I’m also very much aware that my family makes fun of me behind my back. I know they refer to me as the slow one in the family. I’ve been called “Loose Brains,” “Dinghy,” “Miss Space Cadet,” and a host of other endearing names. I’m also known as the Professional Student in search of a major. Lewis told me all of them one morning when he was drunk and I’d taken him to IHOP for French toast and coffee, trying to sober him up. I know they don’t mean any harm by these little innuendos and they don’t say this stuff with any malice—at least I don’t think they do. They’re just my family.

I make myself get out of this chair. I even go to the library with twenty minutes to spare. I’m proud of myself, since I’m notorious for being late. But guess what? The computers are down. Some kind of power outage caused them to go off-line or something, and it’ll take at least an hour or two before they come back up. It could be as late as tomorrow. At first I don’t know what to do, but then I realize there’s a six o’clock low-impact class that I’m sure won’t hurt the baby. I’ll shower and shampoo at the gym, then study at home.

When I pull into the driveway, it’s almost seven-thirty. I am just about to press the garage-door opener when I remember that all my Easter things are still on the floor. George would have a fit if I took his spot and he had to park his Jag outside in the elements all night. I guess it doesn’t matter that it’s ten years old. A Jag is still a Jag to him. I leave my car in the driveway and go through the front door, something I don’t think I’ve ever done before. It feels strange, walking in your own house like you’re a guest. I take my sneakers off, since I usually ask everybody else to remove their shoes. I look up at the stairwell; it could use another coat of white satin gloss. Oh, no! There’s a humongous spiderweb hanging from the chandelier. I didn’t see it there this morning. This thing has to go. I take my attaché case into the study and drop it on the floor. It is so quiet in here. George and Shanice should be home soon, within a half-hour or so. He usually takes her to get something to eat after practice.