Starting Over by Pascal Francine

Author:Pascal, Francine
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2016-01-26T16:00:00+00:00

Eight

"Don't you have practice today, Dana?" Mrs. Larson paused, her paintbrush in midair. She was repainting the woodwork in the front hallway.

"Nope," Dana replied. "Guy had a dentist appointment, and Emily was absent from school. So we canceled." She turned to head up the stairs.

"Well, then, maybe you can find the time to pick up your room. I don't think the vacuum cleaner has had any action in there for quite a while. Now seems like a good time to do something about it."

With one foot on the bottom step, Dana stopped and stared straight ahead. She had every intention of using her free afternoon to go downtown to a late afternoon matinee. The Plaza Theater was running a series of Hepburn classics, and Bringing Up Baby was showing that day.

"Actually, Mom, I've got plans," Dana said carefully, her brow furrowed.

"I think they can wait. I'm serious about this."

Dana turned around, a stricken look on her face. "But, Mom! I was going to see a movie!"

"Dana, you spend plenty of time at the movies as it is. I want you to clean your room."

"What's the big deal? I'll do it later. I swear!"

Her mother continued painting, her mouth set in a determined line. "Of course, you could certainly do it later. That's not the point. I'd like to think you were responsible enough to keep your room clean without my having to nag you about it. You know, Sally doesn't seem to have any more free time than you do, but her room is immaculate. And she helps out all over the house. If she can do all that, I think you could manage to pick up your mess, Dana."

"Sally! It seems like all you and Dad can talk about these days is Sally and how wonderful she is."

Mrs. Larson stood up. "Dana, I am really surprised at you. Your father and I are doing what we can to make that poor girl feel welcome. And we have asked you and Jeremy repeatedly to do the same." She paused and crossed her arms.

Dana made no reply.

"Do you understand what I'm saying, young lady? I want you to be a little more understanding about how we're treating her. And I think you could find it in yourself to be a bit more pleasant to her. Let's not discuss this any further, all right? Oh, and another thing . . ."

Dana's chest was heaving with suppressed anger and indignation. How could her mother pick on her like this? It had never happened before. Dana knew it wouldn't have if Sally weren't there. She waited silently for her mother to go on.

"I know Sally's too unassuming to ask to use my car, so I want you and your brother to encourage her to take it. I've already spoken to him about it."

Mrs. Larson gave a final brush stroke to the baseboard and replaced the lid on the paint can. She looked up at Dana, who was still standing on the bottom step, speechless.

"We keep the vacuum cleaner in the broom closet, in case you've forgotten.

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