A NaNo Taste

Just thought I'd give you a taste of why this poor blog has been ignored this week: From my NaNo WIP:

This is a YA story in which Penny's cousin Olivia has come to live with them on their farm after her parents are killed in an accident. Olivia is from New York. At this point, Olivia has been with Penny's family for just three days, this being the fourth and the first day of school for her. This segment is almost 5,000 words.

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When I woke up Monday morning it took me awhile to realize in the pitch black that Olivia wasn't even in the room. I really should have picked up a night light at Wal-Mart yesterday. I used to be able to turn on the light the instant I woke up. Now I worried about blinding Olivia. I even worried about my alarm clock waking her before she wanted to be awake, so I slept with it under my pillow. I'm beginning to think I worry too much.

Of course I didn't realize she was gone until after I fumbled through my bureau in the dark to find my clothes and started to headed for the bathroom. There were no lumps in her bed or Honey's. The quilt was pulled taut. I wondered if she was in the bathroom, but made my way down the hall anyway. It was there that I smelled breakfast and I knew where my cousin was. I was impressed. She wasn't going to take this breakfast thing lightly. That should gain her a point in Mom's book.

The bathroom too perfect--no sign it had even been used. Not even a toothbrush. It was like Olivia was still a visitor. I didn't bother with the timer. The weatherman had been right; today was sharply colder with the wind rattling the windows in their casings. My mother would hold out on turning on the heat until people were turning blue. Then just a little bit felt like such a treat we were happy with it and the utility bill would be lower. As a result the bathroom, on the northern wall of the house, was bitter cold and not a comfortable place to linger. I trudged back to my room and made my bed with the luxury of a light, gathered my school things and headed downstairs.

Mom had pancakes, sausage and fruit on the menu for today. I expected flour dust and measuring things scattered all over. Mom, of course, doesn't believe in Bisquick or anything that makes life easy. But once again,
Olivia was in firm control.

She was at the sink which was brimming with sudsy water. Her utensils were washed and stacked neatly in the drainer. The kitchen smelled like sausage, but I was missing the pancake smell. The room was blessedly warm.

"Good morning, Penny."

"Morning. You're up early. How long have you been down here?"

"About forty-five minutes. Breakfast is ready. I remembered Aunt Faye saying we would be up at 5:30, but I couldn't remember if breakfast was supposed to be before or after that. I probably should have waited, but I think I can keep everything warm until everyone is here to eat."

"Up at 5:30 gives everyone a few minutes to dress and everything. We usually feed at 6:00, eat at 6:30. Now. When we're feeding hay that will all change. That takes a bit longer."

"Did you make pancakes?"

"Yes. Well. Sort of. I made crepes."

"Crepes?"

"Yes, those thin pancakes. Then I rolled them around the fruit and fried them. Blintzes. They were my parents' favorite thing for breakfast. I was so thrilled to see that pancakes and fruit was the first thing for me to make. They are pancakes, just served a little different. Look." She opened the oven. Then I smelled the pancakes. And they looked so good.

"You serve them with some powdered sugar, with or without cinnamon mixed in, or sour cream. My dad especially liked sweetened ricotta cheese on them."
I honestly had no idea what ricotta cheese was. It must have showed.

"You know, the cheese they use in lasagna."

Right. No wonder. I've never made lasagna. "Okay," I said, as though I was remembering. I'd rather crawl in the oven with your blintzes rather than go feed those animals, but I guess I'll go get that done. You can expect Mom and Dad in a few minutes. In fact, I'm surprised Mom isn't down here already. It really looks yummy Olivia. I can't wait to try them."

"I'm going to finish up dishes so we won't have much to do after breakfast."

"That's great. See you in a few mintues." I trudged out to the mudroom and pulled on my wool lined denim coat and stocking cap that hung on it's usual peg. It had been a long time since I'd gone out to feed and looked forward to coming in for breakfast like I was today.

"But where did you get the blueberries? I don't recall that we had any on hand. I set out the peaches last night for you to use." Mom picked up the quart jar of peaches and held it out to Olivia as though she couldn't see it on the counter. This was the conversation I came back in on, stomping my feet, blowing on my frozen fingers, and very eager to eat.

"I bought them yesterday at Wal-Mart. It is so amazing how everything is right there under one roof. I put them in my new lunch bag to keep them safe on the ride home."

"Your lunch bag?"

"Yes, this," she said, lifting one of those nylon insulated lunch keepers out of the drainer. "I thought we probably packed lunches rather than buying them."

