"When will you be back?" I inquired, trying to hide the quiver in my voice.

Uncle Pete was traveling and that would mean leaving me and his crazy wife all alone in the house.

Oh God, I didn't even want to think of what would happen if he left.

"Soon." His smile was reassuring as though he already understood my thoughts about being left alone with his wife.

The said wife was watching us — me specifically — through spiteful glares as she popped her gum.

He had already given me some money to ...