Page 6

"That's right," Misty said. She grew serious for a moment. "Have you gone back to see Doctor Marlowe?"

"Not yet," I said. "She called and spoke with my mother once, but no appointment has been set. What about you two?"

"I've been back to see her," Star said. "But I'm finished now."

"Me too," Misty said. "I think Jade is too. You're the only one left."

"She told me to call her any time," Star said, "but I hope I don't need to." She gazed at me. "Just go see her and finish it," she continued. "The longer you hold off doing something you're scared of doing or you don't think is pleasant, the worse it seems."

"She's right," Misty said.

"Of course I'm right. I don't need you telling everyone I'm right."

Misty just threw one of her small shrugs and pretty little smiles back at her.

"I'm hungry," she said. "I deliberately just nibbled on breakfast so I'd have a good appetite. Jade said she was making sure we had a special buffet. I can't even imagine what it will be like."

"It's just food whether a fancy cook from France prepares it or not," Star said.

"Wrong," Misty sang. She marked the air with her right forefinger, making an X.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Star demanded.

"I'm keeping track of your too-boo's," Misty replied.

Star shifted in the seat, shook her head, and looked at me.

"So what have you been doing with yourself, huh? You're sitting there like some Buddha while we gobble like turkeys."

"Just helping around the house, reading, taking a walk sometimes. There's a lot to do in the yard. My mother fired the gardener we had. She said we have to be economical because we're going to be living only on our interest income."

"Why doesn't she go out and get a job then?" Star asked.

"She makes it all sound critical, but I know we have a good income. There was money she inherited, besides the money my father had to surrender."

"He should have had to surrender more than money," Star muttered. "And you know what I'm referring to, Cat."

I felt myself turn red, the heat rising quickly up my neck and into my face.

Misty glanced at her with a look of reprimand and Star turned to gaze out the window. We were all quiet for a moment, but Misty hated silences. They made her fidget.

"That's a nice sweater," she told me.

"Yeah," Star said. "The way it fits, I'm surprised your mother let you wear it."

"She doesn't know," I said

. "She doesn't even know I have these cut-off jeans."

"You snuck out, didn't you?" Star realized. "That was why you wanted to be picked up at the corner?" she demanded.

"Yes," I said.

"What's going to happen when she finds out?" Misty said.

"I don't know."

"Nothing's going to happen," Star insisted. "Don't make her more scared than she already is." She turned to me. "She'll bitch a little and then she'll realize you can't be treated like some infant.