Anne Morrow lay restless in her bed. The previous evening's events still playing over in her mind. She'd been at her friend Patricia Tryon's home across the Hudson over in Dobb's Ferry. Anne had been agitated over something that was imperceptible to Patricia. It began with a simple question
"How's Victoria?" she had inquired. Anne didn't respond at first; presumably she hadn't heard. She'd heard the question. Anne had been taken aback.
"She's fine; why are you asking?"
"That's not what you were saying this morning." Patricia scolded. Anne had called the hospital earlier that day; perhaps to inquire about having Victoria admitted. Victoria had started exhibiting a new behavior that included hair pulling whenever she became agitated. Granted, she'd always tugged at her hair, but it was becoming far more frequent and violent; something Anne despised.
"She needs to stop pulling her damned hair! She's not a toddler anymore. She's nearly thirteen, and old enough to know better." Anne demanded. If she hadn't been allowed to pull her hair when she was that age, Victoria wouldn't, either.
Across the hallway and to the left, a light came on in one of the bedrooms. The drowsy occupant shuffled down the hall as quietly as she could. Realizing that she'd made it to the top of the stairs, she crept down into the inky darkness of the foyer. Home free, she made a beeline for the kitchen and the safety of the kitchen island. Turning on the lights, the warm glow of the yellow kitchen walls radiated back onto her face. This is twelve and a half year old Victoria Morrow; of a generally cheerful disposition, this morning something heavy seemed to rest upon her shoulders. She'd been up late the prior night with Amy. They ordered pizza and watched their usual favorites. At some point they'd heard their mother stalk through the house not long after they'd gone to bed themselves.
This time, however, their mother seemed different; unlike the other times she'd drunkenly stumble up the stairs. She was actively weeping as she hurried along; slamming the bedroom door in the process. After that, sleep was virtually impossible for both Victoria and Amy. What had happened to their mother? They could scarcely remember a time when Anne was like this. Sure, Anne had had her moments when she'd come home before, but to Amy and Victoria, this was different. Something inside Anne seemed broken.
Victoria grabbed a bowl from the cabinet and searched for her favorite cereal; Rice Krispies. Victoria wasn't adventurous in her eating habits. This was the only cereal she'd eat, and she would only share them with one other person: Amy. As she was pouring the cereal, a piece of paper at the far end of the kitchen island caught her eye. Leaning over and grabbing the slip of paper, Victoria read it
"Anne,
I've gone up to Tuxedo. I'll be back Sunday Morning.
Tom."
Sunday? That was also her birthday this year, and she wouldn't want her father to miss it. Suddenly, she heard footsteps coming down the stairs. The tension rose in Victoria's throat; swallowing hard, she dropped the paper; the note fluttering to the floor in a graceful motion. The steps grew closer as she ran for the safety of the stool. Turning, she saw that it was Amy; staring at her in a groggy state. Her eyes puffy and swollen; she didn't get much sleep either.
"Victoria, it's 5 AM; do you have to make so much noise?" Amy whined; looking as though she'd fallen asleep on a piece of plywood.
"Sorry." Victoria uttered.
"What were you doing anyway?" Amy asked, noticing the paper on the floor; a look developing across her face.
"Reading a note." Victoria replied, looking down at her cereal.
"Was it for you?" Amy demanded, pouring herself a bowl.
"No." Victoria squeaked.
:"Then you shouldn't have read it, Victoria. Imagine if that was a page in your journal. You'd be pretty upset." Amy teased. Victoria felt herself prickle.
"You look hungover like mommy. She was really drunk last night."
"Um, it's called 'I'm not awake, yet' and how do you know what a hangover is? I know she was drunk last night." Amy whispered.
"I'm smarter than I let on."
"Oh, I know, Victoria. You certainly do have a flair for being too smart for your own good." Amy chided.
Amy and Victoria crept their way back upstairs. Making a left at the top, they headed into their own TV room. The television sat at the far end of the room and in the middle of the room sat the couch. By the amount of stains on the arms and cushions; this couch was well-used. The two had a ritual that involved shutting the door to the hallway and silently sprinting to the couch, jumping over the arms. Today, Victoria had made it there first.
"Which channel should we start with this weekend?" Victoria asked, hoping that they'd start on Channel 7 this time.
