One morning there was a knock on the front double-dutch door. Mom opened the top so the little kids following like me and my shadow wouldn't be seen. There seemed to be no one there. The teeny tiny feathery leathery black lady had turned to go. Mama carefully stuck her head out to view the porch. She's the one 'splains what the Scissorbird whistles, I whispered in mama's ear. The woman turned almost all the way around just as she was finishing putting in her false teeth. "We're here."
The woman fished in a Dr. Suess canvas bag. "What's this about?" Our mom blushed deep dark red. The woman pulled out a pile of little sheets of paper rubber-banded together. She was also putting on her reading glasses as she said, "Prolly a washing machine
"Don't have one."
"Maybe a toaster
"Mine. New. Have receipt."
The woman licked her thumb and looked at the names on top of the invoices/rental slips. "Are you Mrs. Lane?"
"Just an aunt actually. Taking care of that poor woman's children."
"Does she work?"
Mom kicked the bottom of the door and bent down saying, "Oh! Child. Whatever possessed you to run right into the door like that?" She picked up a toddler with a burping rag being held over its forehead. "Gotta go," she hugged the child to her and carefully closed the top of the door.
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