How I Spent My Summer Vacation

by C. Sprite

 

Chapter Fourteen

 

My assignments for Saturday and Sunday were to cover the grand opening of a water slide park and several hours of observing boat launchings at a recreational park along the river, respectively. Both were hardly earth shaking events, but they were important to the people that enjoyed such activities.

Sunday night, as on past weekends, was 'date night'. George, Larry, Kent, and Steve came over and we all went out, mostly to separate destinations. It was too hot for any physical activity, so George and I opted for a nice air-conditioned theater, as did Lizbeth and Larry. Of course the house was air-conditioned, so the rec room provided the perfect after-theater location to complete the evening.

 

Arriving at the station on Monday, I found a note on my desk that told me to report to Mr. Graham's office. I walked upstairs and waited until he was free.

"Come in, Ashley. Have a seat. How have you been getting along?"

"Fine, Mr. Graham," I said as I sat down. "Thank you."

"Mr. Pilere has been to see me today, twice. I assume that you know what he wants."

"Yes, he spoke to me on Friday."

"And how do you feel about it?"

"I told him that I only have about nine more weeks left in my employment time here. I didn't think that you'd want to break in another weather girl at this point."

"But how do you feel about his proposal?"

"I'll do whatever job you want me to do. I've been happy being the weather girl and I'm perfectly content to remain in that position for the remainder of my employment term."

"The position that he'd like you to fill encompasses a great deal more responsibility. It would be a much better recommendation on your resume once you complete college. It might even help you get into the college of your choice."

"I think that my grades are adequate to get me into any college that I could afford. If I was to move to a reporter position, you'd have to start interviewing people again, and Keith might have to fill in again. I know that he'd hate that."

"In this business, people are highly mobile, so I'm used to interviewing people on a regular basis. One of the two runners-up might even still be available for immediate placement. If you were moved to the reporter position, you'd be required to do a lot more work. Instead of just reading off the teleprompter, or conducting interviews for human-interest stories, you'd have to do your homework. You'd have to understand the issues and the background of the people you'd be interviewing. The position pays better because it requires a lot more work."

"I'm not afraid of work, and I'll do whichever job you want, Mr. Graham. I'm perfectly happy were I am, and I'm sure that I'd be happy in the other job."

"You sure are hard to please," he said smiling.

I knew that he was being witty so I didn't respond, other than to smile.

After a few seconds he said, "Okay, Ashley. I'll give the matter some more thought and tell you what I decide. That's all."

"Thank you, Mr. Graham," I said as I left.

 

Little changed over the following weeks. I continued on as the KBXF weather girl at six and ten on weeknights, and I continued to work on fluff pieces on weekends. Mr. Pilere did ask me a couple if times if I had changed my mind, but I always responded that I was happy in my position and would be leaving in the beginning of September. He would just smile and shake his head a little.

Lizbeth and I spent most of our weekdays shopping. She had quite a bit of money from her work at the catering business, and I had quite a bit myself, even though most of my money was deposited into an account that I had opened. Of the slightly over one thousand dollars a week I received in net pay, I never kept out more than one hundred for my spending money.

One of the things that did change was being recognized nearly everywhere I went. People that I had never met would say "Hi Ashley" and continue on while I tried to remember if we'd met. Usually I just smiled and waved.

In mid-July I called the bus station to inquire about my lost luggage. The clerk there told me that I should come in and pick up my bags. Suzanne brought Lizbeth and me to the station on the first morning that she had off.

I told the clerk that I was there to retrieve my suitcases and handed him the receipt. He disappeared into the back and returned with the two bags, asking me to sign a receipt before giving them to me. I signed and he placed the cases on the counter.

Before taking the cases, I opened them to check the contents and discovered that they were both filled with the clothes I had turned in.

"These aren't my cases," I said to the clerk. "These are the cases I turned in."

"Really," he said. "Are you sure?"

"Yes, I am."

"Let me check," he said, disappearing into the back room again. He returned a few minutes later with the claim form that I filed. "You're absolutely correct, Miss James. Your cases were never recovered. Would you like to keep these cases instead? The report says that they're identical to the ones you lost."

"That would replace my cases, but what about my clothes?"

"If you'd prefer, I can offer you a cash settlement of one hundred dollars."

"One hundred dollars? That barely covers the cost of the suitcases."