"Channel 2. We started with 7 last weekend." Amy replied.
"Can we still watch Wonder Cats?" Victoria inquired.
"Yes, of course we can still watch Wonder Cats." Amy replied firmly. She knew Victoria would be bent out of shape if she missed an episode of Alison and The Wonder Cats. Amy hated that show because it looked as though it had been made for little kids; true it had been, but it was one of Victoria's absolute favorite programs. She had the official merchandise and posters; even clothing.
"You and your Wonder Cats. Why do you like that show anyway?" Amy inquired, hoping not to upset her sister.
"Sometimes I feel like Alison whenever we go to the park. I pretend that the Wonder Cats show up whenever other kids show up."
"So in a way, you continue their adventures off-screen? That's neat!" Amy replied, she always liked Victoria's imagination and how vivid it was. The story lines she'd construct while playing with her dolls often made Amy think she'd walked onto the set of a TV show.
Ten minutes later and the weekly episode of Wonder Cats began. Standing in the doorway, Anne watched her two youngest children move closer to the TV. Seeing them bond made something in Anne rise to her throat. She swallowed, hoping not to disturb the scene before her.
"So this is the show that Victoria has fallen in love with? As long as it keeps her entertained and out of my hair." She thought as she shifted the weight on her feet.
"I'll have Amy take her to the park later. The sunshine is beckoning."
Anne turned and walked downstairs to the kitchen; for her morning cup of coffee.
After Wonder Cats had ended, Anne called both girls downstairs.
"Amy, Victoria, it's time for breakfast!" Anne cried. Soon enough, footsteps were heard coming down the stairs. The smell of coffee wafting from the kitchen beckoned them to the kitchen island; where plates of French Toast and coffee were set. For a brief second, the only noise coming from the kitchen came from the cat clock on the wall by the back door.
"Good morning, Mom." Amy said quietly, knowing that if she were too loud, her mother would snap.
"Good morning, Sweetheart." Anne replied, smiling as she turned her attention towards Victoria.
"Good morning, Mommy!" Victoria exclaimed, nearly jumping up and down. Anne helped Victoria onto the high backed stool. Victoria preferred to climb up onto the stool herself, but Anne always insisted that she do it for her. A minute look of anger shot across Victoria's face
"She knows I can do this myself, I have been doing it myself for years now. Mom's an idiot." Victoria thought to herself.
With everything and everyone in place, Anne began to speak.
"Amy, after breakfast, you and I are going down to the pier. I'd like to hear how your week has been. Judging by the way you're beginning to shrink down; it hasn't been good."
Anne was right in more ways than one. Amy's face was turning bright red, as if she'd been caught red-handed committing some heinous act. Anne shot Amy a look of steel. Amy slunk down even further as the emotional steam began to build. Why was her mother of all people, doing this, this early in the day? Normally, Amy would've still been preparing for the weekly Saturday afternoon onslaught from her mother.
"Amy, you don't know how to pour a fucking cocktail, do you?"
"No, mom. I don't drink! Stop coming down so damn hard on me!"
"Yet you smoke cigarettes? Amy, you know I disapprove."
"I only smoke once a day. 8:30 at night."
"Victoria, after I'm done with Amy, we're going up to Haverstraw. Perhaps Amy would like to come with us?" Anne said, motioning toward Amy.
"Yay!" Victoria squealed. Amy nodded. Anne smiled. So far, everything was landing correctly in Victoria's day. She had no idea of the tensions that were brewing around her.
Anne poured more coffee into her mug and topped off the small, almost toy sized mugs. She knew that her two youngest might've been too young for coffee, but then again her second-youngest child's budding cigarette habit made it seem justified.
The sun shone brightly as Amy and her mother walked over to the blue 1967 Ford Country Squire Station Wagon parked over by the garage. While the sun shone brightly, the wind was biting; making it look deceptive outside on that December 1st, 1983. Getting into the car, Anne helped Amy with her seatbelt and finally got into the vehicle herself. Anne tuned the radio to something Amy might like; landing on Z100, a station that Amy had been listening to since her fourteenth birthday last August. Anne shifted the car into reverse, and they headed out onto the main road. For now, Amy rode along in silence.
"I think it would be nice of you to join Victoria and me in Haverstraw. She loves it when you come along. We talked about it yesterday afternoon before we picked you up from school."
