Night Light

  Luke grinned then and looked over at Joey. Sarah took her thumb out of her mouth and smiled, as if trying to picture it. But Joey still wasn’t moved.

  “Can we buy stuff to make our TV work?” Luke asked.

  “No, Luke. Don’t you know that even if we had a million dollars, we couldn’t make our TV work? Those stupid Pulses are still going, messing everything up for all of us.” He looked at Joey then. “Joey, are you in or out?”

  Joey thought for a long moment, and Aaron began to fear that he was going to revolt. Finally, he answered. “Okay, Aaron, but you better be right about this. Because the Brannings’ll be so mad that they’ll never take us back. And the sheriff might come and split us up for sure.”

  “Would I let that happen?” Aaron demanded. When Joey looked away, he got in his face. “Answer me, Joey. Would I let that happen?”

  Joey snapped. “Yeah, you might let that happen! You’re not the king, you know. You don’t get to decide everything!”

  The door opened, and Kay stuck her head in. She looked from one to the other. “Everything all right in here, guys?”

  Joey let out a breath and sat back on the bed. “Yeah, fine.”

  “You’re not fighting, are you?”

  There was a long beat of silence. Aaron turned back to her. “No, we’re not fighting. But Sarah wants to sleep in here with us tonight. I guess we’ll let her.”

  He held his breath as Kay looked at Sarah. “Why, Sarah? There’s not much room in here.”

  “I’ll sleep on the floor,” Aaron cut in.

  Sarah’s thumb went back into her mouth.

  Kay hesitated. “Well, okay, if that’s what Sarah wants. But Sarah, if you change your mind, you can go get in bed with Deni.”

  Sarah just nodded, and Aaron breathed again. She was going to go along with it.

  Tonight, they would all be free.

  LATER THAT NIGHT, AARON LAY ON THE FLOOR, STARING AT THE ceiling, fighting sleep until he was sure everyone was asleep. Then he tiptoed to the stairs and went halfway down, peered across the house toward the master bedroom. He didn’t see the flicker of an oil lamp through their door, so they must be in bed.

  It was time.

  He hurried back up into the bedroom where they all slept and woke Joey up. Joey didn’t fight it this time. He just got up, pulled on his clothes, and grabbed his bag out from under the bed.

  Aaron woke up Luke and Sarah. It wasn’t easy. The children were groggy and didn’t want to wake up, but finally he got them out of bed and reminded them what they were doing.

  “Now get dressed. Hurry.”

  Sarah’s hair was in her sleepy face, and he pushed it back and helped her get dressed. “Now listen,” he whispered. “When we go out, we have to be really quiet. You got that, Sarah? We can’t let nobody hear us.”

  “I will,” she muttered.

  “No sounds, okay, Luke? Joey?”

  They all nodded and got the stuff he’d packed for them.

  They crept downstairs, their feet creaking slightly on the stairs, but no one woke. Since he didn’t want to raise the garage to get the bikes out for fear of alerting Doug and Kay, he got the flashlight they always kept on the kitchen counter and went into the dark garage. Joey helped him roll two bikes through the house and out the back door.

  Quietly, they stole around the house and piled on the bikes — Luke on back of Joey’s bike, Sarah on back of his. The moonlight was bright, guiding them home.

  And the cool air smelled like freedom.

  thirty-eight

  THE MORNING BROUGHT REGRETS.

  Deni sat up in bed as dawn intruded on her sleep, bringing with it recriminations about the letter she’d sent to Craig. Had she really mailed it?

  She wondered if it was too late to find Mrs. Lipscomb and get it back. The postmaster already suspected she was crazy. Now she’d have no doubts.

  She got out of bed and got dressed. Today was Disbursement Day, and they had to get to the football field early. Even if she wanted to get the letter back, there was no time now.

  She pulled open the drawer where she’d put Craig’s letter. Unwrinkling it, she read over it again. As she did, anger pulsed through her. Yes, she had done the right thing. She wouldn’t let herself think of it again. She balled the letter up and shoved it into her pocket.

