The Squeaky Clean Legacy, Chapter 17.2 “The truth shall make you fret” Part One

Asyoumayremember,ourlastchapterendedwithGenera7onNineheiressElaineGoodytwoshoesfallinginlovewithAngusPleasant.

Elaine:Palomides?I’vegotthemostexci7ngnews!

Whatdoyoumean,youalreadyknow?

Palomides:Hi,Elaine.Ithinksomepeoplewanttotalktoyouinside.

Gawaine:NowwhatisallthisIhearaboutAngusPleasant?

Elaine:Howdidyouknow?

Gawaine:Elaine,EVERYBODYknows!

Parsifal:It’snotasthoughthepublicdisplaysofaffec7onaresubtle.

Gawaine:Theycertainlyaren’t.Parsifal:Andwearegreatlyconcernedaboutyou.

Gawaine:Foronething,we’reworriedthathe’llskeweryoutodeathwithhisnose.

Parsifal:AndIdowishyouwouldthinkaboutyourfuturechildren.

Gawaine:Soasyourbrothers,we’vedecidedtotalksomesenseintoyou.Wearesworntoprotectyou,fromyourselfifnecessary.

Gawaine:Inaddi7ontowhich,youwouldbebreakinglegacytradi7on.

Palomides:Inaddi7ontowhich,Ijustdon’tlikehim.

Parsifal:Elaine,ItalkedtoUncleLyUon.Hecheckedthrougheverythingandthereisn’tonesingleinstanceofaGoodytwoshoesheiressmarryingaplayable.

I’msosorry.

Elaine:You’realljustenviousbecauseIhavesomeonewholovesmeandnoneofyoudo.

Palomides:Sayswho?

Palomides:I’vebeenda7ngStacieforweeks.

Elaine:Ididn’tknowthat.

Palomides:Youdidn’task.

Elaine:You’reda7ngthegirlwhobringsthegroceries?

Palomides:What’swrongwithgroceries?Ilovegroceries.Ibettherearealotofmenwhowishtheirgirlfriendswouldbringthemgroceries.

Palomides:She’llalsopreUyandniceandgreatcompany.Idon’tcarewhatshedoesforaliving.

Palomides:AndIhavetoadmit,shealsopayssometerrificcompliments.

Gawaine:Soasyoureldestbrother,I’mgoingtohavetoforbidyoutoseeAngusPleasantagain.

Elaine:Youforbidme?Whatdoyoumean,forbid?I’mnotaliUlegirlanymore,Gawaine.You’retheeldest,butIamtheheiress.

Elaine:AndAngusandIloveeachother,whichissomethingyou’llneverunderstand,andyoucan’tstopus!

Palomides:Elaine,pleaselisten.Idon’tlikehim.Idon’tknowwhyIdon’t,butIdon’t.Somethingabouthimreallycreepsmeout.

Elaine:Nevermind!Icanseeyouallyoucareaboutisthelegacy.Youdon’tcareaboutme!Youdon’twantmetobehappy!Youjustdon’tunderstand.

Gawaine:Elaine?Wait!Elaine!Wedidn’tmean...

Argh.

Parsifal:Well,thatprobablycouldhavegonebeUer.

RaquelCentowski:Mr.Goodytwoshoes?I’mheretoarrestyouforbeingachauvinis7c,insensi7vejerk.

Gawaine:You’vebeentalkingtomysister,haven’tyou?

Raquel:Justkidding.I’mreallycomingtotakeyoutothesecretsociety.

Gawaine:Itdoesn’tmaUer.Iprobablydeserveit.

Youwon’tseemuchoftheotherboysthis7me,butasunpleasantasBunthornecanbe,hehasendearedhimselftomebydoingthis.

ALOT.Hehasbecomethefraternity’sunofficialcowhunter.

Bunthorne:Theques7onis,cudbreath,areyoufeelinglucky?

OveratGoodygirls,alotofda7ngistakingplace.

BecauseElaineisright.Therereallyisn’tanythingGawaine,Parsifal,andPalomidescandotostopher.

(LinusHanbyisalsoright.Elaineisverycute.)

