the squeaky clean legacy, 17.2a: the truth shall make you fret, part 1
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The truth is hard to find, and it can hurt.TRANSCRIPT
The Squeaky Clean Legacy, Chapter 17.2 “The truth shall make you fret” Part One
Asyoumayremember,ourlastchapterendedwithGenera7onNineheiressElaineGoodytwoshoesfallinginlovewithAngusPleasant.
Elaine:Palomides?I’vegotthemostexci7ngnews!
Whatdoyoumean,youalreadyknow?
Palomides:Hi,Elaine.Ithinksomepeoplewanttotalktoyouinside.
Gawaine:NowwhatisallthisIhearaboutAngusPleasant?
Elaine:Howdidyouknow?
Gawaine:Elaine,EVERYBODYknows!
Parsifal:It’snotasthoughthepublicdisplaysofaffec7onaresubtle.
Gawaine:Theycertainlyaren’t.Parsifal:Andwearegreatlyconcernedaboutyou.
Gawaine:Foronething,we’reworriedthathe’llskeweryoutodeathwithhisnose.
Parsifal:AndIdowishyouwouldthinkaboutyourfuturechildren.
Gawaine:Soasyourbrothers,we’vedecidedtotalksomesenseintoyou.Wearesworntoprotectyou,fromyourselfifnecessary.
Gawaine:Inaddi7ontowhich,youwouldbebreakinglegacytradi7on.
Palomides:Inaddi7ontowhich,Ijustdon’tlikehim.
Parsifal:Elaine,ItalkedtoUncleLyUon.Hecheckedthrougheverythingandthereisn’tonesingleinstanceofaGoodytwoshoesheiressmarryingaplayable.
I’msosorry.
Elaine:You’realljustenviousbecauseIhavesomeonewholovesmeandnoneofyoudo.
Palomides:Sayswho?
Palomides:I’vebeenda7ngStacieforweeks.
Elaine:Ididn’tknowthat.
Palomides:Youdidn’task.
Elaine:You’reda7ngthegirlwhobringsthegroceries?
Palomides:What’swrongwithgroceries?Ilovegroceries.Ibettherearealotofmenwhowishtheirgirlfriendswouldbringthemgroceries.
Palomides:She’llalsopreUyandniceandgreatcompany.Idon’tcarewhatshedoesforaliving.
Palomides:AndIhavetoadmit,shealsopayssometerrificcompliments.
Gawaine:Soasyoureldestbrother,I’mgoingtohavetoforbidyoutoseeAngusPleasantagain.
Elaine:Youforbidme?Whatdoyoumean,forbid?I’mnotaliUlegirlanymore,Gawaine.You’retheeldest,butIamtheheiress.
Elaine:AndAngusandIloveeachother,whichissomethingyou’llneverunderstand,andyoucan’tstopus!
Palomides:Elaine,pleaselisten.Idon’tlikehim.Idon’tknowwhyIdon’t,butIdon’t.Somethingabouthimreallycreepsmeout.
Elaine:Nevermind!Icanseeyouallyoucareaboutisthelegacy.Youdon’tcareaboutme!Youdon’twantmetobehappy!Youjustdon’tunderstand.
Gawaine:Elaine?Wait!Elaine!Wedidn’tmean...
Argh.
Parsifal:Well,thatprobablycouldhavegonebeUer.
RaquelCentowski:Mr.Goodytwoshoes?I’mheretoarrestyouforbeingachauvinis7c,insensi7vejerk.
Gawaine:You’vebeentalkingtomysister,haven’tyou?
Raquel:Justkidding.I’mreallycomingtotakeyoutothesecretsociety.
Gawaine:Itdoesn’tmaUer.Iprobablydeserveit.
Youwon’tseemuchoftheotherboysthis7me,butasunpleasantasBunthornecanbe,hehasendearedhimselftomebydoingthis.
ALOT.Hehasbecomethefraternity’sunofficialcowhunter.
Bunthorne:Theques7onis,cudbreath,areyoufeelinglucky?
OveratGoodygirls,alotofda7ngistakingplace.
