Date: Thu, 17 May 2012 10:29:33 -0300
From: ottootto@fastmail.fm
Subject: The Volkmans 5

Chapter 5 – Their casa is not su casa

    Julie Parker really should quit smoking. All that exercise was just too
much for her young body. First, a long sex session with Dorothy Winters,
ending in a 69. Then, she got the call and ran. Then she got Nancy's bike,
and in a better day people would probably laugh at the idea that Julie
Parker was actually riding a bike.

    But she did a fine job (well, she didn't fall), and in a few minutes
she reached the Volkmans' home.

    She opened the door (those farm people never locked their door)
yelling:

    "What the fuck do you think you're doing here?"

    Laurie went to the kitchen, for a glass of water. And peace.

    And, in the living room, Linda Parker smiled:

    "Hi, sis!"

    Julie repeated:

    "What the fuck do you think you're doing here?"

    But Julie only had the strength to sit down and light another
cigarette.

    "What? Aren't you happy to see me?"

    "I'm gonna kill you, Linda! Seriously, how... how dare you come here
like this?"

    "Carla and I broke up. I never want to see her again."

    "Yeah, for the 18th time! Call me when you break up again! Now get
out!"

    "It wasn't my fault!"

    Laurie returned, handed the water to Julie and said nothing. She looked
tired. And worried. She just wanted to be somewhere else. When she got back
from the ride with Manuela, she met Linda sitting on the porch. It was too
much. She shoved Linda inside, called Julie, tried to argue with Linda,
but... She just didn't have the energy.

    Julie, however, had:

    "Of course it wasn't your fault! But who cares? Get the fuck out of
here!"

    "She kept nagging me about how I can't keep a job!"

    "Which of course you can't!"

    "My bosses are all stupid."

    "Yeah, it's everybody's fault! Seriously, Linda, you need to start
taking responsabili... How did you get here?"

    "Plane. And a cab."

    "With what money? You are broke!"

    "Oh, Dad helped."

    Julie and Laurie just looked at each other.

    And Julie:

    "I would kill dad if I didn't know mom is gonna do it first. Seriously,
Linda, you can't keep running for daddy every time..."

    "He likes to help me!"

    "You're an adult!"

    "Look, if he didn't help me, how could I get here?"

    "That's the point, Linda, you shouldn't be here!"

    "I missed you guys! I needed to talk to somebody!"

    "Look... Linda... I know you are a selfish bitch. I love you, you are
my sister, my twin sister, but I know that you live in your own
world. That's fine with me, I love you anyway. But please try to
understand: this is hard for Laurie and Marty. Got it? Hard. Lots of weird
feelings going on, and they don't need you here to make things harder."

    "Why can you be here and I can't?"

    "Because I'm here to support them..."

    "I'm here to support them too," she hugged Laurie. "I'm their sister
too!"

    Laurie gently pushed her away:

    "Thanks."

    Julie couldn't take it so easily:

    "No! Fuck! I mean, Linda... These are nice people..."

    Laurie added:

    "Very nice."

    "Very nice people and... They don't need more... They don't deserve you
here!"

    "Well, thanks, sis, but they're my family too, okay? Laurie's family is
my family!"

    "But their casa is not su casa."

    "They won't mind. I just wanted to be with you."

    "But we don't..."

    "Come on, Julie! Cut it out! I'm here! Deal with it. Geez, it looks
like I'm not welcome..."

    "You're not..."

    "I'll behave, okay? So, Laurie... How are you doing?"

    Julie knew what Linda was doing. Trying to change the subject. She also
knew that Linda would not leave.

    Fuck!

    And Laurie said:

    "Well... I'm not sure. They are nice people, but... it's so weird. I
haven't really talked to them about my mother and..."

    "Are they hot? Have you guys fucked them already?"

    Julie shouted:

    "Linda!"

    "Oh, come on! Relax. I was just kidding. I'll behave. I promise." She
gave a serious look to Julie: "Really, I promise. Sorry, Laurie."

    "It's okay. Uh... I just don't... really feel comfortable here. With
them. You know?"

