Getting Rid of Mabel by Keziah Frost

Author:Keziah Frost [Frost, Keziah]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781733823715
Publisher: Allegra Books
Published: 2019-05-05T16:00:00+00:00

-46-

In the Kitchen with Margaret turned out to be an absorbing project for the Club, while Carlotta maintained her exile. They talked about it during painting classes.

At one o’clock on Wednesday afternoon in Birdie’s Watercolor Class, they were all abuzz with their community television certification class lingo and plans for filming.

Mabel, who had tired of modeling for the art classes, was dabbing at her own abstract painting experiment while she talked.

“See,” said Mabel, “if we were doing an interview show, or even a painting show, we’d just film in the studio. But if we do a cooking show, we’ll need to film in a kitchen. Probably Margaret’s kitchen. It’s do-able. We’ll have to rent a video camera….”

Lorraine said, “Carlotta, whatsa matter with you anyway? I can’t believe you’re not working with us on this. You’re missing out. You would love it!”

Carlotta dragged a watery brush over her Arches paper and then laid down some dots of cool color and watched them expand into little stars. She shook some grains of salt over her paper to increase the star effect.

“You know,” she said, “I’ve been very busy.”

They aren’t going to ask what you’ve been busy with. Just tell them.

“You’ve been wondering what I’m so busy with, so I won’t keep you in suspense any longer.” She paused. She took as long as she dared before losing their attention. “You will be surprised to know that I am writing a book.”

Excitement broke out around the studio.

That’s the way to get them back.

Carlotta thought with satisfaction that she had sprung the news on them at just the right moment.

“Oh, Carlotta,” said Lorraine, with real feeling, “you always wanted to write that book! And now you’re doing it! That’s wonderful! I’m prouda you.”

“Oh,” enthused Margaret, her blue eyes sparkling, “I’ve always wanted to write a book, too. I’m going to write mine posthumously, though.”

Lorraine smirked at Carlotta and said, “For that, you’re gonna need a ghostwriter.”

Birdie looked up with interest, and then gazed off into space, her default expression.

Carlotta felt warmly reassured by Lorraine’s smirk. They were still friends, then.

Carlotta explained to Margaret, “You can’t write a book posthumously. I think you mean to say, anonymously. You can write a book anonymously if you use a pen name. Posthumously would mean you would write it after you’re dead. Which would be assuming an extra challenge. Writing a book while you’re still alive is hard enough.”

“It could be published posthumously, though,” said Lorraine. “You could write it anonymously and then it would be published posthumously.”

Margaret pouted, “Can we stop talking about death, please?”

Mabel asked, “Well, what’s it about—this book of yours?”

“Why,” said Carlotta, smiling her sweetest smile. “It’s about all of you.”

The Club, ignited by self-interest, pressed Carlotta to tell them more.

“Am I in it?” asked Mabel.

“And me?” asked Lorraine.

Carlotta, expert in the skill of manipulation, knew that this was the moment to step back and withhold information.

“Now, didn’t I just say I’m writing about all of you?”

“Ooh, what are you writing about us?” asked Margaret.

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