Girl in the Shadows (Shadows 2)

glared back at her and then turned and followed Mrs.

Westington and Echo up the stairs.

"Bitch," I heard Rhona call after me.

"Easy," Skeeter told her.

I glanced back and saw him whispering in her

ear. She nodded and smiled and then they turned and

went into the living, room. I looked in on Mrs.

Westington and Echo, who was already in the bathtub,

the water runnin g.

"Come here," she said, bringing me over to the

tub. "Just look."

She pulled some strands of Echo's hair apart

and I could see the bugs.

"This is what wants to turn a new leaf and be a

mother. Lord, give me the strength." She poured the

shampoo into Echo's hair and began to scrub. "I can do that for you. Mrs Westington. Please.

Let me," I said.

She thought a moment and then stepped back. I

shampooed Echo's hair and rinsed it with the shower

hose. Mrs. Westington stood by with a towel and

wrapped her as soon as she stepped up and out of the

tub.

"Let's get this child to bed," she said. She told

me where to find her pajamas. Echo put them on and

Zot into bed. She still looked confused. dazed. Mrs.

Westington arranged her blanket and gave her a kiss.

"I'm going to sleep," she told me. She started out. "Are you all right?" I signed to Echo. Through her fatigue, she smiled and then

brought her hands out from under the blanket to tell

me.

"I had dinner with my mother. And she said she