BecauseElaineisright.Therereallyisn’tanythingGawaine,Parsifal,andPalomidescandotostopher.
(LinusHanbyisalsoright.Elaineisverycute.)
Elaine:Don’tworry,Angus.Iwon’tletthembreakusup.Theyjustdon’tunderstandus.
Angus:You’reswell,Elaine.Didyouknowyousmelllike(uh. . . What’s that over there?)um,roses?
Elaine:Youaresosweet!Mm,comehere.
Regina:Sigh.Don’tmindme.I’mjustonmywaytoclass.
Angus:Iwonder...
...whoHEis?
Elaine:Ian!Ithoughtyoudidn’treallymeanitaboutbeingfriends.
Ian:OfcourseIdid.Idon’tsaythingsIdon’tmean.
Elaine:Whatanicesurprise!Iwishyou’dcomefiveminutesearlier.IcouldhaveintroducedyoutoAngus.
Ian:Angus?
Elaine:He’smyboyfriend.
Ian:Oh,right.IthinkPalomidesmen7onedhim.Ifyoulikehim,hemustbeverynice.
Elaine:You’retheonlyonetosaythat.Palomidesdoesn’tlikehim,forsomereason.Idon’tknowwhy.AngussaysI’mperfectandadorable.Ian:Mm‐hm.Yes,itcanberoughwhenyourfamilydoesn’tlikesomeoneyoulove.Elaine:HesaysI’mfascina7ng.Ian:That’sgood.Irememberyousaidsomethinglikethatonce.Elaine:HewasjusthereandhesaidIsmelllikeroses.
Ian:No.No,I’msorry,Elaine,butthatisjuststupid.Peopledonotsmelllikeflowers.Youdefinitelydon’t.
Ian:Peoplepaystupidcomplimentsallthe7me.Theysaythingslike“youreyesareasblueasthesky”whentheyaren’tatall.Idon’tlikethat.Itrubsmethewrongway.It’slikelying,andIcan’tstandpeoplewholie.Ididn’tsayyousmelledbad.Isaidyoudidn’tsmelllikeroses.Whywouldyouwantto?Haveyousmelledabigbowlofpotpourri?
Elaine:YousayAngusislyingandIdon’tsmelllikeflowers.Howdoyouknow?
Ian:Youdon’tbelieveme?Allright.Thereisafloralsmellthere,butit’snotroses.It’slavender,andit’sprobablyinyourshampoo,alongwithafewotherthings.Youuseagrapefruitshowergel,andI’mgebng...babypowder,andthosearealloverlaysontopofyouractualscent,whichisclosetoareallypremiumhandmadeTahi7anvanillaicecream.
Ian:Iusedtorunarestaurant,and...well,withonethingandanother,Ihaveaveryacutesenseofsmell.Putitthatway.
Sorry,thatwasprobablyaliUlefreaky,butyouasked.
Elaine:Thankyou...Ithink?
Anyway,thankyouforbeingsokindaboutAngus.Itmakesmesadthatmybrothersdon’tlikehimandIdon’thaveanyoneIcantalktoaboutit.
Ian:You’rewelcome.Wait,didIjustvolunteerforsomething?Yes.
Imen7onedthatalotofda7nggoesonatGoodygirls.NinoCalienteisalwaysgoodforaDreamDate,andhe’sbeginningtogrowonme.
Andofcourse,therearealwaysLenoreandZane,beingsicklysweetandsen7mentalallovertheplace.
Regina:Sigh.I’monmywaytoclassnow,guys.Don’tmindme.
Theothergoodthingaboutallthosedatesisthedategids.
Zaneledamirror,whichisafirst.
Hey,Angusledapiano!Nottooshabby!
(Notethealmost‐Mingvaseontheporchbehindhim.)
ButNinoisthemostgenerousdonorbyfar.
Iknowexactlyhowmuchheandhisbrotherhave,andIhavenoideahowheaffordsallthehigh‐endelectronics.
Nino:Plas7c,baby!
Oh,well,thereisthat.RomanceSimsdon’tworryaboutthingslikefinancechargesandAPR.
