of it in several weeks, she suddenly saw in her mind the stem of the car's steering wheel bloodily embedded in Mindy's face.
_It's built with blood_.
She took a deep breath, feeling a slight chill pass through her. Maybe her parents' feelings weren't quite so unfounded.
But then she looked out into the parking lot and saw a mother happily pushing a shopping cart toward the front entrance, a little boy singing loudly from his cart seat.
There was nothing weird here. This was a normal discount retail store.
There'd been some bad luck, maybe, some negative coincidences, but that sort of thing happened everywhere, all the time.
The woman passed by her bench, and the little boy waved at Shannon. 'Hi!' he said.
She smiled at him. 'Hi.'
A few minutes later, she was sufficiently cooled off, no longer sweating, and she walked into The Store, feeling a welcome burst of air-conditioning as she stepped through the doors into the building. A smiling director asked if she needed some assistance, she told him she wanted to get a job application, and he directed her to the Customer Service desk. The woman behind the counter, who Shannon remembered from Buy-and-Save, gave her an application and a pen and told her to move down to the end of the counter and fill in the requested information.
'We don't have many openings left,' she said, 'but you're in luck. There's a clerk position available in the Garden department.'
'I'll take it,' Shannon said.
The woman smiled. 'Fill out the application, and we'll see.'
Shannon did so, turned it in, then walked through The Store looking for Sam. She found her sister behind the register in the Housewares department, conspicuously yawning while an elderly woman lectured her for not being helpful.
Shannon pretended to look at dishes and silverware until the woman finally left, disgusted.
Samantha smiled. 'We get all kinds.' She looked down the aisle behind Shannon. 'Mom and Dad here, too?'
Shannon shook her head. 'Just me.'
'To what do I owe the honor?'
'I'm applying for job here.'
Sam's expression darkened.
'I thought you could help me,' Shannon said quickly.
'You don't want to work here,' Sam said.
'Yes, I do.'
'No, you don't.'
'Look, I was just asking you to put in a good word for me. But if that's too difficult for you, forget it. God, I didn't think you were going to turn it into a whole big thing.'
'I'll tell Dad.'
Shannon stared at her sister. 'Thanks. Thanks a lot.'
'I don't think you --'
'I already turned in the application. If you won't help me, fine. But I'm going to get a job here.'
'You already turned it in?'
'Yeah.'
Sam took a deep breath, and a look of -- what? fear? -- passed over her face. 'Okay, I'll take care of it,' she said.
'Take care of what?'
'There are tests and things you're supposed to go through before you get hired, but I'll see if I can get you out of it. I . . . think I can.'
Shannon nodded. 'Thanks,' she said grudgingly.
Sam looked sick, almost physically ill. 'Go home,' she said. 'They shouldn't see us together.'
'Why?'
'Just go. I'll . . . talk to some people, and I'll tell you what happens tonight.' She smiled, but her smile was forced, closer to a grimace, and once again, Shannon thought of Mindy.
_It's built with blood_.
She looked at her sister. 'Thanks,' she said again.
Sam nodded.
Shannon walked back through The Store toward the entrance, feeling uneasy but not knowing why.
Her mom was already home by the time she arrived back at the house. She was sorting through a pile of papers and mimeograph sheets on the coffee table in the living room, but she looked up as Shannon walked in. 'Your father said you were out job-hunting.'
'Yeah.'
'Where did you apply?' her mom asked.
'Where didn't I apply?' she lied.
'Any luck?'
Shannon shrugged. 'I don't know. There don't seem to be too many places looking for help right now.'
'Summer school starts on Monday. I could use an aide.'
Shannon snorted derisively.
'Ten bucks a week. And it'll look good on your resume for college.'
'We'll see. If I don't get a job, maybe I'll do it.'
Samantha arrived home late. She walked directly into her sister's room and shut the door behind her. 'You're hired,' she said. 'Report tomorrow. Ten o'clock. Mr. Lamb.'
'Thanks.'
Sam nodded.
She looked tired, Shannon thought. And pale. Sick. 'Are you all right?' she asked 'I'm fine,' Samantha snapped.
'Just asking.'
'What are you going to tell Mom and Dad?'
'I'll think of something.'
'Just leave me out of it.'
'Okay.' Shannon watched her sister turn and walk silently out of the room.
A few moments later, she heard the shower running in the bathroom. She considered telling her parents that she'd gotten a job -- she had to tell them, since she started work tomorrow -- but she didn't know what to say and needed some time to come up with a plan.
They'd freak if they knew she'd be working at The Store.
Shannon lay on her bed, reading a magazine, and after Sam finished with her shower, she waited another ten minutes for the steam to clear out of the bathroom, then went in to take her own bath.
She pulled up the metal knob that plugged the drain and began running the water, testing it first with her fingers to make sure the temperature was okay.
She undressed, opened the hamper to toss in her shirt and jeans, and saw Sam's panties lying on top of the other clothes. They were spotted with blood, and though at first Shannon thought nothing of it, she realized seconds later that her sister's period was not due for another few weeks.
Shannon paused. She thought of how worn out and sickly Sam had seemed tonight, and she considered asking her about it, seeing if anything was the matter, but she simply stared down at the bloody cotton underwear for a few moments, then threw in her own clothes, let the lid of the hamper fall, and stepped into the tub, sinking into the water.
She told her parents after her bath.
They were seated on the couch, watching TV, and she walked into the living room and stood before them. She'd considered just coming out and telling them the truth, considered easing them into the truth, but finally
