Hidden Empire (Empire 2)

"I'm right," said Mark.

"So why are you angry with me?"

"Because you think we weren't paying attention."

"I don't think that, I think you were too young to learn the things you need to know now."

"Well, you're wrong. I was too young to understand what it all meant, but it was like holography, Mom. Every day with Dad taught us everything about what a man's supposed to be, and all we have to do is remember and think and it's all clear. He taught us how to learn to be men. And what a man's supposed to learn to be."

"So what does that mean? That you're going to be a soldier?" Because she feared that more than anything, and yet knew she should expect it, too.

"I'm going to do my duty, whatever that turns out to be," said Mark.

"Just your duty? You have no more ambition than that?"

"See?" said Mark. "That's what I'm talking about. One of the things we learned from Dad. I don't care if I'm ever important or famous or even in charge. I'm just going to do what is necessary and right. That's a man's ambition."

"Yes," said Cecily, realizing he was right. That he had truly understood at least that aspect of his father.

"I don't want to be your boss," Mark added.

"I don't want you to be," said Cecily. "And the President isn't my boss. It's not like I go in to the office every day."

"Right, you're an independent contractor, but you only have one client, and you jump whenever he calls."

"Not whenever," she said.

"Right," said Mark. "Sometimes you make him wait until the cookies are out of the oven."

"Speaking of which, the snickerdoodle dough is cold enough now, so get it out of the fridge and help me ball it and roll it in the cinnamon sugar."

"I have to wash my hands."

"I have to finish washing up the cooking dishes, so let's both get back to work."

At that moment Lettie spoke up from the dining room doorway. "How come Mark gets to mow the lawn and roll the snickerdoodles?"

"Because I don't snitch half the batter," said Mark on his way out of the room.

"Well, I don't eat any grass clippings, but that doesn't mean I get to mow the lawn!" Lettie called after him.

"You're ten, Lettie."

"You let Mark mow the lawn when he was ten."

"I did not."

"I'll find the old calendar and show you."

"Maybe I did, but because he's doing it I don't need you to do it, I need you to do other things."

"You just think it's boys' work and all you want me to do is girls' work."

"Whatever work you do becomes girls' work while you're doing it," said Cecily. "I consult with the President and I bake cookies. Both women's work, when I'm doing them."

"You know what I mean."

"And you know what I mean. Full communication has happened. We are both so amazingly smart."