“Eavesdropper! Go away, Cathy, and stop being so nosy!”
“I’m not an eavesdropper, Susan! I was just walking down the hall. Besides, you’re not my boss!”
“Don’t make me come up there, girls! What’s going on?” shouted Cathy and Susan’s mother Evelyn.
The girls stomped down the stairs, both yelling at the same time.
“QUIET!” They took one look at their mother’s face and immediately stopped talking. “That’s better! Now, one at a time tell me what happened. Cathy, you first.”
“Why does she get to go first?” whined Susan.
“Because I said so” sneered Evelyn. “I’m tired of you girls arguing all the time. Start talking Cathy.”
“I was on the phone talking to Marcy about Rabelais and I saw Susan listening at my door .. as usual.”
“About him .. your French boyfriend” teased Susan, making goo-goo eyes and kissing noises.
“Excuse me?” Evelyn asked sarcastically. “What’s all this about a French boyfriend?”
“It’s true”, replied Susan. “I heard her talking about him .. how he’s smart and funny, he’s a writer and a doctor. He must be ancient .. like 30 or something!”
“Nice trap you set for yourself, Susan”, commented Evelyn. “For someone who claims she’s not an eavesdropper, you seem to know an awful lot about your sister’s private conversations.”
Susan’s face turned bright red in embarrassment and anger and tears welled in her eyes.
“But, mom…..” Susan stammered.
“But nothing, Susan. Be quiet! Cathy, you start explaining just what’s going on and it better be good!” Evelyn demanded.
“Mom, there’s no boyfriend. And Susan, you’re such a dummy!” snapped Cathy. “Rabelais lived during the French Renaissance! Do you even know how long ago that was? Marcy and I were discussing our book reports about him. Mom, she’s just jealous because you gave me a Princess Phone for Christmas and not her. I am 15, after all.”
“It’s not fair!” cried Susan. “I’m 14 and all I got was a stupid record player!”
“The very same record player you use every day listening to your beloved Beatles?” interjected their dad peeking over his newspaper. “And if I’m not mistaken, the famous foursome are appearing on the Ed Sullivan Show tonight. Now .. if you think there’s even the slightest chance you’re going to watch that show then you better stop arguing, apologize and help your mother set the table for dinner.”
“We’re sorry!” the girls sang in unison and ran happily together into the dining room.
“How did you manage that minor miracle?” Evelyn asked her husband.
“Elementary, my dear. It’s called communicating.”
“Is that so? Sounds more like ‘bribery’ to me!”
NAR © 2018
The Elephant's Trunk 