"Of course I'll go, mom. You know how she gets if one of her 'people' are not there."
Anne shuddered; she knew exactly what her second-youngest child was referring to. The ear-piercing shriek; the sight of a young adolescent flinging herself on the floor. Anne knew Amy had made the right choice. Driving through the village of Sparkill, Anne and daughter rode in silence again; the radio the only thing breaking it. Finally, they turned onto the pier. Amy shifted in her seat; a freeing feeling rising in her chest.
"I feel free out here!" Amy thought. Outside, the turbulent Hudson swirled at the foot of the pier.
"Amy, I know this week has been hard for you. Tell me everything that's happened." Anne began. Silence followed
Swallowing, Amy began to think. Should she start with Monday's shoving? Or perhaps the interaction with Courtney Chase yesterday afternoon, right before she walked outside to get picked up? Amy wanted to begin, but she couldn't get herself to start.
"Courtney shoved me into the lockers again, yesterday." Amy began. The tears were already forming in her eyes. Anne sensed that there was more information still hidden. Anne placed a hand on Amy's back and began to gently rub, whispering in her ear.
"It's okay, Amy. You're safe out here." Anne whispered. The sobs came much more quickly now. Words had tried to come, but Amy couldn't muster them. The tears had become much larger by now, nearly dime sized and were falling like the first drops of a heavy rain.
"I'm tired of her being able to fuck with me and get away with it. I don't care if any of the other people think I'm weird. I feel like they're all sharks, and I'M THE BAIT!" Amy sobbed. The Courtney Chase issue had made itself known in a rather large and grotesque manner this time around. To see Amy melting down in the passenger seat really tugged at Anne's heartstrings. The sobs, the choked "why's?" and "Promise Me's." To help preserve Amy's dignity, Anne offered that Amy lie down on the back seat, under a quilt kept for such a purpose. Amy recoiled; it had been a while since she had felt this way and the last time it had happened, Anne had wrapped her up in the thick, heavy quilt.
"I can still hear you, sweetheart. I just think that maybe if you're relaxed, I can help you with a solution." Amy didn't care; the frustration was building, and she'd nearly reached her breaking point. Suddenly, without provocation she screamed
"Mommy, stop it!" At this moment, Anne went into emergency mode. She got out of the car and moved to the back seat, picking her child up and holding her, all the while rolling her up in the thick quilt. Amy's sobs, violently recoiling into Anne's chest. As if following an autopilot, Anne closed the back door, shielding them from prying eyes and the cool breeze.
"I'm sorry, mom." Amy whimpered. She felt as though she were in trouble; her eyes barely remaining open. Anne kept stroking her daughter's hair and hugging her close. She'd had no idea that it had gotten this bad. For a brief second, Anne felt helpless; like a lost child deep in the pits of Manhattan.
"It's okay, Amy. Courtney will get what's coming to her. Why don't you close your eyes, and I'll drive us home. I'll let you get yourself back together while I take Victoria to the park down the road. I'll swing back and pick you up, okay?" Anne said calmly; she didn't want this week's installment of Pier Time to be too intense.
Amy nodded and closed her eyes. She hoped something would happen to Courtney. Her life was seemingly becoming unbearable; would she make it to Christmas Vacation, three weeks from now?
Victoria was ready to go when Anne and Amy returned; the only thing she needed help with was her heavy gray felt coat. Her cloche hat firmly placed on her head. She smiled at her mother, showing a toothy grin that she displayed whenever she was truly calm. The drama from breakfast had since passed.
"Is Amy coming with us?" Victoria asked, not paying attention to the tired looks Amy was giving; her energy nearly spent. The ride home had been a struggle
"We'll pick her up on the way to Haverstraw. Let's go to the park, now." Anne replied. Victoria's eyes grew large, and she skipped out the door towards the Country Squire. Nearly jumping into the passenger seat. Moments later, Anne finally caught up to her.
"My god, you're fast." Anne thought as she helped Victoria buckle her seatbelt. Victoria smiled as Anne finished getting in the car. Five minutes later, they were at the park and Victoria was ready to conquer the equipment. The wind ensured that nobody else would be there. Anne braved the wind and sat on a bench as she watched her youngest climb to the top and jump. The landing went far better than Anne had thought.
