The Swear Jar Read Online Free PDF Page A

ready, they walked
over to the pool.  While they were eating, Meara noticed Anne was deep in
thought.
    “You’re awfully quiet Anne,” Meara
said.  “What are you thinking?  Or planning?”
    “I’m not planning anything, I
promise,” Anne replied. “I want to ask you something, but I don’t want you to
get upset.”
    “Ask me and I’ll try not to.”
    “Why are you more complicated than
other adults?”
    “I’m not sure.  If I liked Mr.
Phillips, I’d feel a little guilty because of your uncle.  We never talked
about dying.”
    “Don’t you think Uncle Hank wants
you to be happy?”
    “I guess.  I wish he could have
told me.  Not everyone gets that last goodbye.”
    “Maybe Uncle Hank is waiting for
you to like someone.  Then he’ll send you a sign saying it is okay.”
    “How did you get to be such a wise
relationship expert?” Meara smirked.
    “By reading!” Anne gave her the raspberry
and jumped into the pool.
    On Thursday morning, Anne woke up,
padded downstairs and sat at the kitchen table.  Her mother, Diana, was making
breakfast.  Diana was a younger, slightly taller, slimmer version of Meara. 
Like Meara, Diana smiled a great deal and loved her family very much.  She was
dressed for work in a tan silk blouse and brown slacks.  She worked in an
advertising firm in South Branchville.
    “Ben, you better hurry up or your
toast will be cold!” Diana yelled up the stairs.
    “I’ll be right down!” Ben yelled
back.
    Anne loved her parents.  They were
a happy couple.  If they were ever mad at each other, they could never be mad
at each other for long.  Fighting in their house was limited to board game
night.  When Grandpa Jack died, her grandmother, Nana Kay, couldn’t take care
of the family.  Meara took on that responsibility, raising Diana and keeping
the family together.  When Hank and Ben came into the picture, Meara was the
accepted head of the family.  After Hank’s death, Meara began to let Diana and
Ben handle making family decisions.
    Ben swept into the kitchen.  He was
taller than Diana and had a slim build.  He had bright blue eyes and thick
black hair.  His dark blue suit was disheveled and his hair was mussed.
    “I’m running late.  Anne, stay out
of trouble and don’t give your aunt a hard time.  She’s nervous.  Love you
both.  Thank you, honey, for breakfast and lunch.  When should the library be
calling?”
    Diana replied, “For a computer guy,
you’re disorganized.  I packed you an apple.  Wash it before you eat it!  I
don’t know when the library will call.  Have a good day, sweetheart!  I have to
go too, Anne.  I agree with your dad, go easy on Aunt Meara.  If they call,
they call.  If they don’t, they don’t.”
    “Mr. Phillips will call,” said Anne.
    “Why do you say that?” asked Diana.
    “Because he likes Aunt Meara.”
    “He’s only met her twice.”
    “He likes her.”
    “Anne, I’ll ask this as simply as
possible.  The library director likes Aunt Meara as a friend or as a possible
girlfriend?”
    “He likes her as a possible
girlfriend.”
    “How Aunt Meara feel?”
    “I’m not sure.  I think she likes
him as a possible boyfriend, but wishes she knew how Uncle Hank would feel
about it.”
    “We’ll talk more when I get home. 
Be nice to Aunt Meara.”
    “Yes, Mom.”  Anne ran over to the
ranch house and knocked on the front door.
    Meara answered.  “Good morning!”
    Anne beamed.  “Aunt Meara, what are
we doing today?”
    “This is going to be a long day,
isn’t it?” asked Meara dryly.
    “Why don’t we look at your wardrobe
and see what you have to wear to work?”
    “What’s wrong with my clothes?” 
Meara raised an eyebrow.
    “Nothing!  Are you going to wear a
dress on Monday?”
    “No way.  You saw the Youth
Services Department.  I’m getting my hands dirty on day one.”
    “You should look pretty on your first
day.”
    “No more wardrobe discussion.  Why
don’t we go to