Spin Control by Niki Burnham

Author:Niki Burnham
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing
Published: 2005-12-06T05:00:00+00:00

Six

I think I have said about ten extremely heartfelt thank yous to God in the last hour that both Jules and Natalie are the type of people who become oblivious to everything but themselves when they’re ticked off.

While their occasional self-centeredness is usually an annoying trait, today its good.

BECAUSE I JUST SAW MY MOTHER KISS ANOTHER WOMAN!

Okay, it was on the cheek. And it was when she thought none of us were looking—which I can understand, because we were all sitting in the eating area and she and Gabrielle were in the kitchen, which is nearby, but not in the direct line of vision from most of the table.

When IT happened, Jules was tearing open the Hostess box and Natalie was griping about how she’s only allowed out for two hours, and only because I’m home and her parents are granting her a “special break” from the maximum security block (aka, her bedroom) because she’s still in trouble for the tongue piercing. And Christie chose the seat facing away from the kitchen, so she saw nothing. But still.

This is beyond bizarre. I mean, Mom and Gabrielle looked all cheery when we came downstairs and plunked down at the table. The two of them stood in the kitchen while Christie yakked about Natalie’s tongue piercing and Jules argued that it’s probably no worse for Natalie’s health than ignoring the trans-fat content of her own beloved Ho Hos—despite all of Dr. Monschroeder’s dire warnings about Natalie’s risk of breaking a molar or getting an infection.

Mom and Gabrielle were both sipping herbal tea and smiling in that parental sort of way that translates to I’m so glad my kid is happy in life and has such wonderful friends. Then Gabrielle turned and said something to Mom very quietly about the Ho Hos—probably agreeing with Jules’s trans-fat comment—and Mom’s smile got even bigger. Then Mom leaned over and kissed Gabrielle on the cheek—the exact same way she used to kiss Dad when they were having a happy-warm-fuzzy family moment.

For a moment, I just froze. I could not believe what I just witnessed.

It didn’t make me angry or anything. It wasn’t even that gross (which you’d think). It was just … weird.

But now I can’t focus on the conversation around me. I keep sneaking peeks into the kitchen to see if they’re going to do it again.

Or if they’ll do something else. I mean, what do they do in public? I haven’t been around to see. Do they hold hands when they go to the movies? Are they loveydovey in the grocery store?

I AM NOT GOING TO THINK ABOUT THIS!!

It’s all just so wrong, them doing whatever it is they do, and even worse, my thinking about it so much.

“Valerie?” Mom sets down her teacup and leans on the counter to catch my attention. “Didn’t you have something to show your friends up in your room?”

I grunt an uh-huh, because I think she means the presents I brought from Schwerinborg. Dad, ever the protocol expert, bought some beautiful bracelets for everyone in a really pricey Freital jewelry shop.

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