Chapter 13
~Where The Day Flows~
Helen Plum wakes up at the first dim ray of dawn. She lies in bed listening to the noises of early morning and thinks of the busy day ahead of her. Friday. Pot roast. Gravy. Mashed potatoes. Chocolate chip cookies. The exotic fruit salad she's just learned from Jamie Oliver's cooking show. And a golden moist pineapple upside-down cake to lure Stephanie home. Helen reminds herself and silently sighs as she gets out of bed for a shower. Will there be a day when she can stop worrying about her younger daughter? She really has no idea.
Like a lot of women of her generation, Helen is a somewhat traditional women who enjoys cooking, baking and taking care of her family, and she can't help caring about other people's opinions. She keeps her home tidy and her front lawn trimmed. She's always friendly, helpful and polite to all her neighbors.
Except for the Morellis.
Helen goes downstairs and starts the coffee. She's not on speaking terms with any of the Morellis. She doesn't even nod or recognize their presence when she runs into them in the church or the bakery. She and every mother in this neighborhood know all about the Morellis. A family of notorious drunkards, wife-beaters and cheaters. A family of pathetic women who are helplessly and hopelessly addicted to being abused. And the family that produced the little monster who tried to take advantage of her Stephanie.
She thins her lips and tries her best to suppress the sudden anger. She is a forgiving woman by nature, but no mother will ever get over that kind of ugly deeds. Besides, Angie Morelli has never once apologized for her son's behaviors. And Helen and the rest of the universe know too well the distinctions between "innocent curiosity" and "molestation", as well as "attempted rape" and "saying goodbye". She thinks of those less fortunate mothers' and their daughters' tears. She says a silent prayer and takes a deep breath. She's grateful and relieved that Stephanie didn't fall victim to that little rat bastard Joe Morelli.
Now if only her stubborn younger child can find herself a nice young man and settle down...