Page 70 of Driftwood Daffodil 2

“What’s this project you two have to work on.”

Huh? I probably should’ve thought of that.

Whatever I said, it had to be good. Judging by the look I was currently getting, Maw Maw was already suspicious.

“Um…” I looked at her and racked my brain. “It’s about the repercussions of arranged marriages in the modern age.”

Sounded real enough to me.

Maw Maw on the other hand was not convinced. “Why would that take you all weekend?”

That was a good question.

“We have to do research and stuff. That all takes time.”

For half a second I thought she was going to call my bluff. Especially when her eyes narrowed.

“Did you wait until the last minute again?”

Sure, we could go with that.

“Yeah.” It sounded like something I would do.

“Novalee, you need to take your education seriously…”

Ugh, not this lecture again.

“You’re a smart girl…”

Given recent circumstances, that was debatable.

“I will not let you waste your potential.” Maw Maw stormed over and scooped up the box of squares. “School is the only thing you need to worry about...”

She had no idea how wrong that statement was. Gotta say I was a little disappointed. I finally had valid arguments for the ‘school is important’ lecture–the deal I made. Plus, the possible consequences of double crossing the Mancini family to the FBI, or what might happen to me tonight–none of which I could tell her about. So, I opted to go with my regular argument.

“I get good grades.”

“But you don’t try.”

How was that a bad thing? I was in the high nineties in all of my classes, except for PE, but that didn’t count. Then again, I may have underestimated the importance of adequate skills in running?

“You can’t coast through life, Little Girl.”

I disagreed. “I’m on the honor role, Maw Maw.”

“It’s not about your grades, Novalee, it about the effort you put in.”

Did she know what her point was anymore? Because I was confused?

Maw Maw cradled my face and looked me in the eye. “Imagine what you could do if you just tried.”

Were we still talking about school?

“Do you want me to clean my room or something?” I did that last week.

She dropped her hands and let out a heavy sigh. “I give up.”

About time.

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