Well, here's the next half of the episode! I had to divide again! Anyway, Please read and review this one as well as chapter 24! Thanks!
The next day they prepared to leave. Joe took the bags down to the car and came back up for Rhoda. Rhoda kept giving Suzannah last minute instructions until Joe finally said,
"Rhoda, She's fifteen years old. She's old enough to know this stuff."
"I'll be fine,Aunt Rho. Just go and have a great time.", Suzannah added, hugging her aunt.
"All right. I love you,Kiddo." Rhoda said, kissing her niece's cheek. Suzannah tried not to wince as her Aunt brushed against the bruise covered with make-up.
"I love you, too, Aunt Rhoda. Bye Uncle Joe." Joe gave Suzannah a quick hug and he and Rhoda turned to leave. Just then the door buzzed. Suzannah went to answer it with Rhoda right behind.
"Aunt Mary!" Mary hugged Suzannah before looking at Rhoda and saying,
"Surprise! I'm here for the weekend!" Rhoda recovered fairly quickly and hugged her best friend. Joe stood back with a dismayed look on his face.
"Joe! Did you hear that? Mary's here for the weekend!", Rhoda said.
"I heard,I heard!" Joe grumbled.
"Mary, why didn't you tell us you were coming?", Rhoda asked.
"I'd like to know that too.", said Joe, earning him, a look from Rhoda.
"Well, I didn't know myself. I've actually been in the city for a couple of days for a news conference and I didn't know if I'd have time at the end to come or if I'd have to go straight back. And,well, here I am."
"Yeah, here you are. Did you say the WHOLE weekend,Mary?", Joe asked pointedly.
"Yes. Oh! My gosh! I didn't even think to ask if you guys had plans this weekend! Is it ok that I'm here?" Joe was about to speak up and say that in fact ,they had made plans, but Rhoda spoke up first.
"Oh, no! We weren't doing anything. We're really glad you're here!" Joe said he was going to go pay the meter on the car and stomped out. Mary was worried but Rhoda convinced her that Joe was just kidding. She exclaimed,
"Mary! What's happened to you? You've gone from thin to veluptuous! How'd you do it,Kid?
"Yeah, Aunt Mary. You look gorgeous. Even more than before, If that's possible!",added Suzannah.
"Ah, well I gain 12 pounds." Rhoda stared at her friend for a moment then asked,
"How did you gain weight in only erogenous zones?" Mary just laughed.
Brenda came up a few minutes later,
"Suzi?! You Ready?! I just came to see if you needed..?" Rhoda interrupted and said,
"Brenda! Look who's here! Mary came for the weekend! We're all thrilled! Say hi!" Brenda hid her confusion and came over to hug Mary.
"Are you staying with Rhoda and Joe?"
"Oh, no. I didn't want to put them out. My things are at the hotel."
"That's stupid,Mare. Stay with us!", Rhoda began.
"Oh, no. I don't want to be in your way."
"Then be in my way. I have an extra bed. I'd love to have you! Look what four years with you did for Rhoda!" Mary and Rhoda laughed and Mary said
" Well,ok, then. I'll go get my stuff from the hotel. Thanks!"
"Hey, see there, I'm livin' upstairs from you again, Kid.", Rhoda said.
"Aww.", replied Mary. At that moment, Joe came stomping back in.
"I just got a Twenty-five dollar parking ticket! That's all!" He yelled before stomping back to his room. Rhoda started laughing to convince everyone to do the same and convince Mary that it was still a game with Joe. Then Mary left to get her stuff from the hotel and Suzannah and Brenda went downstairs to give Rhoda and Joe some privacy. Suzannah left for school from there. Later that afternoon, Mary was getting settled in at Brenda's and helping her get ready for her date. Suzannah had gotten home from school was helping Mary get settled in. At one point, Mary happened to bump into Suzannah's arm and Suzannah couldn't quite stifle a gasp of pain. Mary turned to her and Brenda looked up.
"Suzi, what's wrong, Darling?"
"Nothing.", Suzannah said nervously.
"No. Something's wrong. You jolted when I bumped your arm. does it hurt? What happened?" Brenda looked at her neice and said,
"Suz, roll up your sleeve." Suzannah looked about to refuse, but then she sighed and did as told. Brenda and Mary both gasped. her arm was covered in bruises. Suzannah knew she didn't have a choice but to admit everything. She rolled up her other sleeve and that arm was covered in bruises as well.
"Suzi? What's going on?", asked Brenda.
"There's this girl and her friends at school. This has been going on for a few weeks. Before that, they just laughed at me or ignored me. I don't know what happened but a few weeks ago it started getting worse. They've been shoving me around and throwing food at me. Two days ago the leader of the group held me while the others punched me. They would have hurt me worse if the principle hadn't been heading down the hall right then. They stopped before he could see anything." By now, Suzannah had tears in her eyes.
"Suzi, Honey, have you told your aunt Rhoda, yet?",asked Mary, gently. Brenda answered.
"She tried to the other day, but Rhoda had a lot on her mind that night with work. Suzi, did you talk to her after dinner that night?" Suzannah just shook her head.
"Suz, you need to tell her as soon as possible. She needs to know so she can help you." Suzannah was about to protest that It wouldn't do any good, when the door buzzed. It was Ida. She had found out Mary was in town and had come to see her. Suzannah and Brenda looked at each other nervously.
"Brenda, Suzannah, you two need to leave so I can talk to Mary alone."
"Ma! Do you realize you are kicking me out of my own apartment?!", Brenda protested. In the end, the protests were useless. Brenda headed up to Rhoda's. Suzannah found little ways to be able to stick around longer.
Well I guess it's gonna make me devide twice again. Not sure why since this episode was only one part and the Wedding was two part on tv, but Please read and review this chapter as well as the other two. Thanks!