    "Sure I do. Are you kidding?"

    While they talked, and Linda tried to act like a good sister, Julie
used her phone. She dialed a number, but it didn't answer. She tried it
again. Nothing. Shit!

    "Great," she said.

    Laurie asked:

    "What?"

    "Carla is not answering her phone. Gimme yours, Linda, she'll answer if
she thinks it's you."

    "She's not stupid! She'll know it's you. And I don't want to talk
her. And she doesn't want to talk to me."

    Laurie didn't get it:

    "Why do you want to talk to Carla now?"

    "Do you have any doubt that she's coming?"

    "Oh, no!"

    Linda:

    "Maybe she's not coming. You don't know for sure!"

    "Oh, please, I know you just came here to force her to come after
you. You told her where you were going, didn't you?"

    "No! I didn't talk to her, okay? I left a note!"

    "Very mature, Linda. Certainly you mentioned where you were going,
right?"

    "Well, in case she cared. I didn't want her to worry about me."

    "Oh, dear, we all worry about you. Yeah, she'll come. Fuck. Did you
really think that, with all these weird new family stuff, Laurie, Marty and
the Volkmans would be willing to deal with a couple of..."

    "A couple of what? Dykes? Yeah, like I'm the only one here who licks
pussy! Fuck you!"

    Laurie said:

    "Please, Linda. Go meet her somewhere but... not here. I wish you..."

    "What? I'm not ashamed of Carla!"

    "It's not because of that, it's just... We don't need another crisis."

    "I don't even know where she is! And Julie said she's not answering the
phone. And why should I talk to her? She said horrible things when I got
fired!"

    "Again."

    "Yes, again, so what? Not everybody can make a living `writing' for a
website. Not everybody can be a TV star! I mean, my last boss was a total
bitch!"

    "They all are!"

    "Fuck, you two sound just like Carla! Sorry if I wanted some support
from my family, who is supposed to love me..."

    "We love you, but you just can't..."

    The door opened.

    And Nora said:

    "Oh. Hi."

    In perfect conditions, Joan Greene would laugh. When they all
approached the house, they could hear all the yelling (not the words, but
the tone), and now they entered, Nora said "hi" and all three girls gave
the most forced smiles ever. But Joan saw Linda, and she knew what it
meant.

    Laurie was the first to answer:

    "Hi, Nora!"

    "Hi, everybody!"

    Linda stood up to meet the Volkmans.

    "Oh, so you are Laurie's new family? Oh, you're all so pretty!"

    Laurie also stood up, almost apologizing.

    "Uh, sorry, this is... my sister... Linda. She..."

    "Yes, I'm Linda, who are you? Oh, my, you have to be Laurie's sister!"

    "Uh, I'm Melinda. Yes."

    "No shit, I'm Linda and you're Melinda! Fuck, you look more like Laurie
than I do!"

    Julie put her head between her hands and said, almost mumbling:

    "Watch your language..."

    Melinda didn't know what to say:

    "Thanks."

    But Linda had already lost interest on her. She approached Nate,
touching his strong chest.

    "And you're the boy, right?"

    "Yes. Nate."

    "Hi, Nate, I'm Linda, how are you?"

    "Uh, fine, thanks."

    "You look fine! Hi, Mrs. Volkman. Mr. Volkman. You're also so
pretty. I'm sorry to... Well, appear from nowhere like that! I just wanted
to spend the fourth of July with my family. And you're my family too,
right?"

    Hank just nodded. Nora was the one who spoke:

    "Please, call us Nora and Hank. How are you, Linda? Welcome. You're
also very pretty."

    "Wow, thanks! So are you. All of you. It's amazing! And who are these?"

    "Isis. And Kyle."

    "Look at them. How are you two?"

    "Uh, fine."

    "Yeah. fine."

    "Oh, I'm so glad you're fine!"

    Laurie tried to explain to Nora:

    "Sorry, Nora, I... I had no idea. When I got here, she was... She
didn't... I didn't know."

    "No, problem, dear. She's welcome. She seems very friendly..."

    And Julie:

    "You have no idea."

    Joan sat next to Julie.

