Rescue Me Read Online Free PDF Page A

teacher says she’s been bullying some of the other students,” Eli answered. “And any time they try to discipline her, she starts screaming uncontrollably and crying about not having a mother anymore.”
    “Pretty smart, if you asked me,” Toby said, stabbing a pork chop with his fork and plopping it on his plate. “I tried milking Pop’s death my entire seventh grade year.”
    “Tobias Anthony!” their mother screeched.
    “Could you try not being an ass once in a while?” Eli grumbled.
    “No language at the dinner table, Elijah,” Mama warned. She turned to Alex. “The principal wants to speak with you tomorrow.”
    If he were not so upset, Alex would have laughed at the irony. He’d gone through twelve years of school without ever being called to the principal’s office for discipline problems. Jasmine was only in the first grade and was already making a name for herself as a troublemaker.
    “What am I supposed to do?” Alex asked.
    “Talk to the principal. Then you’ll need to talk to that little diva in there,” Mama said. “She has to learn she cannot use Chantal’s death as an excuse to behave however she wants.”
    “This from the woman who’s allowing her to eat junk and watch TV during dinner,” he snorted. A flash of hurt stalked across Mama’s face, and Alex immediately felt like a jerk. “Sorry, Mama.”
    “We are all guilty of spoiling her,” his mother argued. “I can admit to giving her more than I probably should. She’s my only grandchild, and it is hard to think about her having to grow up without her mother.”
    “Yeah, but she’s not the only kid that’s ever had to grow up without a mother,” Eli rationalized.
    Mama nodded. “We’ve got to stop making excuses for her.”
    “Did the principal suggest a time we should meet?” Alex asked.
    “She asked that you call her office tomorrow morning so you two could set up a time that works for the both of you.”
    “Well, any time works for me. It’s not like I’m doing anything with my day.”
    “Except for sneaking out like a teenager,” Mama said.
    Alex swallowed his retort as they settled in to eat. Dishes piled high with succulent sides made their way around thetable as everyone took turns filling the rest of the family in on what was happening in their lives.
    “Where’s Sienna?” Monica asked Toby.
    Sienna Culpepper was Toby’s fiancée. The two had been best friends since childhood. However, Toby had never pursued a real relationship with Sienna until earlier this year when Sienna worked on the promotion for the TV show that also solidified Toby’s career in the music business.
    “She’s having dinner with Ivana. She said she would try to stop in tomorrow to see you before we leave,” Toby said between bites.
    “Well, Monica and I have some news,” Eli interrupted.
    Alex, Toby and Margo looked at them expectantly.
    “We’ve set a date for the wedding,” Monica answered, her smile stretching from ear to ear.
    “It’s about time,” Toby said.
    “Congratulations.” Mama jumped out of her seat and came around to the other side of the table, lavishing both Monica and Eli with kisses. “I can finally start buying all the wedding favors and decorations I’ve found on the Internet.”
    “Only if you plan on bringing all that stuff to St. Martin,” Eli said.
    “What?” Mama asked.
    “We’ve decided to have a small ceremony in the Virgin Islands,” Monica explained. “We’re thinking of St. Martin, since that’s where Eli’s father’s ancestors came from.”
    “Oh yeah, baby,” Toby said, rubbing his hands together. “I’m up for a little fun in the sun. When are ya’ll gonna do this thing?”
    “We were hoping to get married later this fall. The weather is really mild around that time.”
    “But all the ladies from the church can’t go to the Virgin Islands,” Mama argued as she returned to her seat.
    “That’s a good thing, since they’re not invited,” Eli