"Sherwood Smith - Mom and Dad" - читать интересную книгу автора (Smith Sherwood)

equations for the freeway bridge I was supposed to be designing.
****

When we got home, the first sign that Something Was Up was the houseтАФspic and span. Usually
housecleaning is something that gets done when Rick and I feel guilty, or when it's gotten so cluttered and
dusty I turn into the Wicked Bitch of the West and dragoon everyone into jobs.

I knew, of course, that they'd given the place a thorough searchтАФbut at least they hadn't made a mess. I
considered this a Responsible Act, and brought it up to Rick later, when we got ready for bed. And
didn't a Responsible Act deserve one in return?

тАЬVery responsible,тАЭ he agreed. тАЬWon't it be a pleasant, refreshing change to sleep the entire night,
knowing they are safely in their beds?тАЭ

тАЬDid you destroy the wand?тАЭ I asked.

He studied the ceiling as though something of import had been written there. тАЬNo. Not yet. But I will.тАЭ
****

Home life was normal for about a week.

At least on the surface.

The kids tried another surreptitious search, more oblique questions, and then finally they just gave up. I
know the exact hourтАФthe minuteтАФthey gave up because they really gave up. Not just their secret world,
but everything. Oh, they ate and went to school and did their homework, but the older ones worked with
about as much interest and enthusiasm as a pair of robots, and Alisha drifted about, small and silent as a
little ghost.

I hated seeing sad eyes at dinner. We cooked their favorite foods. Rick made barbequed ribs and
spaghetti on his nights, and I fixed Mexican food and Thai chicken on my nightsтАФloving gestures on our
part that failed to kindle the old joy. R.J. and Lauren said, тАЬPleaseтАЭ and тАЬThank youтАЭ in dismal voices,
and picked at the food as though it were prune-and-pea casserole.

Alisha didn't talk, just =looked=.

I avoided her gaze.
****

Eight days later I passed by Lauren's room with a stack of clean sheets and towels, and heard soft,
muffled sobs. Her unhappiness smote my guilty heart and I was soon in our room snuffling into my pillow,
the clean laundry lying on the carpet where I'd dropped it.

We're the parents. They are the kids.

That's what Rick had said.

I got up, wiped my face on one of those clean towels, and went backтАФnot sure what I'd say or
doтАФbut I stopped when I heard all three kids in Lauren's room.
 тАЬI can't help it.тАЭ Lauren's voice was high and teary. тАЬQueen Liete was going to make me a maid of honor