Read Online Playground by Jennifer Saginor - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Jennifer Saginor
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bangs?”
“Sassoon jeans.”
“Ooh la la!”
“Check out the Members Only jacket she borrowed from Dad.
What a poser.”
We chew on Pop Rocks while we rag on Dad’s latest addition. I
have become as highly critical of women as he is.
Savannah and I duck underneath the deck and race into the
ocean before they notice us.
The sun is going down. Dad flips through the newspaper on a
beach chair while Cindy’s at the market.
“Where’s Pamela? How come she’s never around?” I ask Dad
with Savannah at my side.
“She’s been busy lately. She has a new TV show, and she’s jeal-
ous of the girls at the Mansion. But I’m seeing her tomorrow,” he
mentions nonchalantly.
“Why is Cindy always with us?”
“Cindy’s here to do errands, make life easier, take care of your
needs and my needs,” Dad laughs to himself.
“We miss Pamela. Cindy’s so Valley.”
“To the max,” Savannah says and we giggle.
“What’s wrong with you girls? Cindy’s great.” He shakes his
head. “You’re both spoiled.”
55
J E N N I F E R S A G I N O R
Savannah and I continue to make Valley remarks as we run
into the house and head straight for the fridge, which is stocked
with oranges, pasta salad, and club sandwiches from the deli down
the street.
That night, I walk in on Cindy and Dad in bed together. Dad
scrambles to play it off, jumping up as Cindy rolls over.
“I insisted Cindy spend the night since it’s so late and poten-
tially dangerous to drive home,” Dad explains.
I look at him in disbelief. I can’t believe he thinks I’m stupid
enough to buy that excuse.
“Do you need anything?” Dad asks warmly.
“No, I just wanted to say good night,” I add before closing the
bedroom door.
I run back to my room to tell Savannah.
As the weekend comes to an end, Pamela drops by the beach
house to say hello. While Dad’s busy talking to one of the neigh-
bors, I take Pamela into my bedroom, shut the door, and sit her
down.
“I don’t know if I should say anything, I mean, you probably
already know, but I just thought I’d tell you . . .”
“What is it, honey? You can tell me anything, of course,”
Pamela offers warmly.
“I don’t want you to say anything to Dad ’cause he might get
mad at me.”
“Sweetie, you can tell me anything, you know that. What we
discuss is between us. I won’t say anything if you don’t want me
to,” Pamela says and I believe her.
There’s a pause as she waits for me to continue.
“Well, you know Cindy sleeps here, right? I mean, she was in
Dad’s room last night watching TV and she sleeps at Hef ’s all the
time, and I don’t understand because she’s just supposed to be
driving us around,” I spit out.
The room is silent and I can tell by Pamela’s horrified expres-
sion that my life is about to end.
56
Playground
We are at the Mansion when Dad corners me in my room, slam-
ming the door shut behind him.
I can see the pool through the window where Playmates slip
and slide across a greased blue pole suspended over the water. My
father stands in front of the window and sunlight shines behind
him, darkening his features, his body.
“How dare you go behind my back! Pamela told me you told
her I was having an affair with Cindy!”
Terrified, I swallow his verbal attack, melting into the ground,
wanting to erase myself.
My father circles me like a lion. I stare out the window again,
avoiding his glare, and watch topless girls splash into the pool.
“I’m sorry, Daddy, please don’t be mad. It was a mistake.”
I tremble, hiding behind a well of tears.
“There are no mistakes!” he screams, pointing his finger in my
face.
I wish I were dead.
“Did you really think Pamela wasn’t going to say anything to
me? She is a lying, manipulating, self-centered bitch. The only rea-
son I was with her was to make you happy!”
My heart falls out of my chest. Is he right? Is this all my fault?
My head
“Sassoon jeans.”
“Ooh la la!”
“Check out the Members Only jacket she borrowed from Dad.
What a poser.”
We chew on Pop Rocks while we rag on Dad’s latest addition. I
have become as highly critical of women as he is.
Savannah and I duck underneath the deck and race into the
ocean before they notice us.
The sun is going down. Dad flips through the newspaper on a
beach chair while Cindy’s at the market.
“Where’s Pamela? How come she’s never around?” I ask Dad
with Savannah at my side.
“She’s been busy lately. She has a new TV show, and she’s jeal-
ous of the girls at the Mansion. But I’m seeing her tomorrow,” he
mentions nonchalantly.
“Why is Cindy always with us?”
“Cindy’s here to do errands, make life easier, take care of your
needs and my needs,” Dad laughs to himself.
“We miss Pamela. Cindy’s so Valley.”
“To the max,” Savannah says and we giggle.
“What’s wrong with you girls? Cindy’s great.” He shakes his
head. “You’re both spoiled.”
55
J E N N I F E R S A G I N O R
Savannah and I continue to make Valley remarks as we run
into the house and head straight for the fridge, which is stocked
with oranges, pasta salad, and club sandwiches from the deli down
the street.
That night, I walk in on Cindy and Dad in bed together. Dad
scrambles to play it off, jumping up as Cindy rolls over.
“I insisted Cindy spend the night since it’s so late and poten-
tially dangerous to drive home,” Dad explains.
I look at him in disbelief. I can’t believe he thinks I’m stupid
enough to buy that excuse.
“Do you need anything?” Dad asks warmly.
“No, I just wanted to say good night,” I add before closing the
bedroom door.
I run back to my room to tell Savannah.
As the weekend comes to an end, Pamela drops by the beach
house to say hello. While Dad’s busy talking to one of the neigh-
bors, I take Pamela into my bedroom, shut the door, and sit her
down.
“I don’t know if I should say anything, I mean, you probably
already know, but I just thought I’d tell you . . .”
“What is it, honey? You can tell me anything, of course,”
Pamela offers warmly.
“I don’t want you to say anything to Dad ’cause he might get
mad at me.”
“Sweetie, you can tell me anything, you know that. What we
discuss is between us. I won’t say anything if you don’t want me
to,” Pamela says and I believe her.
There’s a pause as she waits for me to continue.
“Well, you know Cindy sleeps here, right? I mean, she was in
Dad’s room last night watching TV and she sleeps at Hef ’s all the
time, and I don’t understand because she’s just supposed to be
driving us around,” I spit out.
The room is silent and I can tell by Pamela’s horrified expres-
sion that my life is about to end.
56
Playground
We are at the Mansion when Dad corners me in my room, slam-
ming the door shut behind him.
I can see the pool through the window where Playmates slip
and slide across a greased blue pole suspended over the water. My
father stands in front of the window and sunlight shines behind
him, darkening his features, his body.
“How dare you go behind my back! Pamela told me you told
her I was having an affair with Cindy!”
Terrified, I swallow his verbal attack, melting into the ground,
wanting to erase myself.
My father circles me like a lion. I stare out the window again,
avoiding his glare, and watch topless girls splash into the pool.
“I’m sorry, Daddy, please don’t be mad. It was a mistake.”
I tremble, hiding behind a well of tears.
“There are no mistakes!” he screams, pointing his finger in my
face.
I wish I were dead.
“Did you really think Pamela wasn’t going to say anything to
me? She is a lying, manipulating, self-centered bitch. The only rea-
son I was with her was to make you happy!”
My heart falls out of my chest. Is he right? Is this all my fault?
My head
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