Page 107 of Power
“Yeah,” May casually replies.
“Oh my God! Do you know what this can be sold for?” Emily follows me out to the living room where May is sitting on the sofa, flicking through the channels on her TV.
“I have no idea, nor do I care.” I stare at her, surprised by her lack of enthusiasm. “I’m not selling it, so I’m not interested in how much I could sell it for.”
“Emily, you can’t read this. It’s worth too much.”
“Pish posh! It’s a book. it’s meant to be read and enjoyed. So yes, you can read it, Emily. Besides, that story is groundbreaking and quite advanced for its time. You keep reading, darling girl.”
“But, May, this is part of history.”
“Which means it should be read by those who will go on to create future history. You have no idea what that book can do to a young mind. It might be the book that changes her world, so, let her read it. Because then you can say that book is worth so much more than money.”
I slowly turn to Emily and hand her the book. “Thanks, Mom. Thanks, May. I’ll be careful with it.” Emily takes the book, opens it and continues reading as she heads back to the bedroom.
I pick my coffee up and go to sit with May. “You’re an amazing woman, May. I wish we were...”
“I just miss my baby girl,” the voice instantly stops me from speaking. A chill envelops me as I turn toward the TV.
I lift my hand and place it over my mouth as I stare at the woman on the screen. “What?” I whisper and carefully place my cup on the floor. The woman looks like a ghost. Her cheeks are sunken, she’s missing teeth, and she’s lucky to be pushing a hundred pounds.
“I miss her so much.” She blinks several times and places her hand to her chest. “I don’t know where she is. I wish she’d come home.” The woman is not the same person I remember.
“Who is that vile woman?”
“She’s my mother,” I say in a small voice.
“She’s your mother?” I nod slowly as I try to pay attention to the TV.
“Although I miss her, it’s no wonder she ended up being a whore. But I still love her,” Mom says. I scrunch my brows as I stare at her. I feel sick to my stomach.
“What do you mean by your statement that ‘it’s no wonder’?” the male interviewer asks.
Mom’s sitting in a chair, dressed in what I can only describe as clothes that are way too young for her, with her sagging cleavage hanging out for everyone to see. My God, what happened to her? “When she was young, she’d always flirt with my boyfriends. She’d prance around in tiny shorts and skin-tight tank tops. She’d move her hips and bite her lip and seductively stare at them.”
“I never did that,” I whisper toward the TV.
“How old was she when she began to seduce your partners?”
“It started when she was about thirteen, maybe fourteen.”
“I was a fucking child you refused to protect!” I yell at the TV.
“That’s quite young to accuse her of attempting to seduce your partner,” the interviewer says.
For a brief moment, I’m relieved he’s made that statement.
“She was a deeply troubled child,” Mom responds.
“I see,” he says as he looks down at his paperwork.
Oh, God.I drop my head in the palms of my hands as my throat tightens with worry.
“I tried to help her, but she was always so much hard work. Reece would refuse to go to school, and when I’d take her there to make sure she went, she’d run away. She often made up lies about me and everything.”
“This is getting worse by the moment.” I look to May and burst into tears. “The things she’s saying are all lies. Please, you have to believe me,” I plead.
“You don’t have to convince me, Reece. I completely believe you. Look at her. It’s obvious she’s drug-dependent, and she’s probably being paid a few thousand dollars to give this interview. Let’s face it, we both know what she’s going to do with the money too.”
