the carrot of athletic involvement. “Your studies come first,” Jeremy had insisted when they discussed expectations going into Maya’s freshman year. “We’re very proud of your accomplishments in volleyball but if your grades suffer, we’re taking you out.” Maya’s grades never slipped, and she continued to improve on the court.
Under Alicia’s orders, neither Maya nor Kate were allowed to date, something Kate was surprised Cara complied with, as she thought this issue should be solely under her mother’s authority. In front of Cara, Alicia informed the girls, “We’ll talk about it when you two are juniors, and not before. I care too much about you both to let you get all caught up in things you’re better off waiting to experience.” Her mother didn’t even consider her outrage over receiving social restrictions from a neighbor, even a close one. “She’s right on this, Kate. I want you to listen to her.” Kate huffed and marched away.
Not that she had any specific prospects. She maintained her bookworm social status and prided herself in getting good grades. She had to really work for them in math but she did the work and received the resulting As. She also participated in speech and drama, which she enjoyed because they tied together her interests in written and oral communications. Outside of school, she still loved to garden, cook, and read. Every moment she wasn’t engaged in those activities, she helped out at the library, which remained her favorite haunt whenever she could steal away.
As threatened, Carmen and Michael home-schooled Gabe for all of senior high, meaning Kate and Maya no longer saw him during the week, although their families still got together on weekends. Kate sorely missed Gabe’s quick, incisive wit at school. Neither she nor Maya came up with the same sarcastic asides Gabe did, which had so often made difficult social situations palatable. She felt as if she and Maya lost half of their personality when he transferred.
She continued to spend two weeks each summer with her aunt and uncle in Philadelphia, where she reveled in the luxury of their impeccable home, signed up for an interesting class or two, and cooked like a maniac in their fabulous kitchen. As she got older though, she started to see through the story they told her about their life, the fervency with which they represented themselves eventually fostering skepticism over the perfect image they worked to project.
On the subject of children, for example, Dana had something to prove. “I see what it does to women I’ve worked with, Kate. It’s a rare person who doesn’t falter on the job after having kids. I mean, they’re always sick, or have kept their parents up at night, or mom and dad need time off to be at some school event. I know this sounds harsh but I just think it makes you exhausted and unable to perform.” Her philosophy on this subject was typically followed by her philosophy in general. “It’s an unpleasant truth, maybe but a truth nonetheless: you can’t give it all to your career and raise a family. And everyone needs to work.”
Kate couldn’t help but think of her mother on these occasions. Granted, her mom was no tycoon but she made a living and enjoyed community support for the job she did. During the times Kate had been sick, or her mother needed help at the library, board members or volunteers pitched in. Kate questioned if work and family needed to be classified in the black-and-white terms Dana ascribed to them; although she conceded the ongoing lifestyle Dana and Will had might require stricter rules of engagement. And while she loved and admired her mom, Kate still wondered if her aunt’s lifestyle wasn’t worth the price.
Her mother was always sad when she hinted at these ideas. “Oh, honey. The desire to have children, or be part of something bigger than yourself in this life is healthy.” She took her hand. “You’re too smart and too kind-hearted to be happy with
Under Alicia’s orders, neither Maya nor Kate were allowed to date, something Kate was surprised Cara complied with, as she thought this issue should be solely under her mother’s authority. In front of Cara, Alicia informed the girls, “We’ll talk about it when you two are juniors, and not before. I care too much about you both to let you get all caught up in things you’re better off waiting to experience.” Her mother didn’t even consider her outrage over receiving social restrictions from a neighbor, even a close one. “She’s right on this, Kate. I want you to listen to her.” Kate huffed and marched away.
Not that she had any specific prospects. She maintained her bookworm social status and prided herself in getting good grades. She had to really work for them in math but she did the work and received the resulting As. She also participated in speech and drama, which she enjoyed because they tied together her interests in written and oral communications. Outside of school, she still loved to garden, cook, and read. Every moment she wasn’t engaged in those activities, she helped out at the library, which remained her favorite haunt whenever she could steal away.
As threatened, Carmen and Michael home-schooled Gabe for all of senior high, meaning Kate and Maya no longer saw him during the week, although their families still got together on weekends. Kate sorely missed Gabe’s quick, incisive wit at school. Neither she nor Maya came up with the same sarcastic asides Gabe did, which had so often made difficult social situations palatable. She felt as if she and Maya lost half of their personality when he transferred.
She continued to spend two weeks each summer with her aunt and uncle in Philadelphia, where she reveled in the luxury of their impeccable home, signed up for an interesting class or two, and cooked like a maniac in their fabulous kitchen. As she got older though, she started to see through the story they told her about their life, the fervency with which they represented themselves eventually fostering skepticism over the perfect image they worked to project.
On the subject of children, for example, Dana had something to prove. “I see what it does to women I’ve worked with, Kate. It’s a rare person who doesn’t falter on the job after having kids. I mean, they’re always sick, or have kept their parents up at night, or mom and dad need time off to be at some school event. I know this sounds harsh but I just think it makes you exhausted and unable to perform.” Her philosophy on this subject was typically followed by her philosophy in general. “It’s an unpleasant truth, maybe but a truth nonetheless: you can’t give it all to your career and raise a family. And everyone needs to work.”
Kate couldn’t help but think of her mother on these occasions. Granted, her mom was no tycoon but she made a living and enjoyed community support for the job she did. During the times Kate had been sick, or her mother needed help at the library, board members or volunteers pitched in. Kate questioned if work and family needed to be classified in the black-and-white terms Dana ascribed to them; although she conceded the ongoing lifestyle Dana and Will had might require stricter rules of engagement. And while she loved and admired her mom, Kate still wondered if her aunt’s lifestyle wasn’t worth the price.
Her mother was always sad when she hinted at these ideas. “Oh, honey. The desire to have children, or be part of something bigger than yourself in this life is healthy.” She took her hand. “You’re too smart and too kind-hearted to be happy with
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