bitterly. “You know your father and I are on treadmills all day long.”
KT had heard Mom refer to her job in an insurance office as a treadmill before, but what if she actually meant that literally? What if jogging was Mom’s whole job now?
“But—,” KT started to say. Then she realized she couldn’t ask what she really wanted to. “But . . . isn’t that fun?” she finished lamely.
“ You would think so,” Mom said. The bitterness in her voice was almost overwhelming.
“We hope you love your job when you get out into the work world,” Dad said, back to his soothing tones. “We hope both our children will be very happy in their chosen careers. And that means developing your talents to their full potential. Which begins right now. Max, you can’t take it easy at thispoint in your life and expect to just catch up later on.”
“What if I don’t want to catch up?” Max asked. “What if I just want to . . . hang out? Be myself?”
“Oh, Max, mathletics is you,” Mom said. “You are a mathletics champion. It’s like your coach told us way back in second grade: ‘Max’s mind is made for math.’ Do you know how proud we were when we heard that?”
KT couldn’t help herself. She snorted.
Mom snapped her attention back to KT.
“Young lady!” she began.
“I’m sorry! I’m sorry!” KT apologized, spreading her hands out flat, a gesture of innocence. “I was just . . . breathing.” She wanted to add, I’m allowed to do that much in this family, aren’t I? But she thought better of it. “Maybe . . . maybe you want to have this conversation with Max in private? Maybe, so I don’t get into any more trouble, I should just walk home on my own?”
Mom gave a quick glance out the window. KT realized she was looking to see who would notice if they let KT out. Evidently nobody important was around, because Mom narrowed her eyes at KT and said, “Go ahead.”
KT opened the car door. She was surprised to see that her legs were shaking as she stood up. She made her way to the sidewalk.
Don’t they care about me at all? she wondered.
She heard the electronic sound behind her that meant someone was rolling down a car window. She turned back, and Dad had his head halfway out.
“Turns out we are going to Applebee’s,” he said. “You want us to bring something back for you, or do you just wantto grab something at home?”
Okay, they care enough to offer me food, KT thought. Cold food, after they’re done eating. Big whoop.
“No, thanks,” KT said, with what she hoped was great dignity. “I’ll make myself a sandwich.”
She wanted to whirl back around and stalk away, but she watched Dad’s face just a moment longer, willing him to say, Oh, you don’t have to do that! Here—hop in the car! We’ll go through the drive-through at Wendy’s for you first thing, drop you off at home, and then we’ll take Max out!
Instead Dad said coldly, “Suit yourself.”
KT looked away from Dad. She didn’t mean it to, but her gaze fell on Max, just for an instant. He was staring straight back at KT, his face more pinched and pale and desperate than ever. It had been years since KT had been the least bit interested in what Max might be thinking, but in that moment she felt like she could read his mind. He was thinking: No, please! Don’t go!
KT spun on her heel and started walking briskly away.
Right, Max, KT thought. You just want me around so Mom and Dad will yell at me instead of lecturing you. Forget it!
She straightened her shoulders, broadened her stride. No way was she going to let Mom and Dad and Max see how upset she was.
Keep your head down and pitch, she told herself. Walk. Plan your softball league. Use it to get back to the real world. Back to the real world where . . .
She almost didn’t let herself finish the thought. But KT Sutton, pitcher, was no coward. There was no room in softball for cowards.
Back to the real world where your parents actually love
KT had heard Mom refer to her job in an insurance office as a treadmill before, but what if she actually meant that literally? What if jogging was Mom’s whole job now?
“But—,” KT started to say. Then she realized she couldn’t ask what she really wanted to. “But . . . isn’t that fun?” she finished lamely.
“ You would think so,” Mom said. The bitterness in her voice was almost overwhelming.
“We hope you love your job when you get out into the work world,” Dad said, back to his soothing tones. “We hope both our children will be very happy in their chosen careers. And that means developing your talents to their full potential. Which begins right now. Max, you can’t take it easy at thispoint in your life and expect to just catch up later on.”
“What if I don’t want to catch up?” Max asked. “What if I just want to . . . hang out? Be myself?”
“Oh, Max, mathletics is you,” Mom said. “You are a mathletics champion. It’s like your coach told us way back in second grade: ‘Max’s mind is made for math.’ Do you know how proud we were when we heard that?”
KT couldn’t help herself. She snorted.
Mom snapped her attention back to KT.
“Young lady!” she began.
“I’m sorry! I’m sorry!” KT apologized, spreading her hands out flat, a gesture of innocence. “I was just . . . breathing.” She wanted to add, I’m allowed to do that much in this family, aren’t I? But she thought better of it. “Maybe . . . maybe you want to have this conversation with Max in private? Maybe, so I don’t get into any more trouble, I should just walk home on my own?”
Mom gave a quick glance out the window. KT realized she was looking to see who would notice if they let KT out. Evidently nobody important was around, because Mom narrowed her eyes at KT and said, “Go ahead.”
KT opened the car door. She was surprised to see that her legs were shaking as she stood up. She made her way to the sidewalk.
Don’t they care about me at all? she wondered.
She heard the electronic sound behind her that meant someone was rolling down a car window. She turned back, and Dad had his head halfway out.
“Turns out we are going to Applebee’s,” he said. “You want us to bring something back for you, or do you just wantto grab something at home?”
Okay, they care enough to offer me food, KT thought. Cold food, after they’re done eating. Big whoop.
“No, thanks,” KT said, with what she hoped was great dignity. “I’ll make myself a sandwich.”
She wanted to whirl back around and stalk away, but she watched Dad’s face just a moment longer, willing him to say, Oh, you don’t have to do that! Here—hop in the car! We’ll go through the drive-through at Wendy’s for you first thing, drop you off at home, and then we’ll take Max out!
Instead Dad said coldly, “Suit yourself.”
KT looked away from Dad. She didn’t mean it to, but her gaze fell on Max, just for an instant. He was staring straight back at KT, his face more pinched and pale and desperate than ever. It had been years since KT had been the least bit interested in what Max might be thinking, but in that moment she felt like she could read his mind. He was thinking: No, please! Don’t go!
KT spun on her heel and started walking briskly away.
Right, Max, KT thought. You just want me around so Mom and Dad will yell at me instead of lecturing you. Forget it!
She straightened her shoulders, broadened her stride. No way was she going to let Mom and Dad and Max see how upset she was.
Keep your head down and pitch, she told herself. Walk. Plan your softball league. Use it to get back to the real world. Back to the real world where . . .
She almost didn’t let herself finish the thought. But KT Sutton, pitcher, was no coward. There was no room in softball for cowards.
Back to the real world where your parents actually love
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