Cry of Angels

17

1 7 THE VANCE CAHILLS WERE IN TOWN ONLY THROUGH THE WEEKEND, the time required to "get Miss Esther's affairs in order," which meant placing the house with a realtor and crating up the things that Lucille liked, and those that Miss Esther absolutely refused to part with, for shipment to North Carolina. On Sunday afternoon Mr. J. J. Bearden of Bearden Real Estate assembled everyone in the living room. Mr. Bearden was a humble, hunch-shouldered man with a confidential air who leaned close when he talked and breathed on you like a dentist. He greeted each of the boarders in turn, and waited until they were settled. As he was about to start, the front door opened and Mr. Teague came into the parlor, followed by Tio, who took a seat with Em and me on the hall stairs. Mr. Teague made his way to a chair, nodding to everyone, and sat slowly rubbing his knees, watching Victor and Vanessa shove each other off the coffee table. Miss Esther stayed in her room. "Ah, what a terrible, terrible time," said Mr. Bearden, licking his long front teeth. "I've been a friend of Wylie and Esther Cahill since 165 A C R Y O F A N G E L S the day they came to this town, and I can't tell you what sadness it brings me to conduct the business at hand." Mr. Bearden said that a buyer for the property had already been found, and he was happy to assure everyone that the house would continue just like Miss Esther had wanted, as a home for all of her old friends for as long as they wished to stay. The boarders were visibly relieved. "However," continued Mr. Bearden, "the new owner finds it necessary to make a slight increase in the rate you are now paying." "How slight?" Mr. Jurgen wanted to know. "Ten dollars a month." "Ten dollars!" cried Mrs. Porter. "Esther Cahill," Mr. Bearden said hastily, "is, as you all know, a most generous woman, but we must remember that to the new owner this is strictly a business enterprise, with certain obvious risks. The house is already in an advanced state of decay, and to assume the liability for boarders of advanced age and physical disability living here . . ." "Who's disabled!" roared Mr. Burroughs, getting to his feet. "We're not disabled," echoed Mrs. Cline. "Yes, well . . . nevertheless .' . ." Mr. Bearden had to step over Victor and Vanessa, who were wrestling at his feet. "But we can't afford ten dollars more a month," protested Mrs. Porter. "I'm very sorry," said Mr. Bearden, "there's nothing I can do." "Why the very . . . !" Mr. Burroughs was interrupted by Victor and Vanessa tumbling against his legs. He whirled on Lucille. "Madam, if you don't get a hand on these disgusting look-alikes, I'm gonna stomp 'em into one obedient child!" Lucille immediately scurried to collar her children and bustled them off to the kitchen. Vance sat glowering, but said nothing. "Please," said Mr. Bearden, "there's really no point in discussing it further. The decision is final." Mr. Rampey spoke up. "Who is this new owner, we'll have a talk with him." "For reasons of his own he has asked to remain anonymous," said Mr. Bearden. "Anyway, I'm sure it would be useless to bargain. He and I have agreed that it would be impossible to operate the house profitably at the current rate. It's simply a matter of dollars and cents. Now, Farette has agreed to stay on as cook and housekeeper, 166 B O O K T W O and Mr. Jojohn"—he looked around until he found Em on the stairs —"Mr. Jojohn, you may continue to stay in that garage on the property , and take your meals at the house, and you will be paid ten dollars a month to continue in charge of general maintenance . . . but for that additional salary we must be assured of a little more regularity from you. You must agree to stay on the premises year round and not go rambling off when the mood strikes you." Em got down from the stairs and ambled into the living room and looked down at the realtor. "Horse face, you couldn't buy my regularity for ten thousand dollars a month. If the deal I had with the...