Miriam looked me and Janie over. She was trembling. ‘You ain’t safe, Miss Alicia. They ain’t just dirty. They’re crazy!’
‘They’re victims of neglect, and probably no worse than you or I would be if we’d been neglected. And don’t say „ain’t”. Gerard!’
‘What?’
‘Don’t say—oh, dear, we have so much to do. Gerard, if you and your—these other children are going to live here, you shall have to make a great many changes. You cannot live under this roof and behave as you have so far. Do you understand that?’
‘Oh, sure. Lone said we was to do whatever you say and keep you happy.’
‘Will you do whatever I say?’
‘That’s what I just said, isn’t it?’
‘Gerard, you shall have to learn not to speak to me in that tone. Now, young man, if I told you to do what Miriam says, too, would you do it?’
I said to Janie, ‘What about that?’
‘I’ll ask Baby.’ Janie looked at Baby and Baby wobbled his hands and drooled some. She said, ‘It’s okay.’