Author Anon

“Where did you get those earrings?” Melanie asks Leslie at the breakfast table.

“Oh, uh.  A friend gave them to me,” Leslie answers, looking at Carrie.

“Really.  And what friend can give that to you?” Melanie continues asking.

“Mrs. Golde.”

“And you expect me to believe that?”

“After all the hard work we’ve put in,” says Carrie, “I think we deserve it as a token of appreciation.”

“Is that what Mrs. Golde said when she gave it to Leslie?”

They don’t answer so Melanie continues, “Did you steal them?”

“Mom, stealing is such an ugly word,” says Leslie.

“So what do you call it?”

“It’s not like she’s going to miss them.  Why, she can’t even get up anymore,” says Carrie.

“It doesn’t matter!”

Suddenly, Carl laughs.

“What’s so funny?” asks Melanie.

“They’re not even real,” he says.

“They’re not?” asks Leslie and Carrie.

“No, they’re just costume jewelry.”

“That doesn’t matter,” says Melanie.  “You’ll have to return them.  We aren’t going to have them suspecting us of anything.”

“Your mother’s right.  That’s not part of our plan.”

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“I don’t know what more to do, Dr. Shimmer,” says Alex.  “My grandfather seems to want to give up.  He’s very torn up about Aunt Julia’s illness.”

“Well, he’s been through a lot in recent years.  Come to think of it, so have you.  How are you holding up?”

“I’m doing fine, but I am worried about granddad.  What can I do?”

“It’s not an easy question to answer.  Everyone has to find their own way through grief.  Counseling and bereavement services are available but unless he is open to it, he won’t get better” Dr. Shimmer says.

“That’s what I’m afraid of.  He just doesn’t seem to want to get better.  It’s almost like he feels guilty for being alive.”

“Well, I’ll see what I can come up with.”

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The Silverman sisters are enjoying each other’s company in Belle’s campus apartment.

“That’s beautiful, Belle,” says Tara.  “I love your designs.  I can’t wait to see the final product.”

“I hope I’ll get it done by the time you have your final show.  It’s hard to find time to fit in all this sewing with everything else.  I wish all I had to do was design and create clothes,” says Belle.

“You’ll be done with school soon and you’ll have all the time you want,” says Tara

“And where am I going to find money to support what I’m doing?” asks Belle.

“There’s always mom and dad,” says Ashley.

“That’s your answer to everything,” says Belle.

“Well, it’s worked well for me,” Ashley says.

“As if you really need them.  Don’t you make a good living as a model?” asks Belle.

“When I work, if I choose to.  Maybe someday you’ll design lots of beautiful dresses for me to model.”

“And hope that you’ll choose to work?” asks Belle.  The three sisters laugh.

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Filed under: All That Glitters