Free The Son of Someone Famous by M.E. Kerr Page B

Siamese.”
    â€œYou’re high-strung,” Dr. Blessing said, “and she reflects it!”
    I said, “It must be wonderful to be an old movie star.” I was hoping to break up the argument.
    â€œYou can see how wonderful it is,” Billie Kay said. “You can see how much respect an old movie star gets.”
    â€œYou’re younger than I am,” Dr. Blessing said.
    â€œGod himself is younger than you are,” Billie Kay said. “Methuselah is younger than you are.”
    Adam walked into the room at that point. “What’s all the shouting about?” he said.
    â€œShe asked for conversation and she got it,” Dr. Blessing said.
    â€œIt’s such gracious conversation, too,” Billie Kay said.
    â€œWhat’s Janice doing up on the curtains?” Adam asked.
    â€œTrying to escape before she’s tickled to death,*’ Dr. Blessing said.
    â€œAre you two fighting?” Adam asked.
    â€œOh, no, love,” Billie Kay answered. “We’re just having a friendly discussion about the fact I’m not a fit person to own a cat!”
    â€œGrandpa!” Adam said. “Why would you say something like that?”
    â€œBecause I don’t like cruelty to animals!” he said.
    â€œNever mind people !” Billie Kay said.
    â€œPeople can take care of themselves,” Dr. Blessing snapped.
    I said, “I brought you a Christmas present, Adam, to celebrate our going steady.”
    â€œAdam!” Billie Kay exclaimed. “What nice news!”
    â€œCongratulations,” Dr. Blessing mumbled as he passed us on his way into the kitchen. “That calls for a beer.”
    â€œDoesn’t everything?” Billie Kay said sarcastically.
    He began slamming things around in the kitchen, and Billie Kay leaned forward and beckoned Adam and me closer. “Why don’t you two go for a walk?” she said. “You probably want to spend a little time alone together on Christmas Day. Dinner won’t be ready for hours.”
    â€œNo, really,” Adam said. “We can see each other all the time. We’ll stay right here.”
    â€œA.J.,” Billie Kay said, “take Betty Belle for a walk!”
    â€œHonestly, Billie Kay,” Adam said, we want to stay here.”
    â€œI don’t want you to!” she said. “I have a few things to get off my chest with that ornery character in the kitchen!”
    â€œHe doesn’t mean what he’s saying,” Adam said.
    â€œOh, yes, he does! And I mean what I’m going to say to him!”
    â€œShe wants us to go, Adam,” I said.
    â€œJust blow, A.J.! Come back in about an hour!”
    We walked along Ski Tow Avenue in the bright sun.
    â€œI hope they’ll be all right together,” Adam said.
    â€œMy present for you is this sweet potato,” I said, taking it out of my coat pocket and handing it to him.
    â€œFine, fine,” he laughed. “I have some old coffee grounds for you.”
    â€œYou don’t understand,” I said. “I’m not kidding. You put this in a glass of water, stick in three toothpicks so it’ll hang in the glass, and it’ll begin to sprout green buds in no time. It has Nothing Power.”
    â€œThanks,” he said. “I’ll try it.” He put the potato in his coat.
    â€œIt’ll be a gorgeous plant before you know it,” I said, “and you can pot it. I have a reason for giving it to you, aside from Nothing Power.”
    â€œWhat is it?”
    â€œSince we’re going steady now, I’m teaching you about beautiful things . . . since I’m not a beautiful thing.”
    â€œI don’t get you, Brenda Belle.”
    â€œThis will become a beautiful thing, but after it’s a beautiful thing for a while, it’ll change,” I said.
    â€œHow will it change?”
    â€œIt’ll begin to stink,” I said. “It will make you realize