“Yeah, but she doesn’t want to come back for the funeral. She doesn’t want to see him under any circumstances, and she can’t do our mother any good anyway, she says. I guess I can’t blame her. I told her I’d see her someday, and I will.”
“You’re not going to just pick up and go without telling me, are you, Keefer?”
He was silent.
“Keefer?”
“No. I have some things to plan out yet,” he said.
“I’m going to see you no matter what my mother threatens. She won’t do anything anyway, because that would expose her even more and she’s too nervous about spoiling her chances to be a big country singing star.”
“Well, be careful,” he said.
I told him what they had arranged at the supermarket.
“Where’s that market?” he asked. After I told him, he was silent again and then he said, “That might be good.”
“Why?”
“I’ll tell you later when I see you,” he promised.
“When is your mother’s funeral?”
“It looks like it’s tomorrow. He’s just tryin‘ to get it all over with fast as he can so he can get back to his miserable ways. I wouldn’t a known anything if I didn’t call my cousin Charlie. He’s the only one on my father’s side has anything at all to do with him and only because he’s almost as much of a drunk.”
“I’d like to be there with you,” I said.
“I know, but maybe it’s better you stay away for a few days. I’ll find a way to get in touch. Sorry about all the new trouble I got you in,” he added.
“You didn’t get me into any trouble, Keefer. I get myself in trouble. That should be my middle name. My grandpa used to say he knew exactly who my father was. ‘He’s Old Scratch.’ ”
“Who’s that?”
“The devil,” I said, and laughed. “Maybe he was right.”
“Well, if all his daughters are as pretty and as nice as you are, he’s not so bad after all,” Keefer said, and we both laughed. “Be seein‘ you,” he said. His voice, small and hopeful, lingered in my ear after we hung up.
I didn’t have much of an appetite, but I made some fresh coffee and then had some toast and jam. I really didn’t want to go to work in a supermarket, but I had to agree that Mother darling was right about my earning some expense money, altough I wasn’t thinking of having it for incidentals and recreational expenses. I was thinking I would work awhile and save up enough to go off with Keefer some day, just as he dreamed. The idea became more and more exciting and possible. I couldn’t wait until we were together again and we could make some real plans. I would convince him to find some other work here in the meantime. With the two of us earning, we could have enough to travel and find a new and happier life someplace. Why not? Mother darling would probably be grateful. She probably wouldn’t even report my leaving to the police. As long as I wasn’t around and couldn’t hurt her reputation and spoil her chances, why would she care?
With new motivation and energy, I dressed and started out to make the best impression I could on Mr. Ritter at the supermarket. Before I left the complex, I stopped at Kathy Ann’s apartment. For once, she wasn’t planted in the window, watching for me or anyone else to fill her boring life with new gossip. But I was still fuming.
She opened the door, surprised and then immediately frightened by the look on my face.
“I’m not supposed to hang out with you, remember?” she said, and started to close the door. I put my foot in the way to stop it.
“I know you told where I would be last night. I know it was because of you that the police arrived.”
“I couldn’t help it,” she wailed. “Your sister came down here and begged my mother to let her speak to me. It was so late and my mother was very upset. My father was still asleep, thank goodness, or it would have been worse.”
“Why did you do it?”
“My mother called me out and she said if you know something to help this woman, you had better talk now, Kathy Ann, or I’ll see to it you’re punished for the rest of the summer.”
“You were just jealous,” I accused, my eyes fixed on her so firmly, she couldn’t look at me. “Charlotte Lily said you had a crush on Keefer and you were just a bitch, weren’t you?”
“No.”
“You know what I’m going to do? I’m going to tell Charlotte Lily what you did so she can tell every person who knows you what a creep you are to betray someone. No one will ever trust you again,” I vowed.