Free Little Sister by Patricia MacDonald

as if it were red-hot and looked up with a guilty expression on his face. The other kids, seeing what had transpired, scattered like a startled herd.
    Thinking her aunt would be satisfied, Beth glanced at May and saw that she was still frowning, but there was more worry than disapproval in her eyes.
    Beth tried to make her tone light. “Kids, you know. They can be pretty ignorant sometimes.”
    “Yes,” said May distractedly.
    “They don’t know any better, I guess,” said Beth.
    “I’m afraid that’s true,” said May.
    Beth studied her aunt’s lined face, wondering how she was going to cope with a youngster of Francie’s age. You’ve got to expect them to act like idiots from time to time, she thought.
    “Well, I’d better see to the others,” May said.
    “Do you need help?” Beth asked.
    May shook her head and started back through the kitchen, her shoulders seeming to droop more than they had before. Beth chewed her lip, watching her go, and then looked out the door again. Francie and Andrew were still standing by the car. Francie looked up and caught Beth’s eye and then turned her back on her.
    Beth watched them for a few moments, debating what to do, and then she pulled on an old coat from a hook by the door and, jamming her hands in the pockets, walked out to where they stood, trying to keep the heels of her black boots from sinking into the mud.
    The pair straightened up at her approach, as if girding themselves for battle. “Muddy out here,” said Beth.
    Andrew nodded slightly, but his narrow face was tense, and he watched her warily. Francie let out a deep sigh and looked up at the sky.
    Beth bit her lower lip and then pressed her fists farther down in the pockets. “Andrew,” she said, “I—I think I should apologize to you for the way I acted last night. I was a little upset, and I hope you will understand that I didn’t mean to be rude to you.”
    Francie turned and looked at her sister, her eyes widening slightly. Andrew kept his head cocked to one side, his eyes narrowed. “That’s okay,” he said.
    “These times are difficult,” said Beth, realizing how pompous she sounded but unable to think of any other way to say it.
    “Yeah,” he said. “Well, sure. It don’t matter.”
    Beth nodded. “Okay,” she said. “Well, no hard feelings, I hope.”
    Without waiting for a reply, she turned and started back toward the house. She could hear them whispering behind her.
    That’s better, she thought, opening the door and going back inside the house. She hung the coat back up on the hook, and then she remembered Cindy, who had wanted to talk. She wandered through the rooms, looking at the various groups of people, but after a quick search she determined that Cindy had already left.
    One of the guests saw Beth staring aimlessly around the living room and cleared a chair for her. Beth sat down with a grateful smile. The air in the house was stuffy, and she envied Francie out there in the clear air, leaning against her beau. She felt a stab of loneliness, and tilting her head back against the chair, she thought of Mike. She wished she could call him and at least talk, but he would be at the hospital now, in the thick of it. Later, she thought, closing her eyes. It will give me something to look forward to. The hushed conversation drifted around her, but she stayed slumped in the chair, feeling as if it were taking all her effort just to keep breathing.

Chapter 5
    BETH CAME AWAKE SUDDENLY IN THE NARROW, LUMPY BED and lay still for a minute, sweat beading under her arms as she tried to remember where she was. Then the childhood room regained its familiarity, and she sank back on the pillow with a sigh.
    Church bells tolled faintly through the town, announcing the end of a service, although it was hard to tell which service it was, for the light through the window was a metallic winter gray that defied the passing hours. Beth rolled over and put her face in the pillow. You have to get up,