Mistress Read Online Free Page B

check on me, then I just act as if I’m already ’sleep. She’ll have my behind and Pop’s throat if she knew how late I was staying up at night. Anyway, I wanted to pray tonight for my family. I’m so sick of the yelling and the fighting. Most of all, Ma cries over and over again. Please help my family. Please fix my family so that we can be normal. I’m afraid Ma will either hurt Pop to the point where she may have to go to jail or they’ll split up for good. Please, God, my heart can’t take it anymore. Thanks for listening and keeping my family together. By the way, I’ll read two extra Bible verses for the six months in Sunday school. Amen.”
    When I turned around, I saw Ma and Pop in their bathrobes in the doorway of my room, in tears.
    “Gosh, I didn’t even know my eight-year-old daughter could even pray like that,” Pop cried out.
    “I didn’t realize what a toll our fighting was taking on you, Alex. Baby, your father and I will fix this so we can be a family. It’s what we all want.” Ma gave me a hug, and Pop quickly joined in.
    I looked up to the ceiling and said, “Thank you,” to God.
    * * *
    “Alexis, Alexis, wake up,” Pop shouted.
    “What’s the matter?” I asked, barely awake. The sounds of sirens were coming closer.
    “Your mother is having extreme pains in her stomach.”
    “Is she having the baby?”
    “Let’s hope . . . because she’s not due for another two months.”
    “Are we going to the hospital?”
    “I’m going to the hospital with Ma. You’re going to stay here with your Aunt Cecily and Uncle Freddy.”
    “No, Pop. I want to go to the hospital, please.”
    “You stay here, Alexis.”
    Pop only called me my full name when something was wrong.
    “Honey, it’s so late. Besides, you have school in the morning. I don’t want you to worry.”
    “Pop, please let me go with you. I promise I won’t complain. Let me bring my blanket, coloring books, and crayons.”
    “Well, all right. I guess we all can go. Your pajamas are good enough to wear. Go find your sneakers, put them on, and meet me downstairs.” Pop placed my blanket, crayons, and my two Barbie coloring books in my book bag.
    Even though, Aunt Cecily, Uncle Freddy, and Pop were covering it up, I knew something was wrong. Pop got into the ambulance with Ma, speeding to Chesapeake General Hospital.
    “Is Ma going to be okay? Is my baby brother going to be okay?” I asked Aunt Cecily in the car.
    “Alex, your mother is in a lot of pain due to the pregnancy. Your brother and she are going to be fine.”
    “Are you sure?”
    “Yes.”
    “You promise?”
    “Honey, will do me a favor?”
    “What do you want me to do, Aunt Cecily?”
    “I want to lay back and think nothing but good thoughts. Think about all the times you’ve spent having fun with your mother and father. Also, imagine how your life is going to be even more exciting since you’re going to be a big sister.”
    We reached the hospital and got out of the car. I quickly grabbed Aunt Cecily’s hand. She stopped, looked at me, and kneeled down to hug me.
    I started to cry because I was scared for Ma. What if she dies or my baby brother does? All the fights Ma and Pop have had, could it have hurt the baby? I had so many questions, and I knew Pop, Aunt Cecily, and Uncle Freddy were trying their best to be strong for me and my mother.
    In the waiting room, I colored for two hours and then drifted in and out of sleep with my Strawberry Shortcake blanket. Pop was pacing the floor back and forth, rubbing the back of his neck. I had never seen him so stressed and helpless. Each minute felt like ten minutes. Aunt Cecily kept looking Pop up and down. She said, “You know, Robert—”
    “Can you lower your voice, please. I don’t want to wake my daughter up,” Pop whispered, cutting her off.
    “You know, Robert, if anything happens to my sister, I’m holding you responsible.”
    “I’ve got enough to deal with. Please, I don’t need this