Penelope:Justthinkofit,Dinadan.Ifyoucouldhaveanythingyouwanted,whatwoulditbe?
Dinadan:Grandchildren.
Penelope:Otherthanthat.
Dinadan:Moregrandchildren.
LifehasgoneonasusualattheSqueakyCleanhouse,andsincethereisonlyonekidledathome,thereisplentyof7meforPenelopetowritehernovel.
Excuseme,finishhernovel.
Penelope:Andit’snotevenNovember!
NowayofknowingwhatPenelope’snovelwasabout,butsincethefamilyhastendedtowardsRomancenovels,it’sprobablyoneofthose7me‐travelromances.
WealsohavekiUensontheway.
NothinglikekiUens.
ItookalotofpicturesofPenelopebecauseIknewshewouldageupreallysoon.
SheandDinadanarebothsocute,andsocutetogether,thatIreallydidn’twanttoseethemage.
However,theydidn’tseemtocare.Penelopekeptwan7ngtoAgeUpWell,andtheyinvitedalotoffriendsandrela7vestotheirjointbirthdayparty.
Including,ofcourse,Penelope’stwobrothers.
Penelope:Gladyoucouldmakeit,Brainbox!
Ulysses:Squeak!
Penelope:AGH.
HerfatherJackBuccaneerhasn’tagedinalong7me,becauseheandSophiamovedoutandre7red.Thismeansthatbarringaccidents,theywillbetherewhenthelegacyclosesoutGenera7onTen.
Ulysses:*poofsintohumanforminthebackground*
Irongrayhair,wholeoufit,hastogo.
Dinadan’shairdidn’tchangeatall.It’stheonly7meIhaveeverclosedthegameinthemiddleofaparty.Iwentlookingforhishair,whichisahardtofindMyosmesh,ingray.Becausethiswasdrivingmecrazy.
Ulysses:Lookinggreat,Dinadan!
Ithinktheybothlookgreat.
Penelope:Ididn’tmindagingupatall.Whywereyouworried?
Noidea,exceptthatsinceDinadan’sLTWisHaveSixGrandchildren,heisn’tpermaplatyet.
DinadanalwaysthinkslikeaFamilySim.
Dinadan:Iunderstandyou’vemetayoungman,Elaine.Willyoubringhimhometointroducehimtous?
Elaine:Daddy,he’saplayableandmybrothersdon’tapproveofhim.
Dinadan:I’ds7llliketomeethim,honey.
Ulyssesnowhasafamilyofhisown.Withnomo7vesdroppingatnight,he’sabletomaintainaseriousgarden.
Thisalsomeansthatheisn’taroundforthebirthofhisdaughterMolly.
Althoughhedidno7ce.Youcan’tsayhedidn’tno7ce.
DocNerdalsohadtoageMollyup.
MollyisaScorpio,andhasapersonalityverylikeherdaddy’s:7/3/9/6/1.She’snotgoingtowinMissCongeniality.
She’snamedaderMollyBloom,thewifeofthemaincharacterinJamesJoyce’snovelUlysses.
Ulysses:Aw,shedoesn’tneedanicepersonality.
Sheprobablydoesn’t.BetweenUlyssesandDocNerd,anyonewhogiveshertroubleisgoingtobekilled,andbythe7meshe’sachildshe’llprobablybeabletotakethemdownherself.
Plus,owingtoDaddy’sfarmingefforts,thatkidisnevergoingtohavetoskillifshedoesn’twantto.
Rightnow,shedoesn’tmind.
Isn’tsheadorable?
Gilbert:Zane,wehavewishedtoseeyou.Youwillofcoursestaytosupper.Ihavemadethecassoulet.
Zane:CanItalktoyoufirst,Dad?
Zane:Thereisthisgirl.
Gilbert:Thiswouldbela pe3te Lenore.
Zane:Yes.Gilbert:Youmeetheringradeschool.Zane:Yes.Gilbert:Youdateherinhighschool.Zane:Yes.
Gilbert:Itis,en effet,thesamegirl.
Zane:Iwanttoaskhertomarryme,Dad.ButIcan’tdoitunlessIknowwhoIam.
