The Girl in the Torch by Robert Sharenow Page B

frame was draped in a black housedress and a long blue knitted coat. The sight of her fearlessly scolding Maryk, who was nearly three times her size, was so funny, Sarah had to bite her bottom lip to keep herself from laughing.

Mrs. Lee
    â€œW HY YOU LEAVE LAUNDRY bag on stairs? Mrs. Lee almost break her neck! You want that? You want to kill old Chinese lady?”
    â€œNo,” Maryk managed to reply.
    â€œI tell you to leave laundry in hallway next to back door. What you not understand about that? I speak English perfect.”
    â€œI know. I forgot.”
    â€œYou forget? You forget and Mrs. Lee end up dead at the bottom of stairs.” She wagged her finger in his face. “Then who do your laundry? Who cook your meals?”
    â€œSorry.”
    â€œNo. Sorry won’t do laundry. Mrs. Lee do laundry. Mrs. Lee cook meals. But Mrs. Lee can’t do that if she dead at the bottom of the stairs because you left your smelly bag of clothes for me to trip on.”
    Sarah let out a small giggle. It was the first time she had laughedin weeks. Mrs. Lee paused in her rant and turned to the girl.
    â€œWho are you?” she asked.
    â€œIt’s a long story,” said Maryk.
    â€œLong story? I just ask who she is. Why that a long story?”
    Sarah froze, wondering if Maryk would attempt to continue the illusion that she was his niece. Before he had time to say anything, Mrs. Lee yelled again.
    â€œI run a clean house, Maryk. I don’t let painted ladies in my house.”
    â€œShe’s not a painted lady.”
    â€œNo, she too skinny for that,” Mrs. Lee said, appraising Sarah’s frame.
    Sarah straightened her posture.
    â€œWho is she, then?”
    â€œLike I said, it’s a long story.”
    â€œI don’t want girl with long story in my house.”
    Maryk paused and exhaled a deep breath.
    â€œShe’s in trouble,” he said. “And she needs help.”
    Mrs. Lee crossed her arms, and her eyes narrowed on Sarah.
    â€œYou speak?”
    â€œYes,” Sarah replied.
    â€œWhat kind of trouble you in?”
    â€œLook, can we go inside?” Maryk said. “I can explain.”
    Mrs. Lee looked hard at Sarah and then Maryk.
    â€œFive minutes inside. But then out! I don’t want trouble.”
    Sarah and Maryk followed Mrs. Lee inside. The interior hallway was dark with faded pink-and-blue floral wallpaper and a simple rag rug on the floor. A gaslight fixture hung from the ceiling, letting out shafts of yellow light and making a low hiss. Mrs. Lee led them to the front room just off the hall, and they all sat around a large wooden table that occupied most of the first-floor parlor.
    Maryk sat beside Sarah as she retold her story. By the time Sarah had finished, an hour had passed. Mrs. Lee sat with her arms crossed and eyes narrowed as she looked up at Maryk. She hadn’t said a word the entire time.
    â€œWhat you planning to do with her?”
    â€œI don’t know,” he said. “But for now, I thought she could stay here and help you run the house.”
    â€œI have Smitty and Miss Jean to run house,” Mrs. Lee shot back.
    â€œShe could help with the cooking,” Maryk offered.
    â€œYou think I need help to cook?”
    â€œNo. But . . .”
    â€œI can do any work,” Sarah said. “I’ll work very hard.”
    â€œWhat if people ask questions?” Mrs. Lee said, turning to Maryk. “Don’t want anyone think I force the girl to work or do something illegal.”
    â€œThey won’t,” Maryk said.
    â€œSo some strange girl just appear at my door . . .”
    â€œPlease,” Sarah interrupted. “I won’t make any trouble. And I will work hard. I promise.”
    â€œThe kid could use a break,” Maryk said.
    Mrs. Lee took in the girl and exhaled.
    â€œYou can stay one week. One week only. But after that, you have to go. Understand?”
    â€œYes,” Sarah