" Nonsense. Can't a father call his daughter? I spoke with Hank and knew that you were still working the early shift, so I assumed that it would be al... right to call this early," he said defensively."I love hearing from you, Dad. But I wish you wouldn't use the pretense of concern to find out whether or not Smerelda has shown up here. I would much rather have you call and ask me straight out." Rachel Loren Woodsworth!" His voice was full of pretended shock that she was even suggesting such a. “I told them about being related to Lucky Jim during the flight to the hospital to take their mind off everything else.”She started to ask something, but my glare stopped her.Next, I found the yellow pages that Mom always keeps next to the phone in the kitchen. She refuses to look things up on her cell phone or the Internet. If it isn’t in the Yellow Pages, it doesn’t exist. I called the furniture store I knew my parents used and asked how much their top-of-the-line king-size bed ran, and how. One thing that did bother me was the teacher. She was a woman and Ireally liked her. I know she liked my brothers and thought they werenormal and polite and all that. But I was sure that she hated me. Shewould get mad at the girls for fixing my hair. She would give a speechthat this was not for boys. She also hinted when my mother would give mea haircut. I remember once she tried to embarrass me by saying everyonecould see my tights and to pull my trousers up. I was embarrassed andtears started. I become light headed and everything aches. I tear up from the throbbing between my legs and in my ass and groin. My aunt is talking and I tune back in as she says“—drinking so much. Unless you want to change your flight and stay another night?”“No!” I say too quickly. I see I’ve hurt her feelings and I try and back track.
“I’ve got to get home… the plants.”She nods, kisses me on the forehead and leaves the room. My uncle Jason is there when I leave. His grin wicked as he sees me limping.