I sat there trembling all over. It was possible that in some or all of the letters that remained, my mother would be speaking to me. I hoped she would tell me what I should do and when we would all be together again. Perhaps everything I dreamed of happening would soon happen and all because Ian had learned how to speak with her. My brother was wonderful.

"Hey." I heard Alanis call. I moved quickly to hide my letters and just scurried to the door when she appeared. "What are you doing in here? I thought this room was out of bounds for us."

I didn't know what to say. Lying didn't come as easily to me as it did to her.

"You hid those letters from your brother in here, didn't you?" she asked. smiling. "It's okay." she said quickly. "I don't mind, but you have to promise you'll tell me about them or show them to me one day. okay?"

I nodded.

She looked about the room and shook her head. "What a waste. A good part of this house is a waste." She smiled. "I couldn't watch that show with your grandmother too much longer. She talks to the characters as if she expects them to hear her, as if she's right in the same room. 'No, don't tell him that. No, don't go in there.' she cries and then she moans and gasps. I never saw anyone watch television like that. I guess she likes all the make-believe and that's why she wants to wear those funny costumes for dinner and pretend this and that." Her face turned hard. mean. "It's all just a bunch of lies, you know, the soap operas, the pretend dinners, lies. See? Everyone lies."

"No, it's not the same for her. It's different," I said.

"Why? How's it any different? It's not the truth, not real."

I struggled for an answer. The effort brought tears to my eyes. "Forget about it," she said. "I don't care."

"It's not the same as lying," I insisted.

"Okay. okay."

"It's not the same because... because she isn't hurting anyone. It's not mean."

Alanis shrugged. "Maybe, but this house is full of lies," she said. "Just like mine."

"Why do you say that?"

She looked around Grandmother Ernma's room, "This room, for example. It's being kept the best of any room for your grandmother, but she doesn't come here. She probably forgot what it looks like. Telling you it's reserved for her is a lie. It's pretending again, and that does hurt because we could really use this room!" she added. "So remember, don't tell her I'm using the bathroom. Besides. Jordan, something isn't a lie if you don't mention it. right? You're not lying to her unless she asks you if I'm using it. She doesn't do much, if any, cleaning, so she won't find out anyway.

"C'mon. Let's go read our book," she said and started out.

I looked back at the closet where I had hidden Ian's letters and followed, regretting that I hadn't been able to get to the next one.

"What's this door?" she asked and tried to open it. "It's locked."

"I know."

"Well, what is it?" She tugged on the handle, then knelt down to peek through the keyhole. "I can't see anything."

"Great-aunt Frances doesn't want anyone going in there. I guess." I replied, stating the obvious.

"Why not?" She stepped back and thought as she looked over the hallway and the ceiling. "You know what I think this is?"

I shook my head.

"I think it's the way to get to the attic."

"Then maybe it's just not safe to go up there and that's why it's locked." I said.

 

; "Maybe." She pondered a moment, then shrugged. "Let's go read. We're going to China tonight."

"China? What do you mean?"

"Your great-aunt told me she's sending my granddad for Chinese food. We're going to Hong Kong or something. She has the costumes already laid out for us on her bed. I don't know if we're watching television or the television is watching us," she added and laughed.

While I started on my homework, this time determined to do well. Alanis returned to the book and sprawled on our bed to read.

Tags: V.C. Andrews Early Spring Horror
Source: readsnovelonline.net