Read Online Whistling Past the Graveyard by Susan Crandall - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Susan Crandall
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thought about it, the more confused I got.
As we finished breakfast and Eula and I cleaned up the dishes, I studied her. She didn’t act like she had a screw loose. In fact, we had a right nice breakfast, even with Wallace at the table. But that big, new bruise on Eula’s upper arm and the way she was careful not to look at him told me I was right. He wasn’t a nice man at all.
I really liked Eula and didn’t want to get her in trouble for taking James. Once I got to Nashville, Momma would help me sort out what to do. Momma would know a way to find out who James’ s mother was, then figure out how we could get her baby back to her without sending Eula to jail for kidnapping.
But that was all for later. Now it was time to go.
I folded my dish towel and set it on the drain board. “Thank you
for helpin’ me out and feedin’ me.” I stood tall as I could and headed toward the front door.
“Stop right there!” Wallace’s voice was extra grumbly this morning, making him sound even more like a bear.
I kept walking out the front door and climbed into the passenger seat of the truck. My mouth was dry and I all the sudden needed to pee—that always happened when I got real nervous.
The screen door squeaked open and Wallace thundered across the wooden porch. I paid no mind; I just slammed the truck’s door and sat looking out the windshield.
To keep from peeing my pants, I counted my breaths. One. Two.
Wallace yanked open the passenger door so hard I was surprised it didn’t come off in his hand. “Get out.”
“My momma is waitin’. You only need to take me to the highway. I’ll get a ride from there.” My insides was wobbling like Jell-O, but I didn’t look at him.
The front door squeaked again. “Wallace,” Eula called, her voice meek as a mouse. Even I knew that wasn’t gonna get the bear’s attention.
“Get. Out. The. Truck.” I could tell he was gritting his teeth, but I didn’t look at him.
“Wallace.” Eula’s voice was sweet, like she was singing to baby James. “I told you it was gonna be all right, now. She goin’ to Nashville. She ain’t coming back round here. Right, Starla?”
I am white. I am the boss of what happens here. “That’s right. I’m moving to Nashville permanent. I got no reason to come back.” That didn’t sound quite forever enough, so I added, “I won’t never be back.” I didn’t tell them that I couldn’t never come back.
Out of the corner of my eye, I could see the big hulk of Wallace step back from my door.
He’s getting in. He’s takin’ me to the highway.
But instead of walking around the truck, he went toward Eula. I chanced a peek as he grabbed her by the shoulders and shook her.
“You done it. If ’n you didn’t take that baby, that girl could go on her way to her momma and everything be fine. But you done stole that baby. This is on you! You hear me? On you!” With his last words he shoved her hard, flinging her away from him. It was everything I could do not to jump out of the truck and onto his back, scratch his angry bear eyes out. But I knew if I did, I’d never get away from here. And he’d be even madder at Eula.
Eula stumbled, but kept her feet.
Wallace started to turn toward me. I snapped my eyes back to the windshield. I had to blink twice ’cause tears kept wanting to get out.
Breathe. One.Two. “It’s time to go. I don’t want my momma sendin’ the police lookin’ for me.”
If he was worried about somebody finding out Eula took James, it stood reason that he wouldn’t want the police nosing around searching for a little girl.
Wallace moved surprising quick. He grabbed my arm and yanked me from the truck so fast I didn’t have a chance to get my feet under me. I ended up on my knees, my arm up by my ear, pinched in his big hand. It hurt, but I wasn’t gonna let him know that.
Eula’s soft steps came closer, hesitant, like a deer checking if it was safe to come from the woods.
He pointed at her. “Stay away! You know
As we finished breakfast and Eula and I cleaned up the dishes, I studied her. She didn’t act like she had a screw loose. In fact, we had a right nice breakfast, even with Wallace at the table. But that big, new bruise on Eula’s upper arm and the way she was careful not to look at him told me I was right. He wasn’t a nice man at all.
I really liked Eula and didn’t want to get her in trouble for taking James. Once I got to Nashville, Momma would help me sort out what to do. Momma would know a way to find out who James’ s mother was, then figure out how we could get her baby back to her without sending Eula to jail for kidnapping.
But that was all for later. Now it was time to go.
I folded my dish towel and set it on the drain board. “Thank you
for helpin’ me out and feedin’ me.” I stood tall as I could and headed toward the front door.
“Stop right there!” Wallace’s voice was extra grumbly this morning, making him sound even more like a bear.
I kept walking out the front door and climbed into the passenger seat of the truck. My mouth was dry and I all the sudden needed to pee—that always happened when I got real nervous.
The screen door squeaked open and Wallace thundered across the wooden porch. I paid no mind; I just slammed the truck’s door and sat looking out the windshield.
To keep from peeing my pants, I counted my breaths. One. Two.
Wallace yanked open the passenger door so hard I was surprised it didn’t come off in his hand. “Get out.”
“My momma is waitin’. You only need to take me to the highway. I’ll get a ride from there.” My insides was wobbling like Jell-O, but I didn’t look at him.
The front door squeaked again. “Wallace,” Eula called, her voice meek as a mouse. Even I knew that wasn’t gonna get the bear’s attention.
“Get. Out. The. Truck.” I could tell he was gritting his teeth, but I didn’t look at him.
“Wallace.” Eula’s voice was sweet, like she was singing to baby James. “I told you it was gonna be all right, now. She goin’ to Nashville. She ain’t coming back round here. Right, Starla?”
I am white. I am the boss of what happens here. “That’s right. I’m moving to Nashville permanent. I got no reason to come back.” That didn’t sound quite forever enough, so I added, “I won’t never be back.” I didn’t tell them that I couldn’t never come back.
Out of the corner of my eye, I could see the big hulk of Wallace step back from my door.
He’s getting in. He’s takin’ me to the highway.
But instead of walking around the truck, he went toward Eula. I chanced a peek as he grabbed her by the shoulders and shook her.
“You done it. If ’n you didn’t take that baby, that girl could go on her way to her momma and everything be fine. But you done stole that baby. This is on you! You hear me? On you!” With his last words he shoved her hard, flinging her away from him. It was everything I could do not to jump out of the truck and onto his back, scratch his angry bear eyes out. But I knew if I did, I’d never get away from here. And he’d be even madder at Eula.
Eula stumbled, but kept her feet.
Wallace started to turn toward me. I snapped my eyes back to the windshield. I had to blink twice ’cause tears kept wanting to get out.
Breathe. One.Two. “It’s time to go. I don’t want my momma sendin’ the police lookin’ for me.”
If he was worried about somebody finding out Eula took James, it stood reason that he wouldn’t want the police nosing around searching for a little girl.
Wallace moved surprising quick. He grabbed my arm and yanked me from the truck so fast I didn’t have a chance to get my feet under me. I ended up on my knees, my arm up by my ear, pinched in his big hand. It hurt, but I wasn’t gonna let him know that.
Eula’s soft steps came closer, hesitant, like a deer checking if it was safe to come from the woods.
He pointed at her. “Stay away! You know
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