“From going home? From leaving this hellhole?”
Everyone turned to look at the woman who had interrupted the mayor.
“Oh, shit! It’s Moira,” said Stella.
Moira strode onto the basketball court. Ron and Wes had stepped away from Cruz but now, like members of the Secret Service, they moved closer to the mayor while Amber met the woman and stood in front of her, blocking her from reaching Cruz.
“Moira, we’ve talked about this and—” Amber began, but Moira sidestepped her and kept walking toward the Mayor.
“No! I will not be patronized and lied to anymore. I came to town to get supplies. You know—the stuff the good people of this town are giving away free to anyone who wants or needs it. Unlessyou don’t intend on remaining in Madras. Then what? Then we’re shoved in a classroom, forced to give blood, and kept from leaving.”
“Moira,” said the mayor, “no one is forcing you to remain in town. No one is forcing anyone to remain in town or do anything they do not wish to do.”
“Oh bullshit!” Moira shouted. “I got here the afternoon of the nineteenth, and I’ve been asking for my truck to be returned to me so that I can leave since then. It’s the twenty-second. I gave my damn blood like you said I had to do. And now I want to go home.”
“Moira, you know that we’ve been talking with you about your home.” The condescension in Amber’s voice was so clear Mercury wanted to cringe. “It’s not the way it was before.”
“Oh, Amber, shut the hell up. I’m not stupid or crazy. Of course it’s not the way it was before. None of our homes are as they were! My home is my business, not yours.” She turned to face the mayor. “Are you going to let me leave or lock me back in that damn classroom again.”
Mayor Cruz pressed her hand to her chest. “Moira! No one would lock you in anywhere!”
Moira laughed humorously. “Really? Then I guess my door was stuck last night after I had words with your lackey, as well as today until dusk. Whatever. I want to leave. Now. I do not give two shits that it’s dark. I could find my way home blindfolded.”
“Then, by all means, you may definitely leave,” said the mayor. “Ron, please give Moira a ride back to the school. Have her truck loaded with whatever supplies she needs, and let her be on her way. Moira, I sincerely apologize if it seemed as if we were keeping you here against your will. We only want what’s best for you.”
“Eva, I’m a grown woman who is a good decade older than you. Hell, I babysat you when you were a kid! I know what’s best for me. And I don’t need a ride back to the school. Just get my truck and meet me there.” Moira whirled around and marched from the park.
Mayor Cruz’s smile was forced and tight. “I apologize for that disturbance, but I’m glad it’s given me the chance to right a wrong. Amber, could you please go to the school and be sure Moira is well cared for?”
“Of course, Mayor Cruz!” Amber hurried off, with Ron trailing after her.
“Now, let’s return to our festival,” said the mayor. “Abby, please put on my favorite song, and let’s all remember that hope is alive while we eat, drink, and make merry! May God bless Madras and America!” Eva clapped her hands and the crowd joined her—at first quietly, and then more enthusiastically as the woman who had been so helpful at the clothing tent cranked up the volume of the boom box. The opening lyrics to Whitney Houston’s 1980s hit “I Wanna Dance With Somebody” blasted from its archaic speakers.
Mayor Cruz lithely stepped down from the box and motioned for everyone to join her on the dance floor. Like that had released a dam, people began dancing, and within minutes it was as if Moira had never existed.
“That was some shit,” said Mercury.
“Well, we know that poor woman is mentally ill,” said Karen.
Stella shook her head. “No, we don’t. We only know what Amber told us last night, and like I already said, she lies.”
“So, your intuition is telling you Amber was lying about Moira?” Karen asked.
Stella let out a long, frustrated breath. “You know it doesn’t work like that. I don’t get a list I can check off. All I’m sure of is that Amber has lied. A lot. And, Karen, I want you to think about this. Why are you so willing to believe these strangers over me?”
Karen opened her mouth to respond but was interrupted when Mayor Eva Cruz appeared suddenly in front of their little group. Her smile was radiant. “You good people must be the group Amber told me arrived late last night. Teachers from out of state and their backpack guide, correct?”
“That’s right.” Mercury held out her hand. “I’m Mercury Rhodes, and these are my friends and fellow teachers, Stella Carver and Karen Gay.” The mayor shook their hands. “And, of course, our guide—Oxford Diaz.”
“Nice to meet you, ma’am,” Ford said as he shook the mayor’s hand.
“When I found out we had a group of teachers join us, I had to welcome you personally. Now more than ever the education of our young people is so important.”
“We certainly agree with you on that,” said Karen.
“I hope you’re settling in nicely. I believe Amber has you at our elementary school.”
“She does,” said Stella.