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drink at One-Eyed Bill's and she just forgot how much time went by, I imagine.
    "The paramedics took him to the hospital emergency room where the doctor sewed up Rodney's wound. The paramedics wanted to know everything while a policeman went to fetch Momma. I had to tell them what had happened and they looked at each other angrily. When Momma arrived, she was fit to be tied that I had called them because they pulled her aside and gave her a what- for that spun her eyes. They threatened to tell the police and have someone from the Child Protection Service on her back if she let something like this happen again. They even told her she could go to jail for endangering the life of an infant.
    "After we all got brought home, Momma started on me. Daddy came home right in the middle of it, saw Rodney and heard enough bits and pieces to realize what had occurred. I guess he knew about some of the other times, but he didn't get as wildly angry as I had expected he would.
    "Instead, he got all quiet, this strange mood coming over him as if he was a clam or something and just closed up his shell. He looked at me and at Rodney and just sat with his eyes glazed while Momma went on and on like a worn CD, repeating her same complaints and trying to excuse herself.
    "'Who do they think they are telling me I'm not a good mother just because I stepped out for a moment? Huh? Who knew he'd get up and walk himself into the bathroom and fall into the tub, huh? I'm no fortuneteller. I was coming right back. He was asleep. Who do they think they are reading me the riot act, huh?
    "'Why are you just sitting there staring into space like that, Kenny? What's this act supposed to be. You trying to make me feel bad? You know what it's like being stuck here with an infant all day? I'm talking to you. I'm looking at you and I'm talking to you.'
    "Daddy said nothing. Still looking dazed, he just got up suddenly and walked out of the apartment. Momma stood there with her hands on her hips, her mouth wide and her eyes blazing. He closed the door softly behind him.
"She turned to me and said, 'Did you see that?
    Did you?'
"My heart was thumping like a parade drum. I
couldn't speak or swallow.
"'Of all the raw nerve. . . Well, good riddance to
you too!' she screamed at the door. Then she opened
it, stuck her head out in the hallway and screamed it
again, but he was already out of the building. "I saw my daddy only once after that." "Saw him only once? What do you mean? Your
father just left you and Rodney for good?" Jade asked,
practically jumping out of her seat.
It was funny, but while I was telling them about
it all, I really did forget they were there. Something
like this had happened before, of course, but usually
only with Doctor Marlowe. My memories would get
so thick, they'd block out the present, where I was and
what I was doing. I felt like I had fallen back and I
was really there again. Momma's angry face was so
vivid in my mind, those eyes bloodshot, her mouth
twisted and her shoulders hoisted making her look
like some kind of wild bird about to pounce. Whenever she went into her ranting, my
stomach would close like a fist and my breath would
catch in my throat, making me feel as though I could
choke on air. Retelling these bad times put me back
into that state of mind and I wouldn't snap out of it
until my lungs screamed. I'd blink a lot and realize
where I was and I'd be grateful I wasn't back then. That's how I felt now when Jade blurted her
question at me. I looked at her for a few moments
without realizing who she was and where I was. Her
face got all twisted with confusion..
"Why doesn't she answer me, Doctor Marlowe?
Why is she just staring at me like that?" I heard her
ask. "Star?" Doctor Marlowe said. "Star?"
That was my name, I thought. I heard her, but
she sounded like she was at the other end of a long
tunnel.
"Doctor Marlowe?" Misty said. "She looks
spaced."
"She'll be all right, girls. Relax. Don't let her
feel your panic. Star,