Exit Point by Laura Langston Read Free Book Online Page A

a misunderstanding.” Aunt Susan’s eyes flicker nervously. She is yellow with fear.
    When they bring Amy into the room, she tucks herself into a tiny spot between Momand Dad. She will not look at Herb. I think it is a good sign. She is going to rat him out, I tell myself. That’s why she won’t look at him.
    Aunt Susan is the first to speak. “Amy, you know we love you and we would never want to hurt you.” Amy nods. “If something is wrong and you don’t want to come to our house, we want to know why so we can fix it.”
    Amy says nothing. She stares at the ground. Pookie can’t be fixed, she thinks. And Uncle Herb will fix her too, if she tells.
    I don’t like where her thoughts are going. I crouch on the floor in front of her. Tell them, Amy! It’s okay. He won’t hurt you anymore.
    “Did something happen with Uncle Herb?” Mom asks.
    I hold my breath.
    Amy nods.
    “Did he touch you?” Dad asks.
    Amy nods a second time.
    Yes!
    But then Herb says, “Tell them why, Amy.”
    Nobody else hears the threat in Herb’s voice. But I do. And Amy does too. It takesher a long time but she finally says, “Because I was itchy and I thought I had a rash.” Her voice is so soft, Mom repeats the words.
    Dad lets out his breath. “I’m sorry, Herb.”
    “Hey, it’s okay.” Herb’s lips stretch into a slithery grin. “When it comes to your kids, you can never be too careful.”
    He is getting away with it.
    This can’t be happening.
    Mom stares at Aunt Susan. Aunt Susan stares back. They are two sisters caught on opposite sides of the same horror. Aunt Susan believes her husband. Mom wants to believe—she needs to believe for Amy’s sake—but she isn’t sure.
    Listen to your instincts, Mom! He’s lying.
    A tiny frown puckers Mom’s forehead. “But if Uncle Herb was just looking at your rash,” she asks Amy, “then why don’t you want to go to his house anymore?”
    There’s a hush in the air. Dad and Susan are embarrassed; Herb is angry.
    Yes , I think. Yes!
    Amy doesn’t know what to say. So shesays the first thing that pops into her mind. “I miss Logan.”
    The air in the room sags. The other beings retreat, taking their sadness and their disappointment with them. Shocked, I stare at my baby sister.
    She had her chance and she blew it.
    I can’t hold it against her; I blew it too.
    “Of course you miss him, honey.” Aunt Susan gives her a tender, shaky smile. “We all do.”
    Ignoring Amy, Herb leans over and squeezes Dad’s shoulder. “This has been a hell of a time for you guys,” he says softly. “It’s no damn wonder Amy is overreacting.”
    It is over.
    I have failed.
    Pulling Amy into my arms, I hold her tight. And I cry. It is not enough. It is nothing.
    But it is all I can think of to do.
    I will not leave her. Wade tugs at me, drags on my energy, pulls on my mind.
    Leave me alone, I yell. I can’t leave my sister.
    I won’t leave her.
    Later that night, when Amy is asleep, my parents come to her room. I sit on the end of her bed and watch while Mom covers her, while Dad checks the catch on her window.
    I will be with Amy, I have decided, for the rest of her life. What she goes through, I will go through too. When Herb abuses her again, I will be there. I won’t be able to stop it, but I will share Amy’s pain.
    It is my punishment. I deserve it.
    “She hasn’t been herself lately,” Mom says. They have stopped in Amy’s doorway; they watch her sleep.
    “None of us have,” Dad says. Because Logan died , he thinks.
    They back away, pull Amy’s door shut. Curious, I leave the bedroom and follow them. They settle in the kitchen.
    Mom scoops coffee, pours water. Her movements are jerky; her eyes are troubled. “Maybe something did happen but Amy is afraid to tell us.” She flicks the switch on the coffeemaker.
    Two days ago, I would have jumped up and down, screamed and yelled at her words. I’m finished with that. They can’t hear me. And what’s the point of trying