crying, also waiting. But I wasn’t completely on my own. I had Iris for ears and Gerald might prove useful if I needed to annoy someone. The decisions were all mine and I found I didn’t mind so much. It was better than asking permission.
“All right,” I said. “Iris, I want you to come down here and help me. Just come down the way I did, and I’ll catch you.”
Gerald snorted and would’ve said something nasty about Iris’s weight no doubt when I stepped on his foot. He yelped in pain and I held up my arms to my not-so-little sister. Iris dropped and just about flattened me. There wasn’t an ounce of breath left in my lungs and a pain cramped my neck that probably wouldn’t go away for days.
“I’m sorry. I’m sorry,” Iris said as she rolled off and helped me up. “I won’t eat any more maple syrup, I promise.”
“Good idea,” said Gerald.
“Don’t be ridiculous.” I glared at Gerald as he stuck his tongue out at Iris. “Eat whatever you want. Now let’s take care of Gerald.”
“What do you mean by that?” he asked, trying to scoot away from us.
“We’re going to fix your arm, dufus. What do you think?” I smiled at him. Fixing his arm might not be that bad after all. I might even enjoy it after all the nasty things he said to Iris.
“No, you’re not. I’m waiting for my dad.”
“When it’s time to get out of here, you have to be ready. Sit on him, Iris.”
Iris grinned and plunked down on Gerald so hard a big whoosh of breath rushed out of him.
“At least use that stupid list,” Gerald said with what little breath he had.
“I don’t have it. I’ll have to do it by memory,” I said.
Gerald pointed frantically at the spot where he’d been trapped. The list lay, unscathed, next to a bed post. I went over and snatched it up. The three step instructions for popping an arm back into its socket were fifteenth of the list. Mom was big on three steps to anything and, for once, I was grateful. I could handle three steps.
I stuffed the list in my pocket. I stepped into position, grabbed Gerald’s arm the way the list said and yanked. There was a grinding pop and Gerald screamed.
“You did it!” yelled Iris.
“Get off, fatty!” yelled Gerald.
I helped Iris up, and we watched Gerald fuss and flex his fingers. His arm was back in its socket, but he didn’t appear to be grateful about it.
“I could’ve done that,” he said. “It’s not that big a deal.”
“Only if your grandmother was a healer,” replied Iris. “Matilda has talent. Grandma Vi said so.”
“Your grandmother wasn’t a great healer. My dad could…”
“Shut up, Gerald,” I said. “Is the baby still crying?”
“He’s kind of screaming,” Iris said with big tears in her pale blue eyes.
I went to the window and shoved it open as far as it would go. “I’m going to go get him.”
“I’m going, too,” said Gerald.
“No, you’re not. Stay here with Iris.”
“It’s not my fault she’s too big to fit through. I’m leaving. I’m going to find my dad.”
“No, you’re not.” If I knew one thing for certain, it was that they had to stick together. Iris couldn’t leave, so we were all staying. What kind of babysitter would I be if I let Gerald run off? What if something happened to him? I wasn’t totally against something happening to Gerald, but I had to keep him with me, and I couldn’t leave Iris.
“I’m going,” said Gerald. “You can’t stop me.”
I grabbed his good arm and wheeled him around toward my parents’ ruined wardrobe, lying on its side. My dad had decorated it with dozens of pieces of delicate inlaid wood, but they’d all popped off and lay scattered around the floor. I felt a little sick when I thought of the hours he’d spent making the piece perfect for Mom’s Christmas present the year before.
I pulled open the door. “In you go.”
“No way!” Gerald yelled. His face turned bright red and a vein popped out on his forehead as I shoved