"I'm like a cat!" Victoria yelled. True, she did land on her feet. Anne let a smile slip.
"Wonder Cats, Unite!" Victoria called from the grassy area.
"Is that what Alison says when she needs to call the Wonder Cats?" Anne inquired.
"Yup. They have to go save Alison's friend, Cassie."
"What's wrong with Cassie?"
"Cassie doesn't have confidence because she thinks that she's done something wrong, and her parents sent her away. Cassie sometimes acts like a prig."
"That's awful. I hope the Wonder Cats can help out."
"That's why this is a two parter. Amy is Cassie, and we've got to help her out!"
Anne had hoped that Victoria hadn't seen Amy when she got home. Anne hadn't had much time to complete the thought as Victoria jumped onto the bench. The landing surprised Anne. She'd never seen Victoria have this much energy, but it was always good to see her getting it out. Running towards the swings, Victoria let out a noise that Anne couldn't describe, yet she'd heard it before. At this moment, seeing Victoria happy had made Anne happy.
A feeling that she hadn't felt in months. Beginning in September, Victoria had been engaging in a new behavior that had never been exhibited in the home. They had arrived home late after an appointment and Victoria, too tired to continue, threw herself on the floor and bashed her face until she gave herself a bloody nose. Anne remembered Amy and how she gave her a look of death and her sister, a look of anguish. Right now, Victoria was swinging ever higher; perhaps to jump.
"She wouldn't. She's too scared of heights." Anne thought. Suddenly, a yelp of joy and a soft thud hit Anne's ears.
Victoria jumped and had made the landing, minus her hat. Her laughter drifted in the wind. Anne, deciding that one near heart attack per day was more than enough, got up and ran over to Victoria. The girl looked up at her mother and smiled with her largest smile yet.
"How long have you been jumping off of the swings?" Anne asked
"Every day." Victoria said, shrugging her shoulders; the sunlight catching her dark blue eyes and a few random strands of hair.
Anne pulled her daughter close into an embrace; kissing her on the forehead before putting her hat back on. Anne decided to head for Haverstraw now, before Victoria potentially became difficult as the afternoon wore on.
"Let's go pick up Amy and go have a grilled cheese sandwich."
Victoria ran for the car, hardly waiting for Anne to catch up. She had to admit that she was proud of Victoria. Since the events of last September, when she'd seen her at her lowest, her daughter had bounced back.
Anne and Victoria pulled into the driveway. Amy was sitting on the front porch waiting for them. She smiled. Picking herself up, she walked to the car and got into the back seat. The quilt was still lying in a heap on the seat. Amy put it over her legs. The weight feeling warm and welcoming; a holdover from the earlier episode on the pier. Victoria turned and looked at her sister
"Amy, I've already called the Wonder Cats to come and help. We're going to help you; except that you're Cassie: Alison's best friend."
Amy remembered the episode from earlier; the titular Alison had gotten into a disagreement with Cassie, causing Cassie to temporarily align with the antagonist, Cleo. The episode ended on a cliffhanger; would Cassie permanently join Cleo?
"I won't let you stay with Cleo. Cleo will only hurt you." Victoria spoke up
"That's the secret; I'm pretending to like Cleo, so I can destroy her from inside." Amy replied.
"But what about Lefty coming to back you up?"
"Cleo will only make him mean, and you know Lefty isn't mean, ever.."
"Then we'll need Ellie. She's grumpy enough to take on Mistress Cleo."
"Agreed."
Anne turned her attention to the discussion unfolding next to her as they waited at a red light.
"Cleo sounds like a very unpleasant person." Anne chimed in.
"You have no idea, mom." Victoria began. Anne raised a brow. "What's weird is that Cleo is the school's headmistress by day. Nighttime is when she's most dangerous."
"So Cleo is really the principal of the school? What's her name during the day?"
"It's Miss Whitney, and she's very prim and proper. She expects Alison and her friends to 'be seen and not heard.'"
The light turned green. Passing over the New York State Thruway, they crossed into Nyack. The bright Saturday sunshine began to turn milky; high clouds forming a halo around the sun. Amy pointed to the scene unfolding in the sky.
"We're learning about haloes in Earth Science. Mr. Parks says that if you see a halo around the sun or the moon, it will rain or snow later." Amy beamed.
