Free The Summer of Our Discontent by Robin Alexander Page A

between her shoulders as she held up two fingers. “As they say, mess with the bull, you get the horns.”
    “They also say why buy the whole pig when all you want is a little sausage.”
    Faith looked positively flummoxed. “What does that mean?”
    “I have no idea, I’m so pissed I can’t think,” Rachel said as she charged.
    “Assault—newbie—under your wing” was all Faith could get out before they hit the water.
    *******

    “Look at you two! Dripping wet, soaking my rug and my chairs. I have dealt with squabbling kids of all ages, but never, and I mean never, have I had to call in two women who are nearly forty years old.” Fire was in Keely’s eyes as she stood behind her desk with her arms folded. “When I saw both of your names on the roster, I knew I was in for trouble, but then I thought, ‘Hey, they’re adults.’ I was so wrong,” she said with a scowl. “I have a camp full of impressionable girls, two of whom are related to y’all. Did you consider what type of an example you’d be setting? A police officer and a fireman—”
    “Firefighter,” Faith said, then cleared her throat. “Sorry, go on.”
    Keely slowly sat down, glaring at them, then her expression turned curious. “All through school, you two were always going at it. Why?”
    Neither readily answered, then Rachel shrugged. “We just never got along.”
    “There’s a reason, I wanna hear it,” Keely persisted.
    “She was a tool,” Faith said, unwilling to look at Rachel. “Still a tool, a great big ugly tool!”
    “You weren’t a saint, either. You teased me relentlessly.”
    Faith whirled around. “I gave what I got.”
    “So…this is it? As children, you picked on each other, and neither of you can let that go? You two can’t look back on it and chalk it up to an experience in your youth?”
    “She ticketed me for parking in front of a fire hydrant.”
    “Because you did,” Rachel shot back. “You weren’t on duty. You were just going in to get a sandwich.”
    “I work for the fire department!”
    “Shut up,” Keely said loudly. “Are y’all insane? I’m really wondering if you two should be around children at all.”
    “I’ve never given you any problems,” Rachel protested.
    “Until today,” Keely countered calmly. “Here’s the deal. There are no three strikes. The next time you two tie into it, you’re outta here. You’ll have to explain to your children why you have to leave, and I don’t think either of you want to be in that position. Kaycee and Sophie are having a wonderful time. Think about that.”
    Rachel sank lower into the chair. Her wet ass squeaked against the plastic, adding to her humiliation. “I…have behaved badly. I let my temper get away from me, and I should’ve never pushed you into the lake, Faith. I apologize to you and to you, Keely.”
    Keely looked to Faith to act in kind.
    “Oh, act all adult and contrite,” Faith said hotly, “it’s total bull…shorts.”
    Rachel’s ass squeaked again as she turned to face Faith. “I’m so sick of the rivalry between us. I have been for a long time. I don’t know what’s wrong with me, I guess I just needed that last big blowout to get it out of my system. I asked you for civility, but I didn’t show you any, and I’m sorry. I’ve never been as ashamed of myself as I am right now.”
    “I can ask one of the other chaperones to trade cabins with one of you so you don’t have to be so close together,” Keely offered.
    “That won’t be necessary,” Rachel said as the blush on her face deepened. “I feel bad enough as it is.”
    “Good,” Keely said with satisfaction, “because you should, both of you. As you may not know, I took a psychology class in college. It was just one class, and I dropped it, but I learned a lot when I wasn’t dozing. I think whatever is between you goes a lot deeper than just not getting along. Y’all should think on that. And remember, another flare-up will result in immediate