Better Than All Right by Susan Beth Pfeffer

Author:Susan Beth Pfeffer
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781497682771
Publisher: Open Road Media

PART OF BEING AN ADULT

Elaine and I went into town the next day to get me a bathing suit. It really bothered Caryn that I didn’t have one, and she convinced her mother that it was urgent that I get one. So in spite of the fact it was a cold rainy day, ill suited for swimming or even thinking about swimming, we drove into town, went into the single clothes store, and found me something decent to wear for the rest of the summer.

I paid for the suit with money Ma had given me for the summer (all she could afford to give me, which wasn’t nearly as much as either of us would have liked. I offered a silent prayer that Marshall would come through), and then Elaine and I went into a drugstore and ordered coffee.

“Are you sure you wouldn’t prefer a coke?” Elaine asked.

“No thanks,” I said. “I’ve been drinking coffee for years now.”

Elaine looked disapproving, so I put more milk into the coffee than usual.

“Have you been enjoying yourself?” she asked.

“Yes, very much,” I said.

“Caryn’s very fond of you already,” she said. “I must admit I was a little worried at first. You are older than she is and much more sophisticated, but you seem to be getting along just fine.”

“Caryn’s a good person,” I said. “She’ll probably make a very nice adult.”

“I hope so,” her mother said. “Her father and I have so many dreams for her. Of course if Mike loses his job … but I don’t think that will happen. Mike’s a worrier. I’m glad he is. He worries about the future, about our security, so he provides for it. I know I’ll always have enough for the children’s education, even if something unexpected should happen.”

“Ma likes the unexpected,” I said. “I think preparation bores her.”

“Your mother and I are quite different,” Elaine said. “We always have been. Do you keep in touch with Sol?”

“Of course,” I said. “He’s my father.”

“Yes, I know, but he does live so far away. I always liked Sol; I thought your mother was a fool to give him up. How is he?”

“He’s fine. He’s working on a new play.”

“Does he make much money from his plays?”

“He makes enough to help out at home. Evie makes most of the money in the family, I think.”

“Does he help with your support?”

“No,” I said, leaving my coffee cup half full, because I couldn’t drink it with all that milk. “He gives when he can, but only from the money he earns, and that isn’t very much. Playwriting is a very speculative business.”

“I can imagine. He was doing very well in advertising when he quit.”

“He didn’t like advertising.”

“People frequently do what they don’t like. That’s part of being an adult.”

“Oh.”

“How do you think your mother’s business will work out?” Elaine asked. “Do you think it will be a success?”

“It’s hard to say,” I said. “Conditions looked good before she left, but you can never tell what new factors will pop up.

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