Not Yet Summer by Susan Brown

Author:Susan Brown
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Stephanie Browning
Published: 2017-03-30T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Seven

Leaving Home

Four days had gone by. Four days and still the plan was frighteningly hazy.

Marylee knew they had to run away. But where? Where could they find a home? And how could she convince Petey to come with them? Ever since the day they'd had that argument about money he had been acting strange.

She knew he would come back that day, but she knew she had handled him all wrong too. So when he silently handed her the four jars of baby food, Marylee put on her best "Aren't you terrific!" act.

"Wow, that's great," she forced herself to say. "I knew you'd do it!"

Briefly Petey glared at her, hate searing out of his eyes.

"Stuff it!" he said tersely. "I did it, so don't hand me any of that ‘Aren't you wonderful’ crap. I told you before that you can't con me, so don't try. I'm doing what I have to do, that's all. So just stuff yourself!"

Marylee eyed him for a minute, wondering what she would do next. It occurred to her that she ought to apologize. The thought was a surprise – she never apologized to anyone unless it got her something she wanted. Before April, she had never cared how anyone felt about what she did.

"Well, you can just stuff yourself too," she replied tartly. "But you did do okay and I guess I shouldn't have yelled at you. So there's your ‘wonderful you’ crap." She felt her face reddening and bitterly wished she hadn't exposed herself with that half apology.

Petey looked at her. His eyes were mocking, but his mouth half smiled. "Awesome," he muttered. "I'm going home. I'll see you later."

He had been back on time, the same as always. But he had acted a little different – more sarcastic, harder.

So who cares? Marylee told herself. As long as he sticks it out – who cares?

So far, she had been sure she could count on him. But she remembered, with a flash of uncertainty, how he had reacted earlier that morning when she gave him her carefully thought-out list of things – things she knew they would need to run away with. He read the list aloud, but stopped at the bunting bag.

"Marylee," he said, his voice trembling slightly, "we don't have to have all this stuff, do we? I mean, couldn't you just hold off a little?"

"No, I couldn't," Marylee snapped. She didn't want to give away her plan, not yet. "It's – it's supposed to turn cold tonight. Of course, if you don't care if April freezes...."

Petey's face hardened with resentment, but he left without saying anything else.

Marylee had watched him go with relief. The way he acted about getting things made her uncomfortable somehow. Now that he had gone, she and April had a whole beautiful day ahead of them.

But since then everything had gone wrong.

April started crying while her diaper was being changed, and went on whining and crying all morning until Marylee wanted to scream at her in frustration. Guiltily

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