Moira opened the door and stepped aside.
I was charged with curiosity in the seconds before her mother came in. The only negative thing about my curiosity was the likelihood that the motel manager would learn of my overnight stay and raise a stink. As for Mrs Jennings, I got a bead on her the moment she locked eyes on mine. Her expression at that first moment became the foundation of her approach to Moira as well as to me. She was determined to keep her temper in check and to show a certain disdain for both of us, despite her frequent protestations to the contrary. I mean to say that her words and attitude did not match up. I supposed that Moira was used to that and would not be fooled by her mother's overtures (which I won't bother including in this abbreviated account).
"Tell this man to leave the room," was the first thing she said. Moira, leaning against the dresser with arms crossed, replied tersely, "Why'd you come down here? Joe called his mom. I didn't call you."
"You lied to me. You said you were getting a ride to the Benton's with June Colt's sister, who I happen to know hadn't seen June in months, for God's sake. And who should show up at your apartment but June's sister, not two days after you and Joe left. Why did you lie to me? Never you mind about Edgar. If he wants to 'enable' his son to go hitchhiking to Memphis knowing full well that you were going with him. Just...I will have a word with him."
"I asked June to take me but she wouldn't. Her stupid job. And Dad keeps saying he'll get me a car but he doesn't. Joe said let's hitchhike. It sounded fun so I said okay. Now will you please leave? I have a ride to the Benton's. Marcie wants me to stay with her. William's taking me."
"You're coming with me and Roberta. We'll take you to Marcie's. For God's sake be sensible."
"I'm not going anywhere with Roberta," Moira said and stared at me as if I was the one who demanded she go with Roberta; presumably Josie's mother. I gave her an encouraging smile, just as Mrs Jennings turned to me and said, "What is your occupation? Never mind, I can guess. Your services won't be needed. If you had any decency you'd leave the room."
"That's true. But I'll put up with you."
"Get your things, Moira."
"I'm going with William. Goodbye, Mother."
The mother seemed to grow a foot taller. I noted the icy smile on her face. "Mrs Benton will have a talk with Marcie, you can be quite sure of that. I don't think Marcie will want her allowance cut off."
"Just get out," Moira said, like the first ominous rumble of a volcano; then: "GET OUT!"
"I should slap your face."
"Do and I'll put you in jail! There's a witness sitting right there!"
Mrs Jennings replied with a number of choice things, all of them hurtful. A minute or so after she left Moira came and sat on my lap. For awhile I was the ideal daddy. I listened to the car driving away and the sound of a fire engine going past with siren blaring and horn honking. Then Moira asked me where could she go if Marcie's was not an option. I said "Morgantown, West Virginia. I was heading there anyway."
She said, "Why there? You know somebody? Is there a place we could stay? I don't know what I want to do. Everything's changed." She got up and made moves to go in about three different directions, but one bare foot remained on the toe of my boot. "I'll go wherever you want to go," she said wistfully. "Like you say, I have to get myself collected." She smiled with her eyes while her lips pouted. "You know a girl in West Virginia?"
And I replied: "The Lord of the Roads."
She sat on the bed looking at the cold hard pizza in the greasy box. I was rolling a smoke and thinking ahead to the house on the outskirts of Morgantown where strange things were known to happen; well, known to a select few. This might not be the sort of place to bring Moira, but whether that was true or not, she would not be soon bored.
"I think I'll have the blueberry muffins," she said to the pizza.
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