BLOGWORDS – Tuesday 25 October 2022 –BOOK LAUNCH EVENT – EXCERPT
A shortie but goodie, one of my favorite scenes takes us back to the girls’ childhood. They have been switching places since they were old enough to realize they could. Mostly for fun, sometimes at school…
EXCERPT – YOU GOT GLATHETH“You got glatheth!” Mere’s words were still tangled over the new hardware in her mouth.
“Well you got braces.” Bethy retorted and tapped the unfamiliar frames up the bridge of her nose.
“It’th not like I wanted them.” The offence of it—and the discomfort—was fresh in Mere’s mind, and in her mouth.
“At least I can take my glatheth off.” Bethy squinted as she proved her point. “Can’t do that with braces!” And she stuck her tongue out at her sister.
“It’th not my fault!”
“Girls!” Their mother scolded. “Maybe your dad and I can tell you apart for a change,” she snarked over her shoulder as her tennis shoes squeaked on the polished tile floor.
“What are we going to do?” Mere whithpered when they had climbed in the far back of the mini-van. “And don’t thay thuck it up buttercup.” She huffed. Then moaned. “I’m going to flunk my hithtory tetht tomorrow.”
“Well I have a math test on Friday!” Bethy hissed. “And you were supposed to take it for me.”
Mere snugged her arms across her chest and glared out the window.
“I’ll help you study,” Bethy whispered. “But you have to show me this stupid math, too.”
“Hmpth.” Mere’s whisper dribbled down her chin.
And since that one’s so short, I give you Regina Harbison:
EXCERPT – REGINA HARBISON
Covington issued parking passes for pregnant women and for those with small children. Always before when I brought Ragan and Tristan to the park, I had borrowed B’s CSC—Covington’s Smallest Citizens—decal, but now I had my own and had proudly placed it in the rear window.
The passes, the CSC and CFC—Covington Future Citizen—allowed vehicles bearing the decal to park in designated spaces; like handicap parking, CSC and CFC spaces were closer to the gate or entrance and were oversized for loading and unloading children and equipment such as strollers.
“Elizabeth Elliott!”
I turned at what could only be the grating voice of Regina Harbison. I didn’t bother to correct the common identity error—she deserved it. Toting the unmistakable shopping bag from Cassiopeia Jeweler’s—black with faux diamond studs in the ‘W’ formation of the constellation of the same name—it was obvious where Regina had been. And it was equally obvious she had parked in CSC-CFC reserved parking.
“Hi Gina.” I turned back to unbuckling car seats.
“Oh, aren’t they just the most precious things.” Regina pinched Ragan’s cheek, which elicited an immediate screech.
“I’d really rather you didn’t do that.”
“Oh my goodness. Don’t be such a stuffed nut.” Regina huffed. “I didn’t hurt her.”
“And I don’t like people touching my kids.”
Regina let out a very loud huff and rolled her eyes.
I got both kids tucked into the stroller with the picnic hamper tucked underneath. I was so ready to enjoy our picnic and leave our unwanted intruder behind.
“Well, they are adorable.” But Regina turned from her Mercedes and followed me, her heels clacking along the paved walkway. “You’re looking fabulous, B.” No one called my sister that but me. “I heard you were pregnant again. I just couldn’t imagine. Two little ones and having another so soon.” Never mind Regina’s three kids, all boys, were all a year apart. “You certainly got your figure back pretty fast. I was back in my size four’s when Evan was just two weeks old.”
I would have called her on her egregious lies but that would only prolong the dissonant chatter. And that was the last thing I wanted with Regina Harbison.
“Awful business about your sister, though. Can you imagine? Not having kids at all. I mean isn’t that what marriage and family is all about? Why would that Jerry guy ever marry her if she couldn’t have kids, ya know? I mean, he was already a loser to begin with. And then to adopt some China kid like they’re so needy. Why wouldn’t she want to adopt a normal kid, ya know? At least it would look like it was hers—”
“Ya know what, Reggie?” I had had enough! I also knew the woman hated being called Reggie. Even more than she hated being called Gina. “I think it’s great she adopted a foreign baby. Did you know there’s actually two? Twins. Yeah. You missed that in your gossip fest apparently.”
Regina stared at me like I had two heads.
“And no, that is NOT what marriage and family is all about. Marriage and family is about loving each other and being there for each other no matter what. I love Jeremy and he loves me, and he is NOT a loser and never has been. I love him forever and a day whether we EVER have a baby together or not. And if we don’t, then we’ll love Ruby and Willow like our own because they ARE our own. Even if they don’t look like me!”
Applause broke out as I paused to catch my breath. I hadn’t realized how loud my voice had gotten and glanced around to see that a small crowd had gathered.
“Well.” Regina didn’t even have the grace to sputter, let alone apologize. “If you and your sister would quit playing your ridiculous games, trying to fool everyone, then people would know who you are. It’s just immature.” She spun around and caught the clunky heel of her Salvatore Ferragamo shoes on a pebble in the path. Flailing to maintain her balance if not her composure, she stormed off toward her fancy schmancy car.
I didn’t even bother trying to defend myself. I didn’t mention that she was the one who had assumed who I was. Didn’t mention how I was spending a couple of hours with my niece and nephew, or that I was babysitting while my sister was on bedrest.
And I especially didn’t mention that me and B would continue to switch places when we felt like it. We always had, and we always would.
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