My New Family

Chapter Eight: Something's just not right...

     Chapter Eight

Something's just not right...

Pauline

      I am startled into wakefulness by a piercing scream. Moonlight streams through the windows, creating a ghastly effect. Someone is bending over Evelyn's bed and whispering to her. I glance at the clock; it's one o'clock in the morning! Strange. I look toward Evelyn's bed again, and notice that her face is white as a sheet. She must have been the one that screamed! And who else would be awake at this time but Camille! It's kind of strange, though. The two terrors of my life are now mad at each other! Maybe they won't get so mad at me! I fall asleep eventually, still wondering about what had happened at dinner.

     I wake up in the morning to find Evelyn sitting up in bed, blankets and pillows all over the place. What's going on? Did she have a temper tantrum? I wonder as I make my bed and change my clothes. I look at her once more distractedly as I go out the door.

     We eat the plain toast that Camille has prepared for us, then pack our lunches. Evelyn hasn't spoken a word to any of us, not even to Camille's crisp "Good morning."

     As we walk to school, I notice Evelyn trailing along in the back. I call out to her. "Evelyn! Hurry or you'll be late!" She comes quickly up to us, but still looks distracted. I wonder what has come between her and Camille. The warning bell rings. I prepare to run ahead, but I hear a splash from behind me. My heart sinks into my chest. Evelyn has slipped in a mud puddle, and she looks like she has broken her arm or something. Tears stream down her face, although I can see she is trying hard not to cry. I know I should go ahead to school, or I'll be absent and get another ping slip, but something within me says I really shouldn't leave Evelyn alone like this. The late bell rings. It's now or never. I turn slowly and run towards Evelyn.

     Camille is sitting on the front porch, reading a hair fashion magazine. She looks up as we go up the driveway, Evelyn leaning heavily on me, and calls out to us. "Pauline, Evelyn! Why on earth are you not in school!" Evelyn is unable to speak because of the pain by this time, so I answer for both of us. "Evelyn slipped in a puddle, and I think she's broken her right arm or something." Camille came to see. "What happened to you, Pauline? Why aren't you in school?" "Well-"  "Enough. You go to school straightaway, and no more of this foolish nonsense. Evelyn doesn't use her arms to walk, although maybe you wouldn't know the difference." She gives me a look, and I start on my way, carefully standing Evelyn up on her own. She looks terrified. I wondered if I should leave her-but no. I have no choice. I hear her give a low gasp. When I am on the road again, I turn. Camille is shoving Evelyn towards the house! I know now that I just simply couldn't leave Evelyn here with Camille. I walk quickly up the road, secretly turning every few minutes to see if they are in the house yet. When they are, I run. Back. Back to Evelyn, the sister I don't like, and back to her father's house. Back to the hair-doer Camille.

     When I reach the house, all is quiet. I quietly go up the outside deck stairs and find our room window. I peek around the edge. Camille is at the door, talking to Evelyn, who is standing at the foot of her bed. I wait until Camille closes the door, then I carefully slide the window open without a creak. I hold my finger to my mouth as I climb in. Evelyn watches, her eyes sparkling with hope. Maybe I don't not like her so much as I think I do.