"You're right, Amy. I heard that it's supposed to rain, possibly mix with snow tonight. I just hope it holds off until early tomorrow morning." Anne replied.
"It's not going to rain on my birthday, I hope."
"No, it should be sunny when we go pick out the tree."
The diner lay ahead on the edge of Haverstraw.
The sky had grown progressively dimmer by the time the Country Squire rolled into Bowline Point Park. Parking the car within sight of High Tor Mountain, Anne barely had time to think before her two youngest children quickly opened the car doors and bolted. The wind had died down to something barely perceptible. She sat down and watched her children recreate their favorite TV show. Amy, ever the actress, managed to pull off what Anne assumed was the role of Cassie.
"Alison, you're a prig! You know that you must be seen and never be heard!"
"No, my friend Cassie would never call me a prig! Cleo is twisting your mind!"
"Mistress Cleo says that she will let me do whatever I want. I don't care what you, say!"
"Ellie, we need you! Save us, beat Cleo with your grumpy attitude!"
A few minutes passed; the park grew quiet. Suddenly, cheering was heard.
"We beat Cleo, Cassie! We're friends forever! With the power of the Wonder Cats, Alison and Cassie overcame Cleo and her wicked ways. What will our heroines encounter next on their adventures through school and friendship?"
Victoria found the swings by now and was swinging ever higher. The sun had turned into a small, fuzzy dot in the sky. The darkening clouds over High Tor signaled to Anne that it would soon be time to go home. Rain would hit within the hour.
"Victoria, Amy? It looks like it's going to rain. I think we should head home now."
The girls agreed. Besides, they had stayed up late last night; Victoria's yawn betrayed her. Both of them got into the back seat, sharing the quilt.
"I had fun, Victoria. I'm glad we could defeat Cleo. You're my best friend, Victoria. I don't care if you're my little sister."
Anne smiled as she drove on. Finally, there was peace in her valley. Twenty minutes later they pulled up to the house. Anne checked the mail; there were two letters inside; each addressed to Amy and Victoria. Anne smiled to herself. The school letters had arrived. On the way inside
Anne handed both of them the envelopes. Amy opened hers first. Her eyes grew large
"Dear Amy Vandeventer Morrow,
Congratulations! You've been accepted into Plymouth Rock Academy. Your school visit is scheduled for Monday, December 12th, 1983 at 10 AM. Be prepared to meet your potential new roommate as well as your new teachers. The duration of this school visit will be two hours. Please bring your parent or guardian. We cannot wait to have you as a new student at Plymouth Rock.
Ps. Your photographs are amazing; we'd love to show them on campus.
Sincerely,
Catherine St. Albans,
Dean of admissions."
Amy put the letter down. Was this really happening right here and now? Was relief from Courtney and her gang of bullies really in sight? What about watching Saturday Morning cartoons with Victoria? Anne helped Victoria open her letter. Victoria grabbed the piece of paper and read it.
"Dear Victoria Gustine Morrow,
Congratulations! You've been accepted into Briarwood Academy. Your school visit is scheduled for Monday, December 12th, 1983 at 2 PM. Be prepared to meet your new teachers as well as your new friends. We have heard a lot about you and would like to meet you, face to face. Please bring your parent or guardian.
Sincerely,
Patricia Baxter.
Dean of Admissions."
Victoria stood silent. Her smile faded and before anyone knew it, Victoria stalked up the stairs. The door slammed. Anne waited for the telltale signs of turbulence coming from Victoria's bedroom. When none came, Anne went upstairs.
Inside Victoria's room, Anne found the girl lying on her bed, face down; crying into her pillow.
"Now I feel like Cassie. Her parents sent her away because they hate her. You don't hate Amy and I, do you? Please tell me you don't." Anne blanched.
"Of course not, sweetheart. We love both of you, very much. Your father and I think that both of you need more friends and that you should experience the world. Who knows, maybe you'll find a friend that loves Wonder Cats as much as you do. You'll be happier."
Downstairs, Amy sat in the kitchen. She sighed as she suddenly thought that she'd have to start eighth grade all over again. Amy hoped to clear this anxiety up with her mother. Moments later, Anne arrived; Victoria in tow.
"Mom, will I have to start eighth grade all over again?"