"Well that you did get right. I didn't include that in yesterday's list of after-breakfast chores, but packing your own lunch is one of them."

"Well this came with a thermos and everything."

"Fine. Penny makes do with a brown paper bag, but if you have money to throw away, I guess it's not a problem. One day that money will be gone, you know, if you throw it around like it's water. Okay then, I guess we'll eat. I thought I'd take a cup of coffee up to your Uncle Arthur, but I guess I'll have to tell him breakfast is ready instead."

I was beginning to think my mother just didn't know how to not criticize my cousin.

"I'm sorry," she sighed. To me, I guess.

"It's okay really. It'll just take a while for things to settle into a routine. Don’t worry about it."

She turned a genuine smile on me then. "Thanks, Penny. You look like you're freezing."

"That wind cuts through like a knife. The thermometer may say 50 degrees, but that wind drops it by about 20, I'd say. It is downright nasty out there."

"That explains why Honey didn't stay out long."

"Where is she anyway?"

"I don't think she's an early bird. I took her back up to the room and put her in her bed and she seemed happy to be there."

I wondered when she did all this and how we missed bumping in to each other, but in the end it didn't really matter.

"Do you have something really warm to wear?" I asked her. "You're going to need it."

"Everyone up there kept telling me I was moving south and wouldn't need anything heavy, that your weather was mild."

"Well, relatively speaking the temperature may be mild but the wind never is. I've got my dress coat up in my closet. It might look a bit odd with school clothes, but it would be better than nothing. You're welcome to use it."

"I'm sure it will work beautifully. Thanks."

Mom and Dad came in then.

"Good morning, girls," Dad said, before hugging us both. "It smells absolutely delightful in here. Mom tells me we've had a change in menu."

"Sort of," Olivia replied. "I just made the pancakes thin and wrapped up the fruit with them. Only I used blueberries instead of the peaches I was supposed to serve."Just like that, she acknowledged my mother, took responsibilty for what she did, and at the same time issued a challenge that I wasn't quite sure I understood.

"Well, if the smell is any indication, it will be lovely. You already fed, Penny? Or do we need to wait for you?"

"No, feeding's done."

"Well then, let's dig in!"

I have to say, without a doubt, that it was the best breakfast I've had in ages. No joke. Everything was perfect, even for having waited in the oven awhile before we ate. Dad couldn't stop talking about it, and Mom stayed quiet.

Thanks to Olivia's thinking ahead, our dish duty took very little time.

"Let's go up and get your coat," I suggested when the last dish was put away.

"Yes, I need to change anyway."

She was in jeans and a long-sleeved knit polo shirt. She looked perfectly ready for school to me, but I didn't say anything.

"Okay. Do you need the bedroom to yourself, then?"

"No, that's okay. Come on up with me. I'll change in the bathroom. Oh, and where did your Dad go?"

"I'm not sure."

"I need to talk to him about what to do with Honey today."

Yes, she definitely needed to do that.

"You go on up. I'll hunt for him and let him know you want to talk to him."

"Thanks."


I went to the living room where the TV was switched on, and soon heard voices from Mom's office.

"You can't encourage her like you do, Arthur."

"Seems to me that someone in her shoes would need some encouragement. Just think about what she's been through, Faye."

"She needs stability. Routine. She can't be showing off like this and expect a reward for it. It's not right. None of us shine any brighter than the other. We all work together as a team."

"Why do you insist she was showing off? I think she was just making breakfast like she knew how to make breakfast. You told her fruit and pancakes, she gave us fruit and pancakes. And they were absolutely delicious. I wasn't just blowing smoke. It was an outstanding meal. I think the real problem here is that she surprised you with what she can do."

"Why on earth would you say something like that? I'm grateful that she's learned something, but I wouldn't be surprised if that was all she can do. I bet this is beginners luck."

"Then let it be lucky for her, Faye. Show her a little kindness. It won't spoil her and it won't kill you. She's working hard to please you."

"To please me? Or to turn attention to herself? She sure got plenty of that, let me tell you. Thanks to you."

"Why must you always assume her motives are bad? Or mine, for that matter."

"I never said your motives were bad."

"You're implying that I simply flatter her. I don't. She deserved the praise."

"Your own daughter got up before you, went out in the frigid cold before dawn, and fed every animal in that barn. Where was her praise?"

