broken her little red wagon.’
‘Aw, Mother, that’s just the way she is. Doesn’t mean anything.’
`Donald, it’s not the way she is going to be, not if she stays here. I will not
cater to sullenness. I have tried to give all my sons and daughters a maximum of
freedom consistent with civilised behaviour towards other people, especially towards
their own family. But civilised behaviour is required of everyone at all times. This
means politeness and a cheerful demeanour, even if simulated rather than felt. No
one is ever exempt from these rules, no matter how old. Do you think you can
influence her? If she’s sulky, I am quite capable of telling her to leave the
table… and I don’t think she would like that.’
He laughed without mirth. I’m sure she wouldn’t like it’
`Well, perhaps you can put it over to her. Possibly she won’t resent it from you.’
`Uh, maybe.’
`Donald, do you feel that there is anything I have said or done – or required of
her, or of you – that she is justified in resenting?’
‘Uh… no.’
‘Be frank with me, son. This is a bad situation; it can’t go on.’
‘Well… she never has liked to take orders.’
‘What orders have I given that she doesn’t like?’
`Well… she was pretty upset when you told her she couldn’t come along and help
decide which house we would take.’
`That was not an order. I simply told her that it was my business, not hers: And so
it is.’
‘Well, she didn’t like it. And she didn’t like being told that she had to be what
she calls “poked at”. You know.’
`Yes, a pelvic examination. That was indeed an order. An order not subject to
discussion. But tell me, what did you think of my requiring her to submit to a
pelvic examination? Your opinion won’t change my mind; I would just like to know
what you think about it’
‘Uh, none of my business.’
`Donald.’
`Well… I guess girls have to have them. If her doctor is going to know whether
she’s healthy or not. Yeah, I suppose so. But she sure didn’t like it.’
‘Yes, girls do have to have them for their own protection. I don’t like them and
never did and I’ve had them so many, many times that I couldn’t begin to count. But
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it’s just a nuisance, like getting your teeth cleaned. Necessary, so I put up with
it… and Priscilla must put up with it too, and I won’t take any nonsense out of
her about it.’ I sighed. ‘Try to make her see it. Donald, I’m going to drive you
back and drop you, while they are still eating, and then I’ll turn right around and
hurry back, or something will wind up in the wrong truck.’
I got to the house about two, then supervised where things went while carrying a
sandwich in my hand. It was after five by the time the van left and still later
before the house was arranged – if you can call it arranged when the back yard was
strewn with cardboard cartons and ‘clothes were dumped on beds and books were simply
shoved into any bookcase to get them off the floor. Was it Poor Richard who said
that `Two removes equal one fire’? Yet this was an easy move.
By eight I got some supper into them. We all were quiet Priscilla was still sullen.
After supper I had us all move into the family room for coffee – and a toast. I
poured thimble glasses of Kahlua . . . because you can’t get drunk on Kahlua; you’ll
get sick first. I held up a glass. `Here’s to our new home, dears.’
I took a sip; so did Donald. Priscilla did not touch hers.
`I don’t drink,’ she said flatly.
`This is not a drink, dear; it is a ceremony. For a toast, if one does not wish to
drink it, it is sufficient to lift the glass, say, “Hear, hear!” and touch the glass
to your lips, put it down and smile. Remember that. It will serve you well at other