Plan Read Online Free PDF Page A

to recognize.
    â€œI’m fine.”
    â€œYou sound horrible,” Edna Grant replied. As usual, her words of concern sounded more like an insult.
    â€œOf course, I sound horrible. You woke me out of a sound sleep. Do you have any idea what time it is?” Rachel replied. Once again her mother had her all defensive, and all she had done was express concern. What was it with the two of them?
    â€œIt’s a quarter past six. You’re usually up and getting ready for class by now.”
    Feeling guilty for her outburst, Rachel tried again. “I know, I just got to bed late, that’s all.”
    â€œThat’s why I’m calling. I heard about the community center. They said there were no injuries, but I wanted to call and make sure. I tried your apartment several times last night, but there was no answer. I was beginning to get worried.”
    â€œI’m fine. It just took a while to get all the students home and for the power company to clean up the power lines.” The scene replayed through her mind like a movie. She could almost see the tree resting on her classroom table. She shook away the image as her mother’s voice broke into her thoughts.
    â€œRachel, are you still there?”
    â€œYes, Mama. I was just thinking. I’m still a little groggy. Can we talk later?”
    â€œAll right,” her mother said with a sigh. “Just make sure you call me back. Better than that, why don’t you just come home this weekend?”
    Rachel hesitated. There was so much that needed to be done.
    â€œIt’s been three months since you’ve been home to visit. With the Center closed for now, you should have some extra time on your hands. There’s nothing going on that can’t wait over the weekend,” her mother cajoled.
    â€œOkay. I’ll come down late Friday.”
    â€œGood. I’ll see you then.” The phone went dead before Rachel could even say good-bye. She stared at the phone in her hand until the dial tone started buzzing. The conversation was always over as soon as Mama got what she wanted. Rachel curled up with a sigh at the prospect of going home. Things never changed, especially not Mama. Since her father’s death six years ago, her mother had tried to control her life. After she graduated from college, her mother’s one aim was to see Rachel married no matter what. Rachel knew it was only because she cared, but it often seemed her mother thought her incapable of finding a relationship on her own. It wasn’t that Rachel was against marriage; she just wanted it to be with the right man, a godly man. Those were few and far between these days.
    She didn’t have long to think about her family problems because the phone was ringing again. With a groan, she picked it up.
    â€œGirl, what have you been doing on the phone at this hour?” Susan asked.
    â€œIt wasn’t my idea.”
    â€œSomebody got up on the wrong side of the bed this morning.”
    â€œI haven’t gotten up yet.”
    â€œOh! Sorry.” Somehow Susan didn’t sound sorry. “I just got some news, and I knew you would want to hear it first thing.”
    â€œWhat now?”
    â€œThe Center has been condemned. They want to have it demolished by summer. That’s only six weeks away!” The stress was evident in Susan’s voice.
    â€œAlready? The damage just happened last night!” Rachel struggled up in bed and plumped the pillow behind her. “How could they make the decision so fast?”
    â€œIt seems the committee had a meeting about this last week. The tornado damage was just the clincher. What are we going to do, Rach?”
    â€œI don’t know.” Rachel struggled for an answer, but her mind was a jumble of images and voices. It was too much, too fast. “I don’t know. We’ll think of something.” Her words sounded hollow to her own ears, and she knew she wasn’t fooling Susan