Raven (Orphans 4)

"She didn't mean it," Jennifer piped up.

Uncle Reuben raised his eyebrows and gazed at her. Even I had to pause and look at her. She flashed me a quick look of warning.

"It's hard to start in a new school with new people. I'm going to help her make new friends," Jennifer offered.

Aunt Clara beamed. "That's wonderful, dear. You see, Reuben, the girls will get along just fine."

He still had a glint of suspicion in his eyes, but he grunted and continued to eat. Jennifer began talking about the basketball game as if it was the event of the century.

"Even our teachers are going to attend. It's important to show school spirit."

"That's very nice," Aunt Clara said.

Uncle Reuben started to talk about his own school days, and for a moment, I felt as if I was really sitting at a family dinner. Aunt Clara even laughed, recalling some stories he described, but then he suddenly stopped and looked at William.

"You hear how important it is to participate in sports, William. You shouldn't spend so much time in your room. You should stay after school sometimes and join a team," he told him.

William gazed at me with desperately sad eyes. "He's too young. They don't have teams yet," I said.

"Sure they do," Uncle Reuben snapped. "He wouldn't even go out for the Little League when he had the chance. I was going to drag him over to the field, but his mother was too upset."

"Not everyone has to be an athlete. Some people have other talents. William is fantastic at building things," I said.

"What is this? You're not here a month, and you're telling me what my son is capable of doing and not capable of doing?" Uncle Reuben cried. "She's just like my sister, with a mouth bigger than her brain. When I say something to William, I don't want to hear you contradict it, understand?" he said, slamming his fork down on the table.

"She didn't mean anything," Jennifer said quickly. "Raven, if you want, I'll help you with the dishes, and then we'll work on your math. I told you I would help you," she said, turning her back on Uncle Reuben and winking at me.

I shook my head and went back to eating. After dinner, when Uncle Reuben retired to the living room to watch television, Jennifer did help with the dishes. She stood beside me at the sink and whispered.

"Can't you keep your big mouth shut at dinner? Just let Daddy make his speeches like I do, and don't say anything," she advised.

"He bullies this family," I remarked.

"Who cares? You want him to get angry and forbid us to go to the game and the party? Just shut up." She wiped another dish and then turned and left the kitchen.

Where was the love in this house? I wondered. What makes this more of a family than what I had with my mother? Was it just the roof over their heads and the food in the refrigerator? I was beginning to think I would rather settle for the occasional good days with Mama than the constant life of tension and fear that existed in this home, but I didn't even have the choice anymore. Maybe I truly was a mistake. I was someone who could be moved and ordered about like a piece of furniture.

The next day at school, Jimmy paid even more attention to me. He walked with me in the halls between classes and sat with me at lunch. When I asked him if Brad Dillon really wanted to go out with my cousin, he just smiled and said, "I told you I would make sure you got to the game, didn't I? Let's just have a good time. I'll be looking in the bleachers for you," he promised.

Jennifer talked Uncle Reuben into driving us to the school gymnasium. It wasn't until we were almost there that she revealed we were invited to a party after the game. He almost stopped and turned around to take us home.

"What do you mean? What party?" He bellowed so loudly I thought the windows would shatter.

I sat quietly in the backseat and listened to Jennifer rattle off her lies.

"Everyone's going. It's a chaperoned party at Missy Taylor's house. We won't be late. It's a celebration," she explained.

"How come you didn't say anything about it before?" he demanded.

"We just got invited, right, Raven? Missy called us."

I didn't say anything. He wasn't going to blame me later. I was determined about that. I saw his eyes go to the rearview mirror.

"Who's this Missy Taylor?"

"Melissa Taylor. You know her father. He owns Taylor's Steak House."

"That's no more than a bar," Uncle Reuben said. "They have a nice house," Jennifer continued.