Belle was shaking. What in the world was she doing back in Eddie’s neighborhood. Had she lost all rationale…..this was none of her business. “I could get into real trouble, even trouble with the law,” Belle thought. “Then why can’t I turn around right now and forget all of this twisted mess in my mind?” If she saw anything at all that looked to be negligence, she would have no other choice….. Sissy would have to make this known to the proper authorities!

Turning down Eddie’s street, Belle could hear clearly every beat of her heart. Her ears could hear her heart pumping as though she were listening through a stethoscope. Driving slowly and watching every move on the street, her eye caught a glimpse of an older model car screeching out of little Eddie’s driveway. Now, why would someone be speeding in this neighborhood? Slowly, she inched her way right to the edge of their property trying to look in every direction to see if anyone was watching her. Then without another thought, she turned into the driveway, slowly got out of her car, and walked in the carport. She could say that she was checking to see if their little dog, Barney, had been found. Yes, that was perfect! The door leading into the kitchen was wide open, and when she looked through the screen, she barely kept herself from screaming, but something inside her head told her to take control of herself for the boy’s sake. Little Eddie was standing very still beside his Mother, who was bleeding from a gaping wound in her stomach, and looked to be dead. Belle let herself in, stepped over to the boy, bent down, gathered him in her arms and asked where Barney might be. The boy jerked from her reach and ran to the back yard hollering for his little dog. Belle took a long hard look at the woman, and could see no sign of life. She opened the back door and spotted the boy and his dog. She gently guided Eddie back inside with Barney leaping and licking the little boy. Belle’s head was spinning and she knew any minute she would throw up. Belle could see Eddie shaking violently. She picked him up and held him close for a moment until he calmed down. Think, Belle, think.

“Eddie, let’s take Barney with us and go get help for your Mom, okay?” She let him down and he slowly and obediently walked with Belle, and the three of them piled into Belle’s car, and headed out of the neighborhood. She drove several miles from the area, and pulled in at a convenience store.

Belle turned to Eddie and said, “hey, little buddy, would you and Barney wait here while I go get help?”

He nodded his little head. Belle locked the car door, quickly stepped inside and gathered sandwiches, chips, candy and drinks. She unlocked the car and handed Eddie the bag of food.

“Go ahead and eat whatever you want, and give Barney part of your sandwich, too! I’ll be right back as soon as I use the phone over here.”