I came closer and showed it to her. She stared at it, then up at me.
I stared back, searching for any sign of self-indictment.
Just confusion.
'I was looking for toilet paper,' I said, 'and came across this.
She leaned forward and read the gold sticker.
Cassie watched her, then picked up a crayon and threw it. When that didn't capture her mother's attention, she whined some mor 'Shh, baby.'
Cindy's squint tightened. She continued to look baffled. 'How strange.'
Cassie threw her arms up and said, 'Uh uh uh!'
Cindy pulled her closer and said, 'Haven't seen those in a long TIME '
'Didn't mean to snoop,' I said, 'but I knew Holloway made equipment for diabetics and when I saw the label I got curiousthinking about Cassie's blood sugar. Are you or Chip diabetic?'
'Oh, no,' she said. 'Those were Aunt Harriet's. Where did you find them?'
'Beneath the sink.'
'How odd. No, Cass, these are for drawing, not throwing.' She picked up a red crayon and drew a jagged line.
Cassie followed the movement, then buried her head in Cindy's blouse.
'Boy, I haven't seen those in a really long TIME I cleaned out her house, but I thought I threw all her medicines out.'
'Was Dr. Benedict her doctor?'
And her boss.'
She bounced Cassie gently. Cassie peeked out from under her arm, then began poking her under the chin.
Cindy laughed and said, 'You're tickling me.... Isn't that odd, under the sink all this time?' She gave an uneasy smile. 'Guess that doesn't make me much of a housekeeper. Sorry you had to go looking for paper-I usually notice when the roller's low.'
'No problem,' I said, realizing there'd been no dust on the box.
Pulling out a cylinder, I rolled it between my fingers.
Cassie said, 'Peh-il.'
'No, it's not a pencil, honey.' No anxiety. 'It's just a..
.thing.'
Cassie reached for it. I gave it to her and Cindy's eyes got wide.
Cassie put it to her mouth, grimaced, lowered it to the paper and tried to draw.
'See, I told you, Cass. Here, if you want to draw, use this.'
Cassie ignored the proffered crayon and kept looking at the cylinder.
Finally she threw it down on the table and began to fuss.
'C'mon, sweetie, let's draw with Dr. Delaware.'
