Page 42 - Reason To Sing by Kelita Haverland

Reason To Sing

the past few months, I noticed pieces of furniture missing,
mostly from my brothers’ bedrooms in the basement. Our
new home has much more space so a lot of the older furniture
from our previous farmhouse was in storage downstairs.
Jimmy and Frankie don’t live at home anymore. Just Billy
and us girls. I guess my mother figured nobody would miss a
few old beds and some ancient dressers. When I did ask her
about the missing things, she told me she was having them
“antiqued.” It made sense. I never had a clue.
I wonder how long she has been planning this move. Is it
weeks or is it months?
I slump down onto the floor, out of energy and hope.
Billy rifles through the Yellow Pages for a place to order
pizza. That brings a smile to my lips. It’s actually the best
part of the whole day. Pizza for dinner!
I feel a bit better with pepperoni in my belly. Vian and I
crawl into our new-old, lumpy bed. It has been a very long
and stressful day. I want my own bed back. In our own house.
The one with Daddy in it. But what can I do?
“That light is so bright. Can we turn it off?” Vian is
crabby. She must be exhausted.
“No,” I sigh. “Those are the streetlights. I’m afraid we
can’t turn those off.”
“But it’s shining right into our room!” She is almost
crying.
“I know it is. Just close your eyes and try to go to sleep.”
I’m not sure what else to say. This is all new for me too. “Turn
over and I’ll cuddle you, okay?”
I snuggle into my little sister’s back and wrap my arm
around her. We feel safer this way. I love her so. I know she
doesn’t understand. Not like I do. I must protect her.
Without any curtains or blinds, I have a hard time getting

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