He glared at me and then nodded and left the room, pausing at the doorway to speak to Aunt Clara.
"Don't baby her, Clara. She needs strict discipline. She's no more than a wild animal."
He walked off.
When I began to move, the pain from my beaten body shot up my spine and made me cry out.
"What is it?" Aunt Clara said, coming in. "What's wrong, Raven?"
"He beat me, Aunt Clara. He beat me with a belt last night."
She shook her head in denial, but I turned on my side and lifted the blanket from my legs and rear. Then she gasped and stepped back. "Oh, dear, dear."
"Is it bad?"
"It's inflamed, welts," she cried. "Reuben, how could you do such a thing?" she asked, but far from loudly enough for him to hear. It was more as if she was asking herself how her husband could have turned into such a monster. There were other questions to ask, but this was hardly the time to suggest them, I thought.
"I'll get some balm," she said. "Just stay there, Raven. Oh, dear, dear," she muttered, and hurried out.
I collapsed back onto the pillow, my head pounding. What tortured me was not the beating I had been unfairly given as much as the realization that there was no one I could depend on now that Mama had gotten herself into even deeper trouble. Aunt Clara was too weak. I had no other relatives to run to for help. I was in a strange town in a school where I was still so new that I hadn't had time to make close friends. I was truly trapped.
"Here, dear. Let me see what I can do," Aunt Clara said, hurrying back.
I turned over to let her apply the medicine. It did bring some cool relief.
"I can't believe he did this," she muttered. "But he was so upset. He has such a temper."
"I didn't make Jennifer drink the vodka, Aunt Clara. Those kids are all her friends, not mine"
"I know, dear. I know."
"He won't believe anything bad about her," I said, turning when she was finished. She stared at me. "It's not fair, and it's not right," I continued.
"I'll speak to him," she promised, nodding.
"It won't matter, Aunt Clara. He has a bad opinion of me and my mother, and he hates me for being alive and a problem for you. I should just leave."
"Of course not. Where would you go? Don't even think of such a thing, Raven. He'll cairn down. Everything will be all right," she insisted, just as someone living in Never-Never Land would.
"It won't be all right. He'll never cairn down," I said. "He's an ogre. He's more than that. I know why he favors Jennifer so much, too," I added, more under my breath. Aunt Clara either didn't hear me or pretended not to. She quickly turned away.
"I'll make us some hot breakfast, and we'll all feel better. You take your time, dear. Take your time," she said, and left before I could add a word.
I sat there fuming. All I wanted to do was get my hands on Jennifer and wring her neck until she confessed the truth. I wasn't going to let her get away with this, I thought. I took the beating that should have been meant for her.
I stepped out cautiously, hating even the thought of facing Uncle Reuben now. I heard no voices, just the clanking of dishes and the sounds of Aunt Clara moving about the kitchen. When I peered in, I saw William alone at the table. Jennifer was permitted to sleep off the effects of last night, but not me.
Anger raged up in me like milk simmering too long in a pot. I felt the heat rise into my face. Without hesitation, I turned and started up the stairs. If I had to drag her down these steps and throw her at her father's feet, babbling the truth, I would do it, I thought.
As I turned at the landing, I saw that her bedroom door was slightly ajar. I started for it and stopped when I heard the distinct sound of
whimpering. Then I heard Jennifer's voice, tiny and pathetic, sounding more like a girl half her age than her usual cocky self. I drew closer, curious and confused.
"I'm sorry, Daddy. I didn't want to do it, but Raven and the other girls started to make fun of me. They said I was immature, a baby, and I shouldn't be at parties yet."
"Don't you let them say those things about you, princess. Don't you even think it," I heard Uncle Reuben say.
If only he knew the whole truth, I thought, then what would he think of his little princess?