The Fat Girl by Marilyn Sachs Read Free Book Online Page A

been going over to your father’s house a lot. Suddenly. She hasn’t done that in years.”
    “Dad’s house? Wanda’s been going to Dad’s house?”
    My mother’s face showed relief at my surprise. She bent closer toward me over the table and lowered her voice. “You know I don’t like to nag you or butt into your relationship with your father. I don’t ask any questions, and I don’t expect you to tell me anything. I don’t even want to hear anything about him. You know, Jeff, I don’t pry.”
    “I know, Mom.” I patted her hand. My mother was grateful. She turned her hand over and took mine. We sat there over the kitchen table, holding hands and whispering.
    “But I do like to know where you both are, especially Wanda. After all, she’s only fourteen and a girl.”
    “Sure, Mom. That’s right, Mom.”
    “So a couple of times this past month, she made-believe she was over at her friend Marcie’s house for dinner. Maybe it happened even more than that, but two times I know she said she was at Marcie’s when she was really over at your father’s.”
    “But why, Mom, why wouldn’t she tell you the truth?”
    “I don’t know, but I’m worried.”
    I squeezed her hand and told her not to worry. I told her it probably was a stage Wanda was going through, but I knew why Wanda wasn’t telling her the truth. Because Wanda couldn’t stand seeing the misery and jealousy on my mother’s face. Just like I couldn’t stand it.
    But for now, we were both relaxed and comfortable, and I wasn’t going to spoil it.
    “She never said anything to you, Jeff, did she?”
    “No, Mom, she didn’t. Do you want me to ask her?”
    “No. I guess we’d better leave her alone. But how about you? Have you been seeing your father lately?”
    “You remember. At the beginning of November, I borrowed the car, and Wanda and I went over for dinner. That was the last time. I guess I’ll go again during Christmas.”
    “Go as often as you like, Jeff,” said my mother stiffly. “It doesn’t matter one bit to me.”
    “I know that, Mom,” I lied.
    She bent over and kissed me. After that, we both felt so embarrassed we didn’t know where to look.
    “I guess we ought to get some sleep,” she murmured.
    “I guess so.”
    She yawned. “Well, I’m pretty sleepy now. How about you?”
    “Me too, I guess.”
    “Good night, Jeff. Don’t worry about the dishes. Let’s just leave them in the sink.”
    “Good night, Mom.”
    I fell asleep holding on tight to the good feeling between my mother and myself. Maybe I could talk to her about Ellen tomorrow.
    Wanda was full of smiles at the breakfast table the next morning.
    “God, I’m hungry today,” she said, nibbling on a piece of toast.
    “How about an egg?” my mother asked. “I’ll make you an egg if you want it.”
    “No thanks, Mom.” Wanda beamed at her. “Your hair looks nice. I think I like it longer.”
    “I was thinking of getting it cut.”
    “No, no, why don’t you let it grow? You look so . . . so pretty with it long.”
    I paused over my orange and stared at her. It wasn’t like Wanda to be cheerful in the morning. No wonder my mother was uneasy.
    She left most of her toast on her plate as she usually did, stood up and said, “Oh, by the way, Mom, I won’t be home for dinner tonight. I’m going to Marcie’s. We’re going to study together.”
    My mother and I looked at each other.
    “I’ll pick you up,” my mother said.
    “No, that’s all right. Marcie’s father will drop me.”
    “I’ll pick you up,” my mother insisted.
    Wanda was still smiling. She didn’t sense the trap being baited.
    “I don’t know what time we’ll be finished, so . . .”
    “I’ll call you about ten.”
    “No, don’t call.”
    “Why not?”
    “Because . . . because . . .”
    “Because,” said my mother, “because you’re not going to be at Marcie’s house. Because you’re lying.”
    Wanda sat down and looked desperately at me for