“Would you accept a collect call from Wayne Morgan?”
“Yeah. Yes. Sure,” Angel said. She’d give Grandma the rest of her taxi money. She needed to talk to Daddy. She really did.
TWELVE
Know the Stars
Daddy? Hi, it’s me, Angel.” She was keeping her voice low, so as not to get Grandma upset.
“What’s the matter, baby?” Wayne’s voice sounded pinched, like Bernie’s when he was scared. “I tried to call you back soon’s I got your message, but whoever answered wouldn’t take the call.”
“I don’t want to worry you, Daddy. Me and Bernie are okay, but we’re not in Burlington anymore.” Angel sneaked a glance at Grandma. Bernie was showing her the Stupids book and poking her, trying to make her laugh at the pictures. Angel cupped her hand around the mouthpiece. “We’re at your grandma’s house.”
“You’re where? At Grandma’s? Well, where the hell’s Verna?”
“That’s what I’m calling about, Daddy. Remember when we came to see you? Well, she brought us here that day. Then she left, and she hasn’t come back.”
“Well, where’s she at, then? Did you call the apartment?”
“The phone’s been disconnected.”
She could hear him curse under his breath. “Jeez—just dumped you kids there with that old witch and took off?”
“I don’t think she meant to—”
Grandma looked up from the book. “Who’s on the phone?”
“It’s Daddy.” That “not on your stuffed cabbage” look began to creep onto Grandma’s face, so Angel hurried on. “I’ll pay for the call, promise.”
Grandma muttered something, but she didn’t say “Hang up,” so Angel turned back to the phone. “I thought you ought to know where me and Bernie moved to.”
“I don’t understand what’s got into her. I told her there’s a good chance I might get put on an outside work crew, and she just takes off. I swear I could kill that girl!”
“No, no, Daddy. Don’t blame Verna. She’s been under a lot of stress.” Angel tried to go around the corner, but the phone cord was too short. It kept her smack in the doorway.
“She’s been under a lotta stress! She should trying sitting in the stir for a few years if she thinks she knows anything about stress. Judas Priest!”
“I guess you don’t know where she’s at, then?”
“I wish I did, baby doll, I just wish I did. I’d get the law after her faster than you could say ‘child neglect.’”
“Oh, Daddy, please. Don’t tell anyone she’s gone. They’d send Welfare out here and take us away.”
“Well, how are you kids going to stay with that old bat? She near ran me crazy when I was a kid, and that was years ago. You can’t tell me she’s improved none with age. You and Bernie’d be better off if Welfare did come and get you.”
“No, we wouldn’t.” Why had she been so bent on talking to Wayne? “No, we wouldn’t. Don’t you see, Daddy, they’d separate us, and who would take care of Bernie then?”
“I swear. Verna must be out of her cotton-picking head—dumping my son and my daughter on the very woman I hate the most in the frigging world. I get in the least little trouble, and my own grandma throws me and my whole family out of her stinking trailer. She’s probably the one sicced the cops on me, the old witch. I know she’s the one turned my daddy in and run my mama off. I swear I’m calling Welfare.”
“Daddy. Daddy! Don’t call anybody. Please. We’re okay, really we are. Besides, I can take care of Bernie. He’s behaving himself real good right now. Okay? Don’t worry about us, okay?” The frantic whispering was making her throat raw. “Okay? You just take care of yourself. Bernie and me will be fine. I promise. Bye, now.” She hung up the phone, hoarse and wet with perspiration. That would teach her to use up all her money to make a stupid longdistance call.
Angel turned from the phone to see that Grandma was directing her full attention at her. “So?” the old woman said.
“He doesn’t know where Verna is, either.”
Grandma snorted. “I figure that rascal’d be the last person on earth she’d want to know her whereabouts.” Angel sighed and slumped down on one of the kitchen chairs. “I was just hoping—”
“If I was you, Angel, I’d pour my hopes into some other bucket. Those two are leaky as sieves.” Grandma was in a good mood again. It was almost as if other people’s failures and misfortunes cheered her up. “Now,” she said, “how about you fixing us up some nice fat ham sandwiches for lunch?”