Gilbert:Whoyouare?YouareaJacquet.YouarethesonofmyselfandthebelovedCassidy.Youknowthis.Doyouthinkofusnotasyourrealpapas?Thiswouldmakemeverysad.
Andyou,Zane:whatdoyoudoifyoufindoutthethingthatmakesyouunhappy?Thethingyouwishyoudidnotknow?
Zane:Thenit’ssomethingIshouldknow,andsomethingLenoredeservestoknow.
Ireallyloveher,Dad.
Gilbert:Iunderstandthis.ThisiswhyIask:donottellCassidywhatyoufind.Donottellme.Notunlessweaskit.
Gilbert:IknowliUleofCassidybeforeImeethim.ItdoesnotmaUer,yes?Iknowhewasunhappy.Iknowheisnotnowunhappy.Idonotwishhimtobeagainunhappy,youunderstand.
Zane:Allright.WhateverIfindout,Ikeepittomyself.
Gilbert:Andbecauseyouloveher—bonne chance.
Zane:AndDad?YouAREmyrealDads.Ijustwanttoknow.
Cassidy:How’scollege?Areyouda7ngalot?Jumpingoncouches?Havingfun?
Zane:Thereisthisgirl...
Dad,doyoueverwonderwhoyoureallyare?
Cassidy:IknowwhenI’mhappy.Iknowsomeonelovesme.That’swhoIreallyam.
Cassidy:I don’t really need to know anything else.
Honeybun:Rauraurau...
Max:Verywell,Iwillanswerthedoor.
Max:Idonotknowyou,Mr.‐‐
SpiderJerusalem:SpiderJerusalem.SpiderJerusalemVe7nari.
Max:Thenyouareen7relyunwelcome.AVe7narikilledmyfather.YouhavefiveminutestodepartbeforeIcommitaviolentactonyourperson.
SpiderJerusalem:Listenup,sunshine,Idon’thaveanythingtodowithCypress.AndyouwereajerktoCassidy,too.
I’mherebecausesomeoneinyourfamilywasnicetome.Itdoesn’thappenalot,andwhenitdoes,Irememberit.Ipayfavorsback,andyouwantwhatIhavewhetheryouknowitornot,soyou’dbeUerletmein.
SpiderJerusalem:Idiot.
Max:Five minutes.
Max:Itisarawnight,Mr.Ve7nari,andIamnotapa7entman.
Max:Ifyouhavebusinesswithme,Iadviseyoutodispatchitanddepart.
SpiderJerusalem:Ilikethepicturesonthewall.Rela7vesofyours?
Max:What.Do.You.Want.
SpiderJerusalem:Ihaveapackageforyou.
Max:Dotell.
Max:Hic...jacet...Secundus...Marius.
This.Thisisaninsult.
SpiderJerusalem:Youthinkit’saninsult?Youdidn’twantyourfather’surn?Becausethat’snottheimpressionIgot.Penelopeandherfamilytoldmethatprac7callytheonlythingyoucaredaboutwasthememoryofyourfather.Youdon’twanttoknowwhatIwentthroughtogetitforyou.Ifyouwant,Icantakeitback.
Max:Iwillhonorit,andforwhatitisworth,Ithankyouforreturningittohisfamily,andIaskyou,onceagain,toleave.
SpiderJerusalem:I’mgoing.Butyoumightliketowatchthaturnaroundmidnight.
Max:WhyoughtIdotothat?
SpiderJerusalem:BECAUSEIHAVECONNECTIONS,THATISWHY.
OveratthePleasantviewplayables’dorm,lifeprogressesasusual.PerhapsitisabitbeUerthanusual.
S7ll,nothingcanmakethePleasantbrothersgetalong.
Thereisalotofthis‐‐
AndLionelgivesbackasgoodashegets.
Belle:Congratula7ons,Lionel!Dionnetellsmeyou’regebngstraightAsinyourclassessofar.
Lionel:Thanks,Belle.Ihadalotofgroundtomakeupfromhighschool,andI’minremedialeverything,butIthinkit’spayingoff.
