Housekeeping Page #6

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I'll try.

At least we don't have to hurry.

It was always so hard

getting back for you and Lucille.

It's pretty, isn't it?

It's pretty, but I don't see how

anyone would want to live here.

Oh, it's real pretty

when the sun gets here.

You'll see in a little while.

It's kind of cold.

But you wanna watch

for the children?

Oh, yes.

Well, then I think

you'd better just stay in one place,

and be very, very quiet.

It was an odd place

for a homestead.

The sun could barely

reach over the mountains to it.

I told you it was pretty.

I knew why Sylvie felt

there were children in the woods.

I felt so, too.

But I didn't think so.

I knew that if I turned around,

however quickly, they would be gone,

even if they spoke just at my ear.

And those children around me

were light and spare and wild,

and thoroughly used to the cold.

It was almost a joke to them

to be cast out in the woods.

"It's better to have nothing, "

they were saying.

"It's better to have nothing."

Sylvie.

It's good if they see us eating.

I couldn't quite see them.

Another time.

Another time.

Come here.

Fingerbone.

Why are we staying out here,

Sylvie?

We're waiting for the train.

It shouldn't be long now.

Sylvie had no awareness of time.

For her, hours and minutes

were the names of trains.

We were waiting for

the ten fifty-two.

Sylvie?

Sylvie.

Helen.

Whooaa!

Whoa!

Sylvie?

Oh! I was just wool-gathering

and all then, of a sudden,

it was right there on top of us.

Wasn't it loud, though?

I wish you'd sit down.

You know what?

I think the train might be

just about under us here.

They threw a wreath in the water

after the ice had gone.

And all those people

came in from the hills.

It was like the fourth of July,

but the bunting was black.

Ruthie, don't worry,

there's nothing to be afraid of.

Nothing at all.

The lake must be full of people.

I've heard stories all my life.

You can bet there were a lot of people

on that train nobody knew about.

You know, I never

thought about it as stealing.

You know, you just find yourself

an empty place, out of everybody's way.

No harm done.

No-one even knows you're there.

Everybody rode that train, Ruthie.

It was almost new, you know.

De-luxe.

It was really famous.

At least, everybody

said they'd ridden on it.

There must've been a lot

of people in the freight cars.

Who knows how many.

All of them sleeping.

Let's think of a song.

All right.

Oh, what a day, what a day!

I used to know this woman

who said that all the time.

She said, "What a day!"

And she always

made it sound so sad.

Where is she now?

Oh, who knows?

I wish I had a piece of pie.

Er, I wish I had a hamburger.

Well, I wish I had...

a mink coat.

Erm, I wish

I had a hot water bottle.

Stop gamblin',

stop your ramblin'

Quit staying out late at night

Come home to your wife

and your family

Sit by the fireside bright

Irene, goodnight

Irene, goodnight

Goodnight, Irene

Goodnight, Irene

I'll see you in my dreams

Get a moon tan.

Come on, Ruthie.

Come on. Hurry.

Come on, girl.

She's getting growed.

She's a good girl.

Like you always said.

Don't mind if they stare, Ruthie.

Just ignore them.

Go on!

Oh, God...

Oh, I'm too tired to eat!

Oh, here.

Sleep is best

when you're really tired.

You don't just sleep...

You die.

Ruthie...

Hi!

Can we talk somewhere?

Yeah.

Yeah, sure.

I'm worried about you.

We could go to the drugstore.

No, let's go somewhere else.

Do you come here a lot?

Sometimes.

On my way home.

Hmm.

It's just a place, Lucille.

Yeah.

Sylvie packed a lunch.

We roasted marshmallows.

It was fine.

But you were out there all night,

and everybody knows.

That was just because

of the wind.

There was only

this much water in the boat.

- You were sinking?

- No!

It was fine.

We sang songs.

I bet she loved it.

- Being stranded.

- She was fine.

Any decent person

would have been scared.

I can't explain it to you,

Lucille.

I just want the best for you.

You can't stay with her.

Don't worry.

I can't explain it,

but everything's fine.

Hello, Ruthie.

School out?

Then everything's all right here,

and you aren't wanting for anything?

No, not a thing.

But, thank you.

Tell you what.

I think I'll ask Mrs. Jardine and

some of her ladies from the church

to come up here

just to say "Hello".

Oh, no, no, that

wouldn't be necessary.

I, er... I think I'll do that,

Mrs. Fisher. Would that be okay?

But, see, there's

really no need at all.

Really, we're fine.

Well, I...

I think I'll do it, anyway.

Goodbye.

Can I help you move this sofa?

Oh, no.

We're just airing it out.

But, thank you.

What do you think?

I don't know.

Hmm.

I don't know what to think.

Fungus.

Do you think she grows them?

I don't know.

- Sylvie?

- Hello.

- How are you?

- Hello.

- Hi.

- How are you?

Fine, thank you.

You don't remember us.

I'm Mrs. Jardine.

- Mrs. Walker, Mrs. Paterson.

- Selina.

- We went to school together.

- Hello.

Er, we've brought you

a few things.

Can we come in for a little visit?

Er, well, no,

I'm just doing some cleaning.

Oh, we'll only be a minute.

I've brought a casserole.

I'll just bring it in.

Er... could I get you

some coffee?

Oh, don't bother, dear.

We just came by to leave the things.

There's a nice scarf

and some mittens in here.

Would you like to take a seat,

at least?

So, how are you getting on

out here on your own, Sylvie?

Have you made any friends?

We, er, haven't seen you in church.

Well, it's quiet,

but I don't mind that.

There aren't so many

people your own age around here.

It's true.

But you

and Ruthie are together a lot.

Oh, yes.

All the time now.

She's like another sister to me.

She's her mother all over again.

Do you hear anything

from their father?

No.

Or Mr. Fisher?

Who?

Your husband, dear.

Oh.

Do you know why we're

asking all these questions?

No.

Well...

Some of us feel that Ruthie,

that a young girl,

needs an orderly life.

She's had

so much trouble and sorrow.

So much.

Yes, she has.

It's the Lord's truth. It's a pity.

Really, she's all right.

She looks so sad.

She is sad.

I mean, she should be sad.

I don't mean she "should be",

but, I mean, who wouldn't be?

That's how it is with family.

Like now,

when I look at Ruthie,

I can see Helen, too.

And my father, you know.

I can't even remember what

he was like when he was alive, and...

ever since, it's...

It's Papa here and Papa there,

and dreams...

I lost my girl sixteen

years ago in June.

And her face is before me now.

Families should stay together.

But, Sylvie, you have to

keep her off the freight trains.

- What?

- Well, she shouldn't be riding

around in freight cars.

Oh, no!

No, that was just that one time.

We were so tired, you know.

You see, we'd been out all night

and that was the fastest way home.

Out where?

On the lake.

In that little boat?

Yeah.

It's a perfectly good boat.

It doesn't look like much,

but it's all right.

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