31 THE SUMMER STAYED HOT. Once Raymond was gone, I let the kids run around in bathin suits, go to Saturday matinee movies, and yell and act silly all they wanted to. When school started in September they made friends, and soon we had half a dozen neighbor kids hangin around our house. I loved their energy. I loved the noise. Rosalie took up with a set of twins from down the street, Marlene and Darlene. I enjoyed foolin around with the three of them. Teachin em songs from the ’30s and ’40s. Showin em how to jitterbug, Charleston, and cha-cha-cha. We had a good time until the twins started usin bad words around me, and tellin fibs. I scolded em, and they got mouthy. Things disappeared. My nice cameo pin and a hand mirror Rosalie kept on her dresser. I had my suspicions, but I didn’t say anythin. Then Rosalie’s favorite sweater turned up missin. It was a present from her Aunt Bea, and I was upset with her for losin it. We searched the whole house and she looked in the lost and found at school.