Elaine:Don’tworry,Angus.Iwon’tletthembreakusup.Theyjustdon’tunderstandus.

Angus:You’reswell,Elaine.Didyouknowyousmelllike(uh. . . What’s that over there?)um,roses?

Elaine:Youaresosweet!Mm,comehere.

Regina:Sigh.Don’tmindme.I’mjustonmywaytoclass.

Angus:Iwonder...

...whoHEis?

Elaine:Ian!Ithoughtyoudidn’treallymeanitaboutbeingfriends.

Ian:OfcourseIdid.Idon’tsaythingsIdon’tmean.

Elaine:Whatanicesurprise!Iwishyou’dcomefiveminutesearlier.IcouldhaveintroducedyoutoAngus.

Ian:Angus?

Elaine:He’smyboyfriend.

Ian:Oh,right.IthinkPalomidesmen7onedhim.Ifyoulikehim,hemustbeverynice.

Elaine:You’retheonlyonetosaythat.Palomidesdoesn’tlikehim,forsomereason.Idon’tknowwhy.AngussaysI’mperfectandadorable.Ian:Mm‐hm.Yes,itcanberoughwhenyourfamilydoesn’tlikesomeoneyoulove.Elaine:HesaysI’mfascina7ng.Ian:That’sgood.Irememberyousaidsomethinglikethatonce.Elaine:HewasjusthereandhesaidIsmelllikeroses.

Ian:No.No,I’msorry,Elaine,butthatisjuststupid.Peopledonotsmelllikeflowers.Youdefinitelydon’t.

Ian:Peoplepaystupidcomplimentsallthe7me.Theysaythingslike“youreyesareasblueasthesky”whentheyaren’tatall.Idon’tlikethat.Itrubsmethewrongway.It’slikelying,andIcan’tstandpeoplewholie.Ididn’tsayyousmelledbad.Isaidyoudidn’tsmelllikeroses.Whywouldyouwantto?Haveyousmelledabigbowlofpotpourri?

Elaine:YousayAngusislyingandIdon’tsmelllikeflowers.Howdoyouknow?

Ian:Youdon’tbelieveme?Allright.Thereisafloralsmellthere,butit’snotroses.It’slavender,andit’sprobablyinyourshampoo,alongwithafewotherthings.Youuseagrapefruitshowergel,andI’mgebng...babypowder,andthosearealloverlaysontopofyouractualscent,whichisclosetoareallypremiumhandmadeTahi7anvanillaicecream.

Ian:Iusedtorunarestaurant,and...well,withonethingandanother,Ihaveaveryacutesenseofsmell.Putitthatway.

Sorry,thatwasprobablyaliUlefreaky,butyouasked.

Elaine:Thankyou...Ithink?

Anyway,thankyouforbeingsokindaboutAngus.Itmakesmesadthatmybrothersdon’tlikehimandIdon’thaveanyoneIcantalktoaboutit.

Ian:You’rewelcome.Wait,didIjustvolunteerforsomething?Yes.

Imen7onedthatalotofda7nggoesonatGoodygirls.NinoCalienteisalwaysgoodforaDreamDate,andhe’sbeginningtogrowonme.

Andofcourse,therearealwaysLenoreandZane,beingsicklysweetandsen7mentalallovertheplace.

Regina:Sigh.I’monmywaytoclassnow,guys.Don’tmindme.

Theothergoodthingaboutallthosedatesisthedategids.

Zaneledamirror,whichisafirst.

Hey,Angusledapiano!Nottooshabby!

(Notethealmost‐Mingvaseontheporchbehindhim.)

ButNinoisthemostgenerousdonorbyfar.

Iknowexactlyhowmuchheandhisbrotherhave,andIhavenoideahowheaffordsallthehigh‐endelectronics.

Nino:Plas7c,baby!

Oh,well,thereisthat.RomanceSimsdon’tworryaboutthingslikefinancechargesandAPR.

Penelope:Justthinkofit,Dinadan.Ifyoucouldhaveanythingyouwanted,whatwoulditbe?

