Taking Terri Mueller by Norma Fox Mazer Read Free Book Online Page B

potatoes. She ran into the kitchen, turned down the fire. Careful, Terri. Careful what you do. Careful what you think. Careful what you say to other people.
    â€œAre we having a fight?” Shaundra said, folding her arms across her chest.
    Terri’s heart thumped hard. “What? Why?”
    â€œI don’t know why,” Shaundra said. “That’s for you to say.”
    â€œI’m going to make some popcorn,” Terri said, going to the cupboard. The bag slipped out of her hand. Yellow kernels slid all over the floor. Terri felt ready to cry. Barkley got excited and began nosing the kernels around.
    â€œKlutz,” Shaundra said to Terri.
    â€œWhat’s that ?” They both got down on their hands and knees, chasing popcorn kernels.
    â€œYou know—a clumsy oaf,” Shaundra said.
    â€œOh, thank you!”
    Terri made popcorn and they carried the bowl into the living room and ate without talking for a few minutes. “It’s good popcorn,” Shaundra said, “even if it doesn’t have garlic.”
    â€œI could get you some.”
    â€œNo, that’s all right. You don’t like it.”
    â€œI don’t mind.” She went into the kitchen and brought back the garlic-salt shaker.
    â€œI didn’t really mean that about you being a klutz,” Shaundra said.
    â€œWell, I am, sometimes.”
    â€œNo, it was mean of me to say it. You’re not clumsy at all. You’re very graceful.”
    â€œWell, I was acting mean to you, so I don’t blame you for saying it.”
    They sort of smiled at each other. “I guess we’re making up?” Terri said.
    â€œI want to.”
    Later, looking out the window, Terri saw her father locking up the truck. She pointed him out to Shaundra.
    â€œHe’s the one in the denim jacket? Coming across the street?”
    â€œRight.”
    â€œGee, he’s cute.”
    â€œShut up, boy crazy, that’s my father.”
    When Phil came in, Terri introduced Shaundra. “Hello, Mr. Mueller,” she said, tucking her hair behind her ears.
    â€œHello, Shaundra. I’ve heard a lot about you.”
    â€œSame here! I mean, I’ve heard a lot about you. Terri talks about you all the time.”
    Her father laughed. “I hope she doesn’t complain too much.”
    â€œOh, no, she thinks you’re wonderful. Super Dad.”
    Terri gave Shaundra a shove. She couldn’t believe the way Shaundra was flirting.
    â€œDo you need a ride home, Shaundra?”
    â€œNo, thanks, Mr. Mueller, I’ve got my bike,” she said. “See you tomorrow, Terri.”
    Terri went to the downstairs door with Shaundra. “Your father’s so nice,” Shaundra whispered.
    â€œI know, I know.”
    When she went back upstairs, Terri’s father asked if she’d taken Barkley out yet. “I didn’t get a chance, Daddy.” She told him about her aunt’s phone call. “She called from a phone booth.”
    Her father nodded. No reaction. Nothing about having called Vivian. “So she’s coming? Great! Good!” And that was it. “I’m going to clean up now. Why don’t you take out Barkley?”
    By the time she returned from walking the dog, her father was out of the shower and changed into fresh clothes. “What should we have for supper?” he asked. “I could eat a horse.”
    â€œI started potatoes, but they’re a little burned.” She opened the refrigerator, but she wasn’t thinking about food. All the time she’d been walking Barkley, questions about the two of them, and Aunt Vivian, and the way they lived had been going around in her mind.
    â€œNothing looks interesting?” her father said. “Tell you what—let’s go out. I don’t feel much like cooking.”
    Later, in the restaurant he poured a little wine into her water glass and she sipped it between bites of the veal