Chapter 7

Mississippi

Mom was at the wheel ... her trick ... the helmsperson’s turn at steering the boat is called a ‘trick.’

“What?”

“I need you.”

“Where is Edith? I’m navagating and I’ll need a relief.”

“Drift over to the shore and tie up. Where Edith is, is what I need to talk to you about.”

“David...”

“This is a Master Slut situation.”

“Ooo ... Master ... yes master.”

Soon ... not necessarily soon enough but as soon as she could, the boat stopped. backed a little, and Mom tied us off ... I guess. She came through the hatch ... saw Jackie ... and panicked.

Jackie had, by this time, started to recover. Sorta ... maybe. Her horrible wound had closed and her skull was reshaping. She was beginning to look like Jackie ... and pissed.

“Where is Edith?”

I pointed at Jackie.

“No ... really. Where is Edith?”

“Yes, really.” “That is ... was ... Jackie/Edith/Jackie.”

Mom was a child of the Sixties ... with all that that obtains. Hippie, Woodstock, the Haight, VW buses ... Flower Child ... her picture IS in the book ... several times. Mom got around ... sometimes with Grandpa and sometimes alone or with her cop. The two kids she was dragging around? Yup ... me and Jackie.

“That is just plain weird. Jackie?” “Not you, Jackie ... I’m having a conversation with your brother. I’ll get around to you later.”

And Jackie freaked us out...

“Okay. I’ll wait.”

NOT Jackie. Jackie would never shut up and stand docilely by.

Nope ... there is more going on here than we know. I think.