    And Nora said:

    "She's welcome, of course."

    Linda touched Nora's arm:

    "Wow, thank you, Mrs. V... Sorry, thank you, Nora."

    Martin said:

    "Glad to see you, sis."

    Jill said:

    "Yes, great. But now we're going to bed. Bye, everybody. See you
tomorrow."

    And Jill took Martin to Warren's house. She knew Martin didn't need
this. He just wasn't able to handle it.

    Linda smiled:

    "Well, I'm glad they liked to see me. It's good to feel welcome. Now,
Nora, sorry, but I'm starving! Can I please have something to eat?"

    Joan had to hold Julie.

    And Nora was a little surprised:

    "Oh, uh... We didn't... I didn't know you would come, and... we all ate
so much. But, sure, I'll go to the kitchen and fix you something."

    Laurie:

    "Oh, please, don't! You must be tired!"

    "Nonsense. I'll just make something quick. Do you like eggs, Linda?"

    "Sure! Are they yours?"

    "What do you mean, mine?"

    "From here? From the farm?"

    "Well, no. We... bought them."

    "From your neighbor?"

    "No. From the market."

    Julie wanted to die.

    Nora explained:

    "We don't have chickens here. We plant sorghum."

    "Oh, sorghum! I don't think I ever tasted sorghum!"

    Nora smiled and went to the kitchen.

    Joan whispered in Julie's ear:

    "I'm so proud of you."

    Lighting another cigarette, Julie asked:

    "Why?"

    "She's alive."

    Laurie said to Hank:

    "Sorry for her, Mr. Volkman..."

    Hank smiled:

    "Call me Hank, Laurie. It's okay. She seems... A nice girl. Full of
life."

    "Yes, among other things. But... There's no excuse for showing up
unannounced..."

    "Don't worry. She's welcome." To Linda: "I'm very pleased to meet you,
dear. I'm glad you... decided to come."

    "Thank you, Hank. Hank Volkman. Big strong name, but it fits you, you
are a big strong man! Not every guy can have that name, you know? But you
sure can, with your wide chest and muscles, and all. The boys have it too!"

    "Uh, thanks. Actually, my father wanted to call me Abraham. After my
grandfather, but my mother didn't let him."

    "Thank heavens for that, uh? Only old people are called Abraham. You
can't find an Abraham under 80, just like you can't find a straight girl
called Harriet!"

    Hank said:

    "My middle name is Abraham."

    "Oops. But you're the best-looking Abe I ever saw!"

    "Thank you. Well, now I'll leave you kids alone and go upstairs, okay?"

    So Hank went upstairs. And Linda kept talking, to everybody and no one
in particular:

    "Sorry to appear like this. Big fight with my girlfriend! Had to leave!
Just couldn't take it anymore."

    Then Linda touched Nate's arm:

    "Do you have a girlfriend, Nate?"

    Nate tried to talk:

    "Uh... yes. Dorothy. That's her name."

    "Good for you. Is she pretty like you?"

    "Uh," he smiled, "yeah, I guess."

    "And does she keep bitching about everything you do?"

    "Uh, no."

    "Oh, she's the one! Don't you ever leave her. A pretty guy like you can
find lots of girls, but... Believe me, most of them are bitches. Like my
Carla, you know?"

    "Well, you can also... find... uh... lots of... girls... Um."

    "I know! So I decided it was time to leave. Where is Dorothy? I have to
meet her!"

    "She's home."

    "Saturday night and she's home? Why? What the fuck is wrong with her?"

    Julie said:

    "That's not your business, Linda. There was this party today, the girl
is probably tired."

    "Sorry, sis! Do you guys see how my own twin sister treats me? I guess
that's why I ended up with Carla. After sharing a womb with a bitch, why
not sharing an apartment with another?"

    Kyle said:

    "You two don't look..."

    Linda interrupted:

    "Non-identical, thank you! Like, what I would do with that ugly face?"

    "Shut up, Linda."

    And Kyle:

    "Well, you're both pretty. Different, but you're both... uh,
beautiful. And you look like sisters, but regular sisters, not twins."