Dinadan:Grandchildren.

Penelope:Otherthanthat.

Dinadan:Moregrandchildren.

LifehasgoneonasusualattheSqueakyCleanhouse,andsincethereisonlyonekidledathome,thereisplentyof7meforPenelopetowritehernovel.

Excuseme,finishhernovel.

Penelope:Andit’snotevenNovember!

NowayofknowingwhatPenelope’snovelwasabout,butsincethefamilyhastendedtowardsRomancenovels,it’sprobablyoneofthose7me‐travelromances.

WealsohavekiUensontheway.

NothinglikekiUens.

ItookalotofpicturesofPenelopebecauseIknewshewouldageupreallysoon.

SheandDinadanarebothsocute,andsocutetogether,thatIreallydidn’twanttoseethemage.

However,theydidn’tseemtocare.Penelopekeptwan7ngtoAgeUpWell,andtheyinvitedalotoffriendsandrela7vestotheirjointbirthdayparty.

Including,ofcourse,Penelope’stwobrothers.

Penelope:Gladyoucouldmakeit,Brainbox!

Ulysses:Squeak!

Penelope:AGH.

HerfatherJackBuccaneerhasn’tagedinalong7me,becauseheandSophiamovedoutandre7red.Thismeansthatbarringaccidents,theywillbetherewhenthelegacyclosesoutGenera7onTen.

Ulysses:*poofsintohumanforminthebackground*

Irongrayhair,wholeoufit,hastogo.

Dinadan’shairdidn’tchangeatall.It’stheonly7meIhaveeverclosedthegameinthemiddleofaparty.Iwentlookingforhishair,whichisahardtofindMyosmesh,ingray.Becausethiswasdrivingmecrazy.

Ulysses:Lookinggreat,Dinadan!

Ithinktheybothlookgreat.

Penelope:Ididn’tmindagingupatall.Whywereyouworried?

Noidea,exceptthatsinceDinadan’sLTWisHaveSixGrandchildren,heisn’tpermaplatyet.

DinadanalwaysthinkslikeaFamilySim.

Dinadan:Iunderstandyou’vemetayoungman,Elaine.Willyoubringhimhometointroducehimtous?

Elaine:Daddy,he’saplayableandmybrothersdon’tapproveofhim.

Dinadan:I’ds7llliketomeethim,honey.

Ulyssesnowhasafamilyofhisown.Withnomo7vesdroppingatnight,he’sabletomaintainaseriousgarden.

Thisalsomeansthatheisn’taroundforthebirthofhisdaughterMolly.

Althoughhedidno7ce.Youcan’tsayhedidn’tno7ce.

DocNerdalsohadtoageMollyup.

MollyisaScorpio,andhasapersonalityverylikeherdaddy’s:7/3/9/6/1.She’snotgoingtowinMissCongeniality.

She’snamedaderMollyBloom,thewifeofthemaincharacterinJamesJoyce’snovelUlysses.

Ulysses:Aw,shedoesn’tneedanicepersonality.

Sheprobablydoesn’t.BetweenUlyssesandDocNerd,anyonewhogiveshertroubleisgoingtobekilled,andbythe7meshe’sachildshe’llprobablybeabletotakethemdownherself.

Plus,owingtoDaddy’sfarmingefforts,thatkidisnevergoingtohavetoskillifshedoesn’twantto.

Rightnow,shedoesn’tmind.

Isn’tsheadorable?

Gilbert:Zane,wehavewishedtoseeyou.Youwillofcoursestaytosupper.Ihavemadethecassoulet.

Zane:CanItalktoyoufirst,Dad?

Zane:Thereisthisgirl.

Gilbert:Thiswouldbela pe3te Lenore.

Zane:Yes.Gilbert:Youmeetheringradeschool.Zane:Yes.Gilbert:Youdateherinhighschool.Zane:Yes.

Gilbert:Itis,en effet,thesamegirl.

Zane:Iwanttoaskhertomarryme,Dad.ButIcan’tdoitunlessIknowwhoIam.