"Woman, you make me tired. Penny knows that she doesn't even have to do that. It's you that assigned that chore to her years ago. I wouldn't mind doing it myself and I wouldn't mind helping her, but you're the one who has said she should carry that by herself so she learns to be responsible and hard working. Tomorrow morning I will be sure to thank her publicly and profusely. Will that make you happy?"

"Look, I can't stand here and argue anymore. I forgot to tell them that I have to take them to school today to get Olivia enrolled. I need to find the guardianship papers yet."

"Faye, Honey. I love you. I really do. Don't be mad at me. Just let me be me. Okay? And I'll let you be you. You can make the routine, I can provide the emotional support, and together I'll think we'll be good for her."

"We'll see."

I started to make my way to the office door then as though I had just come into the living room.

"Hey, Pumpkin," Dad boomed, no doubt to let Mom know I was there.

"Pen," Mom said from in the office. She didn't even come to the door. I could tell she was rooting through files at the same time she was talking. "I'm taking you girls to school today, and we probably should leave a little early to get your cousin enrolled. Be ready in ten, okay?"

"Sure, Mom," I yelled back. Then I linked my arm through Dad's and started walking back out of the living room.

"Olivia needs to know what to do with Honey," I said in an undertone as we walked.

"Right. I forgot. Where has Honey been this morning?"

"She was out for as long as she had to be and then went back to her bed to get warm, I imagine. She and Olivia are both up in my room. Our room."

I searched through my closet for my winter dress coat while they discussed what to do with the terrier. Dad was afraid of taking her out and having her catch cold. In the end, he decided to work around the house for today, especially on making the yard ready for Honey. They finally agreed that he'd keep her in his shop--which was heated and just off the mudroom--while he was outside, and then if he went anywhere he'd take her along in Old Red. Olivia pointed out that she probably could spend some time alone in the bedroom if he needed to be rid of her. In about five minutes everything was settled and we met Mom downstairs ahead of schedule.
Oh, and my wool-lined denim jacket would have been a joke on Olivia. My dress coat was perfect.
* * * * * * * * * * *
"Penny, perhaps you should stay with us. I may need your help." Mom said as we entered the school building.
I had no earthly idea what I could possibly do to help Olivia enroll in school, but I nodded and followed them both in to see the superintendent. We were early, earlier than the secretary even, so we were greeted by Dr. Herbert himself.

"Good morning, Mrs. Lassiter. Faye," he said.

"Good morning, Mr. Herbert. Tim," she replied.

"It's been a while. You're looking good. How's the family?"

"Just fine. Yours?"

"Could be better. Long story. Anyway. I hear we have a new student to enroll. As if you didn't already have enough kids, eh?"

"Yes, and I believe all the paperwork you need is here." She was clipped with him. I know she didn't care for the personal remarks. She was here on business. Even if he did graduate from this same high school a year or so behind my mother. Regardless, she sat where he motioned her too, she placed a neatly labeled file on his desk.

"Great, we'll give it a look. Feel free to pull up a chair girls." He pointed over against the wall of his office where there was a row of five chairs--those familiar pumpkin orange molded plastic things that were like sitting on cement. I took one but didn't move it. Olivia did the same. I thought she should be up there with the other two since it involved her, but I wasn't about to start issuing orders. Or suggestions. Or anything else. I didn't even need to be here.

"You've taken care of things in your usual fashion Faye. We only have one problem."

"That being…"

"That being that Olivia was born on November 15th. According to our statutes, she's not old enough to be a sophomore. She'd have to have been 15 by September 1st."

"So what do we do? Put her in the freshman class?"

"I don't think so. What I do need to do is have her tested, and then those scores would allow us to place her in the sophomore class on an unrestricted basis, regardless of her age."

"What do I need to do to have the testing done?"

"Nothing. We'll take care of that here. I'll schedule it and get the information to her before the day is out."

"And in the meantime?"

"In the meantime, I'll see if I can approximate the classes in which she was already enrolled in New York. You were carrying an impressive schedule, Miss Vioget. You were attending a large school I take it."

"Yes."

"And private as well."

"Yes."

"My condolences on your loss, by the way. Both you Olivia and you Faye. It's hard to believe that Tessa is gone. She was quite the shining star, and so energetic about living. I was shocked to hear it."

"Well, these things happen. Will you be needing me any longer? Can you take care of the class scheduling with Olivia? I have a few errands I should run and then get home to make some phone calls," Mom replied. She was clearly uneasy.

"No. That should do it. Thanks for making it easy. If we need anything more I'll give you a call. If you'll ask Sharon make a few copies of some of these papers for our files and then you can be on your way. I've flagged them with notes."

