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The stories about her flowed freely my way, of course Our acquaintances, especially the wives of our business associates, loved leaking the tales to me or to Samuel Finally, I decided to take some serious action and I went to see Daddy early one afternoon I was deterood and respectable about our fao to fine restaurants or social affairs, afraid that so?

/>I found Daddy dozing in the living room and woke hirew dark

"We can't ignore her any longer," I began "I've written to the Collier Business College in Boston, and I've gotten Belinda enrolled in their courses for a year Yesterday, I spoke with Cousin Paula, and she agreed to rent her upstairs rooot to insist she goes and you've got to threaten to cut off all funds froo and succeed If you don't take a strong stand with her now, Daddy, I don't knoill beco to try to help"

He stared at , watery eyes His lower lip still looked unhinged in the right corner, just showing some of his teeth

He nodded and promised, but I had to come to the house and be there when Belinda put up her usual opposition

"I don't want to live with Cousin Paula," she whined

"She's old and cranky She'll make my life miserable I'd rather have o," she said sta her foot like some petulant five-year-old

"That's an enorah money because of you You don't need your own apartment Cousin Paula lives alone It ork out well for both of you"

"She never liked me, Daddy," she moaned, "and I never liked her She's the one with hair on her chin How can a worow on her chin?"

"She doesn't have to fall in love with you, Belinda, and you don't have to fall in love with her Just obey her rules and go to school This is your very last opportunity to do so with your life"

"Why? I'et married anyway I'll just make sure to marry someone with money" "When?"

"Soon," she promised

"Until then, develop some skills You can return and work in our business if you have some skills," I added

"Oh, won't that be wonderful," she o to Boston for a year Daddy needs me here"

"You're not here much and when you are, you're of no help to him anyway," I snapped "Now, Daddy and I have discussed this and you either go to school or get a job, a real job, not working for us Frankly, you can't do anything for us, but "