Gilbert:Whoyouare?YouareaJacquet.YouarethesonofmyselfandthebelovedCassidy.Youknowthis.Doyouthinkofusnotasyourrealpapas?Thiswouldmakemeverysad.

Andyou,Zane:whatdoyoudoifyoufindoutthethingthatmakesyouunhappy?Thethingyouwishyoudidnotknow?

Zane:Thenit’ssomethingIshouldknow,andsomethingLenoredeservestoknow.

Ireallyloveher,Dad.

Gilbert:Iunderstandthis.ThisiswhyIask:donottellCassidywhatyoufind.Donottellme.Notunlessweaskit.

Gilbert:IknowliUleofCassidybeforeImeethim.ItdoesnotmaUer,yes?Iknowhewasunhappy.Iknowheisnotnowunhappy.Idonotwishhimtobeagainunhappy,youunderstand.

Zane:Allright.WhateverIfindout,Ikeepittomyself.

Gilbert:Andbecauseyouloveher—bonne chance.

Zane:AndDad?YouAREmyrealDads.Ijustwanttoknow.

Cassidy:How’scollege?Areyouda7ngalot?Jumpingoncouches?Havingfun?

Zane:Thereisthisgirl...

Dad,doyoueverwonderwhoyoureallyare?

Cassidy:IknowwhenI’mhappy.Iknowsomeonelovesme.That’swhoIreallyam.

Cassidy:I don’t really need to know anything else.

Honeybun:Rauraurau...

Max:Verywell,Iwillanswerthedoor.

Max:Idonotknowyou,Mr.‐‐

SpiderJerusalem:SpiderJerusalem.SpiderJerusalemVe7nari.

Max:Thenyouareen7relyunwelcome.AVe7narikilledmyfather.YouhavefiveminutestodepartbeforeIcommitaviolentactonyourperson.

SpiderJerusalem:Listenup,sunshine,Idon’thaveanythingtodowithCypress.AndyouwereajerktoCassidy,too.

I’mherebecausesomeoneinyourfamilywasnicetome.Itdoesn’thappenalot,andwhenitdoes,Irememberit.Ipayfavorsback,andyouwantwhatIhavewhetheryouknowitornot,soyou’dbeUerletmein.

SpiderJerusalem:Idiot. 

Max:Five minutes.

Max:Itisarawnight,Mr.Ve7nari,andIamnotapa7entman.

Max:Ifyouhavebusinesswithme,Iadviseyoutodispatchitanddepart.

SpiderJerusalem:Ilikethepicturesonthewall.Rela7vesofyours?

Max:What.Do.You.Want.

SpiderJerusalem:Ihaveapackageforyou.

Max:Dotell.

Max:Hic...jacet...Secundus...Marius.

This.Thisisaninsult.

SpiderJerusalem:Youthinkit’saninsult?Youdidn’twantyourfather’surn?Becausethat’snottheimpressionIgot.Penelopeandherfamilytoldmethatprac7callytheonlythingyoucaredaboutwasthememoryofyourfather.Youdon’twanttoknowwhatIwentthroughtogetitforyou.Ifyouwant,Icantakeitback.

Max:Iwillhonorit,andforwhatitisworth,Ithankyouforreturningittohisfamily,andIaskyou,onceagain,toleave.

SpiderJerusalem:I’mgoing.Butyoumightliketowatchthaturnaroundmidnight.

Max:WhyoughtIdotothat?

SpiderJerusalem:BECAUSEIHAVECONNECTIONS,THATISWHY.

OveratthePleasantviewplayables’dorm,lifeprogressesasusual.PerhapsitisabitbeUerthanusual.

S7ll,nothingcanmakethePleasantbrothersgetalong.

Thereisalotofthis‐‐

AndLionelgivesbackasgoodashegets.

Belle:Congratula7ons,Lionel!Dionnetellsmeyou’regebngstraightAsinyourclassessofar.

Lionel:Thanks,Belle.Ihadalotofgroundtomakeupfromhighschool,andI’minremedialeverything,butIthinkit’spayingoff.

LinusBurb:Um,Alex...Iwaswonderingifyouwantedtogohavelunchsome7me.

