The Barkers had recently painted their home a cheery light yellow with a dark chocolate trim. The house was nestled between huge pine and maple trees. Nora loved the warm, cozy kitchen, where she and Cheryl spent afternoons after school.

“Hi, girls.” Cheryl’s mother waved while raking the remnants of fall leaves. Nora and Cheryl waved back. “Hey Cheryl, your piano teacher called to change your lesson to this afternoon. You better get over there.”

“Okay, Mama.” Cheryl dropped off her school pack and dragged her bike from the adjacent shed. “Sorry, Nora. See you tomorrow.”

“Why don’t you stay and visit? I’m at a stopping point,” Mrs. Barker suggested to Nora.

“Thank you, but I’d better get home.”

Most afternoons, Nora stayed at Cheryl’s until five doing homework. She liked to get home after her mother returned from her job. Today she would be early, but Sam should still be at work.

Nora’s house was seven streets past Cheryl’s. Using the alleyway, she took a short cut. The homes became smaller and shabbier the further she walked. Minutes later she reached Star Street, only it wasn’t anything like a star. The houses on her street were worn, and her home was in the worst shape. Still, it provided a roof over their heads which was important to Eloise for Nora.

Nora stepped closer to her house and noticed Sam’s truck in the driveway—a bad omen. She was glad she came by the alley; it made it much harder for Sam to see her. She tiptoed up to the side window, peeked in, and saw a bottle of bourbon on the dining room table. Sam staggered as he paced back and forth—she heard him shouting.

“What a useless foreman; he had no right to fire me! He’s a lazy, worthless bum. I’ll show him . . .” His voice trailed off.

Sam could do a lot of damage if provoked. Frightened, Nora decided to wait in the shed behind the house until her mother came home. She would warn her mother as she knew there would be trouble. Eloise had been very protective of Nora and, so far, Sam had left her alone.

Shivering in the cold shed, time seemed to stand still as the light of day dimmed. Nora continued to peek out the door. At last she heard the sound of a car, it had to be her mother. She stepped out and waved.

Eloise saw Nora and abruptly stopped the car and got out. “What are you doing out here?”

“Mama,” Nora whispered, “I’m scared! Sam is drunk—he lost his job.”

Eloise lifted her finger to her lips to silence Nora. “Let’s get out of sight.” Eloise led her into the shed. Nora quivered while she explained to her mother what had happened.

“You did right to hide. Here, take my jacket.” Eloise hugged her daughter to help warm her.