went out to the kitchen and began to prepare
breakfast. Mama was up before Brenda and Celia and
was surprised at how I had set the table, made the
coffee, squeezed fresh orange juice and grapefruit
juice, and gotten the eggs ready to cook.
"Isn't this nicer she said. "Thank you, dear." I told her to go relax in the dining room and let
me do it all. She put up some resistance until Celia
and Brenda appeared, and then she agreed. The three
of them sat chatting and laughing while I worked up
the eggs, made the toast, and brought in the juice and
coffee.
I tried to avoid looking at Celia, because every
time I did. I thought I saw her smug, la-low-it-all
smile. Everything she had predicted about me came
true in her eyes. Brenda was obviously watching
every move I made to be sure I treated Celia like some
sort of royalty out of appreciation. Everyone
complimented me on the eggs. and I finally sat and
had one egg with a glass of juice and some black
coffee. I ate sparingly just to please Brenda. Mama
kept urging me to have something more. I told her I
had nibbled on a bagel in the kitchen. I hadn't. but I
could see Brenda believed I had.
Afterward. Mama surprised me by agreeing to
go for a walk with Brenda and Celia. The rain had
stopped, and now it was a crisp, sunny, late-fall day,
the kind of day Brenda loved to greet with a five-mile
run. I remained behind to clean up. I was supposed to
join them, but by the time I had everything done. I
heard them coming back, Apparently. Mama had