    Linda inclined her body in Kyle's direction, showing off her cleavage:

    "Who do you think it's prettier?"

    "Well, uh... I mean... You're both..."

    "Just one of us, come on, you're a man of good taste, which one you
prefer?"

    "Uh, eh... I... Don't... I mean..."

    Before his brain exploded from such an impossible task, Julie said:

    "No need to answer, Kyle."

    And Linda:

    "She doesn't want to hear the answer. She's the youngest, you know?
Very immature."

    "I'm like five minutes younger than you!"

    "Yeah, she was already crawling after my butt."

    "Please, Linda!"

    "Sorry!" And Linda moved on: "So, Kyle, do you have a girlfriend?"

    "Uh, no. Not... at the moment."

    "Just jumping from girl to girl?"

    "Well, uh..."

    "You're so pretty, you can have any girl you want."

    "Well, thanks."

    "What about the girls? You have boyfriends, right? Melinda?"

    "Call me Mel."

    "And you call me Linda! Hah! Come on, you have a big, strong boyfriend,
right?"

    "Well, Dean is..."

    "Dean? He's blond, right?"

    "Yeah!"

    "I can picture him already! Although Melinda and Dean sound like a
silly magic word. Like something from `Peter Pan' or whatever. Melind `n'
Dean, Melind `n' Dean..."

    "Mel and Dean?"

    "Sounds like the coke capital of the world."

    Julie had to correct:

    "It's Medellin! And I believe it's pronounced `Medejin'. And it's not
so bad anymore. The Colombian government is actin..."

    "Wow, sis, you are a real pain in the ass, aren't you? I don't know how
Joan can live with you!"

    "Shut up!"

    "Anyway, Isis. You, now. Yes, you. You're the one who's just quiet over
there... Come on, tell me the truth, the whole truth, and please feel free
to add some tiny sex lies. Boyfriend?"

    "No. Not now."

    "You're kidding me! What's wrong with these farm boys? Do they all have
small dicks? You're stunning!"

    "Thanks. I... I had a boyfriend, but... We broke up a few months ago."

    "Do you miss him?"

    "Not really. Sometimes."

    "But do you miss the guy or do you miss having a boyfriend?"

    Isis smiled:

    "I'm not sure."

    "Then you don't miss him. Get another boyfriend."

    "Well... Okay. I'll try!"

    The truth is that, despite Laurie's and Julie's reaction, the Volkmans
thought Linda was great fun. She spoke easily, she was funny, she was
interested on them, and she was not ashamed or embarrassed or shy or
worrying about anything. And, unlike Julie, Joan or Jill, she wasn't very
polite. She was just being Linda. Changing from person to person very
quickly, she didn't pressure anyone. She asked a couple of questions, got
her answers, said something crazy and moved on to the next person. Easy.

    It was fun to be with her.

    Even for Nate and Isis.

    Soon Nora came with some food.

    "Oh, thank you so much, Nora. You're an angel."

    "Oh, please. It was nothing."

    Laurie:

    "You didn't have to. I can't thank you enough..."

    "My pleasure."

    Linda ate a little:

    "Oh, this is wonderful! Thank you so much. Tomorrow you guys have to
show me this beautiful farm!"

     "Sure, I'll ask Manuela to..." Nora said

    Laurie interrupted:

    "Not Manuela."

    "Uh?"

    "I mean, the poor girl spent the whole day with me, showing me the
farm... Tomorrow is Sunday..."

    "Oh, she won't mind, she loves to ride."

    "Yes, but... She has to talk and answer questions, and explain stuff
about the farm... She deserves a rest."

    Linda interrupted them:

    "Fine, no Manuela. Who cares about Manuela? I'm sure Kyle here can show
me the farm. It'll be a lot more fun than with Manuela."

    Kyle said:

    "Sure, I can do it."

    And Nora:

    "Okay, it's settled. Now... Where are you going to sleep? I was
thinking you could share the bedroom with Laurie..."

    "Nope, not with me."

    "Uh... Julie?"

    "No way!"

    "Well, uh..."

