The excuse had been the big problem. What excuse could Ephram and Delia give their father for the two of them being gone from five to nine? So they went to Nina for advice. Nina always had advice.
"I don't see why you just can't ask him to go," Nina told Ephram. Ephram was claiming to be out with friends while Delia entertained their father.
"Because Delia doesn't want him there. So, any ideas?" Ephram asked her. Nina sighed.
"Why don't you just ask him to come, Ephram?" Nina asked. Ephram sighed and stood up.
"It's Delia's call. So can you help us or not?" Ephram asked her. Nina sighed again.
"I guess I can't," she told him.
"Fine," Ephram sighed and walked out. Nina ran a hand through her hair and walked into the kitchen. Sam as a teenager was beginning to strike fear into her heart.
Dinner with the Harpers. That's what they went with. Irv and Edna had invited just the two of them to dinner. Four hours was a good enough time for dinner, and they could walk to and from the Harper house. They were sure Edna and Irv would go along with it, especially if Delia asked them. Delia was the master of the cute, puppy-dog eye thing. Their grandmother said their mother was a pro at that too. Ephram could never get it. Ephram and Delia walked out of their house, their father wishing them a good time. When Ephram got to the top of the stairs he saw Jig walking up their walkway, a bouquet of flowers in her hands. Ephram and Delia's eyes widened in shook at seeing her. One word out of her mouth could ruin their entire lie. Their hopes of Dr. Brown not seeing her were dashed as he opened his mouth.
"Oh, hello Jig, what are you doing here?" he asked her.
"I-" she started but Ephram cut her off.
"She's just here to make sure Delia and I got to her house for dinner okay!" Ephram said making sure Jig knew enough of their situation to shut up. Dr. Brown looked back at her as if for affirmation. She just nodded.
"Okay then, have a nice night you two," he said and closed the door. Ephram and Delia jogged down the stairs and over to her. Ephram grabbed her by the arm and lead her across the street.
"What are you doing here?" he asked her.
"Edna wanted to make sure the first flowers Delia got were from her, and she and Irv are there getting our seats. Doesn't he know?" Jig asked them, handing Delia the flowers.
"Thanks," Delia said smelling the daisies.
"No, and he's not going to," Ephram told Jig. She nodded in understanding.
"Alright, I trust you two," Jig told them rubbing her hands together for warmth.
"That's why you're cool," Delia said smiling. Jig looked down at her surprised.
"I'm cool?" Jig asked her.
"Yea," Ephram said and Jig stopped walking as Ephram and Delia continued.
"Why didn't anybody tell me! My whole life could have been different!" she said running after them.
Delia had to run backstage where she was the first person to receive flowers, and Ephram and Jig found their way to the seats in the fourth row that Irv and Edna had saved for them. Ephram took out the video recorder he had hidden away and taken with him. One way or another their father was going to find out about this play, and he was going to be upset about it. Maybe if Ephram had it on tape the punishment might be lenient. Ephram searched the crowd and found Desi and her parents there. They had no relatives of age to be in the play, so this was probably a publicity stunt Desi got dragged along for. To his greater response, Ephram found his Aunt Star, Orrie, and Cory in the audience. Cory was still battered and bruised looking, and the sight of him made Ephram turn his gaze to Jig. She was staring at the stage, watching as things hit the other side of the down curtain, making this side move and almost dance. Jig pursed her lips and rubbed her nose with her hand, no doubt out of coldness.
"Are you still cold?" Ephram asked her. She turned to him.
"Always and forever, my friend," she told him. He gave her a smile but frowned as soon as she turned away. Jig would be happier back in LA, even without her mom there. Maybe this Isaac guy should take her in. Ephram had deduced that Isaac was the friend Jig had that could afford to go to France, and the one who paid for her mom's funeral. Well, actually he hadn't so much deduced as blindly guessed.
"You'll tell me about Isaac someday, won't you?" he asked her. She turned to him, this slight look of horror on her face.
"The play's starting," she told him turning her attention to the drawing curtains. Ephram sighed, raised his camera, and hit 'record.'
Not a lot of third grade plays getting standing ovations, but this one got the entire auditorium in an uproar. On the stage Delia looked as surprised at the reaction as Ephram did in the stands. Broadway plays got this kind of response, not third grade plays. After a while Ephram checked his watch. This ovation was lasting a good three minutes. That was three minutes of Delia and Murasaki standing up there like fools. Unlike the rest of their classmates, Murasaki and Delia were unable to bow. Their gumdrop costumes would simply not permit it. They couldn't sit either. Delia took a glance at Miss Violet and knew their immobility was due to some wrong they had done her. Delia was pretty such she knew what she had done, but she didn't know what Murasaki could have done to deserve it. Maybe her brother and sister pulled one too many twin related pranks when they were in the third grade.
