I felt badly for him, and let him stay with Lucas because he had no place to go -"
I KNEW all that! Kathleen stopped as she saw my expression change. There was no question in her voice as she said, "You've met."
"I know him!" I struggled into the blouse and jumper I had worn. "We're going to get married as soon as possible We're already engaged - "
Kathleen frowned again. "You mind what I say, missy. Go away from here and don't see him again. He's not for you...you'll have nothing but misery and sadness if you stay with what you're planning to do - "
Who was she to tell me what to do? She wasn't my mother! Hot words bubbled to my lips, but she stilled them with a work-roughened hand.
"You come to breakfast," she said. "You can't go hungry. The children are already clearing the sidewalks and stairs -" I was marginally aware of yells, squeals and screams outside; the usual noise of carefree kids.
I followed her into the kitchen. I could smell bacon and eggs as well as coffee brewing on the stove. My stomach cramped in response; yes, I was hungry again.
I sat down and dug in with abandon.
(To Be Continued.)
61-69, F
