Free What She Left Us by Stephanie Elliot Page B

hospital getting better.
    The
summer dragged on. Jenna spent more and more time at Mrs. Crand’s house, more
days than she ever wanted to remember. Her father dropped her off in the mornings,
and then took her mother to the hospital, where she spent the day with
Courtney. Jenna packed up some dolls and coloring books and crayons, always
asking, always hoping that Daddy would tell her this was the day she didn’t
have to go to Mrs. Crand’s. Still though, he dropped her off with a kiss on her
forehead and a reminder to be good, “that we have to make sacrifices for baby
Courtney, we want her to get better, don’t we?” Jenna would nod her head in
agreement, although she was crying inside, wishing secretly, just maybe, that
she never got a baby sister after all.
    Because
life before, with just Mommy and Daddy had been so much easier, so much better.
Now, it seemed like she didn’t have anyone. Except old Mrs. Crand who kept
making those stupid raisin oatmeal cookies and asking stupid questions about
her family and talking about dumb old lady stuff, like potluck dinners and
needlepoint. And she smelled so gross every day – a mix of cat poo and old lady.
Jenna wondered if she ever took a bath.
    So
the day that Mrs. Crand asked about a billion questions about how Courtney was
doing and what her mother was up to and why didn’t her dad ever stay for
cookies and when she finally said, “Jenna, you don’t talk much, what is going
on inside that little head of yours?”, Jenna let her have it.
    “Mrs.
Crand, I don’t feel much like talking.”
    “Jenna,
you’re so quiet. You’ve got to have bunches of thoughts stuck in that pretty
little head of yours!” Mrs. Crand smiled, and continued her needlepoint.
    Jenna
glared at the woman and didn’t think twice about what spewed from her mouth. “Your
cookies are yuck and your breath smells rotten and your cats are stupid 'cause
they lick their butts all day long and your house smells like a bunch of pigs
and I hate coming over every day and I miss my Mommy and Daddy and I want my baby
to come home from the hospital! That is what is stuck inside my little head!”
    The
buzzer on the oven went off, signaling another batch of Mrs. Crand’s stupid raisin
oatmeal cookies were done baking.
    “Well,
then,” Mrs. Crand said, “The cookies are done.”
    Jenna
felt awful, and cowered down on the couch. “You asked,” she said.
     
    There
was no small talk, no pleasant chit-chat at the door when Frank came to get
Jenna that evening. Only a quiet Jenna, who clung to her favorite doll, looking
very solemn, and Mrs. Crand who looked sternly at Frank.
    “How’d
it go today?” Frank asked.
    “I
think you might need to find other child care for your, for your… daughter.”
Then Mrs. Crand looked down at Jenna and her face softened a bit. “I think
she’s having a difficult time. I’d also suggest maybe some one-on-one time with
her. I’d venture to say she’s feeling a bit left out with what’s going on with
the baby.” She gave Jenna a sympathetic smile.
    Jenna
couldn’t believe it. Mrs. Crand wasn’t going to rat her out for being rude to
her? After the horrible things she said about her and her home? Jenna felt hot tears
spring to her eyes, and guilt rise in her throat. She reached to Mrs. Crand and
grabbed her around the waist, clinging to the old lady, forgetting about her
stinky smell. Between sobs, she said, “I’m sorry Mrs. Crand.”
    “I
know, I know dear. You’ll get through this. You take good care, darling.” Then
she leaned down to whisper into Jenna’s ear. “I’m sorry about the cookies, I
know it’s about time I try a new recipe.”
    Jenna
looked up to Mrs. Crand and smiled. Maybe she wasn’t so horrible after all.
    Frank
watched the exchange between the two and said, “Well, I think we’ll be all right
actually. After this weekend, it looks like Courtney will be able to come home.
We may have to get a night nurse, but things are looking