Read Online Identity Issues by Claudia Whitsitt - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Claudia Whitsitt
Tags: Suspense, Literature & Fiction, Thrillers, Women Sleuths, Mystery, Mystery; Thriller & Suspense
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argued.
"Nick, that magazine is porn. It portrays women as sex objects." When he smiled, recalling a favorite photo, no doubt, I asked, "Do you want people to look at your sisters that way?"
"Mom, that’s gross."
"Yes, it is gross, but think about your sisters every time you see a magazine like that."
Nick looked green. "Aw, Mom, now I’ll never be able to look at one of those magazines again without thinking about Lizzie, Annie, and Marie."
"Excellent," I said. "My job is done."
"Awright," Nick conceded. "I’ll tell Mr. Schneider that I won’t look at magazines like Playboy, ‘cuz it’s demeaning to women and I respect women like my mom and my sisters. And, heck, I’ll even tell him that I won’t do it ever again. I suppose you want me to write an essay, too."
"Nick, don’t just give me lip service here. I’m serious about this. And ask Mr. Schneider to call me after you two talk."
"Geez, Mom, you don’t trust me?"
"Finish your breakfast." I got up from the table, wished that the coffee was a little stronger, and noticed Jon headed out the door with his suitcase. The girls stumbled downstairs to breakfast.
"Morning, ladies," I greeted.
Annie, not a morning person, demanded, "What’s so good about it?"
Lizzie on the other hand carried a bright smile amidst her tangled golden locks. "Hi, Mom." She threw her arms around my waist.
"Don’t we have any good cereal?" Annie complained.
Jon returned for a quick kiss to the kids and me. Off to the airport, leaving me behind with the kids, the maniac dog. Typical. T–Y–P–I–C–A–L. I was beginning to resent it.
"Where’s my breakfast?" Jon looked surprised.
"Rex," Nick told him, failing to squelch a grin.
"Good boy, Rex," Jon said. "He’s a meat eater. Smart dog, huh, Nick?"
Always time for a male bonding moment.
∞ ∞ ∞
At least it was Friday. Not always the case, but the week had gone by quickly. Di and I walked down to lunch together, aware that the teacher’s lounge wouldn’t allow us the privacy to talk. Ben appeared first, his usual hung–over self.
"How’s your day going, Ben?" I asked.
"Fine, if you like teaching math to a class of kids dumber than a bag of rocks. What a bunch of morons. I hope they aren’t making change for me in a couple of years."
"Teaching isn’t what it used to be," I added.
"No Child Left Behind," he muttered.
"Why did you become a teacher, Ben?"
"What other profession guarantees the summers off and three weeks of vacation a year on top of that? You know, you don’t have to work hard when you’re a teacher. You just show up at 7:00 a.m., leave by 3:00 p.m.," he said sarcastically.
I smiled.
"By the way, Stitsill, do you still want me to tutor before school?"
"That’d be great, Ben. I’ll put you on the schedule. Thanks."
I had recently implemented a program that allowed kids to be tutored in the mornings before school. Ben was my first volunteer.
A peanut butter and jelly sandwich later, I left the trashy teacher’s lounge for the trek to the office before afternoon classes. The door opened and closed behind me, and I turned to find Di in my wake.
"How’re you doing?"
"Still a little freaked," she said. "How about you?"
"Same, but I’m trying to stay calm."
"I was exhausted last night. The emotional toll got to me."
"I know what you mean."
"Have you thought any more about the Stitsill situation?" she asked.
"I think we need to back off for a while," I said quietly.
"I agree."
"Got any weekend plans?"
"Maria Stewart wants me to go out with her brother. He’s single, never been married, and supposedly good looking."
"What’s he do?"
" He’s a software engineer for one of the computer outfits downtown, but he lives in Worthington Heights."
"Are you going?"
Di had about given up on dating. Since her divorce she had dated one guy long term, but recently realized she didn’t love him. Not much point in continuing the relationship. I felt for her. It wasn’t easy to meet
"Nick, that magazine is porn. It portrays women as sex objects." When he smiled, recalling a favorite photo, no doubt, I asked, "Do you want people to look at your sisters that way?"
"Mom, that’s gross."
"Yes, it is gross, but think about your sisters every time you see a magazine like that."
Nick looked green. "Aw, Mom, now I’ll never be able to look at one of those magazines again without thinking about Lizzie, Annie, and Marie."
"Excellent," I said. "My job is done."
"Awright," Nick conceded. "I’ll tell Mr. Schneider that I won’t look at magazines like Playboy, ‘cuz it’s demeaning to women and I respect women like my mom and my sisters. And, heck, I’ll even tell him that I won’t do it ever again. I suppose you want me to write an essay, too."
"Nick, don’t just give me lip service here. I’m serious about this. And ask Mr. Schneider to call me after you two talk."
"Geez, Mom, you don’t trust me?"
"Finish your breakfast." I got up from the table, wished that the coffee was a little stronger, and noticed Jon headed out the door with his suitcase. The girls stumbled downstairs to breakfast.
"Morning, ladies," I greeted.
Annie, not a morning person, demanded, "What’s so good about it?"
Lizzie on the other hand carried a bright smile amidst her tangled golden locks. "Hi, Mom." She threw her arms around my waist.
"Don’t we have any good cereal?" Annie complained.
Jon returned for a quick kiss to the kids and me. Off to the airport, leaving me behind with the kids, the maniac dog. Typical. T–Y–P–I–C–A–L. I was beginning to resent it.
"Where’s my breakfast?" Jon looked surprised.
"Rex," Nick told him, failing to squelch a grin.
"Good boy, Rex," Jon said. "He’s a meat eater. Smart dog, huh, Nick?"
Always time for a male bonding moment.
∞ ∞ ∞
At least it was Friday. Not always the case, but the week had gone by quickly. Di and I walked down to lunch together, aware that the teacher’s lounge wouldn’t allow us the privacy to talk. Ben appeared first, his usual hung–over self.
"How’s your day going, Ben?" I asked.
"Fine, if you like teaching math to a class of kids dumber than a bag of rocks. What a bunch of morons. I hope they aren’t making change for me in a couple of years."
"Teaching isn’t what it used to be," I added.
"No Child Left Behind," he muttered.
"Why did you become a teacher, Ben?"
"What other profession guarantees the summers off and three weeks of vacation a year on top of that? You know, you don’t have to work hard when you’re a teacher. You just show up at 7:00 a.m., leave by 3:00 p.m.," he said sarcastically.
I smiled.
"By the way, Stitsill, do you still want me to tutor before school?"
"That’d be great, Ben. I’ll put you on the schedule. Thanks."
I had recently implemented a program that allowed kids to be tutored in the mornings before school. Ben was my first volunteer.
A peanut butter and jelly sandwich later, I left the trashy teacher’s lounge for the trek to the office before afternoon classes. The door opened and closed behind me, and I turned to find Di in my wake.
"How’re you doing?"
"Still a little freaked," she said. "How about you?"
"Same, but I’m trying to stay calm."
"I was exhausted last night. The emotional toll got to me."
"I know what you mean."
"Have you thought any more about the Stitsill situation?" she asked.
"I think we need to back off for a while," I said quietly.
"I agree."
"Got any weekend plans?"
"Maria Stewart wants me to go out with her brother. He’s single, never been married, and supposedly good looking."
"What’s he do?"
" He’s a software engineer for one of the computer outfits downtown, but he lives in Worthington Heights."
"Are you going?"
Di had about given up on dating. Since her divorce she had dated one guy long term, but recently realized she didn’t love him. Not much point in continuing the relationship. I felt for her. It wasn’t easy to meet
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