ONE AND ONLY

CHAPTER 41

　

Tina was eating her breakfast and looking at her mother’s copy of the New York Times. She had been so tied up with all her school work as well as being with Bette that she was out of touch with what was happening in the outside world so she was genuinely interested to read the various stories on the front page of the newspaper. Kate looked up from her briefing notes and smiled at Tina.

“Are you okay darling ?”

Tina looked at her mother

“Yes – do I not look okay ?”
“You were up late last night – homework or revision ?”
“A bit of both “
“Is it really piling up ?”

“Yeah but its nearly the end of the first week – in two weeks time it will be all over and its good practice for college finals”

Kate smiled “Yes it is – if you cannot handle this three weeks you shouldn’t even think about law as a career”

Tina didn’t say that she had no intention of making law her major subject. She didn’t mind pressure but there would be too much history looking over her shoulder if she opted for law – imagine being the only Kennard who FLUNKED law – talk about it making her the black sheep of the clan. No – law was not something that was on her mind – maybe English and History to keep her career options open

“And how is it going – you seem very focused “
“I want to do well- new girl and all that”
“Do you think the standards are higher there or at your old school ?”
“Here “ Tina said without hesitation “ I haven’t covered a lot of the things that they did last year in some subjects – its just as well Bette is so smart and lends me her notes”
“You two seem good friends “
“We are – she’s really cool and she does help me when my mind wanders”
“She is more like Rosemary than she is like her father I think”

“How do you mean ?”
“Rosemary had a focus on her books that only your mother matched.”
“I think it helps that Bette has virtually been brought up in the library – she can just flick a switch and she’s engrossed in what she is doing “
“I assume she is top of everything “
“Yes – so please can I not get into trouble if I don’t do as well as her””
“Tina – after your last term at Chester High we will be happy with seeing that you have made progress and you clearly have “
“All the same- can you speak to mom about not expecting miracles from me”
“All we want is that you are doing your best and you are. You should try and put some fun into your timetable”
“We went to the gym last night “
“That is good – if you feel physically fit it does help you study – I used to go out on my bike – Emma ran and so did Rosemary”
“What about Melvin ?”