very interesting.
Arabella gathered up the cards and shuffled. She began to deal a new
round when a soft knock at the front door interrupted her.
“Arabella? Arabella, honey, it’s mom. I was wondering if you had any
sugar.”
“Jesus!” Arabella threw down the cards and scrambled for her shirt. June
was watching her, vastly entertained as she picked up her pants and
basically leaped back into them. “I told you this would happen!” Arabella
hissed. “I knew she’d corner us one day.”
“If it would make anything easier, I could hide in the closet. Jump out the
window. Run down to the basement. Oh wait, that’s where they live.”
Arabella wagged her finger at June. “Just wait. Oh, seriously, just you
wait until she’s gone. Hiding isn’t going to do any good. Your car is out
there. She knows you’re here. She doesn’t need sugar for anything. My
mom is the healthiest eater around.”
“Maybe she has a craving.”
“A craving to ambush us and figure out who you are.”
“How does she know I’m anyone?”
“Trust me. She knows. Don’t moms always know?”
“Mom skills are pretty powerful. Not as powerful as my poker skills
but…”
A second knock echoed after the first, then her dad’s voice came through
the door, muffled and so much softer than normal. “Arabella? Your mom
wants to know if you have any sugar.”
“Tell her it’s for a cup of tea.”
“Shhh, Brenda.” Then, louder than the hissed whisper, “It’s for a cup of
tea.”
“Ugh. Even though neither of them drinks tea.”
June laughed. “Let them in. It’ll be fine. I’m excited to meet them.”
“Really?” Arabella gaped at her. “What happened to taking things slow