LinusBurb:Um,Alex...Iwaswonderingifyouwantedtogohavelunchsome7me.
AlexandraGoth:Lunch?Whatdoyoumean,lunch?Weliveinthesamedorm.Wehavelunchtogetheralmosteveryday.
Andifthisisadate,forgetit.I’mseeingVespasian,andanyway,you’regay,incaseyouhadn’tfiguredthatout.
Linus:Um,what?Me?No!I’mathle7c!Ilikefootball!I’mintosports!
Alex:Linus,doyouevenbegintorealizehowstupidyousound?Oh,God,thisiscomingasnewstoyou,isn’tit?Orisit?
Alex:You sit in the hall talking with Ethan every day. You’re there for hours. OK, I could be wrong, but you look hungry. You’re too shy and messed up to say anything, and I bet he feels the same way.
Linus:Butyou’rewrong.YouHAVEtobewrong.IfmyauntandunclePleasantfindout,they’llhittheceiling,notthatthere’sanythingtofindout.Alex,wecouldsolvethisifyou’donlydateme.
Alex:Nope.I’myourfriend,buttherearelimitstowhatI’lldoforyou.Yourauntanduncleare—clueless,isthenicestwayIcanputit.They’retheKingandQueenofDenial.Youdon’twanttobelikethem.
C’mon,onebabystepata7me.Here’swhatwedo‐‐
Alex:Psst. Go ahead. What we prac3ced.
Linus:Oh,uh,hi,um,Ethan,right?MyfriendandIaregoingbowling.Wouldyouliketocomealong?
Ethan:Yeah!Thatsoundsgreat!
Alex:See, that wasn’t so hard, was it?
Alex:See, no biggie, it’s not a date, it’s just an ou3ng.
Linus:But you’re going to be with me the whole 3me, right?
Alex:Guess again. I’m mee3ng Vespasian and I want to dance with him. It’s bowling, Linus, it’s the most harmless ac3vity in the world.
Linus:Soyoumen7onedsomethingaboutwhatbandsyoulike,andweboththoughtAvatarwasoverrated,butdoyoulikesports?Ethan:Not...um,yes.YesIdo.HowaboutthoseWhiteSox,huh?Youthinktheyhaveachancethisyear?
Linus:Ihopenot.I’maCubsfan.Wegetusedtodisappointment.Luckily,it’snotbaseballseasonyet.
Ethan:Oh.Well,let’sbowl,ok?
Ethan:Wow.Youarereallygoodatthis.
Linus:Either he’s crazy or he’s just trying to be nice. I haven’t hit the gym in two weeks. Is he looking at me? He isn’t. He can’t tell.
Agh, whatever. If I focus, I can make this split.
Belleisalotsimplerandmorestraighforwardandshe’sda7ngHoustonbynow.
Belle:YouplacedoutofBasicWri7ng?That’sfantas7c!
Lionel:Yeah,theyhadmetakethetestagainandsaidIwasagoodwriterandnowIcantakeFreshmanCompwitheverybodyelse.MomandDadcan’tbelieveI’mdoingwellincollege.ShesaidI’dneveramounttoanythingandIwanthertoseeshewaswrong.
Lionel:Plus it drives Angus crazy! Whee!
Angus:Lookatyou,Elaine!Youaresoadorableandcute.
Elaine:Oh,STOP.
Angus:Thanksforaskingmeoutagain.Some7mesIjustwanttogetawayfromeveryoneinthedorm.
Elaine:I’mnotashamedofyou,Angus.Iloveyou.Itdoesn’tmaUerwhoknows.
Elaine:AndIwasthinking—ifyou’dliketogetawayforawhile,let’sgotoWoodlandPark.It’ssopreUythereandit’swheremymotherandfathergotengaged.
Angus:Actually—dowehaveto?I’drathernot.
Elaine:Whynot?
Angus:Ijustdon’twanttogotoPleasantviewrightnow.It’salongdrive,andIhavealotofassignmentstodo.It’slikeeverythingIwanttogetawayfrom.IsthatOK?
Elaine:Ofcourseitis.
