She said all that in her usual sharp tone, so I quickly changed the subject and talked about the new book she had bought me two days ago. Since we hadn’t replaced Mrs. Underwood yet, she was still in charge of my reading and designed what she said was the proper foundation to prepare me for my formal schooling when that started again.
“Don’t I have to have a certified tutor?”
“Stop worrying about it. You’ll be fine. Believe me, you’ll do well now with your entrance exams and be better prepared than most of the rich kids who attend whatever school we choose.”
“So, when are we going to visit the private schools, Cassie?”
“Soon,” she said. “There’s no rush. They’re not going anywhere.”
Neither was I, I thought, but I swallowed it back. Little did I know then, but there was a big reason I need not rush developing inside me.
Expecting
THREE DAYS LATER, I woke in the morning with a terrible wave of nausea and had to run to the bathroom to throw up. Cassie heard me and came quickly to see what was wrong.
“I think I have food poisoning,” I said, and moaned, holding my stomach.
“I heard there is a stomach virus going around. Make sure you drink a lot of liquids.”
“Should I go see Dr. Moffet?”
“Just because you threw up once? It’s probably one of those twenty-four-hour things. Take it easy today.” She put her hand on my forehead. “You have no fever. It looks like the stomach flu. Are you tired, too?”
“Yes.”
“And a little achy?”
“Yes. Especially my lower back,” I said, pressing my hand to it and bending over like an old lady.
“Go back to bed. I’ll bring up some tea and toast for you.”
“You will?”
I could never in a million years even imagine Cassie serving me in my room. She had used to make fun of Mother for doing it when I was sick, and when she was sick, she had never let Mother bring her food or even give her the medicine. Whether she had fever or not, she would get up and go downstairs.
“Of course, I will. Go on. Back to bed.”
I did, and she brought up the tea and toast. My stomach calmed down, and I soon felt better enough to get up and dress. To my surprise, my appetite quickly returned, and I ate a big lunch with Cassie out on the patio facing our pool. Spring was, as Daddy might say, cut off at the knees this year, with summer galloping on its heels. The weathermen were talking about record-breaking summer temperatures coming and the possibility of a drought. Our skies were almost all blue every day, with lazy clouds drifting so slowly they looked more like patches pasted over holes in the heavens.
Mother had always had our pool heated by now, and Daddy, even though he hardly used it, had continued that practice. It did look inviting. It was a large oval-shaped pebble-tech pool with an overhang on the deep end that provided shade in the afternoon. Mother had always avoided the sun. She had said she did that to protect her complexion, but Daddy had always teased her and said it was evidence of snobbery. Rich people, Cassie had explained to me afterward, avoided tans in the old days because day laborers always had tans. Of course, Mother had insisted that wasn’t her reason.
Cassie had never been fond of swimming or doing much of anything outdoors. She said she got enough exercise taking care of our big house. She was always moving about, doing something, and did continue to enjoy a nearly perfect figure. In fact, looking at her and then at myself now got me a little depressed. Neither Daddy nor Mother was overweight, but I could see that my face was bloated. My little forays into the food pantry to nibble on crackers and cookies were showing results. I made a New Year’s–like resolution to stop.
“I’d like to go swimming today,” I told Cassie.
“So, go. You look like you’re over what hit you this morning.”
“I tried on some bathing suits yesterday.”
“And?”
“They all looked too small or felt too tight.”
“So, we’ll get you some new ones.”
“I think I should go on a diet, Cassie.”
“Oh, please. Don’t become like those anorexic, narcissistic bubble-heads and end up being a mannequin. That’s all Daddy needs now, something else to worry about. Just eat normally.”