Total pages in book: 171
Estimated words: 164459 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 822(@200wpm)___ 658(@250wpm)___ 548(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 164459 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 822(@200wpm)___ 658(@250wpm)___ 548(@300wpm)
On the very. First. Day.
But best of all, Kylie had great parents that understood her. When I showed up at her house, they warmed me up with hugs, freshly baked cookies, and chocolate milk.
They joked around with her and each other. Her dad spanked her mom on the ass right in front of us without a care in the world, and her mom even talked boys with us.
They were everything my parents weren’t and, woefully, would never be.
I can still remember the day my parents were debating about me going back to public school.
I had my backpack on the floor beside my chair at the dinner table. Mom and Dad sat in their usual spots across from each other, leaving me at the end, right in the middle where they could see me at all angles.
I drummed my fingers on top of the hard oak as they argued in heated whispers with one another about possibly sending me to a “less Christian” private school.
Yeah, like that was gong to solve the problem. All of the private schools were the same.
I needed to settle this for them.
“Listen, Mom. Dad.” They stopped discussing the nonissue immediately, gazes directed to me. “I want to go to Lake Lane High. Lake Christian isn’t for me and it never has been. Have you noticed that I have never brought any friends home from that school? Everyone there is so…fake. Blech!” I pretended to gag and Mom’s eyes expanded.
“Jennifer Roscoe!” Mom gasped, dropping her hands on top of the table. I crossed my arms, rolling my eyes. “It is not that bad there. I went there myself!”
And look how well she turned out.
Wearing expensive pearl and diamond earrings with every designer outfit, no hair astray on her bed of silky brown hair. She looked perfect, but she wasn’t.
She could play the part, but that’s all she was. An actress in a shitty film.
Dad straightened his tie. Realizing she was being a bit dramatic, he told her to calm down and then cleared his throat, shaking his head.
“Jenny… is this really what you want to do?” he asked. “You will get so much more out of life if you stay at Lake Christian—so many more opportunities, especially with that voice of yours.” He pointed my way as if my voice was sitting right beside me. “The choir director loves you. He wants you to lead for the rest of the school year.”
I straightened my back, focusing on the crinkles that formed around his eyes. For Dad, I always felt some sort of sympathy. Not that he was any better than Mom in his expensive suit and tie, leather shoes and perfect, wavy hair. He never missed a haircut… or a meeting for his job as CEO of Roscoe Waffles.
Roscoe Waffles originated in Fox River, where my great-great-grandfather got the big idea to sell his amazing, homemade waffles that were made with a secret recipe no one could figure out.
Business was great for the family. Everyone wanted Roscoe Waffles.
I guess it was the whole daddy-daughter bond thing that made me feel the sympathy. Dad was more lenient than Mom when it came to certain things, mainly because he always wanted to please me and make his only little girl happy.
“Dad, I really want to do this,” I said, boosting my words with a whine. Mom rolled her eyes. She knew I’d win him over with the baby voice and puppy dog eyes. “Yes, I realize I’ll be losing some opportunities away, but they have a choir program at Lake Lane, too! I can join, maybe even get leading roles for their concerts as well.”
Mom shook her head. “That voice is a gift and you’re just going to throw it away.” She snapped her fingers. “Just like that. Right into thin air.”
“I’m not throwing anything away,” I said evenly. “I have plenty of time to make something of myself. It’s only high school. I still have college to work things out.” Shaking my head, I pushed from the table, picking up my backpack. “I’m sure you guys need to discuss this further, so can I just go to my room?”
“Sure. Go ahead,” Dad sighed.
“No,” Mom snapped at the same time he spoke. Dad whipped his head to look at her, bewilderment in his eyes, just as my gaze pinned on her too.
Mom stood from her chair and then walked around the dining table made for ten.
When she met up to me, she quietly said, “I hope you realize what you are doing, Jennifer. You are way too smart to be at some—some public school! You’re going to make us all look like fools!” She waved a hand in the air, as if the mere thought of her offspring at a public school gave her hives.
“Mom, you’re overreacting. I’m pretty sure I will be okay.”