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Hospital rooms always put A
To cheer herself, she contemplated a shopping spree when the doctors turned her loose. Cities were for Things. A
Boredom had set in so solidly that when a nurse poked her head in the door A
“Thank God!” A
Christina laughed and crossed the room to kiss A
“Ahhh.” A
Ally bounded up on the opposite side of the bed. “Smell me, Aunt A
A
“For heaven’s sake,” Christina sighed. “Ally will be completely beyond redemption by the time she’s old enough to drive.”
“You must be ladylike or the boys won’t like you,” A
“Boys. Ish.” Ally tossed her head with such disdain that A
“Ally, settle down,” Christina said comfortably. “Get your Aunt A
Alison thumped off the bed and ran to dig through the oversized shoulder bag her mother had dropped just inside the doorway. She returned with a paper sack and climbed back up onto the bed.
“Don’t bounce Aunt A
A
“It’s in the bag,” Alison said. “We didn’t wrap it because it’s not your birthday or anything.”
A
“Pajamas,” Ally a
A
Christina arched a perfect eyebrow. “Ally picked them out,” she reproved. “She thought the orange cat motif would keep you from missing Piedmont.”
“Nobody wants to be sick without a cat,” Ally added.
“I love them,” A
“Stop!” Ally cried, but she was holding tightly to A
Dutifully A
“Oh, honey…” Christina ran out of words. Even Ally was quiet.
Sympathy unma
“Boy, Aunt A
“Alison!” her mother exclaimed. “Whose little girl are you?”
“We can keep our fingers crossed,” A
“I have news, but it can wait.” Christina took charge of the situation. “The nurse here may be efficient, but they have no sense of aesthetics. You look like last season’s prom dress. Get me my bag, honey.” Somewhat subdued after her mild reprimand, Alison fetched the shoulder bag without comment. Chris took out what she deemed life’s necessities: a natural-bristle brush, a lipstick, cream rouge.
“Last time I landed in the hospital you played the role of administering angel. Doesn’t it get a bit old?” A
“Very old,” Christina retorted crisply. “Take better care of yourself in the future.”
In a high, piping voice, Ally began to sing: “Button up your overcoat…”
A
“What’s your news?” A
“The Houghton police found Do
“Jesus!” A
“He didn’t eat her up after all,” Alison said disappointedly.
“Where?” A
“In the police station of all places.” Chris sat down in the vinyl armchair beside the bed.
“Nitrogen narcosis.” A
“Yup. She wasn’t eaten at all. She wasn’t even dead. She was only hiding.”
“Once Roberta made a formal missing persons report to the police, they started looking. Do
“I guessed that.”
“Oh. Anyway, Do
A
Chris touched her arm. “We don’t all have the courage of a lion or a big gun to back it up with.”
“I know,” A
“Then he started having-” Again the look at her daughter. Ally showed no sign of interest. Chris continued in a lowered voice: “Impotency problems. The beatings got bad then. De
“In the taxpayers’ boat,” A
“Do
“And Scotty told lies because he was afraid we’d all find out his pretty young wife had run out on him.”
“Do
“The old stallion is destined for the glue factory,” A
Around four o’clock Christina and Ally deserted to go shopping. They placated A
A