Betsy hesitated, then she nearly tossed him into Mama's anus before charging up the stairs, cryingand sobbing loudly. Mama watched her, then turned back to me.
"Take the other suitcase up to her room, Noble. Put the baby's suitcase on the table in the kitchen first. however."
I nodded and did what she asked. Then I went upstairs and knocked on Betsy's door. She didn't respond. I could hear her sobbing so I opened the door and brought her suitcase to the closet door. She was lying facedown on the bed, her face buried in the pillow.
"Here's your suitcase." I turned to go.
"Wait," she said, catching her breath. "How did my father die?"
"He got very sick. We thought he had the flu at first. Mama did all she could with her medications."
"I bet she did."
"Your father wanted it that way. He took some medicine he had from the pharmacy, but nothing helped and he died." I made no mention of the cause being the contradictions created by the mix of cures. Let her learn it from someone else. I thought.
"Why did he put all that junk in his will? Why did he do this to me? Did she make him do it?"
"No. Actually, it came as a surprise to us." It had to me.
"I won't live like she wants me to. I won't and I won't be her little slave."
"For the time being, it would be better if you just did what she asks. It's not so terrible."
"Leave it to you to say something that stupid." She wiped the tears from her cheeks and sat up. She took a deep breath. "I'm not going to stay here long. I don't care. I'll find a way."
"What happened to your car?"
"I had to sell it. I ran out of money."
"I see. We
ll, don't you know who the father of your child is?" I really meant it as a way for her to get some additional help.
"I know what that's supposed to mean. You think I just sleep around with someone new every other day?"
"No. I meant that whoever he is, he should bear some of the burden and responsibility."
She looked thoughtful. "Well. I'm not sure. I think it was a guy named Bobby Knee or something. I met him at a party and it was after it would have happened. Bobby Knee was just passing through. I can't even remember whose friend he was."
"But I thought you were going with Roy then or..."
"Oh, you're so native. I didn't say I was going steady with anyone. No one's going to own me. Ever!" she cried. "Especially not your weird mother."
"You're lucky you have her helping you." I said angrily. I started out.
"I bet she killed my father somehow. I bet she did!" she screamed after me, then she started to cry again.
I closed the door softly behind me. My own heart was thumping. Despite her meanness and her bad behavior. I couldn't help but feel somewhat sorry for her. And what sort of a future would that child she had named Panther have?
When I went downstairs. I found Mama and Baby Celeste in the living room. Mama was feeding Panther and Baby Celeste was beside her, captivated by the infant's suckling.
"I brought up her suitcase. Mama."
They both looked up at me and smiled.
"Im surprised at how healthy-looking and adorable this child is," Mama said. "She certainly doesn't deserve a baby." She nodded at the ceiling. She looked down at the baby again. "I'll have to watch him," Her eyes slowly lifted toward me. "Well have to be sure nothing evil has settled within him and used him to enter our world. There might be a reason why that horrid girl returned to us just now."
The heaviness of her threat and warning surrounded my heart like a sticky, murky mist. I looked at the unsuspecting infant in her lap.