The Hole in the Wall - Lisa Rowe Fraustino [39]
“No,” I said again, even though I knew what I’d be in for later. Pa didn’t abide back talk.
“No? No what!” His face twisted something ugly.
“No, it’s my life too, and I don’t want to leave.” I sat back down. Barbie, looking terrified, hovered at the stairway. But she didn’t leave the room.
Me and Pa glared at each other, breathing hard, until Ma put her hand gently on his shoulder. “Your son has a point, Craig.”
Pa shrugged her hand off. Suddenly the house fell so quiet, the refrigerator sounded like a bulldozer.
Boots Odum cleared his throat. “Well, I guess I’ll leave you folks to talk it over.”
He calmly collected his cash and went to the door. Which Barbie lunged ahead of him to yank on. It took her a few tries, with Boots looking embarrassed. He reached his bionic hand out and back and out and back, as if he wanted to do the job himself, until the door finally jolted open with a wooden scream.
Outside on the steps he turned to face us, the wind whipping his hair to the far side of his bald spot, his nose blooming red. “Claire, you know the value of what I’m offering. It’s for your own good, trust me!” He sounded almost desperate when he said that. As if there really was more to it than business.
Then his face reset to powerful mode and he said, “Craig, when you can get your wife to talk sense, we’ll talk dollars.”
“Get off my property!” cried Ma, shutting the door in his face.
As soon as the truck motor revved outside, Pa pushed his chair back and got up, his hands on his belt, fingering the buckle as he glared at me. I knew what was coming. I made myself small in the corner and covered my head with my arms.
“All right, Mr. No. You had to go and make me discipline you. When are you ever gonna learn to respect your elders?”
Through my fingers I watched the leather slide through the first loop as he pulled on the buckle.
“Oh, stop that, you big bully,” said Ma, grabbing the tail end of the belt. “I’ve had enough of you taking your frustrations out on these kids.”
Barbie was about to shoot up the stairs, but Ma caught her by the arm and pulled her close, facing out. Barbie’s face was all pinched and twitching like a cornered rabbit that sees the fox creeping up on her.
Then Ma pulled Pa around by the belt so he was facing her. He seemed even more surprised than angry. Ma had never defied him around us kids. They always stuck together, which usually meant Ma getting behind Pa. Well, now she was in front of him.
“Look, Craig. Look at your perfect daughter.”
“Claire, you better—”
“Listen to me. I got something to tell you. See the fear in her eyes, Craig? She’s so scared of you she’ll be having nightmares tonight, only you won’t know because you’ll be passed out drunk while she’s screaming and crying.”
Pa scrunched his face at Barbie, then turned back to Ma. “You got no business dragging the kids into this, Claire. You’re the one who’s always saying—”
“I’m not finished, Craig. Just listen.” Suddenly she had me out of my corner, locked against her chest, her heart throbbing in the back of my neck.
In the mirror on the opposite wall she looked like one fierce mother hen with her wings sticking out. I crossed my arms over the real chick. It didn’t really show under the two hoodies I had on. During all the Odum excitement I’d forgotten about Celery. She felt right at home on my stomach, and it enjoyed having her.
“Look at Sebby, your beloved son. Oh, he made you the happiest man on earth the day he said his first word, and it was Pa-pa-pa. He adores you back, or he would, if he wasn’t trying so hard to hate you so you can’t hurt him anymore.”
Pa glared at me, then doubled his glare back on Ma. “Are you trying to tell me I don’t love my kids? You’re cracking under the strain, Claire. You need help.”
“Funny, I was just gonna say the same thing about you.” Ma’s chin dug into the top of my head. I felt the vibrations of her voice in my skull as she talked, and it felt good. It helped me not to cry. Barbie was crying, softly.
Pa took the Lord’s name in