Cat (Wildflowers 4)

celebrated or mourned the day's results in the market. "'We don't say grace before we eat every night,'

my mother began, 'but we should. It's your father's

fault, not mine. Anyway, don't look stupid about it

and don't let them know we don't. It's no one's

business. Bow your head and make sure you

pronounce your amen loud and clear, understand?' she

asked me.

"'Yes, Mother,' I said eying the door and trying

not to look guilty of anything.

"'Don't stare at her mother in the wheelchair.' "'I

wouldn't do that, Mother.'

"'We don't adhere to proper dinner etiquette

either, not that I permit you to be sloppy or impolite at

the table. It's just that your father never cared for

formal dining. I have everything set up in the dining

room,' she told me. 'Now get up and follow me.' "I did and I was surprised at the lengths she had

gone to in order to give me instructions. She had a

book of dining etiquette out and open. She had taken

out every piece of silverware we owned, and our

finest china with her nicest linen dinner napkins "'Sit,' she ordered, pointing at my place. Then

she picked up the book and held it like a Bible in her

open palms She even sounded like some kind of

Sunday school teacher.

"'You should know that the silverware is placed

in the order of its use, with the implements to be used

first farthest from the plate. The salad fork is placed

next to the left of the plate, then the meat fork, which

they might not have out, being this is Friday night,

and then the fish fork which will be used first. Just to

the right of the plate is the salad knife, next is the