"That's the bus company's standard claim settlement. It's the best I can do."

Either way I wasn't going to get my jeans so I scowled and took the suitcases. At least I had cases identical to those I'd left home with. Lizbeth took one case and I grabbed the other.

"Don't worry, Ashley," Lizbeth said. "I'll alter these things to fit you. You probably made out better in the long run."

"Except I don't have any jeans for my return home."

"There's still the jeans that you arrived in."

"Yeah, where are they?"

"Oh, they're at the house, don't worry."

I didn't say anything further about it because I knew that I couldn't wear them anyway. I was too well known now to venture outside the house dressed as a boy. It seemed strange that I had once feared stepping outside the house dressed as a girl.

Lizbeth didn't wait once we reached the house, and immediately began to spread the contents of both suitcases around my room.

"Oh, Ashley. You struck gold. I can't believe that these cases were never claimed. Look at these clothes, they're beautiful. Look at this gray suede skirt, with matching jacket and boots. And everything is your size. The shoes and boots are perfect, and we can alter the skirts for your smaller waist. The jacket will be a little tight in the chest, but it's not too bad. The previous owner isn't as well endowed as you are."

Holding up one of the nightgowns in front of me as I stood in front of the mirror, I said, "I don't understand either. These things are absolutely gorgeous. Whoever owned them must be very wealthy to simply forget about these things. I wonder why she was traveling by bus?"

"Maybe she was an eccentric. Look at this fantastic sweater. Try it on."

"It's too warm out for sweaters."

"You don't have to wear it outside today. Just try it on."

I took the sweater and pulled it on over my head.

"That is so you," she said. "'Fix your hair, I want to take a picture."

I grimaced as Lizbeth went to get her digital camera, but I sat down in front of my makeup table and brushed my hair. I also touched up my makeup before Lizbeth returned.

"Stand up over there," she said when she returned. I stood where she'd pointed as she looked through the viewfinder. After a few seconds, she took the picture. I started to move away but she told me to stop.

"It didn't come out good. Let me shoot it again."

I posed for her several more times, but she wasn't satisfied with any of them. "I don't like the background," she said. "It's too busy. It takes too much away from the subject. I know, let's go to the garage. The walls are a light gray in there."

I followed along to the garage and spent the next fifteen minutes posing for Lizbeth. I was starting to get a little irritated, but she suddenly announced that we were done.

"That last one was perfect," she said. "The light coming in from the windows on your left illuminated you perfectly. I didn't use the flash, and the natural sunlight created the perfect look. Want to see?"

I spent the next fifteen minutes posing for Lizbeth.

"Sure." I said, squinting to see the image on the tiny viewing screen on the back of the camera. I was quite used to seeing my image as a woman, and thought of myself that way most of the time. I had almost lost touch with my male self, and it only resurfaced when I was bathing or using the bathroom. "It looks a lot better than those pictures of me at the dance."

"Those were classics also," she said grinning. "Not because of their artistic quality though. Come on, Ashley; let's see about altering your new clothes."

 

We spent the next few hours working on the clothes, with me as a model and Lizbeth as a seamstress. I still had a month left on my punishment sentence so I couldn't refuse to cooperate, but it would have been nice if I could have worn them as they were. Lizbeth created a lot of extra work for herself because of her insistence that they hug my form. The gray suede skirt gave her the most problem, because of the thickness of the leather, but she managed to get it done before I left. She had altered the waist to twenty-one inches, and taken it in so much that I had to wiggle my way into it. She had left it almost knee length, and I couldn't see where I'd have an opportunity to wear it because in mid-July it was far too warm for suede skirts and boots. Lizbeth was still working at her sewing machine when I left with Nicole.

 

The following Saturday morning, Dennis and I were sent out to cover an antique car show. After he had shot footage of all the cars, I interviewed a few owners, and did a report about the event. I was still wearing the clothes from the boutique during weather reports, but wore my own clothes on weekends. I guess that I had dressed a little too sexy because a crowd of males followed us wherever we went. Sometimes people simply want to get their face on television, but these guys didn't care about that and never stopped looking at me in the extra tight mini-skirt. I was glad when we were done because I was tired of being gawked at with suggestive expressions.

It was still before ten a.m. when Dennis picked up something on his scanner while we headed back to the station. He turned the van around and floored the accelerator.

"What's up?" I asked.

