Part 3 (1/2)
Then Robert saw the heavy brown bag. ”Drake, why have you got that suitcase?”
The man coughed and tried to kick the bag underneath the bed. ”It's nothing. Just some equipment for the yard.”
”No, no it isn't, Drake. I can tell. You're going away!”
”It's equipment for the yard, I tell you.”
”Please don't go away, Drake. Please don't. Please Don't.”
The man tightened his fists and coughed again.
”Now you look, Bobbie. I've just got to go away for a little trip, and I'll be back before you know it. And maybe then we can go off somewhere together. I'm going to find out about it, but you musn't say a word to your mother. Hear?”
Robert looked up, confused. Something fluttered. He could see it, from the corner of his eye.
The man was dirty and he smelled of alcohol, but it made Robert feel good when he touched him.
”Really? You mean _us?_”
”Bobbie. You've got to tell me something first. Do you love your mother?”
He didn't have to think about it. ”No, she always kills things, and always hurts things. I don't love her.”
The man spoke under his breath. ”I've wanted to do this for a long time.”
Something crawled in a corner. Robert could almost see it. ”Drake,” he said, ”have you ever killed anything?”
Perspiration stood out on the man's forehead. He answered as if he had not heard.
”Only once, Bobbie. Only once did I kill.”
”What was it? An animal?”
”No. It was worse, Bobbie. I killed a human spirit--a soul.”
”Mother does it all the time!”
”I know. There's been a lot of death in this house ... But here now, lad, are you over your nightmare?”Robert tried not to look up.
”Are we really going away when you get back? Away from Mother and this place, just you and me, Drake? Promise me?”
”Yes, boy. Yes, we are!”
The man took Robert's hand in his and held it hard.
”Now you see here. If she learns of this there'll be a lot of trouble. Something might go wrong.
So, whatever you do, don't you let on to her what's happened. I'll see the authorities and tell them everything and you'll get out of here. And we'll be free, you and me, boy!”
Robert didn't say anything. He was looking at a corner.
”Bobbie, you're not old enough yet to know everything about your mother. She wasn't always like she is now. And I wasn't, either. Something just happened and. well, I'll tell you about it later so you'll understand. But right now, I want you to do something. After I leave, you get yourself another little pet, a frog or something. Keep it in this room. She'll know nothing's changed, then. She'll know you haven't been talking to me. Get that frog, Bobbie, and I'll be back so that you can have it always as a friend. Always.
”Goodbye, lad. You'll not be staying with that crazy woman much longer, I promise you.”
Robert smiled and watched Drake go toward the door.
”Will you really come back, Drake?”
”Nothing on earth is going to stop me, son. I knew that when I saw you last night; I knew it when you asked me those questions. The first normal things I'd heard for... Yes, son, I'll be back for you.”
Robert did not understand much. Only about the frog. He would find himself a pet and keep it.
The movement in the corners had stopped, and Robert could think for only a little while before he fell into a sound sleep. So sound a sleep that he did not hear Miss Gentilbelle coming up the stairs and he did not see her face when she stepped into the room.
”Roberta, you're late. You were told to be downstairs promptly at twelve-thirty and instead I find you resting like a lady of great leisure. Get up, girl!”
Robert's eyes opened and, he wanted to scream.
Then he apologized, remembering to mention nothing of Drake. He put on his dress quickly and went downstairs after Miss Gentilbelle.
He scarcely knew what he was eating; the food was tasteless in his mouth. But he remembered things and answered questions as he always had before.
During dessert Miss Gentilbelle folded her book and laid it aside.
”Mr. Franklin has gone away. Did you know that?”
”No, Mother, I did not. Where has he gone?”
”Not very far--he will be back. He's sure to come back; he always does. Roberta, did Mr.
Franklin say anything to you before he left?”
”No, Mother, he did not. I didn't know Mr. Franklin had gone away.”
Robert looked at Miss Gentilbelle's hands, watched the way the thin fingers curled about themselves, how they arched delicately in the air.
He looked at the yellow band and again at the fingers. Such white fingers, such dry, white fingers . . .
”Mother.”
”Yes?”
”May I go into the yard for a little while?”
”Yes. You have been naughty and kept me waiting dinner but I shall not punish you. See you remember the kindness and be in the living room in one half hour. You have your criticism to write.”
”Yes, Mother.”
Robert walked down the steps and into the yard. A soft breeze went through his hair and lifted the golden curls and billowed out his dress. The sun shone hotly but he did not notice. He walked to thefirst clump of trees and sat carefully on the gra.s.s. He waited.