Wire Mesh Mothers

38

Sponge Bob was over. Angry Beavers was on, the critters chattering and arguing over what they would have for dinner, wood-chip beef on toast or cellulose casserole, whatever cellulose was. Mistie had turned onto her other side when the new show came on. At home in the trailer, Daddy would come and change the channel when Angry Beavers started, so this was the first time Mistie got to see the whole thing. If this was a Saturday, Princess Silverlace would have been on but it wasn’t a Saturday Mistie didn’t think.

The teacher had gone in the bathroom with the girl a long time ago. The girl had come out and had left but the teacher was still in the bathroom. There was water running in the bathroom. Mistie knew not to go into the bathroom with a grownup had the water running even if the door was open. One time Mistie had gone in the bathroom when the water was running and Daddy and Mama were in there and although Mistie didn’t know what they were doing, they were really mad and chased her out. She got a spanking later that night from Daddy. Her bottom had burned like fire until after Mama went out and then Daddy kissed it to make it better.

Mistie had to go to the bathroom, but not too bad, she could wait a little longer. Maybe the teacher was almost through with her shower.

A commercial came on the television. Pizza Hut, the Edge. Mistie remembered eating at Pizza Hut in Kentucky when Valerie was still alive. There wasn’t a Pizza Hut in Pippins, though. She liked Pizza Hut because the waitress was nice and the cups the root beer came in were plastic with children’s faces on it, and Valerie and Mistie had gotten to take them home. They cracked later and had to throw them away.

The commercial ended, and another came on about some car that could drive really fast in the desert. It ended, too, and the Beavers were back. Mistie scratched her nose with her bound hands, and then rubbed herself. Daddy rubbed her when Mama wasn’t home. It was the only time he didn’t yell at her, when he was rubbing her.

The water in the shower kept on running.