"Some kind of accident on the interstate near an overpass. They're calling for a dozen fire-trucks and a dozen ambulances. Must be serious."

Arriving at the scene, we immediately recognized the problem, and the danger. A fuel tanker truck had flipped on the overpass and fuel was leaking down onto the interstate highway below. Traffic had been stopped, but not before a dozen cars and trucks had crashed after skidding through the slippery, dripping fuel that covered the eastbound traffic lanes.

Dennis immediately prepared the truck for a live uplink and made contact with the station. I spent the time talking with the few police and fire officials that would give me a minute. As soon as the truck and equipment was ready, we started shooting footage. I did an introduction, quoting from the information that I had learned, and Dennis panned the overturned fuel tanker, the accident scene below, and the long lines of backed up traffic.

We spent the next several hours at the accident scene, broadcasting almost continuously on instruction from the station, as fire trucks arrived to spray fire retardant foam, ambulances took the injured away to area hospitals, and state police helicopters circled continuously above. Another tanker truck arrived and was able to offload the fuel that still remained in the crashed truck. Things became quite a bit calmer once that was completed. Wreckers moved in and cleared the damaged vehicles, including the tanker that had caused the problem.

My throat was dry after talking for hours. I knew that local programming had been interrupted and my reports were going out live. As when I was in the studio, I had people talking in my earphone while I was trying to give my report, and I was asked questions about the accident that I tried to answer. I managed to bring in several officials during the broadcasts to talk about the accident, victims, and possible repercussions, such as delayed traffic and damage to the overpass and interstate highway.

It was almost six p.m. by the time we packed up and headed back to the station.

 

The incredibly hot and humid weeks of July slowly turned into the slightly more comfortable weeks of August. Perhaps it was because I had essentially turned down the news reporter position, a fact that had circulated around the station in hours, or perhaps it was something else, but I didn't have any more problems with Kay Peterson. Still, I was always on my guard when I was around her. During the broadcast you'd think that we were the best of friends, but as soon as it was over, the friendly dialogue shut down faster than the very bright, expensive, studio lights. If anyone else held any hostility towards me it wasn't evident. I think that everyone knew by then I was leaving at the end of the month, and posed no threat to their chances for promotion.

After two months, I was as comfortable in the role as weather girl as I was ever going to be. No matter what glitches were thrown at me I 'weathered the storm'. There had been a couple of minor things, such as when the device that I used to change the image on the screen, refused to work. And another time the teleprompter suddenly went blank for a few seconds. But I carried on as though nothing was wrong, adlibbing a line or two until the problem was either resolved or I managed a way around it.

During the first week of August I was told to report to Mr. Graham's office. With just three and a half weeks of employment left, I wondered why I was being called in now, but he was the station manager and, like always, I hurried to his office.

"Come in Ashley. Have a seat."

I sat down on the couch across from his desk and crossed my legs.

"Have you thought any more about moving here and remaining with the station?"

"Of course, Mr. Graham. I think about it all the time because it was such a wonderful offer and opportunity. But it's just not practical. It's been a great experience working here and I'm sorry that I have to leave. I've been very happy here, and I'll really miss everyone very much."

"If you find that you'd like to stay, you'll have a job here. You've been a real asset to the station and you're always in a cheerful mood. We really hate to lose you. For that matter, if you think that you'll be here next summer, I'll make sure a position is available for you."

"Thank you, Mr. Graham. It's a little too early to predict what will happen between now and then, but I'd love to work here again. If I expect to come out here, I'll contact you to see if something is available.

"Fine, Ashley."

"Uh, is there anything else?"

"Yes, there is, as a matter of fact. Kay Peterson has signed a contract with a station in San Francisco. She'll be leaving on the fifteenth of this month. We don't feel that any of our regular reporters can handle the job so we've hired someone from outside the station."

"I know that the news won't be taken very well by a couple of people that have had their eye on her position."

"Yes, I know there'll be some disappointment, but we can't place people in positions they're not suited for. Perhaps with a few more years' experience, they'll be able to handle the job when it opens up again."

I nodded.

"Anyway, I called you in here to ask a very special favor. I wondered if you'd fill in for Kay until the new person starts?"

"Fill in?"

"Yes, we need someone for a few weeks. The new person can't be here until Labor Day, because her present station won't release her from her contract until then. It's a small station with only one anchor during the week. They only broadcast the news at noon and six."

