Janet looked shocked and said, “Rachael! It’s not funny! Your father was seriously injured!” But Mom started to smile and then she laughed out loud. Then I laughed and finally even Janet’s mouth started twitching. Then we all howled with laughter so long and hard that tears ran down our cheeks and we started choking like we’d throw up.

The other guests were staring at our table again. The manager stood nearby wringing his hands. That made us laugh even harder because Rachael gasped out, “I . . . bet . . . he wishes we were still at . . . the pensione . . . !”

We all screamed with laughter and I slid out of my chair onto the floor and almost wet my pants. Just as we were beginning to calm down and I got back into my chair Janet said, “ ‘Vengeance is mine, saith the Lord,’ “ and that struck us all as very funny so even though Mom said, “Janeri” we all laughed again so hard some people stood up at their tables to watch us better.

Chapter 27

THAT SUNDAY WE HAD CHURCH in Mom and Dads room. Janet and Rachael sat on Mom’s side of the bed, Mom sat on the chair by the dressing table. I got to sit on the windowsill, which was great because that way I could watch what was going on in the square and harbor during the service and still look like I was paying attention. Dad was propped up in bed with extra pillows from Rachael’s room that Mom had sent her to get so Dad could sit up to preach.

The toilet tank still wasn’t fixed so the manager had sent up a red plastic bucket. When you wanted to flush you filled the bucket in the bathtub then poured it down the toilet. Mom told us when we came in to church, “If you need to use the bathroom, please go to the one at the end of the hall.”

I said, “Why?”

“Ours still has its problem. It’s a little unseemly,” Mom said.

Dad gave me an angry look so I didn’t say any more. His angry look was scary because his left eye was almost swollen shut. With the bandages like a blood-soaked turban, and because he hadn’t shaved for four days since the accident, he looked more crazy and dangerous than usual.

At the beginning of church Mom said, “Dear, shall I do the Bible reading?”

Dad said, “I can still do my pastoral duties, thank you!” He snatched his Bible back from Mom, who had just picked it up off his bedside table. “I’ve prepared a sermon and there is no need to think that just because of my accident I can’t lead the service.”