queasy.”
“And how do you feel when you consider not taking the test and giving up?”
Trina’s lips trembled into a weak smile. “Queasy.”
Beth laughed. “So you might as well feel queasy and forge forward, huh?” She tapped the book. “Study. Do at least five of these.” She got up and returned to the computer.
With a sigh, Trina got back to work. It took nearly half an hour to work five problems, and she was almost relieved when the telephone rang and Beth held it out to her.
“It’s your brother.”
Trina took the phone. “Hello?”
“Mom said to call and have you come home.” His voice dropped to a whisper. “I think she’s upset about all the time you’ve been spending over at the McCauleys’ lately. Might want to step careful when you get here.”
Trina stifled a sigh. Never demonstrative, Mama had been downright cold to her ever since she started working with Dr. Groening. Between Mama’s chilly treatment and Graham’s avoidance, Trina carried a constant heartache. She said, “Maybe I’ll swing by the park and pick her a few daisies. That usually cheers her up.”
“Okay.” Tony brought his voice back to full volume. “See you in a few minutes.”
Trina handed the telephone back to Beth. “I have to go—Mama’s missing me.”
Beth smiled. “Well, you have been spending a lot of time here. She’s used to seeing you all day, every day. I imagine she does miss you.”
Trina forced a light chuckle as she gathered up her papers and pencils. “Probably mostly she just wonders what I’m up to over here.”
Sean pushed off from the sofa and walked to the wide doorway between the front room and dining room. “You haven’t told your parents yet?”
Trina glanced up and caught Beth and Sean exchanging a quick, tense look. She shook her head slowly. “No. I’m going to wait until I’ve passed the GED and have been accepted into a college program.”
Sean leaned against the doorjamb and folded his arms across his chest. “Was that Beth’s advice?”
Beth shot Sean a look that made Trina gulp.
“Um, no. Actually, Beth advised the opposite—to just come right out and tell them what I’m doing. But I want to wait.” She observed Sean’s expression change to approving, and Beth’s mouth unpursed. Uncomfortable with the silent messages being sent back and forth between the pair, Trina snatched up her things and bustled toward the door. “Thanks again for the help, Beth. I’ll see you tomorrow. . . maybe.” She closed the door behind her and stepped into the humid air of midevening.
Instead of going directly home, Trina headed for the area dubbed “the park” by Sommerfeld’s young people. Just an empty lot where a livery barn had burned down almost twenty years ago, the area now sported halfhearted grass, a spattering of wildflowers, and a crude picnic table and benches constructed out of scrap lumber by a couple of boys learning to use their fathers’ tools.
The farmers’ market sellers used the area, as did young people on pleasant evenings for a place to gather and talk. Trina hoped a handful of daisies, her mother’s favorite flower, might stave off an unpleasant series of questions concerning her frequent evenings spent with Beth McCauley. Mama had warmed considerably toward Beth since Uncle Henry, Mama’s younger brother, had married Beth’s mother, but she still didn’t approve of Beth’s non-Mennonite lifestyle. Anyone who wasn’t Mennonite was suspect, as far as Mama was concerned.
Trina rounded the corner toward the park and heard laughter. She slowed her steps, turning her ear toward the various voices drifting across the warm summer breeze. The high-pitched giggle belonged to Darcy Kauffman. Wherever one found Darcy, Michelle Lapp was nearby. Michelle had acted sweet on Graham’s best friend, Walt Martin, for quite some time, and Walt had recently begun responding, so that masculine rumble no doubt came from Walt’s throat.
Previously the
“And how do you feel when you consider not taking the test and giving up?”
Trina’s lips trembled into a weak smile. “Queasy.”
Beth laughed. “So you might as well feel queasy and forge forward, huh?” She tapped the book. “Study. Do at least five of these.” She got up and returned to the computer.
With a sigh, Trina got back to work. It took nearly half an hour to work five problems, and she was almost relieved when the telephone rang and Beth held it out to her.
“It’s your brother.”
Trina took the phone. “Hello?”
“Mom said to call and have you come home.” His voice dropped to a whisper. “I think she’s upset about all the time you’ve been spending over at the McCauleys’ lately. Might want to step careful when you get here.”
Trina stifled a sigh. Never demonstrative, Mama had been downright cold to her ever since she started working with Dr. Groening. Between Mama’s chilly treatment and Graham’s avoidance, Trina carried a constant heartache. She said, “Maybe I’ll swing by the park and pick her a few daisies. That usually cheers her up.”
“Okay.” Tony brought his voice back to full volume. “See you in a few minutes.”
Trina handed the telephone back to Beth. “I have to go—Mama’s missing me.”
Beth smiled. “Well, you have been spending a lot of time here. She’s used to seeing you all day, every day. I imagine she does miss you.”
Trina forced a light chuckle as she gathered up her papers and pencils. “Probably mostly she just wonders what I’m up to over here.”
Sean pushed off from the sofa and walked to the wide doorway between the front room and dining room. “You haven’t told your parents yet?”
Trina glanced up and caught Beth and Sean exchanging a quick, tense look. She shook her head slowly. “No. I’m going to wait until I’ve passed the GED and have been accepted into a college program.”
Sean leaned against the doorjamb and folded his arms across his chest. “Was that Beth’s advice?”
Beth shot Sean a look that made Trina gulp.
“Um, no. Actually, Beth advised the opposite—to just come right out and tell them what I’m doing. But I want to wait.” She observed Sean’s expression change to approving, and Beth’s mouth unpursed. Uncomfortable with the silent messages being sent back and forth between the pair, Trina snatched up her things and bustled toward the door. “Thanks again for the help, Beth. I’ll see you tomorrow. . . maybe.” She closed the door behind her and stepped into the humid air of midevening.
Instead of going directly home, Trina headed for the area dubbed “the park” by Sommerfeld’s young people. Just an empty lot where a livery barn had burned down almost twenty years ago, the area now sported halfhearted grass, a spattering of wildflowers, and a crude picnic table and benches constructed out of scrap lumber by a couple of boys learning to use their fathers’ tools.
The farmers’ market sellers used the area, as did young people on pleasant evenings for a place to gather and talk. Trina hoped a handful of daisies, her mother’s favorite flower, might stave off an unpleasant series of questions concerning her frequent evenings spent with Beth McCauley. Mama had warmed considerably toward Beth since Uncle Henry, Mama’s younger brother, had married Beth’s mother, but she still didn’t approve of Beth’s non-Mennonite lifestyle. Anyone who wasn’t Mennonite was suspect, as far as Mama was concerned.
Trina rounded the corner toward the park and heard laughter. She slowed her steps, turning her ear toward the various voices drifting across the warm summer breeze. The high-pitched giggle belonged to Darcy Kauffman. Wherever one found Darcy, Michelle Lapp was nearby. Michelle had acted sweet on Graham’s best friend, Walt Martin, for quite some time, and Walt had recently begun responding, so that masculine rumble no doubt came from Walt’s throat.
Previously the
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