A Confession Story – Part V of V – If you want to read this story, start at Day 19
Watching movie people kiss is one thing. Kissing Billy John hardly counts. But seeing my Mama kiss this strange man made my stomach hurt. I had to shut my eyes and sit back against the wall. I heard the door close.
I sat a long time squeezed behind that couch. My legs ached from bending under me, and my head ached from the memory of what I had seen. I never did hear the door open again.
Sometime later I looked out to be sure the hall was clear, then crept down the stairs and went back outside to the truck. I kicked up dirt and trash by the curb in hopes of finding a dime. Maybe a pocket full of candy would make me feel better. Finally I gave that up and crawled back under the dirty old blanket in the truck bed. My head ached so much, and soon I fell asleep.
I woke up when Mama stopped the truck back at home. The sun had gone down. I heard Mama’s high heels clop up the porch steps and her muffled voice as she called to me inside the house. She must have looked everywhere for me, as much as she shouted my name.
I’ve been laying here, listening to the barn animals settle down to sleep, listening to Mama step onto the porch and call for me, listening to the screen door slam as she goes back inside. I know sooner or later the stars will come out.
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