May we suggest that you appear instead on our upcoming show “My Sister Is a Bitch!!!” Please give me a call if this idea appeals to you.
Very best wishes,
Kayleigh Stuart
Assistant Producer
(mobile: 077878 3456789)
FINERMAN WALLSTEIN
Attorneys-at-Law
Finerman House
1398 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10105
Mrs. Rebecca Brandon
37 Maida Vale Mansions
Maida Vale
London NW6 0YF
May 27, 2003
Dear Mrs. Brandon:
Thank you for your message. I have altered your will according to your instructions. Clause 5, section (f) now reads:
“And nothing at all to Jess, since she’s so mean. And anyway, she’s got heaps of money.”
With kind regards,
Jane Cardozo
Fifteen
I DON’T CARE. Who needs a sister? Not me.
I never wanted one in the first place. I never asked for one. I’m fine on my own.
And anyway, I’m not on my own. I’ve got a strong and loving marriage. I don’t need some crummy sister!
“Stupid sister,” I say aloud, wrenching the lid off a pot of jam. It’s nearly two weeks since Jess left. Luke’s got a late meeting in town, and Mum and Dad are coming over on their way to the airport, so I’m making breakfast for everyone.
“Sorry?” says Luke, coming into the kitchen. He looks pale and tense, as he has for the last few days. The Arcodas Group are making their decision about the pitch and now all he can do is wait. And Luke’s not that good at waiting. Plus, he’s stressing about this pitch more than usual, because it’s the first mainstream account he’s gone for. I heard him talking to Gary on the phone last night, saying if they didn’t get it, what kind of message would it send out?
The trouble with Luke is, he always has to succeed straightaway. Maybe I should tell him the story about the plucky little spider trying to build its web over and over again.
On second thought, maybe not.
“I was just thinking about Jess,” I say. “You were absolutely right about her. We were never going to get on in a million years! I’ve never met such a misery-guts!”
“Becky, leave it!” he snaps. “I’m fine.” He strides out of the kitchen, snapping open his mobile phone. “Any news?” I hear him say before the study door closes.
I look down at the broken waffle in my hand, trying to keep my spirits up.
I know Luke’s really tense about work. And that’s probably why he’s being a bit short-tempered with me at the moment. It doesn’t mean there’s any bigger problem or anything.
But deep down inside, I keep remembering what I heard him say to Jess that night. That he finds it difficult to live with me. In fact, I’ve been thinking about it for the last two weeks, trying to make sense of it.
How can I be difficult to live with? I mean… what do I do wrong?