1999.
The two girls let themselves into the big brownstone on the corner of Walsh and Bishop. They used a key from under a fake rock in the yard because their babysitter wasn’t there yet. Unusual behavior for their babysitter, a teen girl named Bianca. Most afternoons, she’d be right there. Ready to give them hugs. However, the girls knew where the key was. They knew to start their homework right away. If they didn’t, Father would come home and give bruises.
Ten-year-old Angie took her math problems from her book bag. She worked on them studiously at the kitchen table. They studied fractions this year in Ms. Dawsey’s fifth-grade class. Angie hated fractions. Her little sister, Lillian, laid across the couch in the living room and read from …show more content…
She whispered in harsh tones. Sometimes she switched to Spanish. The girls looked at each other. They heard it, but neither knew who the young babysitter argued with. She came back after a short while, closed the door and locked it, then sat back down and continued to eat as if nothing had happened. But, the fun was over and the girls knew it. Bianca’s mood had greatly changed.
Lillian tried to joke a few times, but Bianca barely responded to the childish quips. Angela silently watched their babysitter. She couldn’t remember Bianca this way before. She wondered who the mysterious person in the basement was. All she detected from the whispers of conversation was Bianca saying she understood the deal.
She thought Bianca said the name Donald, but it had to be a mistake. Donald was her father’s name. What would Father have to do with the babysitter to make her speak in hushed tones and react in such a visceral way? Angela vowed to find out. There was something odd about the whole thing.
Bedtime. The girls showered and put on their nightclothes. Lil was the first one to go and get tucked in while Angela got to watch half an hour more television. Lillian and Bianca said prayers together. Lil prayed for Angela and Bianca and her best friend from school, Rachel Schaikoski. When she got to the prayers about Father, Bianca got somber again. Lil didn't
The two girls let themselves into the big brownstone on the corner of Walsh and Bishop. They used a key from under a fake rock in the yard because their babysitter wasn’t there yet. Unusual behavior for their babysitter, a teen girl named Bianca. Most afternoons, she’d be right there. Ready to give them hugs. However, the girls knew where the key was. They knew to start their homework right away. If they didn’t, Father would come home and give bruises.
Ten-year-old Angie took her math problems from her book bag. She worked on them studiously at the kitchen table. They studied fractions this year in Ms. Dawsey’s fifth-grade class. Angie hated fractions. Her little sister, Lillian, laid across the couch in the living room and read from …show more content…
She whispered in harsh tones. Sometimes she switched to Spanish. The girls looked at each other. They heard it, but neither knew who the young babysitter argued with. She came back after a short while, closed the door and locked it, then sat back down and continued to eat as if nothing had happened. But, the fun was over and the girls knew it. Bianca’s mood had greatly changed.
Lillian tried to joke a few times, but Bianca barely responded to the childish quips. Angela silently watched their babysitter. She couldn’t remember Bianca this way before. She wondered who the mysterious person in the basement was. All she detected from the whispers of conversation was Bianca saying she understood the deal.
She thought Bianca said the name Donald, but it had to be a mistake. Donald was her father’s name. What would Father have to do with the babysitter to make her speak in hushed tones and react in such a visceral way? Angela vowed to find out. There was something odd about the whole thing.
Bedtime. The girls showered and put on their nightclothes. Lil was the first one to go and get tucked in while Angela got to watch half an hour more television. Lillian and Bianca said prayers together. Lil prayed for Angela and Bianca and her best friend from school, Rachel Schaikoski. When she got to the prayers about Father, Bianca got somber again. Lil didn't