Read Online Cat by V. C. Andrews - Free Book Online Page B

I couldn't. I was
very nervous about it.
"However, as I said, to my surprise Mother
liked her even more than I had hoped she would. She
seemed pleased that Kelly's mother was an invalid and
she was especially pleased that her father was
working for the church.
"Even so, my mother was very cautious and
hesitant about my going to Kelly's house to study for
tests together. The first time, she permitted me to go
for only two hours and after exactly two hours, she
was in the driveway waiting. I knew as soon as I got
into the car, she would question me about every
moment I spent with Kelly.
"We did study some, but we also listened to
music and talked to other girls and some boys on the phone. Kelly's mother was a sweet pleasant woman and I envied Kelly for the trusting and loving relationship they had. I almost wished my mother was in a wheelchair. Maybe if she was seriously ill, she would be a more loving mother, I thought, and then I
hated myself for wishing such a terrible thing." Jade grunted and then agreed, "Maybe she
wouldn't be so mean if she had to depend on you." "Yeah," Star said. I didn't want to discuss such
a thing. I still felt guilty for even thinking it. "Kelly's father was very nice, too, and I could
see how much he loved and cherished Kelly's
mother," I continued instead.
"Anyway, I guess because I had gone to Kelly's
house a few times and nothing horrible had happened,
my mother was a little less concerned when I asked if
I could go to dinner there one Friday night." I paused and then added for Misty's benefit, "It
wasn't the whole truth. I mean, we were going to eat,
but it wasn't really a dinner. We were going to have
pizza and Kelly had invited two other girls and some
boys."
"So it was a party," Misty said.
"I guess. I had never been to a party at
someone's house, so I didn't know what to call it. Kelly didn't tell me all the details right away. In fact, I didn't even know the boys were coming until that afternoon in school. It made my heart race with fear. I was terrified that my mother would find out somehow. Maybe when she drove me there, the boys would just be arriving or maybe she would take one look at my face and that lie detector in her head would ring. I tried to avoid her as soon as I got home, but she called
me downstairs to recite a list of rules for my behavior. "I sat with my hands folded in my lap as she
stood before me in the living room. My father wasn't
home from work yet. Sometimes, he stopped at a
tavern with some of his stockbroker associates and
celebrated or mourned the day's results in the market. "'We don't say grace before we eat every night,'
my mother began, 'but we should. It's your father's
fault, not mine. Anyway, don't look stupid about it
and don't let them know we don't. It's no one's
business. Bow your head and make sure you
pronounce your amen loud and clear, understand?' she
asked me.
"'Yes, Mother,' I said eying the door and trying
not to look guilty of anything.
"'Don't stare at her mother in the wheelchair.' "'I
wouldn't do that, Mother.'
"'We don't adhere to proper dinner etiquette
either, not that I permit you to be sloppy or impolite at
the table. It's just that your father never cared for
formal dining. I have everything set up in the dining
room,' she told me. 'Now get up and follow me.' "I did and I was surprised at the lengths she had
gone to in order to give me instructions. She had a
book of dining etiquette out and open. She had taken
out every piece of silverware we owned, and our
finest china with her nicest linen dinner napkins "'Sit,' she ordered, pointing at my place. Then
she picked up the book and held it like a Bible in her
open palms She even sounded like some kind of
Sunday school teacher.
"'You should know that the silverware is placed
in the order of its use, with the implements to be used
first farthest from the plate. The salad fork is placed
next to the left of the plate, then the meat fork, which
they might not have out, being this is Friday