"No, you're up to speed with Plymouth Rock, so that will save you some heartache." Anne replied. Amy breathed a sigh of relief. Outside, the sky grew dark. Raindrops began to streak down the windows. Anne looked at her daughters and began to speak.
"Girls, I'm going out tonight. I'm leaving money for pizza from down in the village. Amy, you're in charge tonight. Go easy on the Dr. Pepper and don't stay up too late, we have to go into Jersey tomorrow to get the tree." Anne uttered as she walked upstairs to get ready.
For the second night in a row, pizza was on the menu. Victoria may have her grilled cheese fixation, but the true master of melted cheese and carbs was Amy. If there was one food that Amy could eat for the rest of her life, it's the Pepperoni and Cheese Pizza from Village Pizza in Piermont. The way the pepperoni cupped, holding the grease in, like the way a dam holds back the mightiest of rivers. The doorbell rang and Amy answered. She returned within seconds, pizza box in hand. Victoria had brought the Dr. Pepper upstairs, placing it on the coffee table. Amy had brought a roll of Bounty
Whiz Kids was on tonight; the episode The Wrong Mr. Wright being shown. Whiz Kids was one of Amy's favorite shows, aside from Chad Owen. The way Amy sat close to the screen and intensely watched indicated how action packed the episode was. Victoria stared at Amy's hands; she watched her sister make light fists, rubbing her palms with her thumbs.
An action scene began and Amy had become immersed; everything else diminishing to mere light background noise.
Ten minutes later, the episode was over. Amy was happy that the main characters had "gotten their man." Jumping up and down slightly, she hurried back to the couch and grabbed another slice of pizza.
"You're really happy tonight, Amy." Victoria observed.
"That was an awesome episode!" Amy cried as she could barely contain her excitement. For a moment, Amy had that "free" feeling she'd experienced earlier on the pier. She jumped up onto the couch then plopped herself down; letting out a giggle as she did so.
"Hey, watch it!" Victoria shouted as Amy plopped down.
"Sorry, Victoria!" Amy cried. Just then, Amy remembered that she'd left Victoria an early birthday gift on the bottom shelf of the coffee table.
"Victoria, could you grab that piece of paper on the bottom shelf?" Amy asked.
Victoria complied, The paper felt thick in her hand.
"Unfold it."
Opening the folded piece of paper, Victoria's eyes grew huge. Unfolded before Victoria, was a portrait of the girl done in a distinctly early to middle Byzantine style; complete with golden, saintly halo and steely sword. Victoria smiled; she loved Amy's drawings as much as her photography. Amy's obsession with Byzantine and Medieval art hadn't waned in the last few months. She'd done a portrait of her parents her father, important and stately; like Emperor Justinian and her mother in the style of the equally stately Augusta Theodora. She was saving that one for Christmas.
"That's how I see you, Victoria whenever mom yells at you."
"You made this for me?" she inquired.
"I did. It's an early birthday gift. I drew it while you and mom were at the park earlier."
"Thanks, Amy."
The rain was pouring at its mightiest as Anne parked the Country Squire in front of her friend Stephanie Jamieson's place. Anne was in a rare mood tonight; happy that she had spent a good part of her day with her children. Despite all the happiness, her two youngest children have brought her, there were many things about them, she loved to pick to shreds. Anne had been in the mood for a martini since before she left the house. She loved the way Stephanie made them; heavy on the pour and a seemingly endless amount of olive juice.
Catching her breath before venturing out into the cold December rain, Anne put on her hat. Ringing the doorbell, Anne turned her attention to the echoing of boots coming from inside. The door opened; a middle-aged woman appeared.
"Anne, it's so good to see you!" She said, kissing Anne on the cheek.
"I hope I didn't miss any of the latest gossip?" Anne inquired.
"Nope, we're about to start. I invited Jane over this evening. I thought we should all catch up."
Looking into the front room, Anne saw Jane Treadle; Amy and Victoria's therapist. Jane looked bright on this rainy December evening.
"Good evening, Anne." Jane uttered, smiling.
Stephanie brought in the martinis.
Five minutes later, Anne began.
"What an awful week it was for Amy."
"Oh no, what happened?" Stephanie asked; Stephanie genuinely liked Anne's second-youngest child; finding them to be a bright spot in a dark world.
