Michael McDowell by The Amulet (epub)

Author:The Amulet (epub)
Language: eng
Format: epub

161

T.A. - F

Becca shook her head. 'I don't want none of what happened in that house to rub off on me.'

Sarah started to open the car door; they had been parked for some few minutes in front of the Shirley house. Becca said, 'But you know, Sarah, I don't believe a word of it. Not a word.'

Sarah laughed silently, a mournful little laugh, and got out of the car.

'You get that thing', whispered Becca, 'and you bring it back out here with a pai r of ice tongs, 'cause I don't want you to touch it, you hear me?'

Sarah nodded and moved up the sidewalk. Gussie answered Sarah's knock, and with a slightly puzzled expression, invited Sarah into the living room. Little Mary sat on a couch in the living room eating a sandwich and watching cartoons on television.

'Who's she staying with now?' Sarah asked Gussie.

'I'm staying here with her right now', said Gussie. 'And the sheriff, he's trying to get hold of some relatives Miz Thelma had in Ohio. She didn't like 'em and they didn't like her, so far as I know, so I don't know what's gone 'come of this child. People are bringing by food, but Mary's just in the second grade.' By this, Gussie meant that Mary was being helped by the community right now, directly after her multiple bereavements, but that she had many many years of dependency left.

'Well', said Sarah, 'she seems to be all right for now, and that's a blessing.'

'Tore up', said Gussie shortly, 'she's just tore up!'

Little Mary Shirley looked up during the commercial, and stared inquisitively at Sarah Howell.

'Mary . ..' said Sarah.

'Ma'am?' said the little girl.

'Mary, can I talk with you a few minutes?'

'You come sit by me. You gone talk about Mama and Daddy, or you gone talk about Aunt Dot and Malcolm?' The child was wary, and had had enough of consolation for the time being.

Sarah moved into the room followed by Gussie, who turned off the television set.

'I want to ask you a few questions, Mary.'

'What do I get if I get the answers right? I sure could use a new box of colours. My green broke to pieces, and my black's all used up.'

'Yes', said Sarah, 'I'll give Gussie the money, and she can buy you some new colours.'

'How many questions do I have to answer?' the child demanded.

'Just a few', said Sarah. 'Now Mary, I don't want to upset you, but I want to know what your Aunt Dot was wearing when you had that accident on the way to Montgomery.'

'Wearing a dress. Mama always said Aunt Dot's hips was too big to wear pants decent.'

'No', said Sarah, 'did she have on a necklace, that's what I want to know.'

Mary shrugged.

'You don't remember?'

Mary shook her head. 'Do I still get the colours?'

Sarah nodded. 'You don't have a necklace, do you, Mary, that's a gold chain with a thing on the end of it that's round and black and gold?'

Again Mary shook her head.

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