3b

After one particular nasty exchange between Isaiah and Simon, Sarah told the three children not to come home until she had put a white handkerchief in the window. Carol, Simon and Barbara huddled beneath the window, speculating wildly in their thoughts, but none daring to vocalize them.

After what seemed like countless hours, the much anticipated handkerchief appeared. The three of them marched in with sideway glances at the parents. Isaiah was calm and sitting at the head of the table, with a full spread in front of him. He indicated to the three to sit down. Sarah then sat down and offered a prayer of thanks. Nothing else was ever said about that night and a peace descended upon the family that lasted close to 30 years.

One thing changed: Isaiah, though still bellicose at times, never seemed to deliberately pushing buttons again. Before, he attempt stunts like telling Carol she was stupid, which Carol was insecure about due to the obvious intelligence of her siblings; or telling Simon he was effeminate. The only person he indulged was Barbara who could always make him laugh for she was the only one who understood his dark humor, who laughed merrily at his twisted comments.

What had transpired between Isaiah and Sarah only the two of them knew. Barbara suspected that Sarah just made Isaiah understand he was totally and utterly dependant on the good graces of the rest of the family. That was how she could just relax in front of her father and enjoy herself, unlike her siblings. They cared too much about what Isaiah said.

Not Barbara. She had finally found the one movie house Macau had, at the time. And Halleluah, they were showing the latest Judy Garland musical.

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