"Courtney Chase shoved her into the lockers again; for the third time this week. At first, I thought Amy was overreacting, much like she usually does. But today, she had an all out tantrum born out of frustration. This one was as bad as the one she had on her 14th birthday. I simply told her to lie down on the back seat to make her feel more comfortable, and she started kicking and screaming like she used to back in first grade. I decided to wrap her up in the quilt I keep on the back seat. She just kept crying."
"Did you remind her to act her age, that fourteen is too old to be acting like that?" Stephanie inquired. Anne shrugged her shoulders
"Something in me told me to let her ride it out; that if I interfered, I'd only make it worse."
"That was smart of you, Anne, When Victoria has had those types of events in my office, I let her ride it out." Jane replied. Anne shuddered. That appointment still lingered in her mind; that was when Victoria was eleven, and shortly before she was admitted to Broadacres Children's Psychiatric Hospital across the Hudson in Peekskill.
"The Mellon kid had an appointment the other day." Jane uttered. Anne raised an eyebrow.
Kristina Mellon is the daughter of Mirasol Tholozan Mellon; Tom's mistress. Anne was curious as to how Tom and Mirasol's love child was getting along in the world; surely her life would have to be hard.
"She's a real sweetheart, you know? Always thinking of other people. Her mother seems to know how to handle her." Jane muttered, sipping her martini.
"Yes, but does that contemptible little creature say anything about Victoria?" Anne inquired; she disliked Kristina and thought of her as an overgrown brat.
"No. She talks about her mom, a lot, however."
"I would think so, especially since she's sleeping with my husband." Anne said coolly; she could feel the anger rising in her cheeks.
Stephanie and Jane looked shocked.
"We had no idea Tom was carrying out an affair. Oh, Anne, that's awful."
"He's not out and loud about it. He keeps it on the down low. That's one thing I will give him credit for." Anne replied. The sting of the affair had dulled over the nearly thirteen years Kristina had been alive.
"He loves that child, however. I cannot be angry with him too much; aside from the usual hurt infidelity causes."
That last point seemed odd to Stephanie; if it'd had been her, she would've killed Tom and his mistress. She let it slide.
"Victoria has been doing relatively well. She hasn't killed any of us yet." Anne quipped.
"Are you expecting her to kill you at night in your sleep, Anne?" Jane queried.
"Heavens, no; She's out of her mind on Haldol during the overnight hours."
"Best to keep the little monster in bed." Stephanie added insultingly. Anne let it slide.
"If Stephanie is already this drunk, I will not stay too much longer." Anne thought.
"The one thing I don't understand about my thirteen-year-old is her love for that damned Wonder Cats cartoon. She's already asking for several stuffed characters for Christmas. Just today I watched her and Amy stage an episode up in Haverstraw. It's good to see them use their imaginations."
"Of course it is, Anne. I encourage it in our appointments. The stories she comes up with for each of the toys. She seems to focus on the Alison character in that show."
"So I've noticed. Apparently Alison is the main character and she's at some boarding school. The show is set during World War One. The principal of the school seems to be prim and proper."
"I know one of the showrunners. He describes the show as an 'odd-ball hit that has become more popular than it was supposed to.' Not bad for a show written for 8-11 year olds." Stephanie added, placing emphasis on the target demographic. Stephanie didn't like Victoria much, if at all. She found her behavior rather upsetting. Anne, sensing that this was only going to get more barbed as the night wore on felt guilty about bringing up Wonder Cats in a disparaging manner.
"I just realized that I have to get up very early tomorrow; it's Victoria's birthday and I promised to wake her up and make her breakfast."
"Oh Anne, that's very sweet of you." Jane added.
"It's one of the little things I don't mind doing for her. Besides, I feel absolutely guilty for not spending more time with her, she probably hates me in her own way." Anne uttered as she walked toward the door. The atmosphere in the house had become stifling, making Anne feel itchy and restless. Walking back out into the rain, Anne finally felt alone. Getting into the car and pulling away, Anne felt awful.
"God, please don't punish me for talking about Victoria." She muttered under her breath as she lit a cigarette. Heading home, something began to stir in Anne and whatever it was, was making her uneasy. Stopping at a liquor store, she picked up a small bottle of wine and finally turned for Blauvelt.