  She heard footsteps on the stairs outside her room. “Anybody awake?” Her mother sounded too perky.

  “I am, Mom.”

  “Good. Get everybody up, Deni. We have to get moving.”

  Beth stirred, then sat up.

  “Get dressed, Beth. It’s Money Day.”

  While Beth got out of bed, Deni went down the hall to the room where the Gatlin kids slept.

  No one was there. The bed was rumpled, and the pallet they’d made for Aaron on the floor was twisted and pushed to the side. But there was no clutter — no shoes lying around, no toys, no discarded clothes.

  Something wasn’t right.

  She woke up Logan and Jeff, then hurried downstairs. Her mother was in the kitchen, slicing a loaf of bread Amber Rowe had made for them yesterday.

  “This is it for breakfast,” Kay said. “I’m trying to slice it ten ways. It may have to last us all day, depending on how fast the line moves.” She sighed. “We’re not getting the disbursement a minute too soon. I can’t wait to buy some chickens. I wasn’t this excited when I got my Expedition. Imagine eggs for breakfast!”

  Deni took her slice and bit into the dry, tasteless bread. “Mom, where are the Gatlin kids?”

  Kay glanced back at her. “They slept together last night, remember?”

  “I know, but they’re not there.”

  Kay stopped slicing. “Did you check the bathroom?”

  “Yes. They’re not there.”

  “Don’t tell me — ” She abandoned the bread and ran to her bedroom door. “Doug!”

  He came out of their bedroom, dressed but barefoot, tennis shoes hanging from his fingers. “What is it?”

  “The Gatlin kids. They’re gone.”

  “No way!” Doug dropped his shoes and ran up the stairs; Deni was right behind him. Jeff stood in the hallway. “Where are they?” Doug demanded. “Did anybody hear them leave?”

  “I didn’t,” Jeff said.

  Logan came out of the bathroom. “You mean they took off?”

  Doug looked under the bed. “Looks like it. They took all their stuff.”

  Beth joined her brothers in the hall. “But Dad, it’s Money Day!”

  Kay, who’d just come up, pushed through her children. “Doug, you’ve got to go after them. We’ve got to get there early and they won’t get theirs if they’re not with an adult!”

  “Tell me about it.” He ran downstairs and into the garage. When he came back into the kitchen, he said, “They stole two bikes.”

  That was serious. They’d only had four bikes as it was, since they’d given two away to neighbors who didn’t have any. Deni watched him pull on his shoes, then go back into the garage and open the door.

  “Where are you going?” Kay shouted.

  “To their apartment.” He mounted one of the bikes. “I’m going to get them back.”

  “Hurry,” she said. “I don’t want us to be late.”

  “Kay and Beth, you take the other bike and ride ahead so you can get in line. Jeff, Deni and Logan, you start walking. I’ll find you all when I get there.”

  “How come she gets to ride?” Logan demanded.

  “Because I said so.” That would have to be good enough for now.

  THE KNOCK ON EDITH’S DOOR WAS URGENT AND ANGRY.

  Even though it was barely past dawn, Aaron knew it was Doug Branning.

  His brothers and sister were still asleep on Edith’s living room floor, but Joey stirred to life and sat up.

  Edith grabbed her gun from the top of a bookcase, and ran through and looked out the window. “It’s him!” she said. “Aaron, get everybody into the bedroom. Hide till I tell you to com
e out.”

  Quickly, Aaron woke Luke up, and Joey led him back. He didn’t even try to wake Sarah. Instead, he picked her up, carried her to Edith’s room, and laid her on the dirty sheets. “Get between the bed and the wall,” he told his brothers. “Wake up, Sarah, and don’t make a sound.”

  His sister woke up, and he pulled her down with her brothers. Doug pounded again.

  Edith’s bedroom was right next to her tiny living room, its window looking out to the landing outside the front door. He pulled down one of the miniblinds and peered out. Mr. Doug looked ready to bust an artery.

  He heard Edith opening it. “What do you want?” she yelled.

