DISCLAIMER: I only own Vanessa Filippelli, who is Karen's 21-year-old sister, a student at Yale Law, and a firm believer in seeking fulfillment outside of romantic relationships.
1. Scranton
"OK, let me see if I have this straight." Vanessa Filippelli met her older sister's gaze squarely across the table. "They offered you a job at the company's corporate office, in New York City, and instead you're taking the same sales rep job in Scranton?"
"I don't think it's a bad decision," Karen said defensively. "I don't think I'm ready to work at Corporate yet. I could work in sales for a couple more years, and then see if I'm ready to move up."
"You are ready to move up," Vanessa countered, taking another sip of red wine. "You were ready to move up three months ago, when you tried to get assistant manager. You were ready to move up five years ago, after you graduated from UConn and announced your intention to get out of this 'backwoods town,' as you so lovingly called it, as soon as possible. And now you're going to an even more backwoods town."
This seemed to have caused the reaction Vanessa had hoped for. Karen stared down at the remains of her veal and said nothing.
"It's that guy Jim, isn't it?" Vanessa pressed. "He tells you he's going to Scranton, and you're following him."
"I am not following him," Karen snapped. "I've only been out with him twice. Why would I follow him?"
"You tell me."
Again, Karen was silent, and Vanessa knew that she had her.
"Remember when I was going out with Adam in my junior year?" she asked quietly. "And how after we agreed to go steady, I started freaking out because I was getting C's and D's? You told me that if I wanted to get into Yale, I had to step it up and save guys for later. I was pissed, but you turned out to be right. After I dumped him, my grades went back up, and I got in. Now I have to tell you the same thing."
Karen finally looked back up. "Ness, I'm doing it for me. I don't want to risk going too fast and losing everything I've worked for. I'm not doing it for him. You have to believe that." There was a slight tremor in her voice.
She actually seemed to mean it this time, or at least she wanted to. Vanessa decided to give it a rest. "OK. I believe you."
They exchanged a smile that said, "You almost convinced me."