So after that she behaved pretty well, only one time she asked to see a statement of the bank account.
"I know they have Mother's indorsement on them," she says. "But I want to see the bank statement.
I want to see myself where those checks go."
"That's in Mother's private business," I says. "If you think you have any right to pry into her private affairs I'll tell her you believe those checks are being misappropriated and you want an audit because you dont trust her."
She didn't say anything or move.
I could hear her whispering Damn you oh damn you oh damn you.
"Say it out," I says. "I dont reckon it's any secret what you and I think of one another.
Maybe you want the money back," I says.
"Listen, Jason," she says. "dont lie to me now.
About her.
I wont ask to see anything.
If that isn't enough, I'll send more each month.
Just promise that she'll--that she--You can do that.
Things for her.
Be kind to her.
Little things that I cant, they wont let…. But you wont.
You never had a drop of warm blood in you.
Listen," she says. "If you'll get Mother to let me have her back, I'll give you a thousand dollars."
"You haven't got a thousand dollars," I says. "I know you're lying now."
"Yes I have.
I will have.
I can get it."
"And I know how you'll get it," I says. "You'll get it the same way you got her.
And when she gets big enough--" Then I thought she really was going to hit at me, and then I didn't know what she was going to do.
She acted for a minute like some kind of a toy that's wound up too tight and about to burst all to pieces.
"Oh, I'm crazy," she says. "I'm insane.
I cant take her.
Keep her.
What am I thinking of.
Jason," she says, grabbing my arm.
Her hands were hot as fever. "You'll have to promise to take care of her, to-- She's kin to you; your own flesh and blood.
Promise, Jason.
You have Father's name: do you think I'd have to ask him twice? once, even?"
"That's so," I says. "He did leave me something.
What do you want me to do," I says. "Buy an apron and a gocart?
I never got you into this," I says. "I run more risk than you do, because you haven't got anything at stake.
So if you expect--"
"No," she says, then she begun to laugh and to try to hold it back all at the same time. "No.
I have nothing at stake," she says, making that noise, putting her hands to her mouth. "Nuh-nuh-nothing," she says.
"Here," I says. "Stop that!"
"I'm tr-trying to," she says, holding her hands over her mouth. "Oh God, oh God."
"I'm going away from here," I says. "I cant be seen here.
You get on out of town now, you hear?"
"Wait," she says, catching my arm. "I've stopped.
I wont again.
You promise, Jason?" she says, and me feeling her eyes almost like they were touching my face. "You promise?
Mother--that--money if sometimes she needs things-- If I send checks for her to you, other ones besides those, you'll give them to her?
You wont tell?
You'll see that she has things like other girls?"
"Sure," I says. "As long as you behave and do like I tell you."