Page 10 of Mr. Principal

“Danny always talks about gross things, so Ms. Weatherly makes him apologize or takes away one of his stars.”

I nodded, glad that she at least understood the point I was trying to make. “Well, yeah. Like that. Except that Tabby is an adult so we can’t put her in time out.”

Meredith giggled. “That would be funny. I’ve never seen an adult in time out before.”

“Well, if Aunt Tabby continues saying things that she shouldn’t say, that’s exactly what’s going to happen to her.”

Meredith giggled some more and then Tabby popped up again. She looked relieved that we were laughing.

“So have I been forgiven?” she asked Meredith.

Meredith nodded. “But be nice or you’ll have an adult time out.”

Tabby laughed, looked unsure and then said to me, “Oh man, she’s serious, isn’t she?”

“Like a heart attack,” I said reaching for a slice of cake and handing it to Meredith. “She’s one tough cookie.”

Meredith greedily took the cake out of my hand, helped herself to a big bite and then said with a mouthful, “I am one tough cookie, but I looooooovvve cake.”

Tabby couldn’t help but smile. “Yeah, you’re a tough one. Just like your mom. Hey, how about after you finish your cake I’ll take you out back to see your other cousins? They’re about to watch a magician.”

Meredith immediately stopped talking and her eyes went wide. “Magic? Like a real live magic show? Like in Vegas?”

“Where’d you hear about Vegas?” Tabby asked incredulously.

“Becca talks about it all the time. It’s like her favorite place. She said she’ll take me there when I turn sixteen.”

My eyes widened, and I was a second away from losing it, when I guess Tabby noticed and cut in.

“Las Vegas is for older people. You can go when you’re twenty-one.”

“But Becca goes all the time...”

“Well, Becca is just a special kind of person,” I heard Tabby say as she led Meredith away.

I was so busy standing there seething that I didn’t notice when someone joined me. It was Piper.

“You okay? You’re frowning. Since when does cake make anyone frown? It’s a happy food.”

I shook my head. “Apparently, Becca told Meredith that she’ll take her to Vegas when she’s sixteen.”

Piper laughed. “Are you kidding me?”

“Yes, I’m serious.” My voice grew deep as I became even more upset.

Piper noticed and said, “You look like you’re about to explode. Take it easy. You have about ten years until then and by then, Becca will be older and wiser—”

“We can only hope,” I growled.

Piper laughed again and said, “Okay, maybe not wiser, but I’m sure she meant that she would take her to shows and fun family-friendly things. I doubt she planned to take her to a male all-nude revue and then out for nonstop drinks.”

“I don’t know Becca, but just from what I hear about her, I sort of feel that’s probably something she would definitely do.”

Piper considered her next words carefully. “Becca is pretty much an airhead but she’s really good with Meredith.”

“And how would you know that?” My question came off as accusatory. Was my best friend hanging out with my enemy?

Piper looked guilty before saying, “We went to the spa together when I got back into town.”