Talks in the Dark.
James Possible's mother sat in the living room of their home. James and Anne had wanted to get out for some quiet time, and she, being understanding (and reading Anne's rather frazzled look all too well) had agreed. The Twins were asleep, and Kim was working on a report upstairs.
Anne had been proud of her daughter.
"Kim's working at a very high level." The red head had said, "She actually checked some books out from the adult section—her teacher is very impressed."
Thinking about that, the older woman continued working on a scarf. Some of her old friends might have laughed, but...
Too many of them are dead. She shook her head at that wool gathering and then paused.
Crying?
Yes. From upstairs. Muffled.
Kim couldn't be that wound up in her report...could she?
Moments later, Kim's grandmother was at the door to the room, and knocked softly on it.
"Kimberly? Can I come in?"
Sniffle. "Yes, Nana."
Kim wasn't sitting at her desk. She was on the bed, her arms wrapped around her body, face blotchy with tears.
"Kimberly...what is it?"
"I was...was doing my report...and..."
"And it's not working?"
"That's...not it." The voice came back, miserable. Kim pointed to one of her books and then the water works started up again. "The good guys are supposed to win, Nana."
She followed Kim's finger and looked at the book.
Oh Anne, James, you idiots. There was such a thing as age appropriate material.
The cover of the book was simple—a white rose on a black background. The text underneath it was equally simple: THE WHITE ROSE SOCIETY.
Clearing a space, she sat down by her granddaughter.
TBC