Chapter 8

           Soonafterhermarriage,whentheyallmovedtothenearbycityofLancaster,DorothydiscoveredthatChalmerwasunusuallystrictwiththefourchildren.Notalkingatthedinnertable.Nolaughing.Thesalthadtobepassedclockwise.Whencompanycame,thechildrenhadtositupstraight,feetflatonthefloor,handsontheirknees.

           Kathywasnotallowedtositonhermotherslap."You’retoooldforthat,"Chalmersaidtotheseven-year-old.

           OncewhenJimboaskedBillytopassthesalt,andBilly,unabletoreachthatfar,sliditoverpartway,Chalmershoutedathim,"Can’tyoudoanythingright?Nineyearsold,actinglikeababy."

           TheybecameafraidofDaddyChal.Itwasevenworsewhenhewasdrinkingbeer.

           Afraidtoshowhisanger,Billywithdrewintohimself.Hedidn’tunderstandthestrictness,thehostility,thepunishment.OncewhenChalmershoutedathimandBillylookeddirectlyintohisface,Chalmerstonechangedtoanicyhiss:"BendthemeyeswhileI’mtalkin’toyou."

           ThevoicemadeBillycringeandlookdown...

           OftenwhenShawnopenedhiseyesandlookedaround,someonewaswatchinghimwithlipsmoving,faceangry.Sometimesitwastheprettylady.Sometimesitwasoneofthegirlsortheboy,whowasalittlebiggerthanhewas,whowouldpushhimortakehistoyaway.Whentheymovedtheirlips,hemovedhis,too,andmadethebuzzingthroughhisteeth.Thentheywouldlaughwhenhedidthat.