“I wish y’all weren’t too sleepy to hear about my family,” Chloe said faintly. “You see, I’ve tried to tell you so many times and somehow couldn’t. While it is so dark and nobody is running in and out, maybe I could tell you.”
“See that’s it.” Mimi hated herself for thinking. “She’s ashamed of them!” but she was the first to say encouragingly—“Do tell us, Chloe. I’ll admit I’ve wondered why you told about your Aunt Marcia, so much and never mentioned your Mother and Father.”
“I haven’t any,” Chloe said bluntly. There it was out. Mimi felt her quiver. They were all crowded together in a small circle, crossed legs touching.
“Oh.” Three soft Oh’s again. What else could they say?
“You mean, they’re—dead?” Sue whispered. Her tender heartbreak was in her voice.
“I—don’t—know,” Chloe replied.
“Don’t know if your own Mother and Father are dead?” Mimi prayed that wasn’t rude. The question had popped out of its own accord.
“No. I don’t know. You see—”
“Yes?”
“I was—kidnapped.”