"She was, but we think she's getting stuck up because of you," Nikki said.
"Me?"
"Yeah. You're a rich kid. right? She has more money on her than I ever seen her have," Nikki said. "All of a sudden we ain't gonna be good enough for her."
I didn't know what to say. I looked to Alanis, who was flirting so much with Chad that the teacher monitor was looking at them angrily.
"Don't you two go haying a party without us," Raspberry warned.
"We're not,' I said. I couldn't eat fast enough and be happier when the bell rang to return to class.
Afterward. Alanis met me in the hallway.
"It's all set," she said. "He's coming by to pick us up at ten tomorrow, I didn't tell him where we're Going exactly or why, so don't say anything. I'll do all the talking."
"Nikki and Raspberry think we're planning to have a party without them." I said. "They're mad at you. They think you're getting stuck up and they're blaming me."
"Forget about them for now. I don't have time for fools," she said and hurried off.
When I turned. I saw Mrs. Browne standing in a doorway with one of the teachers, looking at me. Her face was full of disapproval and suspicion. The two of them began speaking very low as they stared at me. I walked faster, but I could feel her eyes following me down the hallway to my classroom. It actually felt as if they'd been inches from the back of my neck.
In the world I had come from. I couldn't recall any teacher ever having looked at me with anything but a smile on his or her face. What dark boundary had I crossed? Who had I become?
Once again I felt as if events were carrying me off like an ocean current. Would I drown or end up someplace better?
14 Sisters of Mercy
. As soon as we stepped off the bus, we saw Alanis's grandfather coming down the driveway. He was walking so quickly and looked so upset that I thought Great-aunt Frances had told him about our trip tomorrow after all and, despite what Alanis planned to say, he knew she was up to something. Her lies wouldn't work as easily with him as they did with other people.
"I want you over to our house right off. Alanis," he said as we walked up. He pointed to it. "You just get yourself over there right now,"
"Why?" she cried. "I'm living in Miss Wilkens's house."
"Why? I don't care if you've moved into Miss Wilkens's house to be with Jordan, but you still have chores to do at our house."
"Why can't Mama do it?" He looked away.
"It's not fair," she shouted. "I'm doing all her work at Miss Wilkens's house. ain't I? There's not half as much to do in your house. Granddad,"
He glanced at me and then in a softer voice said. "She's not here." It was almost a whisper.
"Well, where is she? She don't hafts be at work this early. I--I"
"Your mother's gone off with that bum Olsen, the bartender. It's just you and me," he added quickly, turned, and walked toward the barn.
His words lingered in the air like heavy, smelly smoke. Alanis stood there looking after him. For a moment she looked as if she would begin to cry. Her cheeks twitched, her lips turned in and out on each other, and her eyes grew gray as a film of tears came rushing in and over them, but if Alanis ever did cry, she didn't cry in front of anyone. I thought.
"You see? I'm right. Be no different if my mother was in a coma, too." she muttered.
She glanced at me and then stomped up the driveway, veering off to the right toward her grandfather's house, her head down, her hands clenched into fists pounding at her own thighs as she walked.
"See you later," she called back without even turning toward me.
I continued to the house, and as soon as I stepped in. I heard Great-aunt Frances call for me. She was in the living room watching her afternoon soap opera, and she wasn't waiting for the commercial.
"Guess who called about you today," she said when I appeared in the doorway.
"Grandmother Emma?"