Read Online With Friends Like These by Reshonda Tate Billingsley - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Reshonda Tate Billingsley
Tags: Religión, United States, Fiction, General, Fantasy, People & Places, Juvenile Fiction, Religious, Christian, Christianity, African American, Literature & the Arts
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didn’t know Mrs. Lewis would be showing up on her doorstep today. She even had the nerve to be holding a basket filled with what looked like chocolate chip cookies. I couldn’t believe it. My mother didn’t know I was home because I was supposed to be at the church, helping Rachel with some stuff, but we wrapped up early. My plan was to run home and change real quick so that Walter and I could sneak out together.
I hid behind the stairs when I heard the keys rattling at the front door. I stepped back a few feet, and listened.
“Hi there, you must be Lydia, Camille’s mom,” Mrs. Lewis said. “I’m so glad I caught you. I really was just taking a chance by showing up here,” she said. I saw her look around as if she was concerned for her safety. Walter’s mom had her golden blond hair pinned up in a French bun. Her skin was perfectly tanned. And even from where I stood, peeking around the corner, I could see the large diamonds that sparkled from her ears to her neck to her thin fingers.
“I am Lydia, and you are?” my mother asked curtly.
“Oh, I’m sorry. I’m Penelope, Walter’s mom. Remember we talked on the phone the other day, and I told you then that I’d like to meet for a few minutes?”
My mother let out a fake laugh, the one she used when she really didn’t know what to say. I’m sure she probably wanted to tell Mrs. Lewis she had only thirty minutes to change, fix a lunch, and rush out to make it to her next job on time. I knew exactly what she was thinking because I watched as she sighed, then stepped back a bit. Mrs. Lewis didn’t even really step all the way inside the house, so they stood in the doorway with the door wide open.
“I didn’t realize you meant this soon, and without even calling,” my mother said.
“Oh, yes, I’m so sorry about that. But really it was just an impulse that brought me over here. I had business nearby, and well, I was just hoping you had some time. This is really important,” she said.
My mother flicked her wrist to check her watch, then she said, “I’ve got a few minutes. I take it this is about the problem we discussed right?”
Mrs. Lewis nodded. She looked around, then said, “You mind if I come in?”
“Oh, where’s my manners?” My mother sighed and stepped aside. “Please, come in. Would you like a seat?”
Mrs. Lewis glanced around again, the look on her face saying she didn’t trust sitting on our tattered furniture. She looked like a fish out of water. I pulled my head back when she walked farther into the house.
“I won’t take up much of your time. I just wanted to make sure that you and I are on the same page. I know as a mother you want what’s best for your child, as I do for mine.” Walter’s mom shook her head like she was just about to deliver devastating news.
“And my Walter is such a super kid,” she continued. “His father and I are so very lucky. We know we’ve done a terrific job with him. Did you know he has already been accepted at Princeton?”
Before my mother could even answer, Mrs. Lewis continued. “Well, we just think, his father and I believe, that this is really a crucial time for our son. And as parents, well, it’s our responsibility to do what we feel is best for him. And we, well, we just don’t think him getting involved in a serious relationship at this time is the right thing to do. We just don’t think he needs that kind of distraction right now. I’m sure you understand just what I’m saying.”
When my mother cleared her throat and shifted her weight to one side, I just knew Mrs. Lewis was about to get it.
“Oh, these,” Mrs. Lewis said nervously as she looked down at the cookies. “I brought these for you.” She shoved the basket at my mother in a way that forced her to accept it. My mother looked down at the cookies, did her fake smile, and placed the basket on the coffee table.
“Thanks,” she said. “But I’ve been thinking about what you said, and I think you
I hid behind the stairs when I heard the keys rattling at the front door. I stepped back a few feet, and listened.
“Hi there, you must be Lydia, Camille’s mom,” Mrs. Lewis said. “I’m so glad I caught you. I really was just taking a chance by showing up here,” she said. I saw her look around as if she was concerned for her safety. Walter’s mom had her golden blond hair pinned up in a French bun. Her skin was perfectly tanned. And even from where I stood, peeking around the corner, I could see the large diamonds that sparkled from her ears to her neck to her thin fingers.
“I am Lydia, and you are?” my mother asked curtly.
“Oh, I’m sorry. I’m Penelope, Walter’s mom. Remember we talked on the phone the other day, and I told you then that I’d like to meet for a few minutes?”
My mother let out a fake laugh, the one she used when she really didn’t know what to say. I’m sure she probably wanted to tell Mrs. Lewis she had only thirty minutes to change, fix a lunch, and rush out to make it to her next job on time. I knew exactly what she was thinking because I watched as she sighed, then stepped back a bit. Mrs. Lewis didn’t even really step all the way inside the house, so they stood in the doorway with the door wide open.
“I didn’t realize you meant this soon, and without even calling,” my mother said.
“Oh, yes, I’m so sorry about that. But really it was just an impulse that brought me over here. I had business nearby, and well, I was just hoping you had some time. This is really important,” she said.
My mother flicked her wrist to check her watch, then she said, “I’ve got a few minutes. I take it this is about the problem we discussed right?”
Mrs. Lewis nodded. She looked around, then said, “You mind if I come in?”
“Oh, where’s my manners?” My mother sighed and stepped aside. “Please, come in. Would you like a seat?”
Mrs. Lewis glanced around again, the look on her face saying she didn’t trust sitting on our tattered furniture. She looked like a fish out of water. I pulled my head back when she walked farther into the house.
“I won’t take up much of your time. I just wanted to make sure that you and I are on the same page. I know as a mother you want what’s best for your child, as I do for mine.” Walter’s mom shook her head like she was just about to deliver devastating news.
“And my Walter is such a super kid,” she continued. “His father and I are so very lucky. We know we’ve done a terrific job with him. Did you know he has already been accepted at Princeton?”
Before my mother could even answer, Mrs. Lewis continued. “Well, we just think, his father and I believe, that this is really a crucial time for our son. And as parents, well, it’s our responsibility to do what we feel is best for him. And we, well, we just don’t think him getting involved in a serious relationship at this time is the right thing to do. We just don’t think he needs that kind of distraction right now. I’m sure you understand just what I’m saying.”
When my mother cleared her throat and shifted her weight to one side, I just knew Mrs. Lewis was about to get it.
“Oh, these,” Mrs. Lewis said nervously as she looked down at the cookies. “I brought these for you.” She shoved the basket at my mother in a way that forced her to accept it. My mother looked down at the cookies, did her fake smile, and placed the basket on the coffee table.
“Thanks,” she said. “But I’ve been thinking about what you said, and I think you
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