AlexandraGoth:Lunch?Whatdoyoumean,lunch?Weliveinthesamedorm.Wehavelunchtogetheralmosteveryday.

Andifthisisadate,forgetit.I’mseeingVespasian,andanyway,you’regay,incaseyouhadn’tfiguredthatout.

Linus:Um,what?Me?No!I’mathle7c!Ilikefootball!I’mintosports!

Alex:Linus,doyouevenbegintorealizehowstupidyousound?Oh,God,thisiscomingasnewstoyou,isn’tit?Orisit?

Alex:You sit in the hall talking with Ethan every day.  You’re there for hours. OK, I could be wrong, but you look hungry.  You’re too shy and messed up to say anything, and I bet he feels the same way.   

Linus:Butyou’rewrong.YouHAVEtobewrong.IfmyauntandunclePleasantfindout,they’llhittheceiling,notthatthere’sanythingtofindout.Alex,wecouldsolvethisifyou’donlydateme.

Alex:Nope.I’myourfriend,buttherearelimitstowhatI’lldoforyou.Yourauntanduncleare—clueless,isthenicestwayIcanputit.They’retheKingandQueenofDenial.Youdon’twanttobelikethem.

C’mon,onebabystepata7me.Here’swhatwedo‐‐

Alex:Psst. Go ahead.  What we prac3ced. 

Linus:Oh,uh,hi,um,Ethan,right?MyfriendandIaregoingbowling.Wouldyouliketocomealong?

Ethan:Yeah!Thatsoundsgreat!

Alex:See, that wasn’t so hard, was it? 

Alex:See, no biggie, it’s not a date, it’s just an ou3ng. 

Linus:But you’re going to be with me the whole 3me, right? 

Alex:Guess again.  I’m mee3ng Vespasian and I want to dance with him. It’s bowling, Linus, it’s the most harmless ac3vity in the world.      

Linus:Soyoumen7onedsomethingaboutwhatbandsyoulike,andweboththoughtAvatarwasoverrated,butdoyoulikesports?Ethan:Not...um,yes.YesIdo.HowaboutthoseWhiteSox,huh?Youthinktheyhaveachancethisyear?

Linus:Ihopenot.I’maCubsfan.Wegetusedtodisappointment.Luckily,it’snotbaseballseasonyet.

Ethan:Oh.Well,let’sbowl,ok?

Ethan:Wow.Youarereallygoodatthis.

Linus:Either he’s crazy or he’s just trying to be nice.  I haven’t hit the gym in two weeks.  Is he looking at me? He isn’t.  He can’t tell.  

Agh, whatever.  If I focus, I can make this split.

Belleisalotsimplerandmorestraighforwardandshe’sda7ngHoustonbynow.

Belle:YouplacedoutofBasicWri7ng?That’sfantas7c!

Lionel:Yeah,theyhadmetakethetestagainandsaidIwasagoodwriterandnowIcantakeFreshmanCompwitheverybodyelse.MomandDadcan’tbelieveI’mdoingwellincollege.ShesaidI’dneveramounttoanythingandIwanthertoseeshewaswrong.

Lionel:Plus it drives Angus crazy!  Whee! 

Angus:Lookatyou,Elaine!Youaresoadorableandcute.

Elaine:Oh,STOP.

Angus:Thanksforaskingmeoutagain.Some7mesIjustwanttogetawayfromeveryoneinthedorm.

Elaine:I’mnotashamedofyou,Angus.Iloveyou.Itdoesn’tmaUerwhoknows.

Elaine:AndIwasthinking—ifyou’dliketogetawayforawhile,let’sgotoWoodlandPark.It’ssopreUythereandit’swheremymotherandfathergotengaged.

Angus:Actually—dowehaveto?I’drathernot.

Elaine:Whynot?

Angus:Ijustdon’twanttogotoPleasantviewrightnow.It’salongdrive,andIhavealotofassignmentstodo.It’slikeeverythingIwanttogetawayfrom.IsthatOK?

Elaine:Ofcourseitis.