    Joan said:

    "I'll sleep with her. Julie can sleep with Laurie."

    Julie:

    "No way! Come on! Let her sleep with the pigs!"

    Nora mumbled:

    "We don't have pigs."

    But no one heard and Joan was already saying:

    "Julie, dear, you're being obnoxious. I'll sleep with Linda."

    "Come on, Joan, this makes no sense..."

    "Jules!"

    "Sorry. Okay. I'll sleep in Laurie's bedroom."

    And Laurie:

    "Oh, you can't smoke in my roo..."

    Julie just looked at Laurie, and Laurie:

    "Sorry."

    Nora said:

    "Good. I'll change the sheets."

    And she went upstairs.

    Linda asked Melinda:

    "So, how did you feel when you heard you had this TV star sister you
had never heard about?"

    "Well, of course we all knew who she was, from TV, but..."

    "Sure, but you know what I mean."

    "Yeah, it was... A little crazy... I mean, I watch the show every week,
and then... She comes to my house, and we're sisters!"

    Melinda looked at Laurie, smiling. Laurie smiled back.

    Melinda continued:

    "I didn't even know that my mother had been... Married before. That she
had other kids. I had no idea."

    Linda asked her:

    "Do you remember her?"

    "Not really. She died when I was just a baby."

    "Do you, Nate?"

    "No."

    "Well, what matters is the present, right? Right here, right now. So
come on, guys, I wanna hear all about you!"

    And they talked. Julie couldn't relax at all, Laurie was mostly silent,
but at last the Volkman kids, especially Nate and Isis, started to open up
a little. And Laurie was paying attention to what they were saying.


    ***


    Eventually they went to bed. After all, it had been a busy day for them
all.

    In their bedroom, Linda tried to kiss Joan. But Joan quickly stopped
it:

    "Oh, no, sweetie, not tonight. I admit you were surprisingly good with
the Volkmans, but I still think you shouldn't have come unannounced, and
anyway I'd rather sleep with Julie."

    "Oh, come on!"

    "Good night, Linda."

    Linda was frustrated, but had no choice.

    Things were not so friendly in Laurie's room. Now that they were alone,
Julie couldn't stop bitching about their sister:

    "Can you believe it? Can you believe her fucking nerve?"

    "Forget it, Jules."

    "Come on! And you know what's the worst part? They think she's nice!
They have no idea who she really is!"

    "Forget it. Let's just go to bed."

Julie lit a cigarette.

    "And you know what's the worst part? I'm sure Carla will arrive
tomorrow!"

"She has to work on Monday. Do you really need to smoke here?"

    "Oh, I'm sure she'll do something about it. She'll be here. You'll
see. And you know how those two are when they fight! We'll have a real
problem on our hands tomorrow."

    "Right now I just want to sleep."

    "Come on, Laurie, I know you're worried!"

    "I'm tired!"

    "Please! You're the one who called me when you saw Linda was here!
Don't try to pretend you're okay with all this."

    Laurie got out of bed:

    "Where are you going?"

    "Downstairs. I'll come back when you're sleeping."

    "Hey, Laurie, I'm just..."

    "Good night, Julie!'

    And Laurie closed the bedroom door. She had no plan, but she really
couldn't stand Julie anymore.

    She went downstairs. To the kitchen. She got a beer. Hell, she needed
one.

    She sat down, in the dark. Watching the darkness outside. It was very
dark. No lights whatsoever. She was wearing her pajamas, she was tired, and
her mind wandered.

    Yes, Linda was a pain in the ass. Coming here like this was rude. And
Carla was going to come after her, Laurie knew.

    But the Volkmans were okay. Not so much Hank and Nora, but the kids
really liked Linda. Why wouldn't they? She was... peculiar.

    Big problem would be trying to control Linda's libido. Linda liked sex,
and she had already flirted a little with both Nate and Kyle that
evening. The last thing Laurie needed was for Linda to be caught with one
of them in bed. Or, knowing Linda, with both of them.

    But at least Linda mentioned Laurie's mother. This was something that
had not been done so far. She had opened a very sensitive subject.

