"Just get washed up, do your hair, and get yourself dried and dressed in your pajamas,:' she said. "I'm actually exhausted from you two myself and need to get to sleep."
She left me and I did my bath quicker than ever because it wasn't at all enjoyable without Mama's bath oils. After I dried myself and blew dry my hair. I dressed in my pajamas and got into bed. The bedroom door was open and remained that way. She appeared minutes after I had gotten into bed.
"Good," she said. "Finally, this day is coming to an end."
She turned off my night-light. I wanted to tell her I always wanted it on, but I didn't say anything. I thought I would turn it on after she closed my door, but she didn't close the door. She left it open.
I heard her walk down the hallway to her room and then I tried to stay awake as long as I could, hoping that Ian would sneak out of his room and come to me so I could tell him all the terrible things she had said and Grandmother Emma had said.
I wasn't sure if it was a dream or if he really did come to me, but suddenly, late at night, when even the house felt as if it had fallen asleep, he was at my bedside. He nudged me and I opened my eyes and looked at him.
"Ian," I said, sitting up quickly. "I didn't break our oath," I said before he could say anything. "She said she would say I did, but I didn't."
"I know, Don't worry about her."
"Aren't you afraid she'll know you left your room?"
"No," he said. "I just came here to tell you that everything will be all right"
"Mama will come home?"
"Someday. yes.'
"And Daddy, will he walk again?"
"Maybe not, but he'll be all right," he said. "And you and I?"
"We'll always be together. No matter what. Remember," he said, smiling. "You're my Sister Project."
And then he did something he had never done.
He leaned over like Mama would and he kissed me on my cheek.
He told me to lie down again and he fixed my blanket. When I woke up in the morning I knew it wasn't a dream because my night-light was on.
And Ian would remember that I needed it to be.
24 Miss Harper Doesn't Answer
. Of course, I knew I had better complete my morning chores or Miss Harper wouldn't permit me to take my medicine. I was very sleepy, but I rose and made my bed as best I could and then, after I washed and dressed. I cleaned up the bathroom. As I worked I continually anticipated her arriving to pass judgment on my efforts and maybe make me do over the bed, but she didn't come to my room at all.
Instead. Grandmother Emma stepped into the room. She looked at the bed and at me. All dressed and anxious. I was sitting on the small settee.
"Very good, Jordan," she said. "Did Miss Harper see this?"
"No, Grandmother."
"She wasn't here yet this morning?' she asked
with surprise. "No," I said. "And I have to have my medicine."
"Yes. Where is it?"
"It's in her room. She said she would keep it there and I would have to go there to get it."
"Fine. That way she can be sure you always do it right. Go to her room then, but knock first," she warned as I started out.
She followed me to the stairway, nodded in the direction of my parents' and Ian's bedrooms, and then went down for breakfast. I walked slowly past Ian's door, which was shut. I wanted to knock on it first to see how he was, but I was afraid Miss Harper would leap out at me the moment I approached his door and pile some other punishment on top of the ones she had already placed on our heads, so I continued past and then knocked on hers.