Mom stared blankly.
"Get out. Both of you. You can send for your things later. I never want
to see either of you again."
"David--"
"I said _get out_!"
Ronnie and Mom left the house. Outside, the night was dark and a wind
was rising. Mom shivered in her thin house cloak.
"Where will we go, Ronnie? Where, where--"
"I know a place. Maybe we can stay there--for a little while."
"A little while?" Mom echoed. Her mind seemed frozen by the cold wind.
Ronnie led her through the cold, windy streets. They left the lights of
the town behind them. They stumbled over a rough, dirt country road.
They came to a small, rough-boarded house in the deep shadow of an
eucalyptus grove. The windows of the house were like friendly eyes of
warm golden light.
An instant later a door opened and a small boy ran out to meet them.
"Hi, Kenny."
"Hi. Who's that? Your mom?"
"Yep. Mr. Davis in?"
"Sure."
And a kindly-faced, bearded young man appeared in the golden doorway,
smiling.
Ronnie and Mom stepped inside.