Free Wild Swans by Patricia Snodgrass

lowering her voice, “—would call herself. Honestly, what self respecting woman would call herself something like that?”
    “I don’t know,” Althea said brightly, “maybe my mother?”
    Ruby sat with a smile that could have been etched in stone. Althea winked at Hank who choked on a glass of water. Mrs. Cathar, however, continued to speak as if not hearing Althea at all.
    “What I was saying, Ruthie darling, is that you simply can’t trust anything those darkies do. They’re getting uppity and forgetting their place, I say. If somebody doesn’t do something soon, we’ll all be murdered in our beds.”
    Althea caught a glance at Hank. His head was lowered, but she could see the bright red flush of embarrassment on his fair cheeks and forehead. Mr. Cathar winked at her, which gave Althea the creeps. She turned her gaze away from him as he motioned for the waiter.
    The waiter arrived, sniffed as if he smelled something unpleasant and asked, “Will this be on one ticket?” he asked.
    “Yes,” said Mr. Cathar
    “No,” said Ruby.
    “I’m picking up the tab tonight dear ladies, so please feel free to order whatever you desire.”
    Mrs. Cathar smiled painfully. Hank muttered under his breath.
    “Well, if you’re sure,” Ruby said. “I’ll just have a small rib eye with some grilled vegetables. No dessert,” she added, blushing. “A girl has to watch her figure you know.”
    “All too well,” Mrs. Cathar replied as she ordered a small salad.
    “My daughter will have a small sirloin—”
    “—No I won’t,” Althea interrupted.
    “What she means to say—” Ruby said through clenched teeth.
    “What I am saying,” she said, smiling up at the waiter, “is that I’m capable of making my own decisions.” She shot her mother a hateful glance and added, “so I’ll have the lobster with lots of butter, a baked potato with cheese and crème brûlée for dessert. And don’t worry about the salad. Leave the rabbit food for the rabbits.” She sat back in her seat, feeling a flush of pleasure at Mrs. Cather’s grimace. Ruby smiled despite her clenched jaw. “I’m young and I’ll burn it off,” Althea shrugged. She looked over at Hank and said, “won’t I?”
    Hank blushed all the way up to his hairline. Mr. and Mrs. Cathar laughed.
    “Ho, ho, Hank, looks like you have a real spitfire on your hands.” He slapped his son affectionately on the shoulder. “You’d better look out for her or she’ll be ruling the roost”
    “I like a girl who knows what she wants,” Hank said, smiling shyly. Althea grumbled. The adults laughed.
    “Hank was scared to death we saddled him with an ugly girl with no social graces whatsoever,” Mr. Cathar said. “But look at this beautifully poised young woman. Absolutely gorgeous. Why if I were twenty years younger—”
    “Well you’re not.” Mrs. Cathar smiled, despite the rage glistening from her dark brown eyes. “And that’s lucky for me, right girls?”
    Ruby murmured a vague agreement. Althea glared at Mr. Cathar, feeling revolted by the earnest way he looked at her.
    He’s hoping Hank doesn’t measure up in the bedroom scene. He’s hoping Hank will cast me aside and he can move into the bedroom on weekends or holidays or any time the little wife is away doing charity work. Althea ground her teeth and shot her mother a murderous look. I swear to God above I’ll put him into the ground if he moves just one toe out of line.
    Dinner arrived, interrupting her dark thoughts. Everyone was served. Conversation quieted down while Ruby daintily picked at her meal while Althea scarfed hers like a field hand. Mrs. Cathar nibbled on her small salad and regarded Althea and Mr. Cathar from heavy false eye lashes. She knows, Althea realized. The old bat ain’t as dumb as she looks .
    Mr. Cathar seemed oblivious to what his wife and prospective mistress were conveying silently between themselves. He ate as robustly, smacking his food and quaffing large glasses