When Life Shatters (1)

Lilah's Place

        I stand on the porch next to Daisy and Mama, holding hands. We watch as Daddy drives away, leaving a trail of dust in his wake. Daisy breaks down into tears, but I stay strong. Suddenly, I see someone trudging up the walkway. It's Molly, my older sister.
        "Now, excuse me, but what in tarnation was Daddy doing, driving his car out like that?" Molly exclaims, gathering her red hair back in a bun and tying it with her handkerchief. She licks her buck teeth. "Mama, you and Daddy ain't fighting again, I hope?" Molly steps onto the porch and into the house and we follow her.
        Mama shakes her head. "No, we ain't fighting, Molly, dear. Don't you worry. Daddy's just going off to fight in Vietnam."
        Molly's eyes grow wide. "He ain't!" When Mama nods her head, Molly throws her hands up in exasperation. "Why he doing that for? We all know very well it's a death trap out there, and now he's gone and gotten himself right smack in the middle of it!" Molly groans and collapses on the worn couch. "Do we at least have food? If he went and left us with an itty-bitty ration like Mary-Sue's daddy did, I swear to God I will go insane!"
        I sniff. "We have food, Molly, don't you worry. It's just- it's just- Sammy's daddy was killed in the war once, but... I want Daddy to come back, safe and sound."
        Mama sighs. "I know you do, honey." She playfully punches Molly in the arm. "But where you at? We been here worried sick, and you come waltzing in, acting like you're the boss of everyone. So where you been?"
        Molly picks at her cuticles. "Mama, I just been over at Lilah's place-"
        Mama's eyes grow wide. I gulp and look at my lap. It's common knowledge in this family that Lilah's mama is the nurse - she cares for sick folks, and that means her place is crawling with icky diseases that anyone could catch! "Molly, how you get back here?" I ask. I didn't see her being dropped off by anyone, and she couldn't have walked all that way.
        "Lilah drove me halfway, but her car broke down, so I had to walk." Molly shrugs.
        Mama brings her hands down on her thighs. "If you did pick up some sort of foreign illness down at that god-forsaken place, the heat'll done near kill you!" She sighs. "Go on to your bedroom, Molly, and I'll bring you a cold cloth."