"I'll be happy to help, but I'm supposed to start school the day after Labor Day."

"That's not a problem. You'll be done on the fifth. That will give you three days to get home for school. It only takes a couple of hours by air."

"I came by bus. I still have my return ticket."

"The station will buy you a plane ticket."

I thought about it for a few seconds before saying, "Okay, Mr. Graham. I'm your girl. I'll do it for the three weeks."

"Wonderful."

"What about the weather?"

"We'll find someone to do it. Don't worry about it."

"Maybe I could handle it also."

"I think that it would be too much. You'll have your hands full with just the news. The anchor position is a lot more work. You not only have to read the news, you have to understand it. Otherwise, it'll be obvious that you're not prepared. As soon as you get in each day you'll have to read the stories coming in from the news services. If you don't understand something, you'll have to seek help from one of the newsroom staff, or ask in the daily meeting. You have two weeks so I suggest that you start watching as much nightly news as you can stand. Once you begin the new job you won't be expected to handle assignments on the weekends."

"I've been listening to Don and Kay every evening for the past two months, so I think that I'm current on the news."

"You have to be more than current. You'll have to have an in-depth understanding. I know that you can do it, and that you'll be ready, but doing the weather reporting would add another layer that you don't need on your shoulders when you're starting a new job."

"Okay, Mr. Graham."

"Good girl. I wish that we could have talked you into staying on here, but we understand. Perhaps the television station in your hometown has a position open. I'll be happy to give you a reference that will make them eager to hire you."

"Thank you, Mr. Graham. If I decide to apply, I'll use you as a reference."

"You do that. Thank you, Ashley. Be prepared to start your new duties at three o'clock on the eighteenth. That's all."

"Okay, Mr. Graham. Thank you."

As I walked back to my desk, I knew that I'd never use Mr. Graham's name as a reference, but after he generously offered I couldn't very well not thank him.

 

The news that I was replacing Kay was all over the station by the next day, and people were congratulating me from the second I arrived. I thought that they were making too big a fuss, considering I was only going to be in the job for three weeks, but then I learned that that particular piece of information hadn't been circulated. So I spent the next few hours explaining that I was only filling in until the new anchor arrived.

Even Kay Peterson congratulated me, and I congratulated her and wished her well in San Francisco. She took the opportunity to tell me about her new job and the station where she was going. I listened attentively and smiled at all the right places. By the time she was done talking, I expected her to invite me to a 'girl's night out' but she thankfully stopped short of that. With any luck, her excitement would last until her final broadcast because she was being more pleasant than at other time since I'd met her.

 

Arriving at the station on the eighteenth, I walked to my desk near the weather-monitoring lab, but was informed by Mr. Pilere's assistant that I should move my things. I thought it was silly to move for just three weeks, but I guess that the new temporary weather person would want to use my old desk.

I followed her through the newsroom and down a hallway, passing through two doors, and eventually into a small office.

"Here's your desk, Miss James," she said, pointing to the only desk in the office.

"I get an office?" I asked incredulously.

"Yes, each anchor has an office. The computer has already been set up to accept the same password that you used as a weather person, but the permission level has been changed and you now have full access to the news stories instead of just the weather scripts."

"Thank you."

"Let me know if you need anything," she said before leaving, closing the door behind her.

I stepped behind the desk and opened a couple of drawers in the desk. Kay had cleaned out everything before leaving, and it looked like the cleaning crew had thoroughly cleaned the desk and office. I dropped my purse into the file drawer and sat down. Powering up the computer, I started reviewing the day's news stories. I had been devouring the news for the past couple of weeks, paying extra close attention to the broadcasts while I was working, and watching the cable news networks for at least two hours each morning. Lizbeth had begun to complain that I was spending too much time watching television, but I considered it homework.

At five minutes past four, Mr. Pilere's assistant came to my Office. "Miss James, they're waiting for you in the conference room."

"What? Who's waiting?"

"The senior news staff. The meeting started five minutes ago."

Jumping up, I hurried to the conference room and endured the stares of everyone there as I sat down in the only available chair. "I'm sorry for holding everyone up. I didn't know that I was supposed to be here."

"It's okay, Ashley," Mr. Pilere said. "We realize that this is all new to you. Just be here at four o'clock every weekday from now on."

