Melody (Logan 1)

decent. I've never done anything to shame my

parents."

He peered over the paper at me.

"It would take something to shame them, I

suppose, but I know what's in the blood, what's

raging. If you give it free rein, it will take you straight

to hell and damnation."

"I don't understand. What's raging in my

blood?"

"No more talk!" he screamed. I flinched and

stepped back as if slapped. My heart began to pound.

A white line had etched itself about his tightened lips

as the rest of him flamed with bright red fury. I had

never seen rage inflamed by so small a spark. All I

had asked was to go to a party.

I turned away and marched up the stairs. The

girls were right, I fumed. I should have just lied and

said I was going to Janet's to study. Lying to such a

man wasn't wrong. He didn't deserve honesty. Cary was at the foot of the attic stairway,

waiting for me to reach the landing.

"What was all the yelling about?"

I told him and he snorted.

"You should have asked me. I would have

spared you his reaction to such a request."

"Why is he so mean?"

"I told you. He's not mean, he's just . . afraid." "I don't understand. Why should he be so

afraid?"

Cary stared at me a moment and then blurted,

"Because he believes it was his fault and that he was

being punished." He turned away to go up his ladder. "What was his fault?" I drew closer as he