After locking her bedroom door with a little bolt she had mounted herself, she slipped off her nightdress and put on her robe. Then she unbolted the door and hurried across the hall to the bathroom, making sure to lock that door too and to close the slatted window.

A few minutes into her shower, she heard a metallic squeaking from somewhere. All at once the water was scalding, and she threw herself out of the stream against the back of the stall. She tried to slide open the stall door on this side, but it wouldn’t budge.

“The water,” she shouted. “I’m in the shower.” It had never been this hot; her dad was too cheap with the thermostat, and the cold water pressure was strong enough that if someone turned on a faucet elsewhere, it would just be a little unpleasant. She tried to reach her hand through to turn the water off but couldn’t. It was as hot as water from a kettle; she could barely see for the steam. Her feet were getting burned. She screamed out again, banging against the back of the shower. “The water! Turn off the water!”

Her dad knocked on the door. “Are you okay, honey?”

“The water,” she screamed. “I’m getting burned. I can’t get out.”

There was a thundering bang and crack as the bathroom door was pushed in, breaking the lock. After slamming back the front panel of the shower, her dad turned off the water.

“Jeez, what happened?” he said, sticking his head in and fanning away the steam.

She covered herself with her arms, crouching over. “Dad, get out.”

He didn’t move, a goofy grin on his face. “What happened?”

“Get out!”

“Well, excuse me for breathing. Just trying to help,” he said, now looking hurt. “Should have let you parboil in here.”

“Get out!” she screamed.

“Nora?” her mom called from the doorway. “Nora, are you okay?”

“Tell Dad to get out of here.” She felt so furious and helpless. Her dad just wouldn’t move. She reached over and tried to shut the shower panel, but he put his hand up to stop it before it hit him.

“Karl.” Her mom’s voice became firmer. “Karl, get out and let her get dressed. Karl?”

He responded indignantly, as if his refusal to move or look away from her body had become a point of honor. “I’m going to have to fix that goddamn door now. I came in here to help her.”

Her brother’s sleepy voice broke in. “Dad, what are you doing?”

“She was burning. I helped her.”

“Dad, we don’t need to be here now,” Jude said. “Leave her alone.”

“Leave her alone? Should have left her alone five minutes ago when she was getting damn well boiled.” Indignation had become righteous fury.

“All of you get out!” Nora screamed.

“Karl, honey, please, let her get dressed.”

With a last lingering, dissatisfied look, her dad left.