It was only eight thirty when the play let out, so Irv and Edna took the kids to get some ice cream. Delia got strawberry ice cream, two scoops, in a dish. Irv and Edna both got chocolate and vanilla swirl on a cone. Ephram got a butterscotch sundae and didn't realize why Jig had a grin on her face. Jig got a scoop of cookies 'en cream in a dish with a fork; they had run out of spoons. Irv and Edna sat on one side of the booth, while Delia, Jig, and Ephram scrunched into the other. Delia didn't mind being squashed against the wall, she was sitting down, she was happy. Ephram and Jig were amusing themselves bruising each other's arms with their elbows. Had Ephram been between the two girls, of course, the two would not have had this merry battle. His arm was healing, but still quite sore.
"So Private, how many more of those things do you have to do?" Edna asked her. Delia looked up from her strawberry ice cream.
"Two," she said obviously not thrilled by the idea.
"Those are during school hours though, right?" Ephram asked her. She nodded.
"Well if this isn't an odd and godforsaken sight," Dr. Abbott said walking over to their table. Edna let out an 'oh boy' and turned away from her son. Jig and Ephram turned their attention to their ice cream; neither of them thrilled at the idea of Dr. Abbott's presence. Dr. Abbott was not alone; however, Bright stood behind his shoulder. Delia gave a smiling glance at Bright before turning her attention to her ice cream as well, thinking the glance had gone unnoticed by all around.
"Hello Harold. Did you enjoy the play?" Irv asked his stepson, being the only one of the five to have noticed Dr. Abbott in the auditorium.
"I thought it was, enchanting," Dr. Abbott said noticing the former gumdrop tucked into the corner. His actual thoughts were no doubt of a more colorful nature, but seeing as how one of the thespians was within earshot, he kept it to himself. Actually, at the sight of Dr. Abbott, a new dread crept its way down Ephram's back. Dr. Abbott would no doubt mention the play to Ephram's father. And, further adding to the fear, Star had been there too. How had she heard about it? Why did she go? Why'd she bring the boys along? Did she notice Dr. Brown wasn't there and wonder? Did Dr. Abbott? Nina was suddenly becoming right. They should have told their father and hoped he had plans. He probably knew by now anyway. Star had probably called him to tell him what she thought of his daughter's singing. Ephram glanced at the video recorder sitting on the table. Lenient! Ephram couldn't be blamed for this anyway; his nine-year-old sister had coerced him… Ephram was gonna fry! Delia would get off light, their father being understanding of her needs and feelings, while Ephram, being the older and responsible one, would get in trouble. Not that anything bad happened except for a small lie and a minor cover-up. Ephram should probably say good bye to Jig before he went home, he might never see her again. Amy wasn't around to say good bye to, neither was Desi. Ephram took a long look around the diner there, at the people he was sitting with. It'd be awhile before he saw any of them again; it'd be awh-
"Hey!" Ephram yelled as Jig took a forkful of his butterscotch sundae and placed it in her mouth. Her eyes widened and she looked at him surprised that she had been caught in the act. He had a dazed look on his face and didn't seem like he'd notice. She swallowed.
"Just a taste," she said. Ephram then noticed Dr. Abbott was mysteriously gone. He must have really zoned out. To be fair he reached over and took a spoonful of Jig's ice cream. She made no objections.
Dr. Brown wasn't there when Ephram and Delia got home. The two of them entered the house somewhat relieved, and somewhat renewed with worry. The ice cream had somewhat subdued their fear of exposure, but had not eradicated it. Ephram walked into the house first, but as Delia was entering it Jig grabbed her arm and pulled her close enough for a whisper to be secret.
"You're not mad at me for breaking Bright's nose, are you?" Jig asked her. Delia looked up at her surprised.
"Why would I be mad about that?" Delia replied. Jig looked at her and Delia sighed.
"No, I'm not mad. You won't tell Ephram, will you?" Delia asked her. Jig let out a small laugh.
"Please, he'd kill me."
"Why would he kill you?"
"Because he can't kill you, Bright would kill him, and I'm the only person that's left and I'm the one that told him," Jig said. Delia nodded in understanding and Jig released her back into the house.
Edna looked up from her book as Jig entered the house, shivering under her coats, and closed the door behind her. She watched as Jig hung up her three coats, two scarves, two hats, four pairs of gloves, and heavy boots. Jig nodded to Edna where she sat reading on the couch as she passed on her way to her room. Edna sighed and looked down at her book with no intention to continue reading. Jig was interesting, Edna would give her that. Her life was filled with so much horror, and yet had its fun, quirky, extraordinary moments. And yet, there were so many things about herself Jig had never been told. Things Edna would have to tell her. Things Edna would have to grit her teeth and bear through. It had to be Edna too. It couldn't be Irv, or Harold, it had to be Edna. Edna was there for every major moment Jig didn't know about yet. Jig had to be told soon, too. Edna grumbled her lack of anticipation away and focused in on her book. She didn't have to say anything about anything tonight.
