“The RoseBouquet”

At two-thirty the next day, Ruthe hurried off to the city once more, relieved at the ease with which she was beginning to come and go with no quizzing. Was it was true that folks think more of themselves than others?

Entering the hospital room, she found Darlene upset and pacing impatiently. “That cute guy called my ol’ lady. So Marie comes by this afternoon. Even brings a present; a pack of cigarettes.”

Ruthe bit her lip, afraid of what this new curve meant.

“Guess what happened.” Darlene sounded puzzled.

“What?” the country girl asked cautiously.

“I thought I heard Jesus whisper, inside me sort’a, Don’t. Let those dirty things be.”

“You mean you didn’t take them after all?”

“Uh uh. I told her about your visit. Y’know, Jesus forgiving me, ‘n all that.”

“What did your mother say?”

“Marie was furious. Said I hadn’t done wrong. Her feminist spiel; the world has sinned against us, an’ on and on. When I told her about the prostitute or adulter- that hooker, in the Bible, well, she blew her @#$%#$~ guts! Marie said if I was going to get religious I’d better stay out of her sight. If I dare come to the apartment she’ll kick me #$%#-less!”

Ruthe stared, dumbfounded.

“You said it was fool-proof, Ruthe. It’s got’a work! I’m not quittin’ on Jesus after He died for all my- that filthy goop of my life.” Darlene burst into tears. “I was so happy last night. I was humming and giddy, and I had a long, long chat with Jesus, an’ y’know, He doesn’t hate me, He likes me!”

This melted Ruthe’s heart. With tears she opened her arms and Darlene walked into them. “It’s okay, Darlene. Moms sometimes lose their tempers. She will get over it.”

“Oh no, she meant it. She’s beat me to a pulp before.”

Darlene blew her nose angrily. “Hah. That’s $%#%& fine with me. I’ll manage without her. I can move in with you, right?”

“You’re sure she won’t-?”

“Dead sure. Marie wants all her Johns to herself.”

“What about your Dad?” Ruthe was reaching panic-stricken for another answer. “Maybe-”

“Haven’t any, remember?” She sat back on the edge of the bed with a bounce that made the springs ping and squeak, and motioned to the guest chair. “Sit.”

[You can read the rest of Chapter 8, (and the preceding seven chapters too) from This Link]

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