Love Burned, She Rose Unscathed

"Didn't I tell you before we left? Behave yourself, don't go grabbing stuff that isn't yours. Goes in one ear and out the other, doesn't it?! Hand it over, now! You must be sick of living, itching for a taste of juvie, huh? You disobedient little brat-" Martha was swift in her reprimand, scolding right after the slap.

Everyone was too stunned to react.

The kid was dazed.

The woman and the man were dumbfounded.

Even Roseanne stood frozen in place.

"Wahh-Grandma hit me! Waaaaah-"

The troublemaker finally reacted, bursting into real, undiluted tears.

"I didn't take it! I don't even know where the stuff is!"

"Say that one more time? See if I don't tan your hide!" Martha was both angry and scared.

"I won't say! I won't!"

"That'll teach you to disobey! That'll teach you to take things! Hand it over, right now!" Martha got serious, aiming a flurry of slaps at the kid's rear.

The man and the woman tried to intervene, with persuasion and pulling, but to no avail.

"You old witch-how dare you hit me why aren't you dead yet?!"

so incensed she nearly passed

in, and

was subdued, sniffling and fishing out a stack of

"Miss Roseanne, could you check

confirmed the documents were correct and nodded: "Yes, this is the

"That's good then."

the window. We're talking a drop from the second floor, at least thirty feet, right? Did you ever stop to think what could happen if such a small child fell?

The parents went pale.

too ashamed to

evening, Martha and her family packed up to leave for their

even offered to let

your family are all good people, not like your mother...

that, she led her

to figure out who he should

...

night, Roseanne and her family finally

Madge hired three cleaners to help tidy up the house. After a

After breakfast, Roseanne decided

a

take a stroll and remembered private bookstore on West Street where she

only read it there but had to leave before