"Hey Bernice! How was school today?"
"Fine, Mom." Bernice called to her mother as she bounded up the stairs.

Her heart raced with anticipation as she sat down at the computer and logged into her email account. Suddenly her in-box appeared on the screen; her fingers trembling as she scrolled through the long list of messages.

Please be there, please... please...

But it wasn't there.

She swallowed hard, determined not to cry.

Get real, Bernice. You just sent it yesterday. Daddy is a busy man. He'll answer you. Eventually.

"Bernice! Supper's ready!"

"Okay, Mom. I'll be right there!" Bernice called from her bedroom. She turned off the computer and hurried to the dinner table.

"Hey Bernice Bernice Bernice." Justin said when she sat down to eat.

Bernice tried to smile at the familiar joke but she just couldn't.

"Where's your brother?" Birdie asked.

Bernice shrugged. "Oh, who knows? Probably on the phone with some girl, trying to make her think that he's cool."

"I heard that." Travis said as he sat down at the table and began to help himself to some mashed potatoes.

"This looks wonderful, Sweetheart." Justin said, smiling at his wife.

"Thanks, Honey." Birdie said.

Bernice tried not to cringe at the sappy pet names. Try as she might, she would never get used to the fact that Justin and her mom were married. Or worse... that Travis was her brother.

"So, Bernice." Birdie said as she poured some iced tea. "You never told me how school was."

"Fine." Bernice answered.

"You hear that?" Justin said. "That's exactly what I told my parents when we were in high school."

"Yeah, but Justin, this is Smithville High School. Nothing exciting ever happens should know that." Bernice said.

"Have you given any more thought about tryin' out for cheerleader?" Birdie asked.

Bernice groaned. "God, Mom... I'm so sick of hearin' about that!"

"Bernice, your mom just wants you to have some fun in high school." Justin said.

"Mom, the cheerleaders now aren't like they were in your day. What was that, a hundred years ago?" Bernice said.

Travis suppressed a laugh as Justin and Birdie exchanged amused glances.

"Look, I'm sorry Mom, but there's no way I'm trying out for-."

The phone rang and Travis sprang out of his chair. "I'll get it."

"Hello? Oh Hi. Bernice? She's right here. Just a minute."

Bernice looked around uneasily.

"It's for you." Travis said.

"Oh... Okay. Thanks, Travis."

Oh God, this was it. Andy was finally asking her out on a date!

Her throat went dry as Travis handed her the phone.

"H-Hello? Oh Hey. Yeah. You got my email? Good. I was worried. I know. I'm just a worry wart. You know with school and all. The dance? Yeah, it's in three weeks. A dress? I found the perfect one. You will? Seriously? Oh my God, really? Thank you so much! You too! Bye."

She held the phone to her ear, listening to the dial tone. Then in a daze she placed it back on the receiver.

"Bernice?" Birdie said. "What was that all about?"

"I know." Travis said.

All eyes turned toward him.

"How can you possibly know? I didn't even tell Julia and she's my best friend." Bernice said.

"Oh come on. Everyone in the world knows about your crush on Andy Webber." Travis said. "I'm surprised you haven't mentioned him in the last two seconds. He asked you to the dance, didn't he?"

"What dance?" Justin asked.

"The big dance at school. It's like prom but it's for everyone." Travis explained. "Bernice has wanted Andy to ask her to a dance since Smithville Elementary School."

Bernice turned bright red. "It wasn't Andy, okay? It was Daddy."

Birdie looked at Justin nervously. "Um... what did your dad want, Bernice?"

Bernice could hold in her excitement no longer.

"He's taking me to the Father Daughter Dance at school."