Out of Bounds by Annie Bryant Page A

not Katharine,” Maeve said.
    â€œSorry,” Isabel said.
    â€œWasn’t she in Chicago ?” Avery asked. She hadn’t seen the movie, but she’d heard the name.
    â€œThat’s Catherine Zeta-Jones,” Katani said.
    â€œThat’s it. Avery…Isabel…your movie education is in serious jeopardy. I cannot work under these conditions! We have to have a screening right now,” Maeve said, marching off the stage.
    â€œWhere are you going?” Isabel asked.
    â€œTo talk to my father,” Maeve said, and walked out of the theater.
    Maeve saw the light on in the office and barged right in. “Dad, Dad, can we screen a Katharine Hepburn film? Can you believe Isabel and Avery don’t even know who she is?”
    Maeve’s father looked up from his desk with an expression on his face that immediately silenced Maeve. Mr. Taylor was not alone. There was someone in the office with him.
    â€œMaeve, I’d like you to meet Mr. Callahan from Citibank of Boston. Mr. Callahan, this is my daughter, Maeve.”
    Maeve extended her hand with the most movie charm she could muster. With just a hint of a southern accent, she held out her hand and said, “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Callahan.”
    But something was up, and Maeve knew it. Although Mr. Callahan was clearly amused by the greeting, her dad didn’t smile. She must have looked alarmed, because her father explained right away. “Mr. Callahan is here because I have applied for a second mortgage on the theater.”
    Maeve had no idea what a second mortgage was. She wasn’t even all that sure what a first mortgage was.
    â€œCould we talk about Katharine Hepburn later? Mr. Callahan and I have some things to discuss.” Maeve’s father walked her to the door.
    â€œBut Dad,” Maeve said. “The BSG just wanted…”
    â€œWe’ll talk over dinner,” he said, cutting her off. Then, trying to recover, he smiled. “This is my night to make dinner with you and your brother, isn’t it?”
    Maeve just nodded. Things must be really bad if he had forgotten about tonight. For a week, they had had plans to make their own pizza tonight. They were all looking forward to it. At least Maeve and Sam were.
    When she got back to her friends, Maeve’s whole demeanor had changed.
    â€œMaeve, are you okay?” Isabel asked.
    â€œDoes anybody know what a second mortgage is?” Maeve looked as confused as she felt.
    â€œSure,” said Isabel. Her parents were both accountants. She was familiar with the lingo.
    â€œMy dad’s trying to get a second mortgage on the theater. Why would he do that?” Maeve asked Isabel.
    â€œMy dad says people sometimes get a second mortgage when they want to make improvements on a property, and need to borrow some money to do that,” Isabel said. “Or because interest rates are low and their monthly payments would be less.” Everyone stared at her. “I know,” she laughed. “I sound like an accountant. But my parents think it’s important to know this stuff.”
    â€œI totally agree,” said Katani. “Girls totally need to learn about money.” Money and how to manage it was Katani’s new passion. Most girls her age were thinking about school, sports, and boys. Not Katani. She thought about business and money and how she could use it to help people.
    â€œMaybe your father wants to do the place over,” Charlotte suggested, thinking of what a beautiful theater it would be after some restoration work.
    â€œOr sometimes people do it when they need money to pay bills,” Isabel said.
    â€œOh God, do you think he needs money? I mean, with the two apartments and all, and my mother’s only been ableto work part time.” Maeve was beginning to sound tearful.
    â€œDon’t worry,” Katani said. “I’m sure it’s something positive.” Katani knew