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"Move it," the policeman commanded pushing him. Jimmy stumbled forward through the door.
I ran after them.
“Jimmy!" Icried. I started running up the steps and stopped when I reached the top.
My father stood beside my grandmother, and Clara stood just behind them both.
"Go directly to your room, Eugenia," my grandmother commanded. "This is a terrible disgrace."
"Go on," my father said a little softer, but his face dark with disappointment. "Go to your room."
I looked after Jimmy and the policemen. They were nearly at the front of the building.
"Please," I said, "Don't let them take him back. He had a horrible time living with a mean man. Please?"
"It's not our problem," my grandmother said,
"We can't do anything," my father confirmed, "And it's against the law to harbor a fugitive."
"He's not a fugitive. No," I said, shaking my head. "Please . . ." I turned in Jimmy's direction, but he had already gone around the building. "Jimmy," I called. I started after him.
"Eugenia!" my father cried. "Get back here."
I ran, but by the time I had reached the front of the hotel, the policemen had shoved Jimmy into the back of the patrol car and slammed the door. I stood by watching as they got in. Jimmy peered out the window.
"I'll be back," he mouthed.
The roof light began, and the patrol car was started up.
"Jimmy!"
I felt my father's hand on my shoulder, restraining me.
"How utterly embarrassing," my grandmother said from somewhere behind me. "That my guests should see this."
"You'd better get inside," my father advised.
My body shook with sobs as the police car pulled away, taking Jimmy back into the night.
15
SECRETS REVEALED
I felt my father's fingers grip my shoulders softly as the lights from the police patrol car disappeared on the street below. My grandmother stepped forward to face me. Her lips were tight and thin, and her eyes were wide and maddening with rage. Under the lanterns and the bright porch lights, her skin was ghostly white. With her shoulders raised and her neck lowered between them, she looked like a hawk about to pounce on a mouse, and right now I felt like some sort of trapped creature.
"How could you do such a thing?" she hissed. She turned sharply to my father. "I told you she was no better than a wild animal brought in from the streets. She's sure to bring them all here if we don't put an immediate stop to it. She has to be sent away to some private school that specializes in this sort of person."
"I'm not a wild animal! You're a wild animal!" I screamed.
"Eugenia," my father snapped. I spun out of his hands.
"I'm not Eugenia! I'm not! I'm Dawn, Dawn!" I insisted, pounding my sides with my own small fists. I looked up and saw the guests who had gathered at the front entrance and on the porch gawking, some of the elderly women shaking their heads and the men nodding their agreement as Philip pushed his way through and gazed at confusion.
"What's happening?" he cried. He turned to Clara Sue, who was off to the side looking very content with herself. She flashes a smile of satisfaction up at him.
"You'd better get yourself inside," my father advised in a strong, loud whisper. "We'll talk about all this when everyone's a bit calmer."
"No," I said. "You shouldn't have let them take him," I added and began to sob. "You shouldn't have."
