”Im fine. I’m staying with good people. ..Angelica”

 Bette stared at the postcard. Kit was back in the house getting plates for their chinese food. The stamp was american…but the picture was of a beaver..canada? Jesus was her little girl in canada? Bette dropped the postcard and put her hands to her face…it was like the world had ended. Kirsten wasn’t answering the messages she left on her cellphone. And Kit was looking at her strangely….Bette was ashamed to tell her what really happened. “Bette!!  Dinner is ready” Bette picks up the postcard and comes in the kitchen..there is something about her. Bette doesn’t know what it is, she must have lost something in her since T died. Kit passes her some cartons and Bette piles some chow mein on, while chewing it up in her mouth Bette passes Kit the postcard. She looks at it and her face hardens. “at least she sent something, we know she’s in some city with people…who knows who but at least she’s not by herself”  “Kit! how do we know she’s tellign the truth! i mean the police are on the look-out but they’re not doing much, she ran away..it’s not like she went suddenly missing” Kit nods, she takes a breath and puts down the postcard. The air is thick with tension. “um Bette…do oyu want to tell me why you think Angelica ran away? I mean she called me only a week ago and said everything was great, that you and her were getting along and that she liked Kirsten, that school was doing well…tell me, im your sister and i want to help…but i have to know why Angelica would even think of running away, things seemed to be doing well”.

 There was a moment of silence….then Bette told her everything.

She was suprised when Kit slapped her, she was expecting something but not this. The crack of the slap was hard and sharp, Bette stood still holdinh her cheek. closinh her eyes, Kit got up and walked to the door, turned around, walked to the table and sat back down. Bette held her hands together, trying to ignore the stinging on her cheek. Kit leaned closely on the edge of her seat…Bette leaned in too…they were huddling. “im sorry for slapping you….but i want you to listen closely. Bette….you changed since Tina passed away, you lost something inside yourself adn if you dont get it back your going to shrivel up. You used have this fire in you..a good fire, a healthy fire, a fire that Tina loved…she loved that you were so strong, and not just physically strong, strong like you could bear things and take it, that you were so morally strong and knew what was right and wrong. and you lost tha Bette, you are losing it. what you did to Angelica was…..this might be hard ot hear…it was borderline sexual abuse….i know you were so angry and wanted to confirm the pregnancy but that was no excuse and that is why she left because you practically beat her up and stuff, i dont sympathise you…i think your a ***** idiot and deserve your unhappiness….but your my baby sister and that makes all the difference, i’ll stay with you till your girlfriend gets back. The police said they alerted the others so if Angelica doesnt keep her head low they’ll find her…but you cant file a missing personas claim now cuz you did hear from her, and the police know she ran away…but she’s underage…i dont know you might be able to file a missing persons claim, we’ll find out…but you have to *****’ get it together. you lost tha fire Bette…i hardly recognize you it’s like a character switch….your becoming empty…..dont do that, you really messed up, you probably scarred Angelica for life in some way, and guess what….im glad tina is dead right now because she would be devastated to find out what happened to her family. You let her down Bette.”