Life in the Fat Lane by Cherie Bennett Read Free Book Online

every trick in the book.”
    “Yeah, like cancer sticks,” Scott said, taking another bite of pancake. “Better thin and dead than fat and kickin’, right, Mom?”
    “Very funny. I’m going to quit,” Mom added, taking a deep drag on her cigarette.
    “Sure,” Scott said sarcastically.
    I could hear my dad coming down the stairs. Mom quickly put out her cigarette and waved at the air.
    “Oh yeah, like
that
’s gonna fool him,” Scott said with disgust.
    Dad came into the kitchen, his hair still wet from the shower. He looked as fit as my mom. I felt like a blimp. I decided to skip the muffin and just go with black coffee.
    “Morning, all,” Dad said. He sat down and poured himself some coffee. “It smells like smoke in here, Carol.”
    “Mmmm, you smell good,” my mom said, hugging him from behind. “Want pancakes? Turkey bacon?”
    “One pancake, no bacon,” Dad said, patting hisstomach. He took a sip of orange juice. “So, what’s up with you today, princess?”
    “I have to practice piano for two hours, for my recital,” I said. “Then I’m working out with Molly, and after that Jett’s coming over to help me with precalculus.”
    “Good girl,” Dad approved. Precalculus was the only class where I didn’t have an A average. He looked at Scott, taking in his baggy shorts and even baggier T-shirt. “Son?”
    Scott just shoveled more pancake into his mouth.
    “Would actual words be too much to hope for?” Dad asked him.
    “You know, whatever,” Scott mumbled. “Hanging.”
    “
Hanging?
”
    “With my friends. You know.”
    Dad sighed. “What about homework?”
    Scott shrugged again.
    “A shrug is not an answer!” Dad exploded. “If I ask you a question, I expect an answer!”
    “Yes,
sir
!” Scott replied, saluting as if he were in the military. “Whatever you say,
sir
!”
    Dad pushed his chair back. “I give up. I really give up.”
    “Come on, guys,” Mom pleaded, “let’s have a nice Sunday—”
    “Well, tell him to get off my back, then,” Scott suggested icily.
    “Scott, all Dad did was ask what you were doing today,” Mom pointed out.
    “And I
told
him. But what I said wasn’t
good
enough!” Scott got up and stormed out of the room.
    Dad turned to Mom. “Are you sure he’s really our kid?”
    “It’s a phase, honey,” Mom soothed. Her fingers, with no cigarette to hold, drummed nervously on the table.
    Dad scowled into his coffee.
    Mom began to knead his shoulders. “Come on, Jimbo,” she coaxed, “don’t get all tense over Scott.”
    Dad shook her off. “I don’t need a backrub, I need to get through to my kid. He acts like he hates me.”
    “I love you, Daddy,” I told him.
    He grinned at me and cut into his pancake. “Yeah, I know you do, princess. Thank God for you, that’s all I have to say.” He looked at the empty place in front of me. “Aren’t you eating?”
    “I’m not hungry.”
    “Lara’s been putting on a little weight,” Mom explained.
    “Mom!” I exclaimed. “It’s because of the prednisone.”
    Dad frowned. “How much?”
    “Just a little,” I said nervously, sipping my coffee.
    “You have to nip these things in the bud, princess,” he said sternly. “Otherwise, forget it. One day you’re perfect, and the next day you wake up looking like Molly.”
    “It’s just water retention from the allergy medicine. I only gained four pounds, and I’m going to lose it.”
    “It looks like more than four,” Mom said.
    “Well, it isn’t,” I lied.
    “Okay,” Dad said. “Let’s drop this subject. I know my princess, and she accomplishes anything she sets her mind to, right?”
    “Right,” I said firmly.
    “That’s my girl.”
    Mom leaned over and put her hand on Dad’s. “Hey, how would you like a date with your wife tonight?”
    “Can’t,” Dad said. “I’ve got to catch a plane at six for Philly.”
    “Tonight?” Mom sounded surprised.
    “I told you last week. I guess you forgot,” Dad said. “This