"Yes, sir. I will."

Over the next hour, the day's news stories and their order of presentation in the broadcast was discussed. A couple of stories from the earlier broadcasts were dropped and a couple of new stories were added. When we broke up I asked Don to explain a couple of points and he helped me understand the things that had gone over my head during the meeting. I went back to my office to study the wire service stories a little more.

At five-thirty I walked to the makeup room. Claire was alone so she started on me right away. Don came in about five minutes later and took his usual seat.

"All set for the big debut?" he asked.

"All set. My head is stuffed with news stories."

"Nervous?"

"A little, but it's not much different than doing the weather, except I'll be talking longer."

"Before my first broadcast I was as nervous as a ten-year-old Tennessee bride on her wedding night," Don said. "I came in after having been a reporter for five years. I was used to doing my reports on tape, and if I flubbed a line, I'd mutter a small epithet under my breath and start the report again. Doing a live broadcast scared the ever-living hell out of me."

"I'd probably be just as nervous if I hadn't been doing the weather for two and half months. It was great experience for this job."

"It probably wouldn't have made much of a difference with you. Dennis tells me that you only tape a second report in case there's a mechanical problem with the equipment. Your first report has been the one the station's used every time."

Claire finished with me and moved to Don.

"The only thing worrying me is that they'll insert a new story and I won't know how to pronounce the names."

"Don't let that bother you. Someone in the control room will correct you immediately if that happens. Just do what I do, pretend to clear your throat, then pronounce it correctly."

I smiled. "Okay, Don. Thanks."

The door to the makeup room opened and Keith, the meteorologist, walked in.

"Keith," I said, "are you doing the weather report tonight?"

"Yes. Paula isn't able to return early and Virginia, Diane, and Charles have too many commitments. Paula promises to be back in three weeks, as scheduled, and the others will try to fill in where they can between now and then."

"I'm sorry to be the cause of you losing your evenings."

"It's not your fault, Ashley; it happens in this business. I'm happy that you're getting a chance to co-anchor. The show must go on."

 

When Don was cued, he welcomed the audience, introduced himself, and then made the announcement about me.

"Those viewers watching this past Friday know that Kay Peterson has left KBXF-TV for a position with a station in San Francisco. A new co-anchor has been hired, but for the next several weeks Ashley James, who has turned in her weathergirl hat to join me here at the desk, will fill in as co-anchor. Ashley?"

"Thank you, Don. I'm sure everyone wishes Kay all the happiness in the world at her new job, and I'll try to fill her shoes ably. Our top news story this evening-- ." I began reading from the teleprompter and I was glad to see that the top story hadn't changed for my first story from the desk.

The broadcast went well and before I knew it we were saying goodnight. Most of the lights were turned off, leaving us in very low light as the credits rolled, and then we heard, "we're off" in our earphones.

Don was the first to congratulate me, followed by Keith and most of the crew. I hadn't felt any more nervous than when I did the weather, but there was a lot more going on in my earphone, and trying to concentrate on reading the story while absorbing control room instructions without showing sign of being distracted, was the most difficult part of the hour. Luckily, I hadn't encountered any difficult names during my first broadcast from the desk.

After thanking everyone, I walked to the makeup room with Don where we wiped off the heavy cosmetics and I fixed my face.

"It's a damned shame," Don said to me.

"What's a shame?"

"That you're going back to Massachusetts and relative seclusion. If I'd had your talent when I was your age, I'd be working the anchor desk at one of the big three networks these days. There must a station near your home that would love to have you working there."

"I'll check with the local stations after I return home," I said, knowing that I couldn't. Unable to reference my broadcasting experience here, I knew that a high-school student applying for a reporter position probably couldn't even get the time of day from a local station manager.

 

The next few days were uneventful, but on Friday I received a shock that sent me hurrying to Mr. Graham's office. I knew that I wasn't expected to work on weekends now because the extra preparation work placed a heavier demand on my weekday time, but I hadn't expected my paycheck to change. I sat outside Mr. Graham's office until he was able to see me.

"Come in, Ashley. I've been meaning to tell you what a wonderful job you're doing as co-anchor with Don. You two work together as well as he and Kay did; perhaps better."

"Thank you, Mr. Graham. I feel very comfortable working with Don." I paused for a couple of seconds before continuing. "Mr. Graham, I just received my paycheck. I hadn't expected the gross to change. Is there a mistake?"

