Housekeeping Page #7

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Well, we won't

keep you any longer, dear.

Do you collect newspapers,

Sylvie?

Yeah.

What d'you keep them for?

Do you read them all?

Yes, I do.

Erm...

Or you can use 'em

to light a fire.

Or roll them up to swat flies.

Or for insulation.

A lot of things.

Did you hear what they said?

Well, what d'you think now?

Well, we could fix it up

around here.

Some of the stuff would go

in the shed, I suppose.

It might be an idea.

This is nice.

What a mess it was.

Honestly.

I was up the whole night.

Now,

sit down

and eat your breakfast.

You'll be late for school.

Shouldn't I stay home

and help?

No!

No, Ruthie,

you go to school.

Now, let's see. Erm...

I'll help you

brush your hair out,

and I'll iron your skirt.

They'll like that.

You've got to look nice,

Ruthie.

Ruthie.

Just a sec.

There.

Now, stand up straight.

Good.

Ruthie.

Smile at people.

There'll be a hearing, Mrs. Fisher.

That's about all

we can say right now.

Good evening.

Hello, Ruthie.

Excuse us grown folks.

We have to talk.

It would be a terrible thing to do.

Well...

There'll be a hearing.

D'you know what they wanna do?

Yes.

I don't think they can.

Do you?

No.

I don't know.

No, I don't think so, either.

It would be terrible.

They know that.

Just because we spent

the night out on the lake.

Well, I'll just explain it to them.

Yeah.

Don't worry, Ruthie.

I'll explain it all to them.

We burned papers and

magazines until well after dark.

Again and again,

Sylvie stepped out of the firelight,

returning with armfuls

of things to be burned.

We felt that the whole of

Fingerbone was watching us,

aware of everything we did.

Sylvie couldn't help

acting to this unseen audience

gathered somewhere

beyond the firelight.

I don't know why

we didn't do this months ago.

This isn't the sort of book

you should be reading.

I don't even know

how it got in the house.

It was a library book.

We'll buy some clothes.

We'll get you something

in very good taste, like...

Like, maybe, a suit?

Well, you're gonna

need it for church, anyway.

- What?

- That's right.

And, let's see, erm...

We'll set your hair.

When you fix yourself up,

you make a very nice impression.

You really do, Ruthie.

Oh, and I'll order

a chicken for Thanksgiving.

I was thinking maybe

we could invite Lucille.

And Miss Royce, too.

Turkey.

Right.

We should go in now.

- It's getting cold.

- You're absolutely right.

You go on in and I'll just

put some more dirt on the fire.

Ruthie?

Ruthie, are you upstairs?

Ruthie?

Ruthie.

Come in!

Ruthie!

Come in where it's warm.

I'll get you something

good to eat.

Ruthie.

Ruthie!

Ruthie.

Ruthie!

Mrs. Fisher?

Mrs. Fisher?

Mrs. Fisher?

Mrs. Fisher?

Oh, evening, Mrs. Fisher.

Evening.

Everything all right here?

I seen all the lights.

Yeah, everything's all right.

The little girl is fine?

Yeah, she's fine.

Sleepin'?

Uh-huh.

With her light on?

Oh.

Yeah, I guess so.

Don't usually see the place

all lit up like this, this time of night.

Yeah, well...

Could I see the little girl?

- Could you what?

- Could I see Ruthie?

Er...

No.

- She's upstairs sleeping?

- That's right.

Well then, it can't hurt

if I just peek in the door.

No, see, she's a very light sleeper,

and it would wake her up.

I'll just go upstairs

in my stockin' feet.

It won't be no bother,

I promise you.

Where is she, Mrs. Fisher?

She's round the house somewhere.

Well, then, I'll just step in,

say "Good evening" to her.

No, she's not inside.

She's...

She's outside.

Where?

Oh, I think she's probably in the orchard.

I was just looking for her.

You can't find her?

No, see...

She won't let me. It's, er...

Well, it's like a game.

Ruthie, would you like to come

home to my house tonight?

I got lots of room.

The missus sure would be

glad for your company.

I'm just on my way

down to Lewistone.

They got the Cranshaw boy.

He stole a car down there.

I'll be gone half the night.

I wanna stay here.

- You're sure now?

- Yes.

Let's go inside.

What were you doing

out in the cold,

with no coat on,

in the middle of the night,

with school tomorrow?

Come on with me

to my house.

My wife is a heck of a cook,

I can tell you that.

- We got apple pie at our house.

- No.

No, thank you.

No, thank you.

I don't have to tell you

to get to bed now, do I?

I'm gonna be

keeping my eye on you.

I wanna see you in school

tomorrow, y'hear?

Well...

Goodnight.

Goodnight.

I want you to be here

tomorrow, now.

I wanna talk to you

tomorrow.

Yes, sir.

That was worse than useless.

Damn!

We had to leave.

We have to hurry.

Get the suitcases.

I couldn't stay, and

Sylvie wouldn't stay without me.

Now, truly, we were

cast out to wander,

and there was

an end to housekeeping.

Oh, no, look.

They'll find out right away

we're not inside,

come looking for us.

Come on.

Oh... Oh...

What a mess!

We can hide in the woods.

They'll use dogs.

One thing we could do.

What?

Cross the bridge.

Walk?

The dogs wouldn't dare follow,

and nobody'd believe

them anyway.

Nobody's ever done that.

Crossed that bridge.

Not that anyone knows of.

Well...

We gotta go, if we're goin'.

Are you buttoned up?

Here.

You should have a hat.

It's not the worst

thing, Ruthie,

moving around.

You'll see.

You'll see!

What if a train comes?

There's no train till the morning.

Let's go.

Come on, Ruthie.

We'll catch the six-ten

to Spokane.

And be in Portland

by noon.

There are trains to everywhere

from Portland.

Come on, Ruthie.

It's not so bad.

She always does that.

She just wanders away.

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