    Laurie was completely lost in her thoughts, drinking her beer, in the
dark, so she shouted when the lights turned on.

    "What?"

    "Ow!"

    Melinda also shouted. She had no idea that Laurie was here. She simply
came downstairs for a glass of milk, that's all. She thought everybody was
sleeping. And, when she turned on the lights and saw someone here, she was
surprised.

    "Oh, sorry, Laurie..."

    "No, no, I'm sorry..."

    "I didn't..."

    "I was just..."

    "I'm sorry."

    "So sorry!"

    They looked at each other. And Melinda started to laugh:

    "Sorry, I didn't expect..."

    "I'm sorry. Come here, sit down. Have a beer with me."

    Melinda came for milk, but... yeah, she could have a beer. Why not?

    She grabbed one, and sat down.

    "Sorry for scaring you. Usually everybody's sleeping..."

    "It's impossible to sleep when Julie keeps bitching about Linda."

    "They're not... They don't seem... They fight a lot, uh?"

    "Twins!"

    "They're very different."

    Laurie thought for a couple of seconds.

    "They're very similar, actually. Both of them only do what they want to
do. They're both a little selfish. The difference is that Linda thinks that
she has the right to do whatever she wants simply because she's Linda. She
doesn't pay much attention to the rest of the world. She thinks everybody
has to accept her the way she is. Which can be a little... annoying. Julie,
on the other hand... she does everything she wants to, but she doesn't
think anyone has the right to criticize her because everything she does is
perfect. And she is the perfect sister, you know? Always an A-student,
always responsible, always nice to everybody, always paying her bills,
doing voluntary work with kids with special needs... She does everything
right, and so no one can criticize her personal life. Being Miss Perfect,
no one can complain that she lives with another girl."

    "She's a lesbian too?"

    "Oh. Uh, yeah. I mean, bi. Bisexual. She and Joan..."

    "They're a couple? I had no idea!"

    "See? That's Julie. She'll never deny it, if you ask her. Ever. She's
out for years, but... She's not so open about it as Linda. I mean..."

    "Yeah, I gotta say, Linda is... Very open."

    "Linda doesn't care. At all. I mean, she came here without telling
anyone, she didn't ask..."

    Melinda touched her sister's hand:

    "It's okay. She's funny."

    "Well, let's see what your father has to say. I don't think he liked
the idea that much."

    "Oh, dad. He just... drank too much, and he's not crazy about
surprises. He probably got worried that all your brothers and sisters may
appear."

    "Oh, don't worry. Linda is the only one who does these things."

    "But tomorrow he'll be fine. You'll see. Mom will talk to him. I mean,
Nora."

    "You really don't remember her? Our mother?"

    "No, not really. She died when I was two. I sometimes have this feeling
that I kind of remember her in bed, because she was sick, but I'm not sure
if it's a real memory or... You know, something in my mind."

    "I see."

    "Do you remember her?"

    Laurie shrugged:

    "I was just born when she left. As long as I can remember, dad was
married to Lucy. That's Julie and Linda's mother."

    "I think Nate remembers our mother, but he never talks about it. Dad
doesn't talk about her either. He used to, when I was very little, and
maybe that's why I have these false images, but as I grew up I realized
that he didn't like to, and it didn't seem fair to Nora, so I stopped
asking."

    "Yeah, my dad never talked about her either. I understand, but... I was
always curious."

    "Really? I don't know, I just... got used to it. They don't say
anything, I don't ask. It's... No big deal for me. When I was little, yes,
I remember I visited her grave a lot but now... I don't remember the last
time I was there. I was probably eleven or so. Twelve, I don't know. I went
with Manuela. But... I don't know, she doesn't really play any part in my
life."

    "You knew she was dead. I had no idea. I thought I would find her
and... I don't know, I could talk to her. Know her. But for me, all these
years, she was never dead. She just... went away."

    Again, Melinda touched Laurie's hand:

    "I know. How did you feel when you found out that she had died, and
that she had kids?"