"Thank you, Mr. Herbert."

"My pleasure, Mrs. Lassiter."

No one seemed to remember I was around, nor did I have the gumption to ask, "Will you be needing me any longer?" as though he'd better not because I had better things to do. Which I did. But I sat there while they chewed over her class schedule.

"I'm afraid we don’t teach French here. Only Spanish. And that would be difficult to fold into this late in the semester. I'd encourage you to continue your foreign language studies on your own. There are so many good self-teaching programs out there. I hate that you have to give that up. And your state history course will have to change as well. That's a single semester course though, so we can start you fresh at mid-year. As for the geometry, we can duplicate that. Of course English. Web design is not offered; but we could get you in the fine arts program. They do a segment on graphic design. Or photography."

It went on and on and on. But I stalled out on fine arts and photography. Mom would have a fit. I never was allowed to enroll in anything creative that wouldn't carry into a career or career training. I can't tell you how many times I've drooled over the photography exhibits. If I could catch my clouds on film I'd be in heaven. Anyway, maybe Mom should have stuck around after all. She'd make her undo any of those choices, no doubt about it.

"English is first and you two are together, so maybe Penny can show you around a little before class starts. Any questions?" Mr. Herbert concluded.

"None, Sir."

"Fine then. Go meet some of your new classmates, and I'll have your testing information to you by the end of the day."
* * * * * * * *
Now the part I had been dreading. The part I'd hoped to escape by being off on my day while they sorted out Olivia's. I know it was a selfish plan. But it was a comfortable one. And Olivia seemed to handle situations like this much better than I did. There was nothing to do now but wade in and get the new over with.

"What's your locker number?"

"204-B"

"They still had some sophomore lockers left, what do you know. You're on the bottom. I'll show you."

We headed upstairs, and as I walked I noticed things about the school that I never had before. Like how little tread was left on the dark track up the center of the stairs and the way the wooden banister was chipped to pieces and adorned with multiple carvings of hearts and names and arrows and angry Xs. The walls to the right were washed as high as anyone could reach them and then they turned from brown to gray. I'm sure Olivia was seeing it all, too. I wondered what her old school was like. How many friends did she leave behind? What did they do together during lunch and after school? How badly would she miss them all? How quickly would be become "normal" in her life?

"Hey, Pen! Olivia!" It was Trish. I breathed a sigh of relief. There wasn't a shy bone in Trish's body. This introduction thing was no longer a ball in my court.

"Good to see you both. Are you all set, Olivia?"

"I believe so. For the time being anyway."

"Great, let's see your schedule."

"Come with us to find her locker first Trish."

We did that with a problem and she handed Trish her schedule while she put her things in the locker except for a notebook and pen.

"We're all in English together. Then it looks like you and I are in the photography class and Chemistry I together. Pen will be with you for Geometry. All of us for She flashed through Chem last year and is on to 2. Gosh, Pen, she's in Public Speaking and Debate. Mrs. Childs will flip, won't she? You couldn't get me in front of a crowd for less than a million, and it would take even more for Penny, wouldn't it? There weren't very many around here keen to take that one. It may be cut next year."

I nodded.

"Oh, and vocal music too. Just can't get enough of using that voice, can you Liv."
Names consisting of more than one syllable simply took too long for Trish to say.

"Have you seen Christina yet today?" I finally butted in.

"No, I haven't. Is she back?"

"They were supposed to be back over the weekend, but I haven't heard from her. I though they might have gotten in late." I glanced at Olivia, who was staring at her shoes. "Christina's my best friend," I explained. She looked up and smiled.

Christina would put an anchor on things. With Trish they were flying willy-nilly. Christina was a nice cross between my mother--she knew how to keep things in order--and Trish--who was everywhere all the time. I was tired of the new and was craving her easy personality. However, her little brother was having treatments for leukemia. It was a scary time for them, and I felt bad that I hadn't even called them last night. Things weren't supposed to be this crazy at my house at the end of October.

"I think I'm going to head for English. You two coming?"

"Why not," Trish answered. Olivia nodded.
* * * * * * * * * * *
I was relieved to see Christina slide into her seat just before the bell rang. She gave me a tired wave. She looked like they had driven all night and then she'd come straight to school.

