A Cry In The Night

“I remember when Erich was that age,” Rooney said. “I used to make those doughnuts for him all the time. I was the only one Caroline ever left him with if she went out shopping. Felt almost like he was my own. Still do, I guess. I didn’t have Arden for ten years after we wuz married but Caroline had Erich that first year. Never saw a little boy loved his mother more. Never wanted her out of his sight. Oh, you do look like her, you do.”

She reached for the coffeepot and refilled Je

Yes, Je

“Call me Rooney. Everybody does. Clyde don’t want me to go to the big house anymore. But I fool him. I go up there a lot to make sure everything’s nice. And you come back here again and visit. I like having company.”

A smile made a remarkable transformation in her face. For a moment the drooping, sad lines disappeared and Je

Rooney insisted they take a plate of doughnuts home. “They’re good for an afternoon snack.” As she held open the door for them she started to turn up the collar of her sweater. “I think I’ll start looking for Arden now,” she sighed. Once again her voice had become vague.

The noon sun was brilliant, high in the heavens, shining on the snow-covered fields. As they turned the bend, the house came into view. The pale red of the brick glowed under the sun’s rays. Our home, Je

“That was a very nice lady,” Beth a

“Yes, she was,” Je

“Which daddy?” Beth asked matter-of-factly.

“The only one.”

Just before she opened the kitchen door, Je

Eyes sparkling, they nodded.

Noiselessly she turned the handle. The first sound they heard was Erich’s voice. It was coming from the dining room, each angry word pitched slightly higher than its predecessor. “How dare you tell me that I might have caused that stain! It’s obvious that you let the oil rag touch the wallpaper when you dusted the windowsill. Do you realize the entire room will have to be repapered now? Do you know how difficult it will be to get that pattern again? How many times have I warned you about those oil rags?”

“But, Mr. Krueger…” Elsa’s protest, nervously loud, was cut off.

“I want you to apologize for blaming that mess on me. Either apologize or get out of this house and don’t come back.”

There was silence.

“Mommy,” Beth whispered, frightened.

“Sshh,” Je

As she heard Elsa’s sullen, unhappy voice say, “I apologize, Mr. Krueger,” she pulled the children outside and closed the door.

9

Why is Daddy mad?” Tina asked.

“I’m really not sure, love. But we’ll pretend that we didn’t hear him. All right?”

“But we did hear him,” Beth said seriously.

“I know,” Je

This time she called, “Erich, hi,” before they were even in the house. Not pausing to allow an answer she called again, “Is there a husband in this place?”

“Sweetheart!” Erich hurried into the kitchen, his smile welcoming, his entire ma

His arms were around her. His cheek, still cold from the outdoors, rubbed against hers. Je

“I knew you’d want to give us the tour,” she said, “so we just walked across the east fields and got some fresh air. You can’t imagine how wonderful it is not to stop for a traffic light every few feet.”

“I’ll have to teach you to be sure to avoid the fields where the bulls are kept,” Erich smiled. “Believe me, you’d prefer the traffic lights.” He became aware of the plate she was holding. “What’s that?”

“Mrs. Toom gave that to Mommy,” Beth told him.

“Mrs. Toomis,” Je

“Mrs. Toomis,” Erich said. His arms dropped to his sides. “Je

“She waved to us,” Je

“She waves to anyone who passes,” Erich interrupted. “This is why you really ought to have waited for me to take you around, darling. Rooney is a very disturbed woman and if you give her an inch she’ll take a stranglehold on you. I finally had to lay it to Clyde that he must keep her away from this house. Even after I retired her, I’d come home and find her puttering in here. God help her, I’m sorry for her, Je

“Me too, me too,” Tina cried.

“You too, you too,” he mimicked. “Now isn’t this a good way to get your boots off?” he asked them. “Just the right height isn’t it, Mommy?”

Apprehensively Je

Tina looked at Je

“Mommy said you’re the only daddy,” Beth informed him.

“Mommy said that?” Erich put the girls down and smiled at Je

Elsa came into the kitchen. Her face was flushed and set in angry, defensive lines. “Mr. Krueger, I finish upstairs. You want me to do something special now?”

“Upstairs?” Je

“I told Elsa to straighten the room,” Erich said.

“But, Erich, they can’t sleep on those high beds the way they are,” Je

She studied his face, waiting for his reaction. Even so she did not miss the sly look Elsa threw at him. She’s enjoying this, Je

Erich’s expression became closed. “As a matter of fact, Je

Je

“I’m sorry.”

His face softened. “It’s all right, darling. Let the girls nap in the beds they used last night. We’ll order youth beds for them immediately.”