Page 51 of Spit Screen

“I’m not. I’m just very proud of your mothers.”

“Cause they’re famous?” Hannah asked.

“No.” Grandma sighed and told us all to sit on the couch with her. “You’ll hear a lot of things about your parents,” she said. “Some things you hear will be nice and some will be?—”

“Mean?” I ask.

“Some,” Grandma said. “And some things will make you squirm—like hearing someone call your mom sexy.”

“Weird,” I grumbled.

Grandma chuckles. “You need to always remember those people don’t know your parents. They feel like they know them, but they don’t see your moms when they wake up in the morning to get you ready for school. When they go to work, they pretend to be someone else.”

“Like when Auntie Sandra was a superhero?” Hannah asked.

“Yes,” Grandma said.

“But they aren’t making a movie right now,” I reminded Grandma.

“No.”

I lifted my hands. Sometimes, adults make no sense.

Grandma giggled some more. “No, Vicki. When you see them out there dressed up on a red carpet or talking to someone on TV, that’s part of their job. And it’s part of who they’ve become. It might beweirdfor you, but your parents are talented, beautiful women who many people admire. That will never be a bigger part of them than being your moms. Believe me.”

I’ve been thinking about what Grandma said. Mom has talked to us about what she does when she goes to work and what Momma does at her office. But Grandma has never said anything about it until last night. Itiskind of weird seeing them on TV. When I was little, people sometimes came up to my mom to ask her for a picture or for her to sign something. Stuff like that didn’t happen much when we lived in Kansas. Something tells me we’d all better get used to it.

Hannah came into my room last night. I miss Mom and Momma, but I like having Grandma here. Hannah misses Mom—a lot. There’s an art show at our school tonight, and Hannah was worried Mom would miss it. I’m not supposed to know our parents are coming home today. I heard Grandma tell Grandpaon the phone our parents were coming as a surprise. I didn’t tell Hannah. I think she was upset because the art show at school is for the little kids. I don’t know what she made, but Hannahreallywants Mom and Momma to see it.

“Hello—anyone home?”

“Mom!” Hannah yells through the house.

Oh boy, this is gonna getloud.

“Mommy!” Noah screams. Man, that kid has lungs. That’s what Auntie Tam says. He’s a lot like Daniel. Daniel isloud, too. Maybe it’s a boy thing. I don’t know.

I take my time walking into the kitchen. Momma puts Noah down and looks at me.

“Hi,” I say.

Mom and Momma look at each other, and Mom laughs. She’s already figured out that I knew they were coming home. I don’t know how she does that. She has athing—like she’s psychic or something. Maybe me and Tam should take Mom ghost hunting.

Hannah tugs Mom’s hand. “You can come to school now,” she says.

“To school?” Mom asks. “Do I need a lesson?”

“No! To see my picture,” Hannah says.

“Oh, that’s right.” Mom picks Hannah up and kisses her. “I forgot we live with a famous artist.”

Hannah giggles.

“Can I have a cookie?” Noah asks.

Geez. That kid can eat! His stomach is as big as his lungs!

“Did Grandma make cookies?” Mom asks.

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