Melody (Logan 1)

the windows herself, even the upstairs ones. "I would

have helped you," I told her.

"I know, dear, but don't fret about it. Work gets

me through the day. Jacob always says idle hands

make for mischief."

I shook my head. What sort of mischief could

she ever commit? And why did she permit her

husband to treat her as if she were another one of his

children and not his wife, his equal in this house? She

did everything he asked her to do and as far as I could

see, she never uttered a single complaint. He should

worship the ground she trod upon and he should have

been the one to have done the hard manual labor. My daddy would have done it for my mother, I thought. The more I learned about this family, the more it was

a mystery to me.

"Aunt Sara; I was invited to a party Saturday

night."

"Oh? A party? Already? What sort of party?

Birthday? School party?"

"No. Some of the girls in my class are having a

hot dog roast on the beach," I said. "It starts about

eight o'clock."

"What girls?"

I gave her the names. She thought a moment.

"Those are girls from good families, but you'll have to

ask your uncle," she said.

"Why can't you give me permission?" "You'll have to ask your uncle for something

like that," she replied. I could see that the very idea of

her solely giving me permission terrified her. She

busied herself with the dishware. If I wanted to go to

the beach party, I would have to talk to Uncle Jacob