Chapter 2
I swaggered straight to Eloise’s house.
The moment I stepped inside, a shrill voice pierced the air.
“Where the hell have you been? Trying to starve me to death coming home this late?”
It was Susan Hawkins, a woman in her fifties, who must be
be my sister s
sister’s mother–in–law. I’d heard about her: obsessed with playing cards, gone for days without sleep, only coming back when she was hungry or tired. She never cooked, never cared for the kid, only ever asked money from Eloise.
When I didn’t move, she grew even angrier.
“What are you staring at? Get your ass in the kitchen and cook!”
She actually wanted to eat my cooking? Now that got me excited.
*
See, at the psych ward, every holiday they’d organize us to bake cookies or cakes. I was always the first to volunteer. But whatever came out of my hands, let’s just say people went pale, and even the rats in the basement wouldn’t touch it.
And today, finally, someone want
a
So moved was I that I dashed into the
taste of
my
craft! I was touched.
pots and pans clattering as I went to work.
When I brought the dishes out, the old hag wrinkled
nose.
“What the hell is this black mess?”
I grinned. “Roasted rag with barbecue sauce.”
Her face changed instantly, and she opened her mouth to curse. “You little-”
Before she could finish, I snatched up a strip of rag and shoved it straight between her lips.
“Ugh!” Her eyes bulged wide, clearly overwhelmed by the unique flavor.
Seeing she still wanted to spit it out and savor slowly, I thoughtfully pinched her lips shut, forcing her to swallow.
“No worries. Big bites. There’s plenty more in the pot!”
Susan choked until her eyes rolled back, coughing and sputtering before she finally caught her breath.
“You crazy bitch! What the hell’s wrong with you today? Making crap not even a dog would eat. Are you trying to kill me?”
I dropped my smile.
Fine, I don’t mind your curse. But insulting my cooking? Unforgivable.
I grabbed the back of her head and slammed her face into the bowl.
“Bitch, I slaved over that for half an hour. Dog won’t eat it? Then you sure as hell will.”