Angus:Iknewyou’dunderstand,Princess.You’resosweettome.Andsobeau7fulandfascina7ngandadorable.Andyoureyesarebluelikeeyes.You’rejust...swell,Elaine.Socanweforgetabouttheparkfortoday?

Elaine:Anddidyouknowhewasatrackstarinhighschool?Hedoesn’tdoitanymorebecausehisbrotherLionelbuUeredthestairsandhebrokehisankle.Ian:Uh‐huh.

Elaine:Everyoneissomeantohim,andhe’ssohardworkingandgood.Itisn’tfair.

Elaine:Andhecallsme“Princess.”

Ian:Doesn’teveryone?Elaine:No.Youdon’t.It’sterriblyrudeofyou,butI’llforgiveyou.This7me.It’spartlyajokename.MybrothersteasemethatI’mlikeaprincessinatower,becauseI’mtheonlygirl,andthatI’msosensi7vethatIcanfeelapeathroughfortymaUresses.

Ian:Sensi7vecanbegood,butthetowersoundslonely.

Agh,didIjustmakethatmove?Ididn’tmeanthatone,andIcan’ttakeitbacknow.

Elaine:DoesthismeanIwon?

Ian:No.ItmeansIlost.

Zane:Well,heregoes.I’msurethere’ssomethinginthecampuslibrary.Ifoundmyoriginalbirthcer7ficate,andthat’sprobablyagoodplacetostart.

Zane:Dela...Derrida...There’snothingontheshelfabout“Devereaux,”andnothingabout“Ve7nari,”either.

Zane:Online!Ofcourse,everythingisprobablyonline.AndthenI’llknowandIcanaskLenoretomarryme.

CastorNova:He’sgotaone‐trackmind,doesn’the?

Zane:Let’sstartwithmyDads.“Jacquet”—Maxispre‐made,bakingfamily,nothingunusualthere.Howabout“Ve7nari?”

OK,alltheTerryPratcheUstuffprobablyisn’trelevant.ButtheLegacy—thatsoundsgenealogical.Thatmighthelp.

Zane:Oh,geez.

Zane:Oh,GEEZ.

Zane:DadlookedaderhisyoungerbrotherbecausehisfatherwasTHATbad?Iwonderwhatwouldhavehappenedtohimifhehadn’thadanotherchancewhenhewasakid?

Zane:Oh,GEEZ.

Zane:NowonderPapaGilbertdidn’twantmetolook.IalmostwishIdidn’tknownow.

Zane:OK.Imightaswelllookup“Devereaux.”Itcan’tpossiblybeworsethanthat.

Zane:Oh...god.

Zane:Thatbad?MymotherwasworsethanCypressVe7nari?Whatkindofparenttreatstheirchildrenthatway?

OK,I’mreadyforit.Howbadcanitbe?

Zane:I’mdead?Asin,deaddead?What’sworsethanthat?

Zane:Oh,god,Ican’tbelieveit.

Zane:I’mamonster.

There’salotofhappycouple‐domgoingonatthePleasantviewdorm.

I’msureitgetsannoyingaderawhile.

Angus:Don’t they ever let up?  How can Dionne really want to date Lionel?  He’s Lionel.  He’s loud and he’s got taRoos, and he’ll never get anywhere, that’s what Mom says.   

Angus:Oh,hi,Dusty.

Dusty:Sorry,Ihaveaclass.GoUarun.

Angus:Weshouldreallycatchup,Dusty.Comeon,I’llwalkyououtside.Andyes,IhavebeenpayingaUen7oninclassandtakingeverythingseriously.

ProfessorIrascible:Mr.Pleasant?Ithoughtyousaidyouhadmono.

ProfessorI:YouraUendancegradehasjusttanked,youngman.

Dusty:Colormeunderwhelmed,Angus.Seeya.

Linus:Hey,Ethan,it’sbeenawhilesinceIwenttothegym.Wouldyouliketojoinme?

Ethan:Sure!

Linus:Couldyouspotme?

Ethan:OK,I’mspobngyou.

Linus:ThatlooksaliUletoofastforyou.

