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"I wonder what," Grandmother Hudson said stealing a glance my way. There was that small, impish smile on her lips. "What is Grant up to today?" she asked.

"He's at a luncheon with our ambassador to the United Nations and our Attorney General," my mother bragged. "How have you been feeling?"

"Fine."

"You didn't need the nurse?"

"Will everyone stop harping on the nurse? I'm not quite the invalid yet."

My mother forced a smile and looked at me and then around the room.

"How have you managed to keep up the house without a full-time maid, Mother?"

"Rain has been doing a little and we're not very messy people. Once you see how easy the job is, you wonder why it's so hard to find someone adequate."

"Is that what you used to do before?" Alison asked me. "Maid's work?"

"I cleaned the house for my mama, if that's what you mean," I said.

"Your mama?" She looked to Brody, but he didn't smile or laugh with her.

"Rain has the lead in the school play," Grandmother bragged.

"Really?' Brody said. "What play?"

"Our Town. I play Emily."

"Is George Gibbs a black boy?" Alison immediately asked.

"No. He's actually ...quite white," I said and Brody laughed hard. Grandmother Hudson let her small smile explode into a big grin and then chuckled.

I saw the look of pleased surprise on my mother's face. "I'm impressed, Alison. I didn't know you knew the main characters in that play," my mother said.

"Our school did it last year," she said in a singsong manner.

"I'm sure it was better than ours will be." I said.

"So am 1."

"Can we take you all to lunch today, Mother?" my mother asked.

"No. Rain has prepared some shrimp salad and fresh lemonade."

"Who has been doing your shopping, Mother?"

"Jake fills the list Rain gives him,"

Grandmother Hudson said, "and twice she went along. We're surviving. I'm not settling on another

incompetent just to fill the position quickly," Grandmother Hudson emphasized. "How is everyone's school work?" she asked gazing at Alison. Alison looked away.

"Brody is in contention for valedictorian next year." my mother said.

"And Alison?"

"She has a few things to catch up on."

"Like math, science, English and social studies," Brody quipped.