Mother drew back, sobbing, and dropped the porcelain slab.
But Mother was filled with excitement, filled with hope. Mother almost fell down too, but she climbed over Father, and ran out into the room, and snatched her clothes and purse from the closet floor, her purse, yes, her purse, she had to have her purse, and off she ran down the hallway in her bare feet, Emaleth tossed and thrown and reaching out for the world to make it steady.
They were in the tiny elevator going down, down, down! It felt so good to Emaleth! They were in the world outside the room. Mother lay against the back of the elevator, putting on her clothes, mumbling aloud to herself, crying, wiping at her face. She pulled the red sweater over her head. Pulled on the skirt, but she could not button it. She pulled the sweater down over it.
Where were they going?
Mother, what happened to Father? Where are we going? Father wants us to go. We have to go, be quiet and be patient.
Mother wasn’t telling the truth. Far off, Emaleth heard Father whisper her name.
Mother stopped in the elevator door. The pain was too much for her. More and more there was pain. Emaleth sighed and tried to make herself very small, no pain for Mother. But the world grew tight and small and then Mother gasped, and put her hand over her eyes, and leaned to the side.
Mother, don’t fall.
Then Mother fitted her shoes to her feet and began to run, her purse dangling from her shoulder, banging the glass doors as she ran out. But she could not run far. She was too heavy. With her arms around Emaleth she stopped, hugging Emaleth and steadying her.
Mother, I love you.
I love you too, my dear. I do. But I must get to Michael.
Mother thought of Michael, pictured him, the man with the dark hair and the smile, burly and kind, and not at all like Father. Angel, Mother said, to save us. Mother was calm for a moment and her hope and her joy flooded through Emaleth. Emaleth felt joy.
Emaleth felt for the first time in all her life Mother’s happiness. Michael.
But in the midst of this lovely calm, when Emaleth laid her head against Mother and Mother’s hands held Emaleth’s world, Emaleth heard Father calling.
Mother, Father has waked up. I can hear him. He’s calling.
Mother stepped into the street. The cars and trucks roared by. Mother rushed towards a big noisy truck that rose up before her like a wall of shining steel, looking just like a big face with a mean mouth and nose above her.
Yes, darling dear, that about covers it.
With all her might, Mother managed to make the high step and pull open the door.
“Please, sir, take me with you, wherever you are going! I have to go!” Mother slammed the door of the truck. “Drive, for the love of God, I’m only a woman alone. I can’t hurt you!”
Emaleth, where are you?
“Lady, you need to get to a hospital. You’re sick,” said the man but he obeyed.
The big truck took off, the motor filling the world with noise. Mother was sick with the rattle and bounce of the truck, with pain. Circular pain. Mother’s head fell back on the seat.
Emaleth, your mother has hurt me!
Mother, he is calling to us.
Darling, if you love me, don’t answer him.
“Lady, I’m taking you to Houston General.”
Mother wanted to say, No, please, don’t do this. Take me away. She could not catch her breath. She tasted of sickness, even of blood. She was in pain. The pain hurt Emaleth too.
Father’s voice was very far away, making no words, only cries.
“New Orleans,” she said. “That’s my home. I have to get back there. I have to get to the Mayfair house, on First and Chestnut.”
Emaleth knew what Mother knew. That is where Michael was. She wished she could speak to the truck driver. She wished she could. Mother was so sick. Mother would soon vomit, and that smell would come. Be calm, Mother. I don’t hear Father anymore.
“Michael Curry, in New Orleans, I have to reach him there. He’ll pay you. He’ll pay you plenty. I will pay you. Call him. Look—We’ll stop at a phone, later, when we’re out of town, but look—”
And now from her purse she brought out the money, lots and lots of money, and the man stared at Mother with his round human eyes, very amazed but wanting to make her not sick, wanting