Pearl in the Mist (Landry 2)

around now."

"Well, that's just great," Gisselle moaned. "You

just want to give up?"

"It's the way it is," I said with a tone of fatalism

that shocked her. She remained there staring in at me

as if she expected me to snap out of my mood and tell

her the things she wanted to hear.

"Aren't you going to get washed and dressed for

the wake?" she finally asked.

"Because I disobeyed Daphne and went to the

institution to see Uncle Jean, I am not permitted to go

to the wake. I'm being punished."

"Can't go to the wake? That's your punishment?

Why can't I be punished too?" she cried.

I spun around on her so abruptly she wheeled

herself back.

"What's wrong with you, Gisselle? Daddy loved

you."

"He did until you arrived. Then he practically

forgot about me," she moaned.

"That's not true."

"It is, but it doesn't

matter anymore. Oh well,"

she said, sighing deeply and fluffing her hair.

"Someone's got to entertain Beau when he arrives. I

guess I'll fill in." She smiled and rolled herself back to

her room.

I got up and gazed out the window, wondering

if I wouldn't be better off just running away. I might

have seriously considered it if I didn't recall some of