When You Were Young

No matter what Molly said, Samantha could not forgive Mama Veronica. Not ever. She couldn't forgive a monster. She didn't care if Mama Veronica went up to Heaven and didn't return; Samantha would never forgive her. "We weaving and never, ever coming back," she said to her dolly.

She tucked the doll under her arm and then tried to pull herself over the side of the crib. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn't do it. She finally sank down to the mattress, crying and panting from the effort.

"Smanfa?" Prudence said. "Are you all right?"

"No. I hate this pwace. I hate Mama Vewonica. I gonna weave," Samantha said.

"You are? Can I come with you? I don't want to be alone," Prudence said. She leaned over the edge of the crib so Samantha could see her face.

"Yes. Can you help me out of the cwib?"

"All right." Samantha tried to pull herself up again, only this time Prudence took hold of her nightgown. They both tumbled to the ground. A cut opened on Samantha's right knee from the fall, but she bit down on her lip to keep from crying out. They couldn't let Molly know. "Wait here."

Samantha watched Prudence sneak back into her bedroom, a hand going to her lips. She's going to tell on me! Samantha thought. Instead, Prudence returned a minute later with Samantha's princess costume, including the scepter, and her own green dress. Samantha left the diaper on; even though it made her feel like a baby she didn't want to ruin her pretty dress.

After they changed, Prudence led Samantha into the boy's bedroom. She poked at her brother with a finger. When this didn't cause him to stir, she shook him. He still didn't get up, so she finally rolled him off the bed, onto the floor. "What-" he started to ask, but Prudence clapped a hand over his mouth and put a finger to her lips.

"Smanfa and I are leaving. You're coming too."

"Where we going?"

"I don't know," Prudence said.

"I don't want to go."

"You don't have a choice. Get dressed."

"Can I come?" Joey asked from the bed, sniffling and wheezing through his nose.

"No," Samantha and Prudence hissed together.

"Why not? I don't want to be alone."

"You a stinkyhead," Samantha said.

"You're a snotface," Prudence said. "We don't like you."

"Maybe we should-" Wendell started to say.

"No. He'll make too much noise," Prudence said. She reached across the bed to seize Joey by the shirtfront. "You better not tell on us." She curled a fist for emphasis.

"I won't tell," he said, his sniffling and wheezing becoming worse as he cried.