Mystery of the Dark Tower by Evelyn Coleman Page B

for?”
    Now Eddie sniffled and rubbed his eyes. “B-B-Bessie, I-I-I-I w-want Mama now .”
    â€œDon’t cry. Mama will be here soon. Papa said so,” Bessie reassured him, hoping that what she was saying was the truth.
    â€œChildren, there ain’t no reason for you to start acting up. Even if your mama or papa doesn’t come, I’m going to take good care of you.”
    Aunt Esther’s words cut Bessie’s heart like a knife. Mama might not come. True, Bessie had thought to herself that Mama and Papa were separated, but she didn’t really believe that it was for good. And she never considered that the Dark Tower woman could take Papa from her and Eddie. Mama and Papa both gone—neither of them ever coming back? It couldn’t be.
    Bessie jumped up from the table. “I want to know when Mama is coming,” Bessie demanded. She didn’t care if Aunt Esther scolded her. “And where is Papa working, Aunt Esther?”
    â€œFirst of all, don’t take that tone with me, girl,” Aunt Esther said.
    Bessie wanted to take a different tone. She didn’t want to sound disrespectful, but she couldn’t help it. She felt light-headed and unsteady on her feet. She wanted to scream, Where’s Mama and Papa? She felt her body trembling all over, like leaves in a storm. She clenched her fists tightly at her sides. Her breath came quick and short.
    â€œGirl, you better sit down,” Aunt Esther said, standing up and walking to the sink. “What’s gotten into you? I told you, your papa is away working, and that’s all you need to know. Now, here,” she said, turning and handing them a brown bottle and two rags.
    Bessie didn’t flinch. She glared at the bottle and rags. “Aunt Esther, when is Mama coming to be with us in Harlem? When is Papa coming back?” she asked again. But this time Bessie was so close to crying, the words came out like a whisper of wind in the trees.
    Aunt Esther acted as though she didn’t even hear her question now. “Don’t tell me that Baby Sister didn’t make you do your chores. You’re to polish the furniture in the sitting room every morning. And then you can go outside for a stretch and play. But don’t go off this block.”
    Aunt Esther set the bottle and rags down on the table. “You won’t go out until it’s done. It’s up to you how long you’re inside.” Then she walked out, leaving them standing in the room.
    â€œB-B-Bessie, the quicker we d-d-dust, the faster we can g-go outside. I want to g-g-get out of here,” Eddie said.
    â€œYou’re right,” Bessie said. “We need to go out so we can talk and come up with a plan. We can’t let Papa stay with that woman in the Dark Tower. If we do, then we won’t have anyone.”

C HAPTER 6
    H ALF -T RUTHS

    It took three inspections before Aunt Esther could see her reflection in the furniture and allowed Bessie and Eddie to go outside. Once they were settled on the stoop, Bessie reached into her dress pocket and pulled out the note from Miss A. that she had found in Papa’s suitcase. Bessie had to discover where the Dark Tower was and find this woman. There was no doubt in her mind that Miss A. had put some kind of spell on Papa to make him act the way he was acting.
    â€œEddie, I have a note from the woman Papa likes. I need you to help me figure out how to find her,” Bessie said. She was just showing the crumpled note to Eddie when Lillian walked out on the stoop. Bessie slipped the note back into her pocket.
    â€œB-B-Bessie f-found a note,” Eddie blurted out.
    Bessie gave Eddie a stern look. She didn’t want Lillian to read the note. Even though Lillian was supposed to help them, Bessie felt embarrassed by a woman writing to Papa.
    â€œWhere is the note?” Lillian asked.
    Bessie looked at her friend. Lillian had said that she’d help, and she did