She was hanging up the dishtowel when she heard Arnold’s phone ring, then heard him grumble before answering. At least he was awake now. He could carry out the garbage after all. She heard him cry out, and then he was running toward the kitchen. When he ran in, the look on his face was one of horror.

“Arnie! What’s wrong?”

“The chief called! Our boys are in jail!”

Donna screamed. “No, no! They’re in their room! This has to be a mistake!”

Then she ran through the house and into their room. It was empty, the window was open, and the curtains shifting in the slight breeze gave shocking truth to their absence.

“They’re gone! Oh my God! What did they do?” Donna wailed.

Arnold could hardly get out the words. “They set out to rob Mr. Phillips. They had a baseball bat for a weapon and intended to steal his car. The police got an anonymous tip that it might happen, so they were waiting for them.”

Donna gasped, then staggered toward the bed, but didn’t make it. She fell to the floor in a faint.

“Oh my God!” Arnold cried, and then dropped to his knees beside her and began patting her cheek. “Honey…wake up! Wake up!”

A few moments later, Donna began to come around. She opened her eyes, saw the expression on her husband’s face, and groaned.

“This is real? It’s really happening?” she asked.

“It’s real. We need to go to the jail,” he said, and helped her up.

Donna staggered to her feet, then stood for a few moments, trying to gather her thoughts.

“Close the window, Arnie. I can’t wear my house slippers. I need to change my shoes.”

Chapter 11

Teddy and Brian heard their parents’ voices in the hall outside the jail.

“That’s Dad!” Teddy said.

Brian stood up. “I hear Mama. We did a bad thing. I don’t want her to see me in jail.”

“Too late for that,” Teddy muttered.

“Aren’t you sorry?” Brian asked.

Teddy was sick-to-his-stomach scared, but he wasn’t going to admit it. “Yes. But we can’t take it back now, can we?”

Then the door opened. Chief Pittman came in, followed by their parents.

Donna Hollis stumbled when she saw them. “Oh my lord!”

Arnold grabbed her elbow to steady her. “Easy, sugar,” he said.

“I’ll give you a few minutes, but I can’t leave you alone with them,” Chief Pittman said.

“Mama, I’m sorry,” Brian said and started crying.

Teddy wanted to still feel empowered like he’d been when they were hiding out ready to take down Mr. Phillips for his car and money. But he didn’t have the guts to be defiant. And the look on his dad’s face hurt his heart.