The Straight Crimes Read Online Free PDF Page B

into her frail body.
    “Mindi, what’s going on down there?” her older sister, Faye, screamed from the top of the stairs.
    “Comin’,” she answered. The delusional woman hid the evidence as fast as she could and lunged for the laundry basket. Mindi climbed the stairs as if she were about to be lashed for her insolence.
    “What are you doing?”
    “Just emptyin’ the dryer.”
    Faye latched onto Mindi’s arm and pulled her into the disheveled living room.
    Panic flooded her senses. She closed her eyes and prayed to a God she only selfishly addressed in her hour of need, hoping Faye hadn’t notice the fresh blood.
    “This place is disgusting. How many people were here last night?” She crossed her arms and tapped her foot impatiently.
    “It was just me, Faye-Faye.”
    “That ain’t what I heard. According to Bill Winston, there were three cars parked in the driveway and one across the street that left mud tracks in his front yard.”
    Mindi’s mouth dropped. “Well Bill Winston’s an old busy-body and needs to mind his own God damn business. He don’t know what he’s talkin’ ‘bout.”
    “Bill’s always been a good neighbor to me. You’re lucky he doesn’t call the police and press charges against you for vandalism.”
    Mindi’s lip curled into a sneer. “Why? He’s just a stupid old queer who ain’t got a life of his own.”
    “Don’t talk like that.”
    “Why not? It’s true. Everyone knows he is.”
    “So what? We ain’t talking about him.” Faye scowled. “We’re talking about you.”
    “Look, it ain’t that deep, so just calm down, sissy. I had a couple drinks last night and fell asleep before I could take care of my lil’ mess. I was just comin’ to clean after I finished the laundry.”
    “Good one.”
    “It’s the truth.”
    “Don’t make me laugh. I’ll come home later and it’ll still be here.”
    “No it won’t.”
    “You’ve barely been here two months, and I’m already sick of you. When are you gonna grow up? You’re thirty-six years old with a seventeen year-old daughter—who’s more responsible than you.”
    “But Harper ain’t earnin’ a paycheck.”
    “No, but if she were, she wouldn’t piss it away on booze. What’s with you? Just ‘cause you can’t do drugs no more you’re gonna drink yourself stupid and party every night?”
    Mindi slicked her greasy red hair into a pony tail and stiffened her back. “It ain’t  every  night—”
    “When you can’t find a party, you bring one back here and leave my house a disaster.”
    “Well shit, after standin’ ‘round that factory ten hours a day, I’ve gotta relax. You’d go crazy too if you saw all them half-witted, inbred monkeys I’ve gotta deal with.”
    “The point is you’ve been neglecting your responsibilities here.”
    “Hello, don’t you see me workin’?” Mindi shoved the laundry basket at Faye.
    “Only ‘cause I yelled about it. You say you’re gonna change, but I ain’t seen it yet.”
    “Then you must be blind.”
    “No, you’re blind. You can’t even see the horrible example you’re setting for Harper.”
    “Enough, Faye.”
    “You’re her mom. It’s time to start acting like it.”
    “I do.”
    “Please, you   never  give her a lick of attention.”
    “We ain’t goin’ there again, Faye.”
    “You only care about yourself.”
    “ You  always stretch the truth.”
    “I don’t think so.”
    Mindi threw her arms in the air. “Look, I’m sorry I ain’t as perfect as you, but I’m tryin’ real hard. When the hell are ya gonna quit throwin’ my mistakes in my face?”
    “Once you quit making them.”
    Mindi glared at Faye. “I can’t be doin’ all that bad.”
    “Right, only ‘cause I let you guys move in again.”
    “Just ‘cause you own this house now don’t mean it ain’t my home. You always forget we  both  grew up here, sissy. This was my place just as much as it was yours, so don’t go makin’ me feel like a stranger