Ethan:Stop,Linus!Ijust–havetostop.

Linus:What’swrong?

Ethan:Iwastryingtobeathle7c,butitwasareallydumbidea.I’mflabbyunderneaththesuitandIcouldn’ttellyouthedifferencebetweensoccerandfootball.Iwasjusttryingtoimpressyou,butIshouldhaveknownbeUer.

Linus:You?Weretryingtoimpressme?Whatfor?

Ethan:You’reoneofthosereallyac7veathle7cguys,andgah,nevermind,IshouldhaveknownbeUer.

Linus:Whydoyouneedtoimpressanyone?You’reallpreppyandcute.

Ethan:Cute?Really?Youmeanttosay“cute”?

Angus:Oh,notthem,too.

Linus:Ididn’tcomeoutoftheclosettobesubtle.Youdon’tlikeit,eatsomewhereelse.

Lionel:Lightenup.LeaveLinusalone.Angus:Ididn’tsayanythingtoLinus.Idon’tcare.Mom’snotgoingtolikeit,but...Lionel:YouknowwhatIthinkofMom?Momiscrazy,that’swhat,andsoisDad.Hethinksshe’sagoodliUlehousewife.SHEthinksshe’sagoodliUlehousewife.Everysingle7me,itdoesn’tcount,becauseshewasupset,ornervous,orshehadtoomuchjuice.Angus:ShutupaboutMom.Lionel:Oh,wakeUP,Angus.Wecomehomefromschool,shesaysshewastakinganap,there’sunderwearalloverthestairs...

Angus:YoushutupaboutMom!Lionel:Idon’tcare.Youhitme,I’llhityoubackharder,andthetruth’ss7llthetruth.You’regoingtobeasbigofaliarassheisandyouwon’tevenknow.Dionne:Stopit!Youstopit!

Angus:HewassayingstuffaboutMom.Rightinfrontofeveryone.NOBODYsaysstuffaboutmymother.

Dionne:Idon’tcare,Angus!Idon’tcarewhodidwhattowhomorwhostartedit.Thenextpersonwholaysafingeronanyone,I’mcallingSecurity.Andthatgoesforyou,too,Lionel.Don’tthinkIwon’tdoit,becauseIwill.

Evenwithallthedrama,thesemestereventuallycomestoanend,evenifitfeelslikethelongestsemesterontheplanet.Everyonegets4.0s,evenBelle,whofindsithardtofocus.

Belle:Angus?EveryonegotAs.

Dusty:Youdidwell.Youshouldbeproudofyourself.

Angus:That’sjustit.Everyonedidwell.

Elaine:Ithoughtmaybesinceyoudidn’twanttogoallthewaytoWoodlandPark,ChestnutParkisn’tnearlyasfar,andit’salmostasnice.

Elaine:Andthisismyfavoritepartofthepark.Isn’titpreUy?

Elaine:See?

Angus:Yeah.It’sreallypreUy,Elaine.Ilikeit.

Elaine:Sigh.  He’s supposed to know what I’m feeling.  If he doesn’t know, it doesn’t count. 

Angus:Thanks.Thathurt.IgotintoanotherfightwithLionelandhe’sbiggerthanIam.

Elaine:That’sterrible!Whatwasitallabout?Angus:Hewassayingthingsaboutourmother.Ireallydon’twanttotalkaboutit.Idon’tevenwanttothinkaboutit.

Angus:ButthankgoodnessIhaveyou.

Elaine:Youalwayshaveme,Angus.

Angus:Well,good,becauseIreallyneedyou,Princess.

Elaine:Marryme,Angus.Iknewyouweretherightboyformewhenyouwerethefirstboy.Weloveeachotherandwe’lltakecareofeachother,andwewon’tneedanyonebuteachotherandI’llneverletanyonehurtyouagain.

Elaine:Please?

Angus:Youloveme?Youmeanthat?Elaine:Yes,ofcourse.Angus:Andyou’llreallymarryme?Elaine:Ofcourse,silly,that’swhyIasked.

Angus:Thenyes.Ipromise.Iwill.

On to Part Two . . .