The Fly

By Queen Lucy the Valiant

Summary: Cassidy is in her kitchen on a hot, summer's day, having a battle with her greatest enemy…the fly.

A/N: Hey, guys! I decided to try my hand at a Mother Daughter Book Club Fanfic, since I really like those books. Please R&R!

Disclaimer: I don't own the Mother Daughter Book Club books. They belong to the fabulous author Heather Vogel Frederick.


"Cassidy, Stanley and I are going to be out right now. Get Courtney if you need anything." Mom says as she steps out the door.

I roll my eyes, not because of my mom and Stanley going out, but because my mom acts like I'll actually need something from Courtney. The only thing she'd be able to give me is a makeover. That's what she did the last time I asked for help (I wanted a snack.) Or at least, she TRIED to. I BOLTED out of there. Lately Courtney's been acting more teenagerish than usual, and it's really annoying.

I'm not mad that Mom and Stan the man are going out, since, after all, he is my dad already. He's been my dad for a month, and it doesn't bother me anymore. I still miss my real Dad, but there's nothing I can do about that. And Stanley can be pretty cool. I used to despise him, but now, we're actually kind of close.

"Bye mom, bye Stanley," I say as Mom and Stanley go out the door. Stanley waves goodbye, and the last thing I see of him before he closes the door is his bald, shiny head. I sigh as I hear the wheels of mom's car grind down the driveway.

I'm bored.

It's a Saturday afternoon, and it's the hottest it's ever been in Concord, no joke. I heard them talking about it on the radio this morning. More like complaining about it. This heat wave is supposed to last for at least a week. I don't know how Mom and Stanley can think of going outside, even if it's just to get in the car.

I pick up a magazine from a stack on the kitchen table and lean back in my seat, folding it up and waving it in front of my face, trying to cool myself. I get up from the kitchen table and head over to the fridge to see if there's any lemonade left. Mom's last episode of Cooking with Clementine was about how to make a perfect summer picnic, and lemonade was included. That was just before the heat wave broke out. Now the producers are letting us all take a break during the heat wave, and when it's over they'll start filming at our house again.

It kind of feels weird in the house without cameras everywhere.

I peeked in the fridge, searching through every corner. Finally I spotted a huge jug of ice cold lemonade wedged between some ice tea and milk. I licked my lips and took the jug out, pouring myself a glass, and then I look through the closet for a bag of Doritos. Still fanning myself, I take the huge bag of chips and the glass of lemonade and sit back down at the kitchen table. I take a big, long gulp and sigh as I set the cup down.

It's still unbearably hot, though. I debate on whether I should dump the glass on my head as I fan myself with the magazine.

Bzzzz.

I freeze, completely silent, listening, my makeshift fan in midair.

Bzzz, Bzzzz.

I lock my eyes on a little dot hovering over my Doritos bag. It lands on top of it and is still.

It's a fly.

I've always hated flies. I mean, why would anyone like a bug that BARFS on your food? Gross!

But this isn't an ordinary fly.

It's a housefly.

I scowl and carefully and quietly roll up my magazine as the fly moves closer to the opening of the bag. I lean closer to it, and smack! I slam the magazine down on the bag.

Miss. The fly darts away, still buzzing. I half wonder if it's mocking me, and swat at it again. Another misses.

I drop the magazine and dart under the kitchen cupboard for a fly swatter. Aha! I snatch it out and begin to swing it around, trying to get the fly. But this is no ordinary fly. It's extremely clever for its size. I scowl and swipe at it again, missing it and hitting mom's vase of flowers. It crashes to the ground and I stand completely still, shocked, but only for a moment. I spin around and continue on my battle with the fly.

Man! How hard is it to kill a dang fly?

The fly lands on the fridge door. I raise the fly swatter over my head and slam it against the fridge. The magnets on it come crashing to the ground, but the fly disappears. I've got it! I think, inspecting my fly swatter. But I haven't got it. The fly swatter is clean. Where could it be?

I look around the kitchen again. This time it's on the sink faucet. I swat at the fly, but miss yet again, banging my arm into the cabinet.

"OW!" I howl with pain.

"Cassidy?"

I turn. In the kitchen door stands my sister, Courtney, looking surprised. I quickly hide the fly swatter behind my back. "What are you doing with the fly swatter?" She asks suspiciously. Too late. She looks around the kitchen and gasps at the vase pieces strewn across the floor and the pile of magnets. "What did you do?"

"Fly," I reply simply, pointing to the black dot hovering in the air.

Courtney sighs. "Cassidy, you are so competitive. Here." She opens up the kitchen door and the fly zooms out. She turns back to me. My mouth is gaping open. "And close your mouth, you might attract flies." She smirks slightly and heads out of the kitchen.

I sink into the kitchen chair, exhausted. How my sister could get rid of a fly and I couldn't kind of disturbed me.

Final score: Cassidy–0, Courtney–1.