Things Remembered by Georgia Bockoven Page A

audition is in Burbank.”
    â€œThen take a cab.”
    â€œDo you have any idea how much that would cost?”
    Karla exploded. “If it’s important, you’ll find a way.”
    â€œIt is important,” Grace said, a catch in her voice. “I’m trying for a part in the new James Bond movie, and my agent says I’m perfect for the role.”
    â€œWhat time is the audition?”
    â€œEight-thirty—in the morning. There’s no way I can get there in time if I take the bus. And you know as well as I do that if I spend the money on a cab, I’ll just have to be short somewhere else.”
    Karla knew she was being manipulated yet couldn’t come up with a reasonable way to extricate herself. What if this really was the audition that would give Grace the break she’d been looking for? Was she going to deny her the opportunity just to prove a point? “You’re going to pay me back,” Karla said. “The day you get a job I expect a check for thirty-one dollars and twenty-five cents from you every week. I don’t care what you have to give up to get it to me, I just want you to know that if I don’t get the check from you, you’ll never get another thing from me as long as I live.” It wasn’t the first time she’d used threats with Grace, but this time she meant every word. Even knowing it was overkill, she couldn’t resist adding, “I’m serious about this, Grace.”
    â€œThirty-one dollars and twenty-five cents. Every week. I got it.”
    â€œPlease don’t let me down this time.”
    â€œI won’t. I promise.” Now that she’d gotten what she wanted, her voice changed to its normal, hurried cadence. “Why don’t you just give me your credit card number and I’ll call him for you.”
    â€œMy purse is upstairs,” Karla lied. “Besides, I should take care of it myself in case he has any questions.”
    Grace laughed. “You don’t trust me. But that’s all right. As long as you call him as soon as we hang up, I’m satisfied.”
    â€œI will.”
    Grace gave Karla the phone number. “Let me know if there’s a problem.”
    â€œWhy don’t I just have the agent call you as soon as I’m finished? That way you’ll know it’s taken care of.”
    â€œYou’re the best, Karla.” Almost as an afterthought, she breezily added, “I love you, Big Sister.”
    â€œI love you, too,” Karla said, but Grace had already hung up.
    As she passed the bathroom on her way upstairs, Karla heard Anna get out of the shower. Only then did she realize Grace hadn’t asked about Anna or bothered to pass on a greeting. The omission bothered Karla more than the loan. Grace had been six years old when they came to live with Anna. She had no real memory of their mother caring for her, only Anna. Anna was Grace’s mother in every way except biological. How could she forget to ask about her now?
    Karla tried to remember what she’d been like at twenty-five. Had she been so caught up in her own life that she was blind to what others were going through? The comparison was useless. Even at twenty-five, Karla had been an old woman. She hadn’t seen it then, but it was painfully clear now.
    The bathroom door opened as Karla passed again on her way back to the kitchen to call the insurance agent.
    â€œDid I hear the phone ring?” Anna asked.
    â€œI thought hearing was one of the things that went when you got old.”
    Anna grinned. “I’ll let you know when I get there.”
    â€œGrace called.”
    â€œOh, I’m sorry I missed her.”
    Karla flinched at Anna’s automatic assumption that Grace had called to talk to her. “She sent her love and said she’ll get back to you in a week or so.”
    Anna tucked her bathrobe closer. “Is she all right?”
    It seemed a strange question