03-01-2022, 10:39 AM
Anita lost her one-sided wrestling match with the arm of the pew and fell back instead. The world spun. It was queasy. She’d never felt so good.
And then Claude spoke again. She wanted to pay attention. She did! He’d always been so much better at it, though. But she tried, for him. Puzzled out that labyrinth of words, prickling away the pleasantness of oblivion, and frowned again.
“Don’t worry. Father’s out, and I’d never call you ‘miss’, Claude,” she said.
She looked hurt, though it could have just as easily been the state she was in.
“Not even in your aunt’s nice dresses. You know I never would, don’t you?”
Oh, God. Maybe he didn’t.
And then Claude spoke again. She wanted to pay attention. She did! He’d always been so much better at it, though. But she tried, for him. Puzzled out that labyrinth of words, prickling away the pleasantness of oblivion, and frowned again.
“Don’t worry. Father’s out, and I’d never call you ‘miss’, Claude,” she said.
She looked hurt, though it could have just as easily been the state she was in.
“Not even in your aunt’s nice dresses. You know I never would, don’t you?”
Oh, God. Maybe he didn’t.