  “I want the Gatlin kids. I know they’re here.” He looked like he was coming in, so Aaron hit the floor.

  “The Gatlin kids?” he heard Edith say. “Why would they be here?”

  “Because I’ve already checked their apartment and they’re not there. Let me in. I’ll find them myself.”

  “You can’t come in here! I told you they’re not here!”

  “Where else would they go?” His voice boomed over the apartment. “You’re the one peddling freedom … putting ideas in their heads.”

  He was at the bedroom door now. Aaron put his hand over Sarah’s head, keeping her down.

  “You’re out of your mind,” Edith shouted. “What do you think I am? Some kind of fool? Now get out! I don’t let strange men into my apartment!”

  Aaron couldn’t count the number of strange men she’d had in her apartment. He heard heavier footsteps bounding across the floor.

  “What’s going on?”

  It was Horace, one of the biggest, angriest men on the floor, and Aaron heard a scuffle as Doug tried to come into the bedroom.

  “Aaron, if you’re in here, you need to know that you’re making a big mistake!” Doug shouted. “It’s not too late. You can still come with me.”

  “They can’t hear you,” Edith said, “because they’re not here! I’m warning you!”

  Doug’s voice was brittle. “Put the gun down, Edith! You know I’m not here to hurt anybody.”

  Horace’s raspy voice intervened. “Come on now, Branning,” he said. “Don’t make her shoot you!”

  “Aaron, I’m telling you, you’re going to get into trouble if you trust this woman! She’s going to take your money!”

  “You’re the one who wants their money, not me!” Edith said. “Now get out of here or I’ll call the police!”

  “How? You gonna try the telephone?”

  “That’s enough, bud.” Horace again. “Come on, let’s go.”

  Aaron heard the footsteps retreating. He raised up enough to peer out the window again.

  Horace hovered over Doug on the landing, threatening him with his very presence. “Look, Branning. I don’t want to hurt you. You’ve done a lot to help us here, but if the kids ain’t here, they ain’t here, and there’s nothing you can do about it.”

  Undaunted, Doug turned back to Edith and pointed a finger in her face. “You hurt those kids in any way — emotionally, physically, or financially — and so help me; I’ll make you regret it.”

  Aaron stood there listening; amazed that Mr. Doug would get this upset. He must really want that money.

  “I want to go with him, Aaron.” Sarah’s little voice was muffled against the floor.

  “Hush,” he whispered. “You’re not gonna. I’ll take care of you.”

  Finally, Doug stormed away.

  Aaron heard Edith slam the door and lock it.

  Edith ran in, smiling and flashing those smoker’s teeth. “We did it,” she said. “Come on, everybody. Get ready. We’ve got to get down to the football field.”

  This was going to be a good day.

  thirty-nine

  THE CROCKETT HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL FIELD TEEMED WITH Crockett residents waiting for the twenty-five dollars that would have to sustain them for the next three months. It had taken Deni and her brothers an hour and a half to walk to the football field, and then another forty-five minutes to find their mom and Beth. By now her father had already returned from the apartments and joined them in line, but it was clear they would all be there for hours.

  FEMA’s plans had seemed like a good idea when she’d first heard the announcement, but now Deni wondered about the wisdom of it. There had to be a better way than lining up twenty thousand people on the same stretch of land all at once. But she supposed she should have expected as much. FEMA’s performance in past disasters had proved flawed, at best.

  She had hoped that her parents would find the Gatlin kids, but the volunteers who were working the crowd had lined them all up in a maze that snaked back and forth across the field — Disney World style — moving ever so slowly toward the front of the stadium where the tables were set up. In all the thousands of people, it was difficult to find anyone.

  Government employees sat behind the tables, examining documents and giving out the cash. There was no breeze, and the crush of people made the sun’s rays hotter and more oppressive.

