Read Ivy in the Shadows for Free Online Page B

usually worked but this time I turned away from her. Mama lying stung more than an eye wiggle could fix.

5
    JJ escaped to the Little Lambs Sunday school class with Caleb loping after him.
    â€œWhy does he go to Little Lambs?” I asked.
    Mama said, “He helps the teacher keep the kids occupied.”
    â€œWell!” I brightened, sensing an opportunity to get out of church. “Then I’ll be a helper, too.” I’d have followed Caleb but Mama grabbed on to me and said, “She’s got enough help. You’re coming with me.” I looked back over my shoulder, jealous as I could be that JJ and Caleb would be having fun and I was stuck indoors.
    I sat in church, staring at the back of the head of the old man in front of me. He wore a toupee, which was slightly crooked. I kept wondering if it was going to slide off his head. Looking at that kept me occupied for the five minutes it took for the congregation to sing an off-key hymn. When it was time to “greet your neighbor,” I accidentally dropped my hymnal and bulletin so I could pretend I was gathering them until everyone settled back into their seats. Then came the dreaded Sharing Blessings and Concerns.
    Mama stood. “I just wanted to tell you all how blessed we are to have you in our lives. Caleb has been a joy to welcome into our home.”
    Oh, brother.
    â€œThanks to your kindnesses, we now have an income and our rent has been reduced. We feel so fortunate, don’t we, Ivy?”
    I sat still but Mama slid her pointy-toed shoe over and ground it into the top of my toe. I looked around with a grimace of pain that I hoped they took to be a smile and nodded.
    â€œNow if I can only find a job, we might be able to stay in our home and not have to leave the lovely town and good folks of Hickory.”
    She sat down and dabbed her eyes.
    I spent the rest of worship time playing Hangman with myself using the pencil stub they provide on the backs of the pews. How did I play Hangman with myself? you might ask. Easy. Forget the words and guessing letters part. I just pictured Caleb and drew his stick figure hanging from the rope. I pictured Mama and her pointy-toed shoes and hung her, too. But the biggest one I hung was Jack Henry because, until he left, there wasn’t any pretending and stupid every-Sunday-church-going and lying. Well, to be fair, I guess he was lying to Mama, but at least I didn’t know about it.
    Once they finished the final hymn, a lady wearing about a pound of makeup on her face came over to Mama so I lit out of the building and went to find JJ. I found him outside with the other Little Lambs. The kids sat in a circle while Caleb told them a story. The Sunday school teacher was off to the side on her cell phone. She waved at me but kept talking. I didn’t mean to sneak up on them, in fact, I thought I was stomping pretty hard to show the Sunday school teacher what I thought of her being on the phone, but the kids didn’t notice me. All eyes were glued to Caleb. So I stopped to listen.
    â€œWe tried to set up our tents on the roofs of the buildings but the heat was intense. We could only work a short time before going downstairs to take shelter. We finally stopped until the day cooled. We’d just finished putting together our tent when it began raining. What a panic!” Caleb stood.
    â€œWe ran inside. A boy in our group had bought a new tent but hadn’t taken it out of the box until we were in Haiti. There were no poles. You can’t put up a tent without poles! So he covered his things with the lifeless tent to protect them from the moisture and pulled his mattress into our tent. Now when it rains he brings his mattress into our tent and sleeps on the floor beside us. That’s all right. He’s a sweet boy and we’re happy to have him with us.”
    The Sunday school teacher finally clicked her phone shut and came over.
    â€œThank you for that story, Caleb. Kids,