skates, and slapped the skates’ closures together—all in one swift movement.
Grabbing the handle of the suitcase with one hand, she clumped her way toward the nearest corner of the veranda, running. She couldn’t get the wheels to turn! The outdoor carpet on the balcony had a thicker pile than that in the sports shop, and the skates couldn’t glide across it. It was as if a brick was tied to each foot. And the skates were to have provided the speed and silence she needed to pull off this caper! Although empty, the suitcase was upsetting her equilibrium, pulling her toward the side of the house. She swore at it under her breath, tugging it back toward her, which threw her dangerously off-balance, this time toward the edge of the balcony and a two-story fall. Sarah would be coming out to see what the light flash was any second now.
“Damn!” Vicky muttered aloud and hefted the suitcase upward to rest on her head—like a Bedouin woman, on wheels. She had to hold it with both hands or fall on her face, or worse, on her back—how mortifying! She leaned forward, balancing, and began to push along the carpet rather than run, soundlessly, with even strides. She gathered speed and, as she rounded the first corner, imagined herself to be the Roller Derby Queen she’d described to the salesman…
And here she comes, ladies and gentlemen, Bruiser Banning, the Bomber from Boise , rounding the first turn. And look here, right behind her, slithering round the bend, is Sarah Slaughter, the Scourge of Seattle , in hot pursuit, closing in, narrowing the gap. But, watch Banning! She’s rounding the second turn, coming in for the final stretch. Will Bruiser make it in time, ladies and gentlemen? Will she reach home before her arch enemy, the Scourge, catches up to her? Will she be caught? Lose her crown? NO , Banning fans! She made it all the way round! There she goes, hopping over the threshold—into her room—
… and fell flat on her face, spread-eagle across the bed, arms and legs akimbo. The roller skate wheels were now spinning with oiled exuberance, while the suitcase was heaved across the room, tumbling into the open closet with a crash. Sarah hadn’t been chasing her at all, of course, but the imagined excitement of a tight race made it all the more exhilarating.
* * * *
Two days later, Vicky was called to the entranceway of the Sanctuary to sign for a long, cylindrical package that was being delivered. She accepted it eagerly, tipped the Air Express deliveryman and rushed to her room. The contents of the package were poorer in quality than she’d hoped for, but would certainly suffice for her purposes. Now to find Sarah.
Since the day was drizzly, most of the residents were indoors, many engrossed in playing cards in the TV room, but Sarah was not among them. Nor was she in the parlor, nor the dining room, so Vicky returned to the second floor, to knock on Sarah’s door.
“Yes?” Sarah said coldly when she answered the knock to find Vicky outside.
“Good morning, Sarah dear,” Vicky began, smiling pleasantly. “I’d like to speak with you, if you have the time.”
“I don’t,” Sarah snapped and swung to close the door.
“Then I suggest you find the time.” Vicky was still smiling, but her voice had tightened. “For your own sake.”
“What do you mean, for my sake?”
“You like living here at the Sanctuary, don’t you?”
Sarah’s face was stern as she peered down at Vicky with disdain. “It was better before you came.”
“Well,” said Vicky, “if you enjoy living here and wish to continue doing so, then I think we’d better have a talk.”
Sarah’s eyes narrowed menacingly. Her lips twisted into a sneer. Are…you… threatening … me ?” she demanded.
“Yes, dear,” Vicky replied lightly. She cocked her head to one side, pursing her lips coyly. “I hate to…sort of, but if it’s a choice between you leaving, and me, I’m afraid it’s going to have to be
Grabbing the handle of the suitcase with one hand, she clumped her way toward the nearest corner of the veranda, running. She couldn’t get the wheels to turn! The outdoor carpet on the balcony had a thicker pile than that in the sports shop, and the skates couldn’t glide across it. It was as if a brick was tied to each foot. And the skates were to have provided the speed and silence she needed to pull off this caper! Although empty, the suitcase was upsetting her equilibrium, pulling her toward the side of the house. She swore at it under her breath, tugging it back toward her, which threw her dangerously off-balance, this time toward the edge of the balcony and a two-story fall. Sarah would be coming out to see what the light flash was any second now.
“Damn!” Vicky muttered aloud and hefted the suitcase upward to rest on her head—like a Bedouin woman, on wheels. She had to hold it with both hands or fall on her face, or worse, on her back—how mortifying! She leaned forward, balancing, and began to push along the carpet rather than run, soundlessly, with even strides. She gathered speed and, as she rounded the first corner, imagined herself to be the Roller Derby Queen she’d described to the salesman…
And here she comes, ladies and gentlemen, Bruiser Banning, the Bomber from Boise , rounding the first turn. And look here, right behind her, slithering round the bend, is Sarah Slaughter, the Scourge of Seattle , in hot pursuit, closing in, narrowing the gap. But, watch Banning! She’s rounding the second turn, coming in for the final stretch. Will Bruiser make it in time, ladies and gentlemen? Will she reach home before her arch enemy, the Scourge, catches up to her? Will she be caught? Lose her crown? NO , Banning fans! She made it all the way round! There she goes, hopping over the threshold—into her room—
… and fell flat on her face, spread-eagle across the bed, arms and legs akimbo. The roller skate wheels were now spinning with oiled exuberance, while the suitcase was heaved across the room, tumbling into the open closet with a crash. Sarah hadn’t been chasing her at all, of course, but the imagined excitement of a tight race made it all the more exhilarating.
* * * *
Two days later, Vicky was called to the entranceway of the Sanctuary to sign for a long, cylindrical package that was being delivered. She accepted it eagerly, tipped the Air Express deliveryman and rushed to her room. The contents of the package were poorer in quality than she’d hoped for, but would certainly suffice for her purposes. Now to find Sarah.
Since the day was drizzly, most of the residents were indoors, many engrossed in playing cards in the TV room, but Sarah was not among them. Nor was she in the parlor, nor the dining room, so Vicky returned to the second floor, to knock on Sarah’s door.
“Yes?” Sarah said coldly when she answered the knock to find Vicky outside.
“Good morning, Sarah dear,” Vicky began, smiling pleasantly. “I’d like to speak with you, if you have the time.”
“I don’t,” Sarah snapped and swung to close the door.
“Then I suggest you find the time.” Vicky was still smiling, but her voice had tightened. “For your own sake.”
“What do you mean, for my sake?”
“You like living here at the Sanctuary, don’t you?”
Sarah’s face was stern as she peered down at Vicky with disdain. “It was better before you came.”
“Well,” said Vicky, “if you enjoy living here and wish to continue doing so, then I think we’d better have a talk.”
Sarah’s eyes narrowed menacingly. Her lips twisted into a sneer. Are…you… threatening … me ?” she demanded.
“Yes, dear,” Vicky replied lightly. She cocked her head to one side, pursing her lips coyly. “I hate to…sort of, but if it’s a choice between you leaving, and me, I’m afraid it’s going to have to be
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