Last Summer with Maizon Read Online Free Page B

doesn’t know. We might move away.”
    â€œYou can’t move away, Margaret! Best friends don’t move away from each other,” Maizon cried.
    â€œMs. Dell says they do sometimes, remember?”
    â€œMs. Dell doesn’t know everything, Margaret.”
    â€œShe knows a lot, though,” Margaret said, walking slowly back over to Li’l Jay’s crib. “Sometimes I wish she didn’t know so much.”
    The rain had dropped to a whisper against the window. They watched the drops trickle down the pane slowly, branching out in every direction before hitting the bottom.
    Margaret brushed the cookie crumbs from Li‘l Jay’s lips and stared down at him. Li’l Jay twitched in his sleep and sighed.
    â€œHe’s lucky,” Maizon said. “He doesn’t even understand anything yet.”
    Margaret bent over and kissed Li’l Jay. “No, he’s not, Maizon. He won’t know anything about my father except the things I tell him. I’m the lucky one, I guess. At least I knew him.”
    Maizon followed her out of the room.
    Margaret’s mother lay on the couch with her hand covering her eyes. She sat up when they walked in and ran her fingers through her hair.
    â€œI called your grandmother, Maizon. She said it was okay for you to stay here tonight.”
    â€œThank you, Ms. Tory,” Maizon said, staring at her toes.
    â€œMama, you want some tea?”
    â€œNo, thank you, dear. I’m going out again.”
    Ms. Tory went into the hallway and began pulling on her rain boots. Margaret and Maizon followed her. The boots were still wet from her last trip.
    â€œI have to go to the funeral home. Hattie’s going to come with me. Ms. Dell said she’d come up if you want her to. She said you and Maizon might want to be alone a while. Will you be okay?”
    Margaret was frantic. “Can I go with you, Mama? Please! Maizon can stay with Li’l Jay. Please, Mama!”
    Ms. Tory looked from Margaret to Maizon.
    â€œI think it’s best if you stay here, dear,” she said softly.
    â€œBut you’ll get sick in the rain, Mama! You’ll get sick like Daddy,” Margaret cried.
    Ms. Tory pulled Margaret to her. Maizon looked on, twisting her hands.
    â€œNo, no, no, Margaret,” she said softly. “I’ll be fine. If it gets too late, we’ll take a taxi. Don’t worry, sweetheart.” She kissed Margaret’s forehead.
    â€œMama... ?” Margaret whispered.
    Ms. Tory held her, blinking back tears.
    â€œPlease come back, Mama.”
    Ms. Tory held her for a long time. “I’ll always come back, Margaret. Always.”
    They followed her into the baby’s room and waited while Ms. Tory leaned over the crib and kissed Li’l Jay. Then she kissed them both again and left. Margaret bolted each lock after her mother was gone. They trailed into Margaret’s room and plopped down onto the bed. Maizon brought out her hair pick.
    â€œWant to comb my hair, Margaret?”
    Margaret nodded. Something about combing Maizon’s hair always made her feel better.
    Maizon sat on the bed and handed Margaret the pick. Margaret kneeled on the bed above Maizon’s head. She pulled the pick gently through the thick, wiry hair.
    â€œI sure wish I had hair like yours.”
    â€œI wish my hair was long like yours. Then I’d put it in cornrows and everything. I’d wear curls for picture day.”
    After a moment Maizon said, “Margaret, do you think Ms. Dell knew about your daddy?”
    â€œMaybe she knew more than me,” Margaret said softly, quickly brushing away a tear that was sliding toward her mouth, “because she and Mama talked about Daddy being sick and everything.”
    â€œDeath is mean. Isn’t it, Margaret? He takes and takes and takes. First he took Hattie’s baby. Just up and took it right out from under all those breathing tubes they had strapped to that