know where being nowhere is.
I rose and dressed in a shirt, sweater, jeans, and
sneakers. Then I packed my small bag, making sure to
include Mr. Panda.
It was hours later now, close to four in the
morning. I moved very quickly but very quietly,
crossing the yard and then opening the back door of
the main house as quietly as I could. I tiptoed in and
listened. Brenda was probably dead to the world now,
sleeping off her drunken stupor. However, she would
never sleep off her anger. I knew how she could
harbor hate and wrath so well and for so long. She
was, after all, always a competitor. What had
happened between Celia and me was clearly a defeat
in her eyes. She would never forgive. Her philosophy
was to defeat, defeat, defeat, and never look back at
the enemy you've crippled and smashed.
I moved softly past their bedroom into the
kitchen and, as quietly as I could, opened the drawer
that I knew housed some of the important papers. The
one I was looking for was in there. I had seen it
before. It was toward the bottom. I found it easily and
clutched it in my left hand. Then I went to the pantry
and found the can on the shelf that had our household
funds. There was nearly five hundred dollars. I took it
all.
They'll get more in the morning, I thought. They
don't need it.
Again, moving as though I were walking on a shelf of air. I went down the short corridor. I was shocked to discover Celia sleeping in the living room on the sofa. I paused and stared at her for a moment, and then I slipped out the front door and hurried to my
car.