niceness oozing out of her anytime soon.
— 6 —
R ACHEL
Unfinished Business
The morning following Blinky’s birthday party leaves me feeling no different than I felt the day before. I wake up furious. My jaw is rigid with frustration and helplessness. I want answers, and, thanks to that James Brown song that keeps playing in my head, I’m seeking something even more important than answers, too.
I quickly dash out of the bed and rush through the living area until I reach my sister’s bedroom door. Of course, it’s closed, so I softly tap on her door, then twist the knob and step in and flick on the overhead light. A sky blue blanket covers a round lump spread out on her queen-sized bed.
“Wake up, Marlene.”
She doesn’t say anything.
I walk over to her and nudge her hard, pushing against her shoulders so that she rocks back and forth.
“Did you hear me? Get your butt up right now.”
“Huh? What time is it?”
“Yep, you overslept again.”
She sits up in bed and vigorously rubs her eyes. I can see a purple bruise on her forehead. I really hate that I had to resort to physical altercations with her, and seeing that mark makes me feel worse. Yet I need to speak my mind.
“This is going too far, Marlene. Why are you willing to mess up your job over a man?”
“Rachel, please. First of all, I took a vacation day today, so I haven’t overslept, but then again, I have slept a little too long because Jeff and I are supposed to be meeting at Waffle House. So actually I should be thanking you for my little wake-up call.” She giggles quietly.
Waffle House? I am crazy about Waffle House and haven’t been able to bring myself to go to the place since Jeff and I parted ways. We used to eat there every other Saturday, braving the crowds to order coffee, hash browns, scrambled eggs, bacon, and a huge waffle. I can’t believe he’d take her to a place he used to take me. What’s wrong with IHOP? Or even Whataburger?
“I don’t even believe what I’m hearing. Why are you doing this?”
“Doing what, Rachel? Living my life and trying to make myself happy?”
“Marlene, tell me something: how well do you know Jeff?”
“What? I know him pretty good, but, of course, our relationship is still fresh, so I’m spending time getting to know him.”
“Ugh, this is so ridiculous.”
“What, Rachel? Why are you even asking me these kinds of questions?” She sounds irritated and makes a move toward her closet, which is bursting with all kinds of beautiful outfits. “You act like you don’t know how things go. It’s obvious I need time to learn more about the man.”
“He does not want you, Marlene.”
She angrily snatches a floral print baby-doll dress off a hanger. I remember when she bought it, not even a couple weeks ago. She interrupted me watching a DVD just to askme how it looked on her. I told her it looked great. I lied. She looked like a Cabbage Patch Kid on steroids.
“Rachel, don’t even try it.”
“Marlene, can’t you realize that Jeff is only going out with you to get back at me? That’s what people do. Remember our mothers?”
“Of course, dummy—”
“I’m not dumb, and I wish you’d stop calling me that.”
“Look, Rachel, regardless of what I call you, you are not going to convince me that Jeff isn’t feeling me.” She pauses, then blurts out, “Dang, jealousy is written all over your face. I don’t blame you for being envious. You messed up big-time, but it’s too late now. And I refuse to suffer in my love life because you made a bad decision.”
“You’re making a bad decision,” I shout. “There are things you—”
“I don’t wanna hear it!” she shouts back.
And I shut up. Let the know-it-all bitch learn things the hard way. She’s hardheaded, and if it takes her falling flat on her stupid face to realize a thing or two, then let her fall. I don’t care anymore. I know Jeff still cares about me.
“Little sister, just count your losses and
— 6 —
R ACHEL
Unfinished Business
The morning following Blinky’s birthday party leaves me feeling no different than I felt the day before. I wake up furious. My jaw is rigid with frustration and helplessness. I want answers, and, thanks to that James Brown song that keeps playing in my head, I’m seeking something even more important than answers, too.
I quickly dash out of the bed and rush through the living area until I reach my sister’s bedroom door. Of course, it’s closed, so I softly tap on her door, then twist the knob and step in and flick on the overhead light. A sky blue blanket covers a round lump spread out on her queen-sized bed.
“Wake up, Marlene.”
She doesn’t say anything.
I walk over to her and nudge her hard, pushing against her shoulders so that she rocks back and forth.
“Did you hear me? Get your butt up right now.”
“Huh? What time is it?”
“Yep, you overslept again.”
She sits up in bed and vigorously rubs her eyes. I can see a purple bruise on her forehead. I really hate that I had to resort to physical altercations with her, and seeing that mark makes me feel worse. Yet I need to speak my mind.
“This is going too far, Marlene. Why are you willing to mess up your job over a man?”
“Rachel, please. First of all, I took a vacation day today, so I haven’t overslept, but then again, I have slept a little too long because Jeff and I are supposed to be meeting at Waffle House. So actually I should be thanking you for my little wake-up call.” She giggles quietly.
Waffle House? I am crazy about Waffle House and haven’t been able to bring myself to go to the place since Jeff and I parted ways. We used to eat there every other Saturday, braving the crowds to order coffee, hash browns, scrambled eggs, bacon, and a huge waffle. I can’t believe he’d take her to a place he used to take me. What’s wrong with IHOP? Or even Whataburger?
“I don’t even believe what I’m hearing. Why are you doing this?”
“Doing what, Rachel? Living my life and trying to make myself happy?”
“Marlene, tell me something: how well do you know Jeff?”
“What? I know him pretty good, but, of course, our relationship is still fresh, so I’m spending time getting to know him.”
“Ugh, this is so ridiculous.”
“What, Rachel? Why are you even asking me these kinds of questions?” She sounds irritated and makes a move toward her closet, which is bursting with all kinds of beautiful outfits. “You act like you don’t know how things go. It’s obvious I need time to learn more about the man.”
“He does not want you, Marlene.”
She angrily snatches a floral print baby-doll dress off a hanger. I remember when she bought it, not even a couple weeks ago. She interrupted me watching a DVD just to askme how it looked on her. I told her it looked great. I lied. She looked like a Cabbage Patch Kid on steroids.
“Rachel, don’t even try it.”
“Marlene, can’t you realize that Jeff is only going out with you to get back at me? That’s what people do. Remember our mothers?”
“Of course, dummy—”
“I’m not dumb, and I wish you’d stop calling me that.”
“Look, Rachel, regardless of what I call you, you are not going to convince me that Jeff isn’t feeling me.” She pauses, then blurts out, “Dang, jealousy is written all over your face. I don’t blame you for being envious. You messed up big-time, but it’s too late now. And I refuse to suffer in my love life because you made a bad decision.”
“You’re making a bad decision,” I shout. “There are things you—”
“I don’t wanna hear it!” she shouts back.
And I shut up. Let the know-it-all bitch learn things the hard way. She’s hardheaded, and if it takes her falling flat on her stupid face to realize a thing or two, then let her fall. I don’t care anymore. I know Jeff still cares about me.
“Little sister, just count your losses and
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