the vanity table. "I don't need your help or your
mother's or my father's either."
She scooped up her suitcase.
"'Where are you going?"
"Away," she sang.
"By yourself.'"
"No, not by myself, stupid. I met someone
who's fun to be with."
"You mean Roy?"
"No, not Roy. Roy is too in love with himself
and his glory as a college star. He's not going
anywhere."
"But... who
"Baby? You want to know whose baby I have
inside me? Well, that's for me to know and you to
wonder about." She laughed, "Don't look so surprised.
It makes you look even dumber than you are. Here, I
changed my mind. Give me the food."
She reached out and with her free hand took the
plate from me.
"This is what I think of your mother's cooking."
She dumped it on the floor. Then she pushed past me
and started down the stairs, her suitcase banging
against the balustrade. Dave came out of the living
room and saw her descending.
"Where do you think you're going now?" he
demanded. "Away from here!" she shouted, and
opened the front door. I watched from the top of the
stairway.
"Betsy, don't you dare leave this house," Dave