As cars started to arrive, laconic but congenial, neighborly Jack went out to great them. He would call to the house, "Freda May, your dad is here."
Marlene Hurst's dad had to turn around and go home without her. Marlene was definitely now one of Millie's close friends and they had gotten permission from their respective mothers for Marlene to stay the night along with Carol Kratz and Elly Shooty. Carol, Elly and Millie had been inseparable in school since first grade but Carol and Elly were just as taken with Marlene as was Millie. The three girls had been the Three Musketettes - a word invented by Millie because in the story the musketeers were boys and when you're seven, you definitely don't want any masculine reference applied to you. Millie immediately decided that quartet was unisex so they decided they were the Elkton sixth grade Distaff Quartet. Millie didn't make that word up. Distaff was a real word. Millie got that word from her mom.
When Larry Waverly arrived he asked if Jack cared if he hung around until everyone else was gone. If Janet had everyone mad at her, he'd take her home and come back but he needed to talk to Jack.
"Janet has not been a problem but during the black-out, she became very upset, almost panicky."
"She's a frightened little girl. She's smart as a whip and has figured out ways to get along but I worry about her. Her mother is just plain mean to her. That's the only reason that bitch is still here.
"Uh - Jack - sorry for that word. I know you don't like cussing around you but there just isn't any other way to describe that woman. She's told everyone around here that we're married. We're not. When I went down to Bay City last summer, a year, she was with a group visiting a neighbor of my sister. She grabbed hold of me and never let go. About a week later she showed up here and asked if she could stay a while. Said she couldn't make the rent in Detroit and got evicted. I had talked to Janet in Bay City and felt sorry for her so I let them stay.
"I saw right off what she was up to. Kept trying to get me in her bedroom until she found out that Dad owns the farm, not me. Janet's told me what she does. She marries some guy and stays married long enough so that when she leaves she can get half of the guy's money.
"I know she's been going to Bad Ax to meet the guy she was with in Bay City so I don't think she'll stay much longer. That's what worries me about Janet. No way can I keep the girl, me not being married and all, but she's really a sweet kid and she's scared and needs a lot of love.
"I know that woman has folks around here upset. I just wanted you to know what's really going on."
"Larry, you do find ways to get yourself into a pickle, don't you? Wish I could think of a way to help, but right now nothing comes to me. If you think of something I can do, you know I will. In the meantime, I'll be praying for you."
Janet gave Larry a big hug and Jack could see that she was crying when they drove off.
Jack and Irene had thought their twins were about the noisiest pair in the world. They were not bad kids. In fact, they were very good kids but they loved to tease each other and they giggled a lot, especially when Jack and Irene preferred that they and their kids were sleeping. They were to learn that night that their kids were quiet as church mice compared to four eleven year old girls. It was one o'clock when Irene finally got firm enough to convince the girls she meant business. Well, that and the fact that even eleven-year-old girls can't stay awake and giggle forever.