Christina and I had all our classes together. We planned it that way. She lived on a farm on the opposite side of our school district, about as far away from ours as you could get, so we rarely had any time outside of school to see each other. I think we got along so well because we understood that we weren't being anti-social when we refused to join clubs or play sports. There just wasn't time. She and her parents actually lived on her grandfather's farm, along with two of her dad's brothers and their families. But because of health problems that had cropped up when Christina's mother was pregnant with her brother William, her dad had taken on a second job. As soon as Christina was old enough to, she did her best to do as much of her dad's share of the farming as she could manage. Essentially we were in the same boat. We worked after school. And on weekends.

Olivia was not in class with me again till after lunch. On the other hand Trish was in every class she had, so I gladly turned her over to Trish's form of TLC, and looked forward to having some time to catch up with Christina between classes. Olivia would join the two of us for lunch. Trish had plans with her boyfriend.

"You look tired," I said when Christina and I had settled at the table we shared for accounting class. That was another neat thing about Christina. I could say what I wanted and I knew she'd never take it the wrong way. There were a surprising number of people who felt slighted if you implied they didn't look one hundred percent.

"I'm dead. This is such a nightmare. William is so sick. They took a whole new round of tests while we were down there. We should know by the end of the week if anything has changed--good or bad. It's such a helpless feeling. Grandpa wanted me to go with them to help instead of staying home to help with the farm, but I think I would have been more help at home. I can't imagine what it's like for Mom and Dad. It's tearing me apart."

"I'm so sorry, Christina. I don't suppose there's any way I can help either."

"Not really, but you're sweet to ask. It's just nice to see you and be able to talk to you. Or not talk and just sit and know you don't care."

"I felt bad for not calling last night. It was quite a weekend."

"We weren't home till late. How are things going with Olivia?"

"It's hard to tell. She's not quite what I expected, but then maybe Mom knows something I don't, because she keeps telling me that things aren't what they seem. To me it looks like she's trying hard to fit in and pull her weight. I imagine staying busy keeps her mind off things."

"Can you imagine? I mean how different this must be from New York."

"Honestly, it feels like she's visiting. I don't know when it will finally sink in that she's here to stay."

"Probably the first time she gets in a fight with you, and you call her Clayton."

I laughed. Clayton and I fought all the time. It was hard to imagine fighting with Olivia.

"You'll never guess what she brought with her."

"What?"

"An Australian Silky Terrier."

"A dog?"

"Not just a dog. A house dog."

"Oh my goodness. What did your Mom do?"

"She would have fried it for supper the first night if it hadn't been for Dad. A little hot dog."

"You're kidding me."

"Yes, but she does not want to keep the dog. I don't think she's going to win this battle though."

"Really?" Christina was genuinely surprised, and understandably so. She knew my mother about as well as anyone outside the family. 'Mom rules' was not a joke at our house.

"Yes, Olivia told Dad and I how she came to have the dog, and I truly believe she would leave before she'd get rid of Honey. I know I would in her place. The dog adored her from the time they met and she ended up being a gift from her father who saw it happen."

"Wow."

Then the bell rang and we had to postpone the rest of the conversation for later. What I couldn't figure out was why Christina seemed to be relieved.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

At lunch, Christina met and accepted Olivia with an easy grace they both shared. I hoped they would hit it off. Somehow having Christina in on the game with me made the task of getting to know Olivia seem a little lighter.
Not that I felt it had to be a task. So far Olivia had treated me much better than I had expected. I found myself admiring her, which in a way made her intimidating. At any rate, Christina new how to ask the questions I wanted to ask but didn't know how to.

"Trish tells me that your brother is quite sick." Olivia couldn't pick an easy subject to start on.

"Yes. Leukemia."

"How awful for you. For your entire family."

"I think we still have a long way to go. But we continue to pray for a good outcome. And my condolences on your loss as well. What an awful jolt. I can't imagine."

"It's still hard to believe it's real, to be honest. Most of the time I feel like I'm in a dream or on a vacation, and
that in a while things will be back to normal again."

"I know that feeling! I felt it over and over again in Houston with William this weekend. That nothing is quite like it should be but the ripple will go away. I wonder if it's how we cope."

"Probably. I guess we should be taking Psychology if we wanted to know for sure."

"True," Christina agreed with a gentle laugh. "I told Penny earlier that they ran a whole new battery of tests this weekend. We should have the results in just a few days, and he made need a more aggressive treatment. But even if he doesn't the trek back and forth to Houston is very tiring for him. And this is the part I didn't have the heart to tell you earlier, Pen."

My stomach did a flip and dive. I knew I didn't want to hear what was coing next.

"My Dad's been promoted…. And transferred to Houston."