Page 48 - Reason To Sing by Kelita Haverland

Reason To Sing

fun game of “Clue.” My younger cousin Greg is playing with
Vian.
The phone rings.
Uncle Don gets up to answer and my eyes are glued to
him as he walks into the kitchen. Not sure why. My spidey
sense is tingling. I overhear his voice and listen closely to his
tone. Something has happened. My antennae are up - way up.
I sense something is very wrong at the other end of the line.
I am pretty good at interpreting conversations behind
closed doors. Even though I am only 11, it has been a way of
life for me for a very long time. Before we left Daddy, I always
listened at the master bedroom door. Somehow it made me feel
safer if I knew what my parents were talking about. I’d be up
until the wee hours, but it was worth it.
Now, I listen to telephone conversations between Mommy
and that man. I feel like a spy. Yes, she is still seeing, him. Even
though it hurts me, the more I know, the better. Or maybe not.
I’m not sure. Maybe I’m just torturing myself even more. But
still, I always try to eavesdrop.
The call ends. It’s short. My aunt and uncle are whispering in
the kitchen. Something definitely doesn’t feel right to me. Not
at all. When they walk back into the den, I’m totally expecting
them to tell me something horrible. But they don’t. They just
sit down and pick up their newspapers like everything is fine.
Maybe I’m wrong? Maybe everything is fine?
In bed I toss and turn, trying to get comfortable, but I can’t
sleep. Even though Vian is next to me I feel so alone. The dark
shadows cast from the nightlight only add to the crazy thoughts
swirling around in my head. I can’t turn off the busy-ness in my
brain no matter how hard I try. Once again, I am worried.
Morning finally arrives and I drag myself out of bed.
Rhonda Lee has invited me to go along on a hike with her

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