Megan?"
I closed my eyes and struggled to speak. She
drew closer.
"What was that? You're sorry about how you've
been treating me at school? It's too late for apologies.
What's done is done, but not buried. It will always be
here," she said pointing to her temple.
"You're going to be blamed," I said. louder. She
heard one word at least.
"Blamed?" She laughed, "Me? What can I be
blamed for? I've never been in trouble, never been
sent to the principal, never had a dissatisfactory
checked on my report card, never disobeyed my
mother or father, never came home after I was
supposed to or failed to call if I was going to be late.
Who would blame me?
"Drink your tea and eat your toast. If you're
good, I'll bring you one of your silly movie magazines or beauty magazines. One of those I haven't thrown in
the garbage, that is."
I shook my head.
"Stop," I muttered. "Call the doctor."
"Time for honey-baked ham," she sang and
turned away. We both heard the sound of a doorbell
and she stopped midway to the door. It rang again.
She spun around and glared at me.
"Who's coming to see you? When I'm sick, no
one ever comes to see me. You called one of your
boyfriends, didn't you? Or are they all coming?" Again, the doorbell sounded. It's Austin, I told
myself. Thankfully, it's Austin. He's come for me, just
as he had promised he would,