her school already, so I just took the shortest route
back.
"Oh Melody, dear, I was worried about you,"
Aunt Sara said when I entered the house. "Cary and
May have been home a while."
"I had to stay after school for a few minutes to
get some extra help from my science teacher," I
explained.
"You should have let Cary know," she told me. "I don't see or speak to Cary much after we
arrive at school, Aunt Sara, and that's not all my fault
either," I added. I went upstairs to change into a pair
of jeans. I found the needlework picture spread out on
the bed with a box of colored thread beside it.
Moments later, Aunt Sara was in the doorway. "I'll show you how to make the stitch," she said.
"I'm really not good at this, Aunt Sara."
"Once you start, you will be, I'm sure," she insisted. I was about to continue my protest when
Cary appeared in the hallway behind her.
"If she doesn't want to do it, don't keep forcing
it on her, Mother," he snapped. Aunt Sara's mouth fell
open and her hand fluttered up to the base of her
throat.
"I didn't mean to. . . I--"
"It's okay, Aunt Sara," I said, shooting my own
sparks of anger from my eyes, "I'd be happy to learn." Cary took on a look of amusement that added
fuel to the fire before he hurried down the stairs and
out of the house. Aunt Sara smiled and came into the
room to demonstrate the needlework. I picked it up
quickly and did enjoy it.
"As soon as this is finished, I'll get a frame for
it and put it up with the others," Aunt Sara promised.