Read Online Sounds Like Crazy by Shana Mahaffey - Free Book Online Page B

I should have known. I wished I could smoke in the Committee’s house, but that “dirty habit” was absolutely verboten since Betty Jane had moved in twelve years ago.
    Milton waved his hand for her to go ahead, as if he’d anticipated this too. Betty Jane rattled off a list of demands that rivaled Santa’s entire Christmas catalog.Top on it was no more donating to charity the clothes and shoes we bought. I had one closet. At the rate at which Betty Jane made me buy stuff, I had to clear it out on a regular basis. And Goodwill picked up. Along with clothes
and shoes, Betty Jane wanted a maid, a car service, me to stop smoking, respect, lipstick, regular facials, hand cream, face cream, trips to the Bahamas, a better mattress. Then she said I deserved nothing in exchange for my largesse because having her was more gift than anyone could ever have or expect. I sat stupefied.
    Milton held up his hand. My mouth paused midstipulation. “If Holly gives you what you want, then in addition to limiting your speaking, I have two more binding terms that you must agree to.” My head nodded for Milton to proceed.
    “First, you must agree to never allow yourself more power than Holly has.”
    Betty Jane considered this for a moment. “I would be equal, though? And I still control the Committee?”
    “You may have control of the Committee, but you may never have more power than Holly,” said Milton.
    Betty Jane considered this for a moment and then said,“I will agree to that.” I wished I could read her thoughts with the same facility that she read mine. But it didn’t work that way. “And in exchange, I need the entire Committee to pitch in and get us this job so I can finally live in the style I have dictated—and deserve, I might add.”
    Deserve, my ass. And does she really just want a few facials and some nice clothes?
    “We have not discussed the final term,” said Milton.
    “Oh?”
    “You and the rest of the Committee must agree to always resolve any conflicts in therapy whenever Holly makes the request. I will not support your endeavor if this particular condition is not accepted.”
    “Is that all?” said Betty Jane. My voice sounded bored again.
    “Then to be crystal clear, in exchange for the frippery you’ve requested, you and the others agree to my terms?” said Milton.

    “Yes.” Betty Jane sniffed.
    “Okay, then let Holly come back.”
    I resumed control, suddenly aware of the scary side effect that accompanied this new direction—the demanding social aspect this line of work would certainly require.“Milton, how am I going to handle the social part if the Committee is so restricted?”
    Milton’s eyes became compassionate. The fear cracking my voice would have been hard for an untrained seal to miss.
    “Holly, one step at a time. You’ve always said you excel at learning. Well, then you can apply yourself to learning how to handle the social aspects—”
    “I didn’t mean this kind of learning,” I said.
    “Remember, a leap of faith is all I am asking for,” said Milton.
    Milton’s requested leap of faith felt more like a jump out of an airplane wearing a parachute packed by Betty Jane.

{ 4 }
    T he following Monday, I stood on Avenue A wrestling with the buttons on my blouse as my hair whipped across my face. I had allotted plenty of time to make my appointment with Brenda Barry, the agent Mike recommended. Then I lingered too long over coffee and cigarettes. Now, half-dressed and late, I’d lost the cushion I needed to get Betty Jane on public transportation, our only option under my current financial circumstances.
    I popped the last button through the hole and clipped my hair back. Times Square, the location of Brenda’s office, wasn’t getting any closer. May as well face the music.
    The street was dotted with enough people to make it a giant slalom run to the subway station. But what did I expect? New York City never offered deserted streets. I glanced at my watch, drew in a