#drhook

Six blocks away, across from the pharmacy was a payphone. A black haired girl in a jean jacket twirled the cord nervously. She felt like she might throw up.

"I know who you are." The woman hissed. "It is Sunday. I don't like getting calls on Sunday."

"just...please, let me talk to her. To Sylvia." Rose held her breath. There was silence, a door opening and closing and then...

"I can't believe you. She's happy, hasn't cried today. Freddie's taking her away for the weekend to get out of town, while you're still here anyway." The woman, Mrs Avery, sounded as if she might get sick too. "She doesn't want to see you."

"I just want to say goodbye. Before she leaves. Before I leave, please. I know she's there." Rose felt the nerves fade, slowly replaced with anger. The stupid woman! Just let her say her goodbyes and that could be it! Rose couldn't let Sylvia's last memory of her be the fight. Rose walking away. Sylvia in tears.

"mama?" A soft voice on the other end. Sylvia.

Mrs Avery talked, muffled as she covered the phone with her hand. Fake confections in her voice.

"Darling, can you believe telemarketers these days? And on a Sunday of all days."

Rose strained to listen.

"...is...ro...mama." the voice was even quieter this time, Rose didn't understand much of what had been said.

"Sylvie, why don't you go set the table huh?" She sang sweetly.

"Heather." Rose's voice was steady and calm, not without the utmost effort though. "Let me talk to her, please, this will be the last you hear from me."

A pause. Someone sniffing.

"Damnit..." Under her breath. "You can't leave her be can you? You've almost ruined my little girl with your....ideas. Now that she's got her distance your still trying to get to her. Like the devil, always tempting."

A mechanical beep rang out over Heather Avery's words as she continued her rant on Rose's sinful way of life.

-forty cents for the next 3 minutes.-

Rose fumbled in her pockets for change. She almost dropped the coins but after taking a deep breath to steady herself she put them in the slot.

"...it's not right." Mrs Avery finished whatever she was saying.

"For her sake Heather," Rose was done with formalities. "Don't you want her to know I'm not coming back? Then she can go back to her old life." Maybe this would work. Convince Sylvia's mother it was for Sylvia's own good.

Rose was leaving for California in three hours. That's what the fight had been about.

"please, come with me Sylvie. Leave it all behind."

"I can't Rose. I just...I can't."

"It doesn't matter." Mrs Avery snarled. "I'm her mother. I know what's best. Her mind is clouded."

In the kitchen of the cream colored house Mrs Avery was seething with anger and disgust. This girl, Rose, had tried corrupting her sweet Sylvia. Sylvia wouldn't be like that. It was wrong and a sin and and....Mrs Avery shuddered. She wanted to be off the phone. Why was she hesitating? Was she really entertaining the idea that her baby...her own child could....No. It was an abomination. A demon had crawled its way into Rose a long time ago, she would not let it get her daughter too. Sylvia would choose the right path even if her mother had to guide her.

"Now you listen Ro-" her sentence was cut off by a whimpering sound. Mrs. Avery whipped around, almost toppling the phone as the wire drew taught. She hadn't been thinking. She had almost used the wretched girls name. But Sylvia had heard, the glasses she had been carrying were now shattered across kitchen floor.

"it's her?" Sylvia's eyes were wide, glistening with unshed tears. It had been nothing but tears and silence from her only child for weeks now. Every time someone mentioned Rose or they passed that dreadful house...

Mrs. Avery's mouth opened and shut, fish out of water. On the other end Rose was speaking rapidly.

"let me speak to her! Sylvia!? Sylvie is that you, can you hear me??"

The tinny voice was quiet but Sylvia was close enough to hear the mumbled words. Mrs. Avery quickly hissed a goodbye into the phone and slammed it down. Ending the call.

Sylvia was hiccupping now, trying not to cry. The tears fell. She was powerless to stop the torrent. Her mother stood in the kitchen doorway staring at her daughter in horror. It wasn't right for a young girl to feel this way about another girl. Sylvia should be with Freddie. He was a nice boy from a good God fearing family. He was the preacher's son for heavens sake.

"t-telemarketer." Was all she could squeeze out. Sylvia shook her head, brows screwed up in pain.

"you're lying. Always lying." Sylvia whispered. Mrs. Avery wasn't sure if Sylvie was talking to her or to herself. It was untrue though, Heather never kept anything from her child, unless it was indeed for her own good, but God would see it was for her protection from the fire and brimstone that awaited Rose. He would forgive Heather.