Angus:Iknewyou’dunderstand,Princess.You’resosweettome.Andsobeau7fulandfascina7ngandadorable.Andyoureyesarebluelikeeyes.You’rejust...swell,Elaine.Socanweforgetabouttheparkfortoday?
Elaine:Anddidyouknowhewasatrackstarinhighschool?Hedoesn’tdoitanymorebecausehisbrotherLionelbuUeredthestairsandhebrokehisankle.Ian:Uh‐huh.
Elaine:Everyoneissomeantohim,andhe’ssohardworkingandgood.Itisn’tfair.
Elaine:Andhecallsme“Princess.”
Ian:Doesn’teveryone?Elaine:No.Youdon’t.It’sterriblyrudeofyou,butI’llforgiveyou.This7me.It’spartlyajokename.MybrothersteasemethatI’mlikeaprincessinatower,becauseI’mtheonlygirl,andthatI’msosensi7vethatIcanfeelapeathroughfortymaUresses.
Ian:Sensi7vecanbegood,butthetowersoundslonely.
Agh,didIjustmakethatmove?Ididn’tmeanthatone,andIcan’ttakeitbacknow.
Elaine:DoesthismeanIwon?
Ian:No.ItmeansIlost.
Zane:Well,heregoes.I’msurethere’ssomethinginthecampuslibrary.Ifoundmyoriginalbirthcer7ficate,andthat’sprobablyagoodplacetostart.
Zane:Dela...Derrida...There’snothingontheshelfabout“Devereaux,”andnothingabout“Ve7nari,”either.
Zane:Online!Ofcourse,everythingisprobablyonline.AndthenI’llknowandIcanaskLenoretomarryme.
CastorNova:He’sgotaone‐trackmind,doesn’the?
Zane:Let’sstartwithmyDads.“Jacquet”—Maxispre‐made,bakingfamily,nothingunusualthere.Howabout“Ve7nari?”
OK,alltheTerryPratcheUstuffprobablyisn’trelevant.ButtheLegacy—thatsoundsgenealogical.Thatmighthelp.
Zane:Oh,geez.
Zane:Oh,GEEZ.
Zane:DadlookedaderhisyoungerbrotherbecausehisfatherwasTHATbad?Iwonderwhatwouldhavehappenedtohimifhehadn’thadanotherchancewhenhewasakid?
Zane:Oh,GEEZ.
Zane:NowonderPapaGilbertdidn’twantmetolook.IalmostwishIdidn’tknownow.
Zane:OK.Imightaswelllookup“Devereaux.”Itcan’tpossiblybeworsethanthat.
Zane:Oh...god.
Zane:Thatbad?MymotherwasworsethanCypressVe7nari?Whatkindofparenttreatstheirchildrenthatway?
OK,I’mreadyforit.Howbadcanitbe?
Zane:I’mdead?Asin,deaddead?What’sworsethanthat?
Zane:Oh,god,Ican’tbelieveit.
Zane:I’mamonster.
There’salotofhappycouple‐domgoingonatthePleasantviewdorm.
I’msureitgetsannoyingaderawhile.
Angus:Don’t they ever let up? How can Dionne really want to date Lionel? He’s Lionel. He’s loud and he’s got taRoos, and he’ll never get anywhere, that’s what Mom says.
Angus:Oh,hi,Dusty.
Dusty:Sorry,Ihaveaclass.GoUarun.
Angus:Weshouldreallycatchup,Dusty.Comeon,I’llwalkyououtside.Andyes,IhavebeenpayingaUen7oninclassandtakingeverythingseriously.
ProfessorIrascible:Mr.Pleasant?Ithoughtyousaidyouhadmono.
ProfessorI:YouraUendancegradehasjusttanked,youngman.
Dusty:Colormeunderwhelmed,Angus.Seeya.
Linus:Hey,Ethan,it’sbeenawhilesinceIwenttothegym.Wouldyouliketojoinme?
Ethan:Sure!
Linus:Couldyouspotme?
Ethan:OK,I’mspobngyou.
Linus:ThatlooksaliUletoofastforyou.
