The Junkyard continued-- Lindsay

                  Chapter 2



 

                  I have been lying to my younger sisters for two years. To tell them the truth would mean scaring them and worrying them out of their little, lice crusted minds. At first it was difficult, but the lie came smoothly after a while. I didn't even have to think about it anymore.

                  The cancer had spread, invading my mother's muscular body and peeling away any strength she had left. Without any treatment, my mother was going to die. In my heart, she was already dead, but I would never tell anyone that. Not even Eddie, who I trusted wholeheartedly.

                  To my sisters, Mother was in the process of recovery. She was healing from a long-term cough. I thanked the Lord that Emmy and LooLoo were as gullible as they were.

                  Eddie came up behind me and slapped the loaf of bread on the table next to my fruit. He nodded approvingly. "You did alright for your first time, Josie." He didn't look impressed, but he looked satisfied, which was good enough for me. His face turned to stone, the crease in his forehead deep and dark. He stole a glance at the figure lying on the couch. You would have thought that there was just a heap of blanket there. My mother was hidden within the heap, just a frail little body of poking hip bones and leather skin weathering away like paper in the rain.

                  "It must be done today." He searched my eyes, and I nodded in return. It would be done. Lies would die away, like my mother. I had no idea when I was going to break it to Emmy and LooLoo. They would be devastated, their hearts the flaming ashes of a loud, screaming fire drenched with cool water. Their flame would be put out. And I would be the water that leaves them black and crumbling. The more I thought about it, the more I wanted to get away. Just Eddie and me, we could leave this place, fend for ourselves whereever we went.

                   My mother would be left to die her unfightable death, and my sisters would be forgotten, lost in the dust like two helpless kittens without their kin. If it weren't for them, I would do it in a second. Far away from this place is where I would go, on the other side of a mountain-- one so big it would separate me from where I was from and where I should be. I would get away from this life. Me and Eddie. Eddie and me.