Categotry Archives: Suzie’s House
Suzie’s House 203 : And I’m Sticking To It
Ben emptied his pockets onto his desk as soon as he walked into his room. He’d let a permission slip go through the laundry a couple of days ago, and Mom was still taking about it. Better to not have anything in his pockets too long, just in case.
Suzie’s House 202: That’s My Story
She said to keep a journal. Mrs. Audrey, that was. She said it would help him clear out stuff and keep words flowing and a bunch of other things. Ben liked it better than all the reading she had him doing, which wasn’t all that bad either, so maybe he should give it a try.
Suzie’s House 201: The Best Medicine
Mrs. H. did that thing grown ups do where they kind of groan and cover their faces with their hands because they are so annoyed. Gene wasn’t sure if she was more annoyed with him or with Tracy. Thing was, he couldn’t see why she was annoyed in the first place. “Fine. If you want me to talk to someone so bad, I’ll talk to Tracy.” “That isn’t what I meant, and you know it.”
Suzie’s House 200 : Who to Talk to
“But you wouldn’t do that, would you, Gene?” Tracy looked like she might cry. “You wouldn’t. You just… wouldn’t.” “No. I wouldn’t,” Gene said, answering Tracy’s question without actually meeting her eyes. While everyone else at the table relaxed, and Tracy laughed in relief, Suzie continued to watch Gene. “Then what did you mean, Gene?”
Suzie’s House 199: That’s How Women Are
Suzie added the last layer of cheese, then put the lasagna in the oven. Just in time. The boys should be home any minute. Since it was their first day at school, she wanted to make something special. Vin had volunteered to grill some stakes, and Miranda had offered to make spaghetti, but Suzie had specially arranged the schedule so her day to cook landed now.
Suzie’s House 198: A Couple
Gene stood right outside the door to the classroom, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed, waiting for Tracy. She was here in Madison. She was really here, instead of wherever it was her mother lived now. It didn’t look like she planned on going anywhere either. He could hardly believe it.
Suzie’s House 197: Here Comes the New Boss, Same As the Old Boss
“Miss Martin, a word if you please,” Mr. Gordon said at the end of class. Tracy fought the urge to roll her eyes. Teachers hated it when you rolled your eyes, especially at the end of class on the first day of school. It kind of made them hard to deal with all year long. “Yes, sir,” she said instead of all the things she’d like to say. Things like she knew this was going to happen as soon as […]
Suzie’s House 196: First Day of School
He should have known something was up by the buzz. Gene was used to people not talking to him, so he shouldered his way down the hall by himself, ignoring everyone like they weren’t even there. Most of the time people got out of the way. He could be Moses, parting the sea of people just by walking, the way they moved. He liked the idea, but it wasn’t real. Especially when he got close to his classroom. More and […]
Suzie’s House 195: Too Young?
“Innocent?!” Gene sat up so fast he almost fell off the bed. “You’re kidding, right?” “No, I’m not.” Tracy gave him one of those looks, like he should know better. “I’m only 13, you know.” “Yeah, but… but…” He wasn’t sure if he should say she didn’t act like it. “You kissed me first!” “That was weeks ago!” He threw his hands in the air. Wasn’t that worse? He hopped off the bed and walked toward the door to the […]
Suzie’s House 194: Everlong
She started off quiet, but that’s the way the song is supposed to go, so he probably wouldn’t even notice that she was kind of feeling her way into it. Tracy stopped to adjust the guitar. She had an electric at home with a strap and amp and everything. It felt weird to do it with an acoustic, and she had to put one foot on Gene’s bed to hold it at the right height while she was standing, but […]
Suzie’s House 193: The Lips of an Angel
Gene couldn’t get rid of the grin on his face. He went down the pull-down attic steps into the upstairs hall with a choke hold on the guitar. Maybe he didn’t get to keep it forever, but right now it was all his. “This is great, Mrs. H.! Thanks!” “You’re welcome. Just keep up with your chores and you’ll be able to trade it in for an electric bass in a couple of months.” She smiled like she was proud […]
Suzie’s House 192: Computers and Guitars
“Mom, I need a computer.” Ben said as he walked into the kitchen, like it was no big deal. If Gene had said something like that to his old man, he’d have gotten popped one. Really, what a stupid thing to say. Ben barely even noticed Gene, who still sat here at the table, pretending to drink a mug of cocoa, like he wanted something hot to drink in the middle of summer. Except Summer Vacation was going to end […]
Suzie’s House 191: When She Left
Suzie sat at the kitchen table and flipped through a cookbook. It was one of those put out by the PTA a few years before with the plastic claspy thing holding the pages together and a hodge podge of recipes from a variety of families. Gene sat across the table from her, turning the mug of hot cocoa she’d made for him around and around in grating circles that brought to mind old time mill stones grinding wheat or what […]
Suzie’s House 190: Fahrenheit Inspiration
Ben read a chapter or two, then put Fahrenheit 450 down and stared into space. “I want to write something like that,” he muttered. “Only not like that.” He stared some more. “I want to write something that good.” He pulled his spiral notebook close. It was already open to a blank page.
Suzie’s House 189: Good Reading
“I’m going to be a writer no matter what you say.” Ben picked up a book, looked at the lurid cover, then dropped it like a lit firecracker. “Twenty years from now will you blame me for becoming a writer?” “No. I won’t credit you either.”
