Fancy's Not My Name

Alone

Dottie waved goodbye to Anna and Adrien as her and Jake walked down the path to her house. They were wrapped in each other's arms, Jake's suit jacket covering Dottie's otherwise exposed shoulders.

Beth was waiting for them on the porch when they entered the field. She smiled at the two of them as they approached, but Dottie felt there was something wrong.

"Did you have fun?" She asked.

"We did." Jake answered.

"That's good. Well, I know I said don't come back early but it's after midnight. I think you ought to get home." She directed her last statement at Jake.

He kissed Dottie goodbye before bidding them both goodnight and walking back to his waiting siblings.

"Dottie," Her mother said seriously. "Come inside now."

Dottie's brow furrowed. Now she was certain something was wrong. Beth gestured her in and she walked in first. Beth shut the door softly.

Dottie toed off her shoes and made to sit down. Beth stopped her and began helping her out of her dress. She passed the girl her nightgown and Dottie slipped it over her head.

"Mama, what's going on?" She asked.

Beth didn't answer and started unbraiding her daughter's hair. She took Dottie by the wrist and led her over to the bed. Tommy was already asleep, and Beth climbed in on one side of him.

Dottie crawled to the other side. It was then that she noticed the two small suitcases and Dottie's purse lying on her bed. Two separate outfits were laid out as well.

"Lay down, sweetheart." Beth whispered.

Dread filled Dottie's stomach. Something wasn't right. She wordlessly got under the blanket and cuddled closer to her little brother. Beth gazed at the boy sadly.

"They're taking him." She murmured.

"Who?"

Beth sighed.

"Child Services." She said.

Dottie stared at her mother, trying to catch her eye. But Beth was being stubborn and wouldn't look at her.

"Why would they take him?" She asked.

"Because our home isn't fit to raise a child in."

"We've been doing just fine until now. Why take him now, why not when he was first born?" Dottie whispered angrily.

"Because, Dottie, things were going fine last year." The way she said it made Dottie's heart stop.

". . . And now?" She asked uncertainly.

"When we moved in, we were given strict rules that we weren't allowed to miss the rent more than once. Your money in June didn't cover it all, and we've missed this month's." Beth said randomly.

"What are you getting at?"

"They're taking the house, Dottie. We have to be out of here before nine tomorrow morning."

~&&~

Dottie didn't sleep that night. Her and her mother got up early to have one last breakfast and change into the outfits Beth had left out the night before.

"That's why you wanted me to go. You didn't want me to find out." Dottie accused.

"You'd been so happy lately. I didn't want to wreck that." Beth's voice was hoarse and strained.

"Tommy being taken, the house being taken," Dottie stared at her mother. "That's not everything is it?"

Beth folded both of their sleep clothes and placed them in the appropriate case.