No One Ever Asked by Katie Ganshert

Author:Katie Ganshert
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: The Crown Publishing Group
Published: 2018-04-03T04:00:00+00:00

Thirty-Four

Tamika Harris was a talker, and Camille was not about to be rude. In fact, she went out of her way—boisterously out of her way—to make a good impression. Maybe then, once Edison’s mother realized who Camille was, she would be more inclined to give Camille the benefit of the doubt.

All the effort had made her late, and Taylor wasn’t answering her phone or responding to any of Camille’s text messages. And Camille still needed to have a serious talk with Paige.

A racial slur, actually.

Mr. Kelly’s shocking words kept blaring in her ears—over and over again—until she pulled up in front of the gymnasium entrance and saw Taylor sitting sullenly on a bench.

“Late much?” Taylor muttered.

Answer your phone much?

Camille swallowed the snotty reply and apologized through the open window. “I tried calling to let you know, but you weren’t answering.”

“My battery died.” Taylor tossed her backpack into the backseat.

It landed on top of Paige.

“Hey!”

“Can I drive?” Taylor asked.

“No. Not right now.” Taylor’s driving was the last thing Camille could handle right now. Her nerves were too frayed.

“Of course not.” Taylor threw open the passenger-side door. She climbed in and buckled her seat belt, her chin jutting in an unattractive underbite.

Her attitude made Camille want to scream.

A racial slur, actually.

Taylor turned on the music as they drove toward the parking lot exit. She found her favorite station and turned up the volume. They were playing a pop song with provocative lyrics.

Camille turned it off.

“I can’t even listen to music now?”

“Not that kind.”

Taylor shook her head, crossed her arms. Sank down in the seat. “You’re unbelievable.”

Camille made a sharp turn and pulled to an abrupt stop in one of the parking lot’s farthest stalls. She took a deep breath—an inhale through her nostrils, an exhale through her lips. Then she shifted into park and turned to face her children.

“I think we’re due for a family meeting.”

Taylor groaned.

Taylor hated family meetings. She hadn’t always hated them. Once upon a time, before the joys of puberty set in, she used to enjoy them. But then she turned fourteen and went into high school and became this glowering, eye-rolling stranger Camille didn’t recognize.

“Taylor, if you don’t start treating me with more respect, I’m going to take your phone away.”

“Maybe I would show you more respect if you didn’t treat me like I was eight.”

“Stop acting like you’re eight and I will.”

“What’s wrong with being eight?” Paige asked.

Camille took another deep breath and turned around farther to address her youngest. “You aren’t telling the truth about what happened today.”

“I didn’t say anything.”

“Paige.” Camille stared at her. She stared at her like they were having a staring contest. She stared without blinking until her eyes began to sting and Paige looked down into her lap.

“I’m sorry,” she said. “I didn’t know it was such a mean word.”

Taylor narrowed her eyes, her attention darting back and forth between her little sister and her mother.

“Where did you hear it?” Camille asked.

Paige fiddled with the zipper of her backpack.

Camille waited.

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