Read Online Two Parties, One Tux, and a Very Short Film about The Grapes of Wrath by Steven Goldman - Free Book Online Page B

my facial reaction.
    â€œMom, M.C.? I might as well take Carrie.”
    â€œLike I’d go with you. Besides, I might have a date.”
    This is not a surprise. We wait Carrie out for full disclosure. Mom lives for these moments when she gets to hear about our lives. Dinner is banter. It certainly isn’t about food, since my mother can barely cook.
    â€œSeth.”
    â€œSeth with the trombone or Seth the football player?” I ask.
    â€œOh, come on.” Carrie follows this exclamation with a look that clearly means: “Like I’d date a trombone player.”
    I chew on my manicotti, which has the consistency of the fruit leather snacks we used to get in our lunchboxes when we were in elementary school. Fruit leather with tomato sauce. I swallow and turn back to Carrie. “You’re dating a six-two brainless linebacker?”
    â€œWho’s Seth?” Mom asks Carrie.
    â€œHe’s the tight end …”
    â€œYou mean he has a tight end,” I say.
    â€œâ€¦ and he’s not brainless.”
    â€œHe’s not brain
ful
.”
    â€œSo what’s wrong with M.C.?” Mom asks, smiling. “She’s cute and she’s smart.”
    â€œSeth is smart too. Don’t take Mitchell’s side.”
    â€œHow am I taking Mitchell’s side? I don’t even know Seth.”
    â€œSo why is M.C. cute and smart? You are implying that I am interested in Seth just because he’s cute.”
    â€œAnd popular.”
    â€œStop it, Mitchell.” Carrie glowers at me.
    â€œMitch, give your sister a break. If she wants to date large, mentally challenged—”
    â€œMom!”
    â€œSo, Mitch, who
are
you going to take to the prom?” Mom asks, taking a sip from her wineglass. It almost sounds like an innocent question. As I begin to repeat that I haven’t decided whether I’m going to the prom, Carrie answers for me.
    â€œAmanda.”
    â€œWho’s Amanda?” asks Mom.
    I’m a little too stunned to reply.
    Carrie smiles. “This girl in my class who for some inexplicable reason thinks Mitchell is cute. They eat lunch together.”
    â€œTwice. We ate lunch twice. You brought her over to the table both times.”
    Carrie dismisses my comment with a wave of her hand and takes a bite of her manicotti. Mom immediately puts another one on Carrie’s plate. You never have an empty plate. You eventually have to leave a little bit or more food will appear. Mom, despite an advanced degree, neverseems to recognize the meaning of “No, thank you, I’ve had enough.”
    I look down at my half-eaten dinner. Manicotti are really just penne on hormones.
    â€œAnyway,” Carrie continues, “she’ll go with you. She and I are prom dress shopping Saturday.”
    â€œShe sounds very nice,” Mom says. “She should come for dinner.”
    â€œHow do you know she’ll go with me? I haven’t asked her. I haven’t even thought of asking her.” I am feeling somewhat irrelevant to the process.
    â€œI asked her for you,” Carrie explains. “She said yes. You still should call her about it, though.”
    I’m now at a loss for words, so Mom jumps right back in. “So, who’s M.C. going with?”
    â€œDavid.”
    â€œDoes he know?” I ask.
    â€œThere’s no reason for sarcasm, Mitch. Your sister makes a wonderful social director. You guys certainly aren’t doing much about it on your own. Besides, I think David’s sweet on M.C.” I happen to know that David is not sweet on M.C., but I’m not sure how to explain it. I’m just relieved she’s not planning on going with Curtis. Mom, however, is on a roll. “We could have dinner for you here. I could make a special meal and appetizers, maybe a little champagne. We could decorate the dining room really formally …”
    â€œMom, we are not having the prom dinner at our house.