The Woman in the Wall Read Free Page B

armchair.
    "Looks like somebody left an old dustrag lying around," Andrea observed critically. "Mrs. Waltzhammer'll think we think she's the new cleaning lady."
    Both Mother and Kirsty turned on her.
    "Don't you call Anna an old dustrag!" Kirsty shouted.
    "Andrea! That will be quite enough out of you," said Mother sternly.
    "You wait," Andrea said ominously. "You'll see. Mrs. Waltzhammer is going to wipe up the floor with her."
    "Don't worry, Anna.
I'll
protect you," Kirsty said. "Nobody's going to use
my
sister for a dustrag," and she waved her fist belligerently at an imaginary Mrs. Waltzhammer. This encouraged me a little, but only a very little. I was stiff with terror.
    "Maybe I should tie a ribbon in your hair," my mother worried. At that moment the doorbell rang. We all froze and stared at each other.
    Mother recovered first. "Well," she said in an artificial voice, "that must be Mrs. Waltzhammer," and she hurried off to answer the door.
    "Here," Kirsty whispered, thrusting her doll at me. "You can hold Bethany. Whenever I'm scared, Bethany makes me feel better."
    I took Bethany onto my lap rather reluctantly. She was a large doll, really quite as large as I was. I couldn't help but feel that I must look a little foolish. Still, it was kindly meant, and I couldn't afford to reject any possible source of comfort.
    We heard voices from the front hall. First Mother's voice and then another woman's voice, a powerful contralto that cut through walls like a chain saw. Kirsty glanced at me nervously. She looked as if she were about to ask for Bethany back.
    Footsteps approached. The woman was talking, her words rolling and rumbling around the halls like boulders in a landslide.
    "Great house!" she shouted. "I love these old houses! I'll bet the upkeep just about kills you, though, on a place this big."
    "The girls help out, especially Anna. She's very talented that way," Mother said.
    "Oh?"
    "I know I shouldn't say so, Mrs. Waltzhammer, but Anna really is quite an exceptional child. In
many
ways."
    Mother opened the door to the front parlor. "Mrs. Waltzhammer, I'd like you to meet my family," she said. "This is my eldest, Andrea, and my youngest, Kirsty. Kirsty will be starting at Bitter Creek Elementary this fall."
    "Pleased to meet you," bellowed the woman. I cringed. Mrs. Waltzhammer was at least ten feet tall and six feet wide. She had an enormous bush of flaming red hair, and she carried the largest purse I had ever seen.
    "And this, of course, is Anna. Right there on the red chair." Mother pointed helpfully.
    Mrs. Waltzhammer rotated her huge body in my direction. "How do you do, Anna?" she boomed.
    There was a moment's stunned silence.
    "You mean ... you can see her?" Andrea asked.
    "Why, certainly," Mrs. Waltzhammer said.
    "You don't think she looks like an old dustrag, do you?" Kirsty asked anxiously.
    "Of course not. I think she looks like a very pretty little girl."
    "Well, naturally!" Mother said, sounding relieved. She laughed a bit hysterically. "All my daughters are pretty. Now, if you'll excuse me, I think I hear the tea water boiling. Mrs. Waltzhammer, will you take coffee or tea?"
    "Oh, coffee, coffee! Got to have my daily ration of caffeine," she roared with senseless laughter. "While you're gone I'll get a little better acquainted with your children." She winked at Mother, meaning, I suppose, that Mother should take her time bringing in the refreshments.
    Mrs. Waltzhammer lowered herself into an armchair with considerable difficulty and then turned to Kirsty.
    "So! I understand from your mother that you are a very shy young lady, Kirsty," she said, smiling genially.
    Andrea snorted with laughter.
    "No, no!" Kirsty said. "It's Anna who's shy!"
    "Ah! It's
Anna
who's shy. I beg your pardon."
    Mrs. Waltzhammer sat staring at me thoughtfully for a few moments. "Perhaps Anna would prefer it if I ask the two of you my questions and you can answer for her. Do you think that would make her more comfortable?"
    "Yes,