homemade brisket or a good veal chop. She used to be the first to belly-up to the table, as a matter of fact.
“It is so cheese,” Gloria said, collapsing into one of the kitchen chairs, suddenly a little out of breath. “Read … the label. It’s says ‘cheese’ … right … on there.”
Rachel didn’t seem to care about the box of cheese anymore. She tossed it onto the counter. She was suddenly kneeling in front of Gloria, her face creased with worry.
“Are you feeling all right, Mama?” Rachel grabbed Gloria’s wrist and started checking her pulse against the second hand of her watch.
Gloria didn’t know what had gotten into Rachel. She was acting so strange. Why did she keep changing the subject to ask if she was feeling well? What had they been talking about, anyway?
“I’m taking you to the hospital.”
“No,” Gloria said. “Why do you do this to me every week, Rachel? You sashay in here and tell me how to live and what to eat and then you look at me like I’m dying. I’m nearly eight-five years old! Of course I’m dying! And if I want to eat Velveeta in my last few days on earth then I’ll eat Velveeta! If I tell you I feel fine, then I feel fine!”
Her daughter ignored her. She’d already grabbed her car keys. “Hold on to my arm, bubeleh .”
Oh, why did she have to be like this? Out of Gloria’s four grown children, Rachel was the only one who didn’t trust her to live her own life. Why did she have to be so bossy?
You raise your children, praying to God at least one of them will grow up to be a doctor or a lawyer, and then what happens? Your daughter the lawyer thinks she can manage all your affairs, including your health and what you put in the meat and cheese tray of your refrigerator!
“Mother?”
Gloria reached out in front of her, wondering why someone had dimmed the lights. Her legs gave out from under her.
Chapter 7
Roxanne was nervous, which was the one exact thing she wasn’t supposed to be. Eli had made that very clear. He’d called a couple of hours before to go over the ground rules for his arrival and tell her that he’d e-mailed her the questionnaire he gave all clients. She’d since printed out a hard copy and started filling it out.
Apparently, the only information the man didn’t want was her cholesterol level!
What in God’s name would her childhood have to do with Lilith’s aggression? Why did he want to know about her hobbies? Whether there were seasonal changes in her energy level? Or how many people she’d dated since she brought Lilith to live with her? Why had he included a bunch of questions that were obviously right out of some psychology textbook? ( How do you see yourself? A. Equally worthwhile and deserving as others. B. Less worthwhile and deserving. C. More worthwhile and deserving. ) Did he think she was a sociopath or something?
She’d followed all his instructions, however. She’d taken a thoroughly muzzled Lilith for a long walk to relax her, which didn’t really work because they encountered other humans and dogs. Roxie even had to endure a few choice comments from the Sweeping Lady, including this tidbit: “The police came around the other day, asking about your pit bull. I told them she wasn’t normal.”
Swwsssh. Swwwssh.
Once they were home, Roxie removed Lilith’s muzzle and let her relax for about a half hour, as instructed. Then she fed the dog some cooked chicken and brown rice, just the way Eli told her to. Next Roxie sat quietly with her on the living room floor and stroked her fur and rubbed her ears, which was her all-time favorite thing.
“You both need to be comfortable and relaxed when I get there,” Eli had told her. “Roxanne, I can’t emphasize enough how important it is for you to come to the door without any anxiety. Please breathe deeply before you open the door. Greet me in a soft and friendly voice. Don’t shout or move quickly.”
“It sounds simple enough,” she’d said.
“Simple
“It is so cheese,” Gloria said, collapsing into one of the kitchen chairs, suddenly a little out of breath. “Read … the label. It’s says ‘cheese’ … right … on there.”
Rachel didn’t seem to care about the box of cheese anymore. She tossed it onto the counter. She was suddenly kneeling in front of Gloria, her face creased with worry.
“Are you feeling all right, Mama?” Rachel grabbed Gloria’s wrist and started checking her pulse against the second hand of her watch.
Gloria didn’t know what had gotten into Rachel. She was acting so strange. Why did she keep changing the subject to ask if she was feeling well? What had they been talking about, anyway?
“I’m taking you to the hospital.”
“No,” Gloria said. “Why do you do this to me every week, Rachel? You sashay in here and tell me how to live and what to eat and then you look at me like I’m dying. I’m nearly eight-five years old! Of course I’m dying! And if I want to eat Velveeta in my last few days on earth then I’ll eat Velveeta! If I tell you I feel fine, then I feel fine!”
Her daughter ignored her. She’d already grabbed her car keys. “Hold on to my arm, bubeleh .”
Oh, why did she have to be like this? Out of Gloria’s four grown children, Rachel was the only one who didn’t trust her to live her own life. Why did she have to be so bossy?
You raise your children, praying to God at least one of them will grow up to be a doctor or a lawyer, and then what happens? Your daughter the lawyer thinks she can manage all your affairs, including your health and what you put in the meat and cheese tray of your refrigerator!
“Mother?”
Gloria reached out in front of her, wondering why someone had dimmed the lights. Her legs gave out from under her.
Chapter 7
Roxanne was nervous, which was the one exact thing she wasn’t supposed to be. Eli had made that very clear. He’d called a couple of hours before to go over the ground rules for his arrival and tell her that he’d e-mailed her the questionnaire he gave all clients. She’d since printed out a hard copy and started filling it out.
Apparently, the only information the man didn’t want was her cholesterol level!
What in God’s name would her childhood have to do with Lilith’s aggression? Why did he want to know about her hobbies? Whether there were seasonal changes in her energy level? Or how many people she’d dated since she brought Lilith to live with her? Why had he included a bunch of questions that were obviously right out of some psychology textbook? ( How do you see yourself? A. Equally worthwhile and deserving as others. B. Less worthwhile and deserving. C. More worthwhile and deserving. ) Did he think she was a sociopath or something?
She’d followed all his instructions, however. She’d taken a thoroughly muzzled Lilith for a long walk to relax her, which didn’t really work because they encountered other humans and dogs. Roxie even had to endure a few choice comments from the Sweeping Lady, including this tidbit: “The police came around the other day, asking about your pit bull. I told them she wasn’t normal.”
Swwsssh. Swwwssh.
Once they were home, Roxie removed Lilith’s muzzle and let her relax for about a half hour, as instructed. Then she fed the dog some cooked chicken and brown rice, just the way Eli told her to. Next Roxie sat quietly with her on the living room floor and stroked her fur and rubbed her ears, which was her all-time favorite thing.
“You both need to be comfortable and relaxed when I get there,” Eli had told her. “Roxanne, I can’t emphasize enough how important it is for you to come to the door without any anxiety. Please breathe deeply before you open the door. Greet me in a soft and friendly voice. Don’t shout or move quickly.”
“It sounds simple enough,” she’d said.
“Simple
Similar Books