"No, I don't think so. We decided that since you're filling in for Kay, and doing such an outstanding job at it, you should receive the same pay that she did."

I nodded. "You're making it awfully difficult for me to leave KBXF."

"We're doing our best. We hoped that you might reconsider and agree to stay on. The co-anchor position is gone, but we'll find a place for you. We'll do whatever we can to help you and your mother settle here. We'll help you find a house, and help your Mom find a new job. That should tell you how much we want you here."

"I really appreciate it, Mr. Graham. I really do. But I have to stick by my decision."

"Okay, Ashley. But if you change your mind, the offer remains open."

"Thank you, Mr. Graham."

 

The end of summer began to fly at me after that. Even with my weekends free, I couldn't believe how quickly the days passed. Lizbeth and I shopped almost everyday, usually running into some of her friends getting their fall, school wardrobe ready. On weekends I would lay around the pool during the day, and go out with George in the evenings. My cousins worked every weekend, and I felt a little guilty about not being able to help, but having the weekends off was wonderful.

On my last day at the station, I walked around and said goodbye to everyone. I was sad to be leaving but I had a lot of great memories to take with me. During the last few minutes of my final broadcast, Don told the audience that I was leaving to return to school and said how much he and the other station employees would miss me. I got a little choked up and struggled to suppress the tears.

At half past eleven o'clock, I left the station for the last time. Suzanne was there to pick me up and drive me to the house. I had an airline ticket for Sunday, but I was really sad about going. I wished with all my being that there was a way I could stay.

 

My three cousins left for the catering shop early Saturday morning. I suppose that I could have joined them, being that I was no longer employed by KBXF, but I wanted to have a last day of summer before I left. Tomorrow I'd say goodbye to my cousins as they left for work, and then take a taxi to the airport. But today I intended to enjoy myself.

I spent the morning and early afternoon by the pool, and then began getting ready for my final date with George. We were going out to dinner and then to a movie, with our final destination being a couch in the rec room. Of course, by that time my cousins would be home, and I didn't know how much privacy we'd have.

As I dressed for my date, I decided not to wear a corset. Having worn one every day, and every night, for months, my waist had narrowed sufficiently to fit into any of my clothes without it. I knew that my waist would slowly expand now that I wouldn't be wearing one anymore, as my internal organs settled back into previous positions, and I wondered how long my shape would continue to look so decidedly feminine.

Like most of my clothes, the plum colored skirt and semi-transparent long sleeved white blouse that I'd selected for tonight, hugged my form. Although my punishment sentence was over I was still wearing the clothes that Lizbeth had altered. I had so many clothes, that I hadn't wanted to spend any more of the funds intended for my college fund to procure more. I still didn't have a pair of shoes with heels less than four inches, and many were five inches. The only shoes that matched this skirt had five-inch heels.

 

George picked me up at six and drove us to a seafood restaurant downtown. I had a shrimp cocktail appetizer followed by a scallop dinner while he had a shrimp cocktail and a dinner of oysters. Of course we shared a little of each other's meal, but I didn't care for the raw oysters. As we enjoyed our deserts, a young girl approached the table and asked for my autograph. I had been asked a couple of dozen times over the summer and I was always flattered to give it.

The movie that we went to see wasn't memorable, but we had a good time anyway. I knew that George was anxious to get to the house because he was feeling very amorous. Perhaps it was the oysters?

As I dug through my purse for the key to the front door, George pulled me to him. I knew that I'd have to give in if I expected to get away long enough to find my key and open the door, so I leaned my head back as he bent his head towards mine. Our lips met and we kissed. I felt his tongue and parted my lips to allow him entry into my mouth as I wrapped my arms around his neck. He lowered his hands and began kneading my tush.

Suddenly the light over the front door popped on and I heard the door open. I wasn't embarrassed about kissing in front of my cousins, but I knew that they'd make some remark if we didn't come up for air soon, so I slowly tried to disentangle myself from George. I pushed his tongue out of my mouth and lowered my arms. He took the hint and relaxed his grip on my tush. As I looked towards the front door, I froze and dropped my purse to the porch floor. My stomach started doing flips and I pressed my left hand against it to hold it down.

"Mom!" I exclaimed loudly.

(continued)

  

  

  

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