Enough to slow her down. Enough to give her a second to grab one with each hand. Just enough. Liz hung on, sprawled across the steep incline. Her feet dangled over the edge, her arms ached with effort, her hands went numb. The front door slammed against the house and Mae ran out. “What in God’s name . . .Oh dear Jesus. 901 Stony Brook Road. Hurry, she’s hangin’ off the roof!” Eddie wailed. Liz heard her son, frightened, alone, and resolved to not fall, to not die and to not leave him. Metal clanked, but she couldn’t see what Mae was doing. “Hang on there, Lizzy!” she huffed, and there was more clanking. “I’m puttin’ up this danged ladder so you can climb down.” How could Mae maneuver that huge thing? “Damn mud. It’s not steady, but we don’t have much of choice do we now? All right, it’s just below you. I’m goin’ to hold it in place.
