She served the chicken cutlets and then, while we were eating, went up to dress for dinner. I knew she hated rushing herself and wasn't happy about it. We were still eating when she came down.
"Clean up the best you can," she told us. "I don't expect us to be late, but just in case, be sure you get to bed by ten, Jordan. See that she does, Ian."
"No problem," he told her. "'Have a good time," She smirked, kissed us both, and left.
Ian continued to tat quietly. Why wasn't he as upset as I was? I wondered.
"I think Daddy drank too much again," I said.
"Very likely," he said, nodding.
"Mama was not happy."
He continued to nod and then he said, "Shattered glass."
We cleaned up the kitchen and put away our dishes. Afterward. Ian returned to his room and I watched television. I almost fell asleep on the sofa, but just before my eyes closed completely, I heard a tapping on the living room window. It took me a few moments to realize what it was. Flora was standing there and beckoning to me.
I looked toward Ian's room to see if he heard, too, but he didn't appear. Flora beckoned harder and made a face. What did she want? I rose and then hesitated. Shouldn't I tell Ian? I wondered. She tapped again on the window. I went to the door and unlocked it and stepped out on the porch. She came around and looked up at me.
"Where's Ian?" she asked.
"He's in his room working," I said.
"Working? What kind of work does he do?"
"He does writing and reading and projects."
"Your brother is a real character,'" she said. "I think he overreacted a bit in my room today."
"No, he didn't," I said in defense of him, even though I wasn't quite sure what she meant.
"Believe me, he did. But I understand why. Despite how smart he is, he's immature."
"Ian's not immature!" I said.
"Relax. It's not a crime to be immature. Does he have a girlfriend? Well?" she asked when I didn't reply.
"No."
"Did he ever have a girlfriend, go out on a date?" I shook my head.
"See? He's sixteen and he hasn't been with a girl."
I was about to say he was only thirteen, but I remembered he had said he told her he was sixteen, too.
"What you and I have to talk about, he can't appreciate even though he's so brilliant, Jordan. He's a boy and we're girls and there are things boys just don't understand about girls and their problems and vice versa. I know you think you're too young for all that, but be
lieve me, you have had a period. You're not too young."
"I gotta go back inside. My mother doesn't want me out here at night without Ian," I said.
'Look. I didn't mean to scare you or anything. If you want to talk to me about yourself. I don't mind. You can find your way back to my camper without Ian. I'll tell you the things you should know about yourself,'" she added in a whisper.
She looked behind me at the door. "I have to go inside," I repeated.
"Go, but I'd advise you not to tell Ian what I just told you. Girls should have their privacy, you know, their own secrets. I don't tell my brother anything hardly. I never told him what I told you, for example, and I never will."
I didn't think her brother would care anyway. I started to turn away and she reached out and seized my wrist.