Daddy had his hands on her upper arms and he
was holding her up like a rag doll, her feet a good foot
off the ground. He shook her once.
"Where were you. Lena?' he demanded. "Put me down, damn you! Put me down." "Where were you?"
"I'm not one of your suspects, Cameron. Put me
down."
"I'll put you down," he threatened, "like they
put down dogs if you don't tell me where you were." "I was with Louella and Dedra. We went to eat
and then we went to a movie and then we went to
Frank and Bob's just like we always do."
Daddy lowered her slowly.
"I'm tired of you coming home drunk," he said. "People drink because they're unhappy," she
spit back at him.
"Why are you so unhappy? If you got yourself a
job, maybe or..."
"Oh, a job. What kind of a job could I get. huh?
You want me working in some department store or at
a fast-food place?"
Her face crumpled as she started to sob. "I wasted myself. I should be on a magazine
cover or doing advertisements. I should be somebody
instead of... of what I am," she moaned. -.But do you
care?" she asked, pulling herself up and tightening her
lips. "No. You and your music and your stupid work
hours."
"I'm doing my best for us and..."
"Best," she muttered. "You don't care about
what's happening here. We got a daughter who's like
some deaf-and-dumb person, who should be making
me proud, and I blame that all on you, you!" "She's a beautiful girl, a talented girl. She's
going to make us proud. Lena."