"David—"
"I said get out!"
Ronnie and Mom left the house. Outside, the night was dark and a wind was rising. Mom shivered in her thin house cloak.
"Where will we go, Ronnie? Where, where—"
"I know a place. Maybe we can stay there—for a little while."
"A little while?" Mom echoed. Her mind seemed frozen by the cold wind.
Ronnie led her through the cold, windy streets. They left the lights of the town behind them. They stumbled over a rough, dirt country road. They came to a small, rough-boarded house in the deep shadow of an eucalyptus grove. The windows of the house were like friendly eyes of warm golden light.
An instant later a door opened and a small boy ran out to meet them.
"Hi, Kenny."
"Hi. Who's that? Your mom?"