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"Why do we have to discuss any heavy matters at all?" she whined "Men like to discuss heavy matters, but women shouldn't have to"

"That's a ridiculous thing to say Woent, Belinda In ent," Ito1d her

"Who wants to be ent?" she muttered

Belinda pouted and deliberately only nibbled at her food, but I was intrigued Daddy hadn't yet toldto discuss I knew only that it had so to do with Belinda's future, another solution, perhaps, but Daddy had kep

t his plan to himself

We gathered in his den-office as usual, Belinda and I seated on the red leather settee, Mother in the leather chair to Daddy's right, her notebook opened, pen in hand, waiting

"You have today's date?" he asked her

"Yes, Winston"

"Good Then we'll bring theto order All of us understand that it becomes necessary from time to tiood of the faan

"I hate it when he says that," Belindahard"

"Shh, dear," Mother said She remained poised to write down the important words

"Just like days of old when kings and queens thought about gaining power and wealth, they would think hard about the es could benefit the fadom," he continued "Well, the 's changed in that regard

"Belinda," he continued, turning to her, "you know Carson McGil, Daniel McGil's son, the one ent to private school I know you do because he's spoken to you a few times just recently, hasn't he?" he asked before she could offer a response to the first remark

Belinda shot a glance at me and then looked at Daddy

"I didn't do anything bad with hi cold to drink and then I went for a ith him on the dock"