    "Frustrated. And... Part of me thought it was funny. Because in a way
our families are so similar. She comes, she marries, she has a few kids,
and then she's gone when her kids are babies, and the father marries
another woman and has other kids... It's my family, it's your
family... It's weird."

    "I know! And for me, to find out that you were my sister... I mean... I
watch you on TV!"

    "I can imagine. But, as you can see, I'm a real person, just like you."

    "Yeah, but I couldn't believe it. It was like... What? Laurie Parker?
Caroline? When my dad told us... it blew my mind. I spent hours reading
about you on the internet."

    "Oh, no."

    "What?"

    "I read some of the stuff they write about me on the internet. Like
those crazy sex stories that have absolutely nothing to do with my life!"

    "But you are bisexual, right?"

    "Oh, yes. The question. It was crazy, I said that once. Yes, I am. But
it's no big deal, you see?"

    Melinda said nothing, she just smiled for a few seconds. Then
she... well, she had to ask:

    "You, Julie, Linda, I mean... You're all..."

    "Yeah, I know. It is crazy. But true. What can I do? It happens."

    "It's just... I never thought..."

    "It's no big deal."

    "Oh, please, Laurie, don't get me wrong, I just... I mean... I have
nothing against it, it's none of my business, it's just that... I had never
met a bisexual... it's that how you say?"

    "It's okay. But you see... We're no big monsters. We're just regular
girls."

    "Yeah, sure. Sure you are! So, how was your day today?"

    "Oh, Mel, it was so wonderful! I mean, Manuela took me for a ride and I
saw the whole farm. It's so beautiful. Then we went to the lake... she's so
nice, isn't she?"

    "Really? Manuela?"

    "What?"

    "Dunno. We were very close when we were kids. Really best
friends. We're the same age, so we grew up playing together. But... when we
were... I don't know, twelve or thirteen... she changed. She was never the
same again."

    "What do you mean?"

    "I don't know. Maybe she realized that I was the boss' daughter, and
regretted it... I don't know, really don't. She became cold."

    "She is cold, I agree. Distant."

    "Yeah. She has days, you see? It's like she suffers from the opposite
of PMS." Melinda laughed. "She's really nice for a few of days, but the
rest of them... she's a total bitch. Seriously, I remember when we were
kids... I was like 14 or 15, and she called me `Miss Volkman'. What? We
grew up together!"

    "Ouch."

    "I really like her. And, like I've said, we have our days. Now I can
sense them, really. There are days when I know I can approach her, and we
spend the whole day together, and it's wonderful, but there are days when I
know I better not talk to her at all."

    "I see. Well... What can I say? Today she was distant and cold at
first. But then she started to open up a little bit. Don't know why."

    "With her, you never know. But I'm really glad you two got along."

    "Yeah. She's nice."

    "I'm glad we had this chance to talk."

    "Yeah, me too. In general it's just... too crowded."

    "Yes, I know!"

    "But it's really great that I'm beginning to know you a little better."

    "Yeah! Hey, you already saw the farm, so tomorrow we should go to
town!"

    "Oh, that would be nice."

    "Unless you're afraid people will recognize you..."

    "Don't worry, I brought a black wig."

    "You're kidding me!"

    "No, I'm not! You'll see. People will think YOU're Laurie Parker."

    "Do you really wear a black wig?"

    "Never had. But it's just that... I don't need the press to know where
I am, right now. And why I'm here. Not now."

    "I understand."

    "So I bought this big black wig. It won't fool anyone who knows me,
but... It's already something, right?"

    "Oh, I gotta see that!"

    "Well, you will. Tomorrow."

    "Hey, why don't you sleep in my room tonight?"

    "Oh, I couldn't..."

    "Come on. It's not fair to spend hours awake just because of your
sister."

    "But Mel... I don't want to be a burden..."

    "You're my sister." Melinda pulled Laurie by the hand. "Come on, time
to go to bed."

    And so, while Julie was still thinking about Linda, Laurie and Mel fell
asleep in the same bed.


Next: What do you know?

Note: Yes, I know that there was no sex in this chapter. I'm genuinely
sorry, but I just couldn't squeeze it in. Things will go back to normal in
chapter 6.