The following is an excerpt from Chapter 23: Prom.  Click here to read the chapter in its entirety for just $0.99

Chapter 23:  Prom

            “I’m glad that you guys are still pulling it off,” Judy said as Ruth and Beth completed their class work for the day.  “I’m just glad we’re going to get it done.”

“All right, mom,” Ruth countered as her mom walked away.  She watched her leave before leaning over to Beth and complaining, “You know, it’s almost a month later and she still tells people that I’m going to St. Bart’s?”

“Well,” Beth said through a smile, “You know you kinda do…”

“No, I’m emailed busy work from St. Bart’s.  I wouldn’t slow down to watch that place burn to the ground.”

“So, you’re driving past it then?” Beth joked.

“Whatever,” Ruth tried to smile, “I just don’t get why so much of all of this still kinda feels like it’s for her,” she said while motioning toward her mom, “I want to ask how important all of this diploma stuff really is or, I don’t know, if the Real Housewives of the Desert don’ like thinking that someone’s daughter is…I don’t know what, but whatever it is I am…”

“I don’t know,” Beth said while gazing into the backyard, “It’s over with, you know?  You got another month and then you’re done.  Just keep cool and it’ll be done.”

“Since when did you start sounding like me?”

“Probably immediately following you sounding like me,” Beth retorted as they both laughed.

“Oh?  Judy pushed her head around the corner from the kitchen, “What’s so funny in there?”

“Nothing, mom,” Ruth responded without being able to keep her irritation swallowed.

Judy walked in while drying her hands off.  She paused while looking down at her daughter and her friend.  Ruth’s eyes began darting around the room.  “Great,” she thought, “She heard everything I said…”

“So, we’ve been talking,” Judy started, “And we think that you guys ought to have a prom.”

Ruth and Beth sat in stunned silence and looked at each other before Ruth turned back to her mother and said, “Seriously?  You want us to go back the zoo?”

“No!” Judy interrupted, “No, we’ve been talking and we think that you should be able to have a little party.  We’ll find a ballroom for you to rent and get a DJ and you can dress in the formal stuff and take pictures and make it fun.  Like you would be going to real prom.”

“All right,” Beth said, “I think that sounds really awesome.  Eh, Ruth?  Real prom, but you know, without Lucy getting punched in the face…”

Ruth smirked for a while as she looked up silently at her mother.  “All right,” she agreed with Beth.

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Contact DS Palmer at dspalmer@lexmallabooks.com