"She tries, but it's hard to understand what she says. They're giving her speech therapy."
I shook my head. Why hadn't they told Greataunt Frances everything? I wondered.
"Emma must be so furious. I wouldn't want to be in the same room with her." She thought again. I'm afraid Emma has told me so little about our family." She smiled. "That's why I am so happy, so very happy you're here. We'll spend hours and hours talking, and you'll tell me everything about everyone. That is, anything you remember and are permitted to tell me, of course. You don't have to talk about the bad thing, whatever it was. In fact, try not to tell me anything unpleasant, and remember, we don't gossip. Gossip. Emma used to say, is words made of air. Real conversation is full of facts. You know what facts are. right?"
"Yes," I said. "'My brother was full of facts."
"Good. So we won't gossip."
She turned back to the tub. How could she not want to know why Ian was in the institution? Wouldn't she be curious, at least? Should I just blurt it all? What if I told her what I had seen in the basement? Would she be upset? What would she do if she was? Cry hysterically? Throw a tantrum? Would I be blamed for whatever she did?
She looked up at me again.
"Do you have something else to say?
Something pleasant?"
I shook my head. No matter what happens, I decided. I really should come right out and tell her everything about Ian. She has a right to know. He's her grandnephew, after all, I thought, but she put her right forefinger to her lips.
"Swallow bad news." she said. seeing that the words were nearly dripping from my lips. "That's what I do, Swallow it quickly and never bring it up again."
She turned away from me. Maybe it just not the right time, I thought. Grandmother Emma always said there's a right time for everything. First, determine that.
"There's enough room in the cabinet now. I'll go get my things," I told Great-aunt Frances.
She nodded without looking back at me. Just as I started to leave, she did turn.
"Wait," she said. She wants to know after all, I thought, but that wasn't it. "I know just what we'll have for dinner," she said, her voice suddenly full of childish excitement. "We'll send Lester for Southern fried chicken and a quart of chocolate marshmallow ice cream. Okay?"
I nodded, even though chicken and ice cream didn't sound like a dinner.
Felix stepped into the bathroom and looked around, then he looked at me.
"Lester," he called without turning away.
"Yes, sir. I'm here."
Lester joined him quickly.
"Any reason why you haven't fixed that faucet?" Felix asked, nodding at the dripping.
"Didn't know it was leaking. She never said. I don't come up here much. Don't like to invade her privacy."
"Yeah, well, invade it and fix the faucet. Looks like you have a leak around that toilet. too."
"I'll be on it."
Felix turned back to me.
"I'll be returning to Bethlehem now. Jordan. but I'll be returning here very soon," he said, raising his voice. "Keep a list of anything you find that needs attention. understand?'
"Yes," I said. glancing at Lester Marshall. I didn't like being a tattletale, and that's what it sounded like I would become.
"Don't worry, Your grandmother would expect you to do so," Felix told me.
"Okay." I said. If it was what Grandmother Emma would want. I'd have to do it.
"I'm going now," he said. "ButI'll be back again- soon," he repeated, this time looking pointedly at Lester. He put his hand on my shoulder for a moment, and then he walked toward the stairway.