"Girls, I saw Stuart leave quickly. Is everything all right?" Great-aunt Frances asked from the doorway. Miss Puss was at her feet, rubbing herself against her ankles.
"He promised his father he would be home early and he just realized how late it was," Alanis told her. She could spin lies as easily as a spider spun a web. I thought, and make them sound perfectly true. Was that a good thing or bad?
"Well, that's a good boy then," Great-aunt Frances said. "I'm going to change and go to bed early tonight myself. I like being around you young girls and boys. but I'm not used to all the excitement. You both did a wonderful job helping with dinner and cleaning up for me. The kitchen looks like no one's been in it. Thank you," she said. "Can I get you anything, Alanis?"
"No, I'm fine. Miss Wilkens. Thank you."
"Well, you two go on with your schoolwork. Just remember to go to bed early. Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise. Women, too, of course. Emma can attest to that. Nothing displeased her as much as my sleeping late or being late for an appointment. She said it was a sign of poor breeding. She made it sound like we were raised to be racehorses or show dogs. She would get so angry at me if I told her that. but I'll tell you a secret," she said, leaning, in and whispering. "I knew she was right. I just didn't want her to know I knew." She smiled and stepped back. "Enjoy your first night together. girls. I so wish I had a girlfriend to stay with me when I was your age, Jordan. I so wish I had a sister who cared," she added and then quickly snapped out of her sad moment. "Sweet dreams,"
She shuffled off.
But a moment later, she was back, poking her head in the door. "Oh. Jordan. did I tell you Mr. Pond called for my sister to see how you were getting along. She wanted to be sure you didn't need any medical attention."
"Why would she?" Alanis asked before I could respond.
"That's my sister. Always thinking and worrying. I told him everything is fine."
She turned and started away again,
"Medical attention? Why would your grandmother think of that?"
"She's that way," I said. I didn't want to get into how she had reacted to discovering how physically mature I was already. "She has to have everything perfect."
"Oh, one more thing." Great-aunt Frances said, returning to the door again, "I asked Lester to bring us more eggs. They should be there before you go down to breakfast."
She shuffled off once more.
"This is no good." Alanis said. "She'll keep poking her head in all night. C'mon," she decided, reaching under the bed for the book and then standing.
"Where?"
"To the basement, our private and special clubhouse. were else?"
She started out.
"Shouldn't we start on our homework?" I asked, looking back at the books on my desk.
"We have plenty of time. Stop worrying." she said. "C'mon."
She started down the hall toward the stairway. I looked at my books again. It was as if I could hear them calling to me in Mrs. Morgan's voice,
"Jordan?" I heard Alanis say in a loud whisper, and then I followed her quickly.
"Why do we have to go to the basement to read my book?"
"We have to be careful about your great-aunt. She would never understand what we're doing if she saw us," Alanis said. "She probably forgot what sex is or never knew. The way she is, it might make her hysterical or something and then my granddad might find out and there would be hell to pay."
She opened the basement door and flipped the light switch.
"Quiet," she warned as we started down the stairs. When we reached the second door, she paused. I was surprised, because she stood there with her hand on the knob, not moving. Was she changing her mind?
"What's wrong?" I asked.
"Be quiet," she said and listened.
Then I heard it, a soft laugh and the muffled voice of a man. "Who's in there?" I whispered.
Alanis didn't answer. She stood there holding the knob and looking frozen. We heard another laugh and then a man's laugh.