Read Online Much Ado About Jessie Kaplan by Paula Marantz Cohen - Free Book Online

Unfortunately, the responses tended to come in one
by one and had to be handled individually, a task that took up most of the evening.
    Mark had gone off to his pottery class. He had signed up for the Introduction to Pottery Workshop at the Y, at Carla’s urging, and it had become a source of refuge from the trials of medicine. “Clay is messy,” he acknowledged, “but it doesn’t have the noxious odor of fecal matter. And the vase doesn’t sue you if it turns out wrong.”
    This left Carla alone with her mother.
    â€œAre you feeling okay, Mom?” She embarked on the topic now, sitting down next to her on the sofa and speaking in a serious tone.
    Jessie was watching Entertainment Tonight , as she always did after dinner. She glanced up at Carla over her glasses, then back to the screen, where Julia Roberts was smiling toothily at the Entertainment Tonight reporter. “Never felt better,” she said brightly. “Pretty girl, that Julia Roberts. Rather on the large side, I’d say, but they’ve been growing them bigger for the past centuries.”
    Carla took a breath, then continued: “You’ve been saying some peculiar things lately, Mom. I wonder if you might be, well, a bit confused.”
    Jessie looked up sharply at this. “I should think I am,” she said. “It’s hardly surprising.”
    Carla hadn’t expected such a frank admission. “I suppose so, given your age, but still, you were always so clear-headed.”
    â€œWell, I hope I still am,” said Jessie irritably. “I should like to see how well you’d do if it all suddenly came back.”
    â€œCame back?”
    â€œFor goodness’ sake, Carla, can’t we talk about this later? Look, there’s Winona Ryder; they say her name was Horowitz. Poor girl! The stress of the public stage. It takes its toll, you know. Will used to complain of it all the time. Though at least then you could ride a few miles out of town and escape the hue and cry. It’s why he kept the Stratford house, though why it couldn’t have been a nice
place near Poppa in Venice was beyond me. Why would he want to plop down right where that woman could get her claws into him? But he was always soft that way. Couldn’t bring himself to cut her off—which is what caused us the trouble.”
    Carla grabbed the remote and snapped off the television. “Mother! What are you talking about: ‘Will,’ ‘Stratford,’ ‘the public stage’! Have you gone totally out of your mind?”
    â€œCalm down, dear. I’m sorry to be rattling on like that, but lately, it’s hard to keep things straight.”
    â€œWhat’s hard to keep straight?” asked Carla, beginning to feel frightened.
    â€œOh, then and now.” Jessie shrugged.
    â€œThen?”
    â€œVenice, London,” Jessie said dreamily.
    â€œMother, you were born in Vineland, New Jersey. You went to Vineland High School. You married Daddy and worked in the bakery. You are currently living with your daughter and son-in-law in Cherry Hill, New Jersey.”
    â€œHonestly, Carla, you don’t think I know that?”
    â€œThen what’s this about Venice and London?”
    â€œOh, that was before. It has nothing to do with you, dear.” Jessie waved her hand in what Carla thought was a rather condescending gesture. “It’s been coming back in dribs and drabs for the last month or so, and lately, it’s become more—how shall I say?—present …” Jessie trailed off; then, turning away, switched the television back on as Britney Spears appeared in a skimpy outfit of denim and fringe. “Perhaps next time, I’ll come back as something like that,” she mused.
    Carla moved closer to her mother on the sofa and placed her hands on her shoulders. “Mom, would you try for a moment to be rational? I must say it’s very disturbing listening