“Keep in mind Pip, Judy Ann, and jelly. The television has to go in here.”
“They can learn to keep their feet off the furniture. You did. We can eat our meals in the dining room, like civilized people. Being suddenly poor doesn’t mean we lack manners.”
“I’ve decided on the dining room for my office.”
Pauline’s elegant jaw dropped. “That means we’ll have to take all of our meals in the kitchen!”
“You’ll get used to it, Mother. Anyway, where we eat is the least of my worries.”
“We’ll have to find a place for my writing desk,” put in Agnes. “Someplace that gets good light, so I can read the fine print on entry blanks.”
“You and your contests,” Pauline said waspishly. “What have you ever won other than that plastic camera that didn’t work? The money you spend on postage…”
“You never know. I might win a million dollars. That’d stick in your craw, wouldn’t it? And anyway, it’s my money I spend on postage—out of my social security check. For a widow in the throes of bankruptcy, Pauline, you’re awfully snooty about money.”
“How impertinent of you, Agnes. It’s ill-mannered to speak of another’s ill fortune.”
Agnes tossed her head; purple curls bounced. “I like being impertinent. It’s good for my constitution. Like it or not, I’m putting my desk in here.”
“Justine, are you going to allow her to speak to me like that?”
“Mother, you have a perfectly good tongue, which you’ve been using to great advantage. What I won’t allow is the two of you to continue to drag me into your quarrels. Settle it yourselves. It’s all I can do to referee battles between Pip and Judy Ann. But if you’d like my opinion of what would go nicely in here, may I suggest dueling pistols, loaded? Now, if you will both excuse me, I’m going to change into some jeans, then see about lunch.”
“I’ll be along to help in a minute,” said Agnes, falsely contrite.
“So will I,” said Pauline, not to be outshone.
If it was me, said Lottie as she accompanied Justine to the kitchen, I’d serve those two up a saucer of cream and be done with it, that catty they are.
Chapter Three
“Mom, why don’t we just go find a McDonald’s?”
Judy Ann seconded Pip’s suggestion with enthusiasm. “Listen, you two, we can’t drive miles and miles for pizza or hamburgers for every meal. Besides the expense, we’re in the country now. Keep looking, try those boxes over there in the corner.”
“You should’ve told Daddy he couldn’t divorce us and leave us poor,” accused Judy Ann.
“Dear heart, we’re not truly poor. We’re on a budget. It’s just that the money we have has to last.”
Pip frowned. “For how long? Into the next century?”
Justine turned her green-eyed gaze on her son. “You know what I think… the art of sarcasm must be genetic. You sounded just like your father.” Or either of your grandmothers, she amended ruefully.
“If Dad ever sends for me, I’m going.”
“If he ever sends for you and buys your ticket, I’ll help you pack.”
Justine was instantly contrite. Pip’s threat was an empty one. They both knew it.
“I’m sorry for that remark.”
“Why did Dad leave, Mom?”
“I don’t know exactly. I wasn’t to blame, nor were either of you. It was something eating inside him.”
Judy Ann climbed on a box and dangled her legs. “He went ’cause he didn’t like us anymore. Daddies who love their kids don’t shave their heads and wear yellow nightgowns. Melissa’s mother said so. She said Daddy was crazy.”
“Your father is not crazy. He…”
Justine threw up her hands in a defeated gesture. Damn Philip for slinking off without giving the children an explanation. It was the least he could’ve done. The onerous task was left to her. Even under the most ordinary of situations, it was hard to explain adult actions to youngsters. Do as I say, not as I do. Kids were smarter than that now. They wanted truths. She
“They can learn to keep their feet off the furniture. You did. We can eat our meals in the dining room, like civilized people. Being suddenly poor doesn’t mean we lack manners.”
“I’ve decided on the dining room for my office.”
Pauline’s elegant jaw dropped. “That means we’ll have to take all of our meals in the kitchen!”
“You’ll get used to it, Mother. Anyway, where we eat is the least of my worries.”
“We’ll have to find a place for my writing desk,” put in Agnes. “Someplace that gets good light, so I can read the fine print on entry blanks.”
“You and your contests,” Pauline said waspishly. “What have you ever won other than that plastic camera that didn’t work? The money you spend on postage…”
“You never know. I might win a million dollars. That’d stick in your craw, wouldn’t it? And anyway, it’s my money I spend on postage—out of my social security check. For a widow in the throes of bankruptcy, Pauline, you’re awfully snooty about money.”
“How impertinent of you, Agnes. It’s ill-mannered to speak of another’s ill fortune.”
Agnes tossed her head; purple curls bounced. “I like being impertinent. It’s good for my constitution. Like it or not, I’m putting my desk in here.”
“Justine, are you going to allow her to speak to me like that?”
“Mother, you have a perfectly good tongue, which you’ve been using to great advantage. What I won’t allow is the two of you to continue to drag me into your quarrels. Settle it yourselves. It’s all I can do to referee battles between Pip and Judy Ann. But if you’d like my opinion of what would go nicely in here, may I suggest dueling pistols, loaded? Now, if you will both excuse me, I’m going to change into some jeans, then see about lunch.”
“I’ll be along to help in a minute,” said Agnes, falsely contrite.
“So will I,” said Pauline, not to be outshone.
If it was me, said Lottie as she accompanied Justine to the kitchen, I’d serve those two up a saucer of cream and be done with it, that catty they are.
Chapter Three
“Mom, why don’t we just go find a McDonald’s?”
Judy Ann seconded Pip’s suggestion with enthusiasm. “Listen, you two, we can’t drive miles and miles for pizza or hamburgers for every meal. Besides the expense, we’re in the country now. Keep looking, try those boxes over there in the corner.”
“You should’ve told Daddy he couldn’t divorce us and leave us poor,” accused Judy Ann.
“Dear heart, we’re not truly poor. We’re on a budget. It’s just that the money we have has to last.”
Pip frowned. “For how long? Into the next century?”
Justine turned her green-eyed gaze on her son. “You know what I think… the art of sarcasm must be genetic. You sounded just like your father.” Or either of your grandmothers, she amended ruefully.
“If Dad ever sends for me, I’m going.”
“If he ever sends for you and buys your ticket, I’ll help you pack.”
Justine was instantly contrite. Pip’s threat was an empty one. They both knew it.
“I’m sorry for that remark.”
“Why did Dad leave, Mom?”
“I don’t know exactly. I wasn’t to blame, nor were either of you. It was something eating inside him.”
Judy Ann climbed on a box and dangled her legs. “He went ’cause he didn’t like us anymore. Daddies who love their kids don’t shave their heads and wear yellow nightgowns. Melissa’s mother said so. She said Daddy was crazy.”
“Your father is not crazy. He…”
Justine threw up her hands in a defeated gesture. Damn Philip for slinking off without giving the children an explanation. It was the least he could’ve done. The onerous task was left to her. Even under the most ordinary of situations, it was hard to explain adult actions to youngsters. Do as I say, not as I do. Kids were smarter than that now. They wanted truths. She
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