  Deni had worn her baseball cap with her ponytail pulled through the back to keep the sun off her face. She wondered if Craig had had to wait in a line somewhere in Washington, or if the senators and their staffs had gotten the first disbursements. Somehow, she couldn’t picture him waiting in a line like everyone else hour after hour, but then she couldn’t picture him scrounging for food or living in virtual poverty, either.

  A toddler in the family in front of them cried miserably as they passed him from one family member to another, trying to bounce him and keep him quiet. The field sounded like a day-care center just before lunch, as miserable children cried out to go home or be fed or just to run free instead of standing next to their parents. The place was too crowded to let children run and play, and since everyone — young and old, sick and healthy — had to be present to receive their share, no one wanted to risk losing a family member for even a little while. Some had ropes attaching children to their parents. Others kept their kids bound in strollers that they pushed through the line.

  Logan had whined nonstop since they’d left home. “This is retarded. Why can’t they move faster?”

  “They’re moving as fast as they can,” his father said. “This isn’t easy. They have to verify the documents to cut down on fraud and make sure everyone who gets money actually lives here. Without computers, it’s tedious.”

  “So we walk up there and hand them our documents,” Beth said. “What’s so hard about that?”

  “It will probably be pretty cut and dried for our family,” Doug said, “since I have a deed to our house to show them. But some of the others — like renters — they may not have those kinds of documents. They’ll take longer.”

  “So how do they know no one’s coming through twice?”

  “They’re stamping hands with indelible ink. It won’t wash off for days.”

  Jeff sat on the grass where he would have been playing football this fall, if school had been able to open. “How are the Gatlin kids going to get disbursements if they don’t have all that paperwork?”

  Doug’s face tightened again and he looked at Kay. She’d been teary-eyed all morning as she’d stood in line.

  “I don’t know what they’ll do. I guess whoever brings them will need proof of residency.”

  “We should have made them understand that we weren’t money-hungry,” Kay said. “We could have let them keep their money. Then we’d at least know they were safe, and they would have stayed.”

  “No, they wouldn’t,” Doug said. “They wouldn’t have believed us. They have it in their heads that we’re up to something. They don’t have much experience with people doing good for them without an ulterior motive.”

  “We have to tell the sheriff,” Kay said.

  Doug wiped his forehead. “I already did. He was at the gate when I came in. He’s keeping an eye out. I also told him about Edith’s gun. She may even be holding the kids against their will. If he sees her, he’ll arre
st her.”

  The line moved forward a few feet, and Jeff got up and moved, then plopped down again.

  “Deni got a letter from Craig last night.” Beth’s announcement turned all eyes to Deni. She had hoped no one would ask her about it. She didn’t want to discuss it.

  Kay turned to her. “Oh, Deni, we were so busy last night when we got home, I didn’t think to ask you about it.”

  “That’s okay. There wasn’t much to tell.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “I mean, it was just like the other letter. Cold and unfeeling. Just the way he is.” She didn’t miss the exchanged looks between her mother and father.

  “Well, honey, it’s like I told you before. He’s a guy.”

  “Don’t make excuses for him, Mom. You don’t have to do that anymore. I broke up with him.”

  “You what?” Beth swung around, gaping up at her. “Are you kidding?”

  “No, I’m not kidding. I wrote him a letter last night and took it to the post office. It’s probably on its way to him as we speak.”

  “You broke up?” Jeff asked. “I thought he was supposed to be the dream guy, the one you’d waited your whole life for …”

  His tone was so mocking she wanted to slap him. “I don’t want to talk about it anymore, okay?”

  “All right,” Kay said, “everybody leave Deni alone. She doesn’t have to explain it.”

  Deni kept looking straight ahead, knowing it wasn’t over. She was right.

  “Are you sure you did the right thing, honey?” Kay said quietly after a pause. “I mean, maybe you should have thought about it for a few days. Prayed over it.”

  “I didn’t need to pray over it, Mom. It was becoming clearer and clearer that he’s not the man God chose for me.” She spoke the words bitterly, but when she saw a flicker of satisfaction in her dad’s eyes, she wasn’t surprised. He hadn’t liked Craig from the start. She should have listened to him.