The History of Great Things

The History of Great Things by Elizabeth Crane Read Free Book Online

Book: The History of Great Things by Elizabeth Crane Read Free Book Online
Authors: Elizabeth Crane
a sophomore at a nice private high school on the Upper West Side. We’ve chosen this school because it’s safer than the public school in our neighborhood.
    â€”Hey, Mom, can we talk about that?
    â€”What about it?
    â€”Does anything about that strike you as—not quite right?
    â€”What’s wrong about it?
    â€”I guess I just wonder if you were worried about my safety more than you were about my education?
    â€”Sure I was.
    â€” . . .
    â€”The neighborhood was still rough then, Betsy. The school you would have gone to had a reputation for being dangerous.
    â€” . . .
    â€”I don’t understand what you find so wrong with what I’m saying.
    â€”What about the quality of my education?
    â€”We didn’t pick just any school, if that’s what you mean. This one didn’t require uniforms.
    â€”Okay. Moving on.
    Tonight’s dinner conversation is not to your liking, even though it’s not all that different from any other night’s dinner conversation. Mostly business. You see it otherwise.
    Can I be excused? you ask.
    This is the real world. Get used to it , your stepfather says. It’s not my world , you say. Don’t be naive, Betsy. Stop always saying that! You think because you have one Jewish friend who isn’t greedy that what’s true isn’t true? Well, who is good, to you, Victor? Seriously, what people are okay? Are we okay? Obviously not all white people are okay, because I know how you feel about Jews and gay people.
    You better shape up, Betsy , he says.
    You go to your room and close the door to call your best friend. They’re so prejudiced, Nina. It’s awful , you say. Oh, Betsy, I’m sure they’re not , she says. There are like no people they don’t talk shit about. I’m sure they don’t mean it. Don’t be naive, Nina.
    You are decades away from recognizing what you just said as having anything to do with anything.
    Later, when I think you may have calmed down, I knock quietly on your door and open it a crack. It’s just me.
    I can see that you’re not over it.
    Betsy, you know how Victor is. Don’t let it get to you , I say. Why am I supposed to be the one who changes? you ask. Because he won’t. Well, I won’t either. Mom, why don’t you ever disagree with him? Considering some of what you’ve told me about Grandpa I would think you would have something to say. How can you complain about his prejudice when you have your own? That was totally different , I say. How was it different? It seems exactly the same. Have I ever said you couldn’t be friends with someone because of their race or religion? Because that’s what it was like when I was growing up. But what difference does it make if you still think and say awful things about them? We would never say those things to their face. I know! That’s my point! Betsy,come on, we have Jewish friends and gay friends, I’ve sung with people of every color and background. There are always exceptions. Oh my god! Well, there are. So you agree with him. Not on everything, no, of course not. How come when he gets going on me you never say anything? What? You never defend me, ever. It’s like, when he goes off on me is like the only time you don’t have something to say. Sweetheart. . . . Forget it, Mom. Can I be alone now please?

Cornices
    A junior in high school, you haven’t been dating yet because you go to a small school and there aren’t a lot of choices. By winter, Nina is on her second or third serious boyfriend already; it is decided that they will fix you up on a blind double date with them and his friend Ed. After some deliberation, you pick out a striped button-down shirt and the gray cashmere V-neck sweater you got on sale in the men’s department at Charivari, with a pair of high-waisted jeans and blue Wallabees. Maybe a nice necklace? I could lend you something. No thanks, Mom. What about a

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