by Willow Rose
"Mom?"
Her mother closed her eyes and bit her lip. She looked at Emma and at her feet and the dirt she dragged in. Emma fought back her tears.
"Yes, Emma?" her mother said, restraining herself from yelling at her. "What is it, Emma?"
"It's ... It was ..." Emma tried to say.
"Where is Von Herbert?" Irene Gyldenfeldt asked. She got up with an anxious look and glanced around the place where Emma stood. "Where are you boy?" She whistled. "Here lil' Herbert, here little boy."
"Emma?" her mother said with an anxious voice. "Emma where is Ms. Gyldenfeldt's dog? Is it not with you?"
Emma shook her head, whimpering.
Her mother got on her feet. "Emma! Answer me Goddammit. Where is the dog?"
"I ... It ... It was ..."
Her mother approached her with angry steps. "Emma Hermansen. Tell me right now where that dog is!"
"But ... But ..."
"Where is the dog?!" her mother yelled. She stood in front of Emma, steaming with anger.
Emma swallowed hard, before she spoke with shivering voice. "The ... the snowman ... the snowman ate it."
A burning sensation was planted in her face as her mother slapped her across the cheek. Emma felt the tears piling up.
"Emma Hermansen. You tell me the truth now, you hear me? Where is the dog?"
Emma lifted the leash and showed the ladies where it had been bitten off. They all gasped.
"What happened to it?" Her mother repeated. "Did you let go of it? No more lies. You tell me the truth young lady!"
"I was telling the truth. The dog peed on the snowman's feet and then it ate him."
"The snowman ..." her mother said. "The snowman ate the dog? Now that has to be the stupidest thing you have ever come up with. Of all the lies ..."
"But it's the truth!" Emma said stomping her feet in anger.
Another slap across her cheek made Emma cry. "How could you let this happen, you fat little monster?!" her mother yelled. "How could you do this to me?"
"Why won't you believe me?" Emma pleaded while her mother grabbed her arm and dragged her out of the dining room. As they left, Emma heard Irene Gyldenfeldt moan and whine.
"My poor Herbert. I have to find him," she said. "Oh my God he must be so scared out there in this horrific snow. I have to find my Herbie before he is lost in that awful big forest."
As she was pushed upstairs Emma heard the other women agree, but she never heard any of them offer to help.
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