"Mother? Papa? I have a surprise for you." 10-year-old Lissa announced at the dinner table. "May I show you?"
"Certainly, dear." Her mother smiled.
"Make it quick. I don't have all night." Her father grumbled, not sounding the least bit interested.
"Now, Henry." His wife muttered.
"Is it for me?" Gaston teased.
"It's for all of you." Lissa smiled. She ran to her room and returned with a book in her hand. Gaston shook his head with a smirk. Like her best friend Belle, it wasn't unusual to see her with a book in her free time. Their mother slightly smiled but her worried eyes quickly shifted to her husband. He was frowning and he stiffened when he saw her with the book.
"What is that you have in your hand?" He growled.
"Now, Henry!" His wife tried to intervene. "She just borrowed it. She just likes to look at the pictures, that's all." Her husband let out a breath.
"All right." He said dryly. "How is this supposed to surprise me?"
"Why don't you listen and see?" Gaston smiled cooly. He knew his father didn't approve of women reading, so the sight of his daughter with a book must have began to light his fuse. Lissa stood proudly away from the table and opened the book.
"'Henry, did you chop the wood like I asked you to?'" Lissa read aloud:
"Uhm...no, Mother. But I will, right now!' Henry called back.
'If you don't finish your chores before you go off to play, there will be no blueberry pie for you after supper tonight.' His mother said.
'Yes, Ma'am!' Henry answered and scampered off to accomplish his task. He did not want to miss out on blueberry pie!" Lissa finished with a big smile on her face. The occupants at the dinner table were dumbfounded. Her mother tried to smile but she looked more anxious than pleased. Gaston looked stunned but cautious. Their father? He looked far from pleased. Gaston could feel by the air in the room where this was going and decided to step in.
"My, my, my!" He exclaimed. "That was...outstanding, little sister. I'm rendered speechless!"
"What did you think, Mother?" Lissa asked. Her mother's face fell. She'd been wishing so badly that her daughter wouldn't ask that question.
"Oh, darling. I...I can't believe it! You were reading!" She pasted on a nervous smile. "That was..."
"Disgraceful." He husband finished for her. Lissa stared at him bewildered. Gaston rolled his eyes.
"Oh, here we go again." He mumbled under his breath.
"But, Papa...I...I can read! I read a whole page." Lissa spoke up. "Aren't you pleased?" He father glowered.
"Pleased?" He spat. "You shame me." Lissa's face fell.
"W-what?" Her lips quivered.
"Henry, enough." Her mother tried to stand up for her. But her husband rose from his chair.
"I will not be made a spectacle of by you in front of the town." He growled at his daughter. "Do you understand?"
"I..." Lissa didn't know what to say.
"Don't you think you're overreacting just a little, Father?" Gaston asked casually.
"You stay out of this." His father snapped. Gaston shook his head grinning and rose to his feet.
"Honestly, Father. I feel that you're looking at this whole matter backwards." He said calmly. He walked over to his little sister who looked so disheartened. He put his arm around her. "Is it such a crime to try something new?"
"It's...it's unheard of!" His father interjected. "It's just not done."
"Well, it may not be what 's done, but..." He lifted Lissa's chin up towards him with his hand. She didn't smile but just looked so sad. "I think it proves that you've raised a smart daughter! I mean, how many other girls in town do you know who embarked on something that no one would give them a chance on? That took courage and spunk." Lissa was grateful for his help, but she still hung her head. "I think you can tell everyone that intelligence runs thick in our family. And she's accomplished something that no one else has. Now how could that possibly tarnish your social standing?" Their father was silent, with a thoughtful look on his face. Gaston knew his father's biggest weakness: what other people would think, and he could be pretty effective in using his own weapon against him when he chose to. He'd practiced that manipulation for years, and it did work pretty good.
"Maybe I was a little hasty," Their father sighed. Lissa looked up at him hurtfully. "I suppose I was a bit rash on that part. Forgive me, my dear Lissa. A mere oversight on my part. You know, don't you, that you could never make me anything but proud? You know that, right?" He asked in a smooth tone. Lissa's eyes dropped to the floor.
"Of course she does." Gaston spoke up, trying to keep his father's temper in check. Lissa felt her face grow hot. That was one area where Gaston bothered her at times, putting words in her mouth that weren't so. Their mother was glaring at her husband.
"Well, good-night, all. I have some business to attend to." He said, putting his hat on. "Don't wait up for me." And he left the house. They all knew better. They knew he was going to the tavern. Gaston smirked at himself for being the hero and preventing a brawl. He looked down at his sister, expecting lots of praise but she still looked so discouraged.
"Hey, cheer up!" Gaston told her. "The buzzard isn't here to pick on you now."
"Gaston!" His mother gasped. Oh, she felt the same way but still. Though he had always been her baby, she'd raised him to talk as a gentleman. Gaston just grinned at her. Now that he was practically a man, he knew he could get away with it.
"I...I thought he'd be proud of me." Lissa said sadly. Her mother took her hands.
"Oh, darling, I'm sorry your father reacted that way." She said softly. "And I am proud of you! I'm astounded. How did you learn to read?"
"Belle and her father taught me." Lissa said lowly.
"Well, wasn't that sweet?" Her mother smiled. "What a kind girl."
Mother approves. Good sign! Gaston thought to himself and began to daydream about a future with the little brunette that most people called odd.
"I guess it was just a waste of time." Lissa moaned, almost in tears. "I just won't read anymore!"
"No, no, sweetheart!" Her mother protested. "You keep on reading. Who knows where it could take you when you grow up."
"You think so?" Lissa asked.
"Sure!" Gaston spoke up. "The way I see it, find whatever makes you better and stick with it. Works for me. And I've turned out pretty wonderful, wouldn't you say?" He asked eagerly. His mother shook her head, snickering and Lissa rolled her eyes. He was bragging again.
More to come...