"I hope so. At least you know the other girls and boys there come from good families."
"Why, because they're rich?"
"Yes," she said without hesitation. that and the fact that they have important names and reputations to protect. When you don't care about your family name you don't care what you do and who knows it."
I shook my head. "Who is telling you these things?"
No one has to tell me." she said, pulling herself up sharply. "It's obvious to anyone who looks and listens."
I clamped my lips together and stopped arguing. It was far easier to nod and retreat. Soon she didn't notice that. either. It upset me, but at least we weren't arguing.
Two days before school began Winston came to my room and knocked softly on the door. I was finishing up The Scarlet Letter, one of the required books for my American literature class.
"Hi." he said. "I need your help with something if you have a minute."
"What?" I sat up, surprised that he would need me for anything.
"We've had a delivery, and it makes no sense to me. Maybe if you look it over von can figure it out."
"A delivery of what?"
"You'll see." he said cryptically. "Can you come?" he asked when I didn't move.
"Sure," I said, and slipped on my sandals. I followed him down the corridor and the stairs, "Where is this mysterious thing?"
"It's just outside." he said.
We headed for the front door. I caught sight of one of the maids watching us with a silly smile on her face. It piqued my curiosity. Winston opened the front door and stepped aside. I went out and looked down at a red BMW convertible. There was nothing else out there.
"What?" I asked him.
"That car," he said. "It was brought here and left here." "Don't you know whose it is?"
"It makes no sense to me." he said. "This envelope came with it."
He handed me a small manilla envelope. My name was on the front. I took it slowly and looked at him.
"What is this?"
"I didn't open it." he said. "It's addressed to you. so I thought I'd get you and you could tell me."
I pulled back with a grin of confusion and opened the envelope. Two sets of keys were in it and a copy of a car's registration. I looked at the document. My name was listed as the owner.
I looked at the car and then at Winston. I suppose I had the funniest expression of shock on my face. He finally smiled, and then, coming out from where she was hiding below behind a bush. Mommy cried. "Surprise!"
"This car is mine?"
"You've got to get back and forth to school. and I thought it was too expensive to hire another limousine and chauffeur. And now you have your driver's license anyway," Winston said. laughing.
'This is less expensive?"
"Absolutely. Why don't you try it out?" he said. "I'll came along and help you learn all about the car."
I was speechless for a moment. Mommy stood smiling up at me.
"Enjoy it. Grace." Winston said softly.
I couldn't help it. Even though I had a vague fear of being bribed into this new life, my own car, a beautiful red convertible, was too overpowering. I threw my arms around him.