Ethan:Stop,Linus!Ijust–havetostop.
Linus:What’swrong?
Ethan:Iwastryingtobeathle7c,butitwasareallydumbidea.I’mflabbyunderneaththesuitandIcouldn’ttellyouthedifferencebetweensoccerandfootball.Iwasjusttryingtoimpressyou,butIshouldhaveknownbeUer.
Linus:You?Weretryingtoimpressme?Whatfor?
Ethan:You’reoneofthosereallyac7veathle7cguys,andgah,nevermind,IshouldhaveknownbeUer.
Linus:Whydoyouneedtoimpressanyone?You’reallpreppyandcute.
Ethan:Cute?Really?Youmeanttosay“cute”?
Angus:Oh,notthem,too.
Linus:Ididn’tcomeoutoftheclosettobesubtle.Youdon’tlikeit,eatsomewhereelse.
Lionel:Lightenup.LeaveLinusalone.Angus:Ididn’tsayanythingtoLinus.Idon’tcare.Mom’snotgoingtolikeit,but...Lionel:YouknowwhatIthinkofMom?Momiscrazy,that’swhat,andsoisDad.Hethinksshe’sagoodliUlehousewife.SHEthinksshe’sagoodliUlehousewife.Everysingle7me,itdoesn’tcount,becauseshewasupset,ornervous,orshehadtoomuchjuice.Angus:ShutupaboutMom.Lionel:Oh,wakeUP,Angus.Wecomehomefromschool,shesaysshewastakinganap,there’sunderwearalloverthestairs...
Angus:YoushutupaboutMom!Lionel:Idon’tcare.Youhitme,I’llhityoubackharder,andthetruth’ss7llthetruth.You’regoingtobeasbigofaliarassheisandyouwon’tevenknow.Dionne:Stopit!Youstopit!
Angus:HewassayingstuffaboutMom.Rightinfrontofeveryone.NOBODYsaysstuffaboutmymother.
Dionne:Idon’tcare,Angus!Idon’tcarewhodidwhattowhomorwhostartedit.Thenextpersonwholaysafingeronanyone,I’mcallingSecurity.Andthatgoesforyou,too,Lionel.Don’tthinkIwon’tdoit,becauseIwill.
Evenwithallthedrama,thesemestereventuallycomestoanend,evenifitfeelslikethelongestsemesterontheplanet.Everyonegets4.0s,evenBelle,whofindsithardtofocus.
Belle:Angus?EveryonegotAs.
Dusty:Youdidwell.Youshouldbeproudofyourself.
Angus:That’sjustit.Everyonedidwell.
Elaine:Ithoughtmaybesinceyoudidn’twanttogoallthewaytoWoodlandPark,ChestnutParkisn’tnearlyasfar,andit’salmostasnice.
Elaine:Andthisismyfavoritepartofthepark.Isn’titpreUy?
Elaine:See?
Angus:Yeah.It’sreallypreUy,Elaine.Ilikeit.
Elaine:Sigh. He’s supposed to know what I’m feeling. If he doesn’t know, it doesn’t count.
Angus:Thanks.Thathurt.IgotintoanotherfightwithLionelandhe’sbiggerthanIam.
Elaine:That’sterrible!Whatwasitallabout?Angus:Hewassayingthingsaboutourmother.Ireallydon’twanttotalkaboutit.Idon’tevenwanttothinkaboutit.
Angus:ButthankgoodnessIhaveyou.
Elaine:Youalwayshaveme,Angus.
Angus:Well,good,becauseIreallyneedyou,Princess.
Elaine:Marryme,Angus.Iknewyouweretherightboyformewhenyouwerethefirstboy.Weloveeachotherandwe’lltakecareofeachother,andwewon’tneedanyonebuteachotherandI’llneverletanyonehurtyouagain.
Elaine:Please?
Angus:Youloveme?Youmeanthat?Elaine:Yes,ofcourse.Angus:Andyou’llreallymarryme?Elaine:Ofcourse,silly,that’swhyIasked.
Angus:Thenyes.Ipromise.Iwill.
On to Part Two . . .