Gosh, that’s scary – what happened with Barb and the pizza. But you know what, Tara? I just have a good feeling about the baby. I really do. I think she’s going to be okay.

  Oh – I just reread your e, and yes, I’d LOVE to set up a time to send IMs. What about tomorrow afternoon? Any time is fine with me. Three o’clock might be good, because Mom is taking Emma to a birthday party then. Let’s leave it at 3:00, unless I hear from you. (I promise to check my e-mail tonight and tomorrow morning.)

  Enjoy the rest of your Saturday, Tara!

  Love,

  Elizabeth

  P.S. A question for those kids who are planning “Smash Them” day. Have they thought about what those eggs might smell like by now?

  Date: November 13 11:58:53 PM

  From: TSTARR

  Subj: It’s been a great day … and night!

  To: Eliz812

  Hi, Elizabeth,

  Luke took the day off and stayed home with Barb…. And I went out and had a GREAT time. I went to the high school football game. Our team lost but I won.

  Why, you ask?

  I found out that Phil is an outstanding kisser. (We started out kissing every time our team scored but then we decided to kiss when either team scored!)

  I think you should stop worrying about how you feel about Howie and just enjoy it. It sounds like the two of you are turning into really close friends and that’s very special.

  I guess the main thing I understand about relationships between boys and girls is that I don’t understand them … but since we’ve just started our teenage years, I’m not too worried. We have a lot of time to figure everything out.

  As for Thanksgiving, yours sounds wonderful with the Bessers. If your father wants to come, tell him you’ll already have one turkey at the table and that’s enough.

  After the game, we all went to a party at Jada Murphy’s house…. Lots of dancing.

  I am sooooooooooooooooooo tired.

  Talk with you tomorrow.

  I can’t wait.

  Love,

  Tara★

  November 14 3:03:46 PM

  INSTANT MESSAGE

  Eliz812: Hi. It’s me!

  TSTARR: Elizabeth … I am sooooooo excited…. I’m sooooooo glad we are “talking.” … There is so much to tell you … so much to hear!

  Eliz812: I know! I can’t believe we’re actually talking! How are you? How is Barb?

  TSTARR: She’s OK … getting a little stir-crazy. Remember the pot holders we used to make? Well, she’s taken my old loom out of “storage” and is making pot holders. Pitiful, huh?

  Eliz812: What’s she going to do with them?

  TSTARR: She said either she’s going to make a baby quilt or she’s going to throw them out. She can’t decide. For a while she threatened to make a vest for Luke out of them but he said he wouldn’t wear it.

  Eliz812: Ha!

  Tara, I’m dying to know – did the kids in your class really hold “Smash Them” day?

  TSTARR: They did … although a few kids picketed as Right to Lifers and said the eggs shouldn’t be “killed.” I think a little reality testing needs to be done on some people. Phil and I have saved our eggs as souvenirs, but we did go to the party…. It was an eggscellent party, by the way.

  Eliz812: Very funny!

  Okay, before we really start talking, I have to know how long we can IM. (You know I like to know these things ahead of time.) I think I shouldn’t stay on more than about 15 mins. because I shouldn’t tie up the line for too long.

  TSTARR: OK. Fifteen minutes. I wish we could stay on for hours, but I have to be careful too. Luke may try to call and check in on Barb. (She’s doing well, but we all still worry a lot…. There have been a few problems.)

  Eliz812: What kind of problems? How worried should I be?

  TSTARR: Don’t worry. It won’t do any good. That’s what my parents say to me (although I can tell that they are a little worried too). There has been a problem with something called “spotting” and every once in a while Barb thinks she is going into labor, but the longer she stays in bed and the baby isn’t born the better it will be. So don’t worry. I think everything will be OK.

  Eliz812: Well, like I said before, I have one of my strong feelings about this baby – that SHE is going to be fine. (Are you thinking about names yet?)

  TSTARR: We’re starting to. The other day Luke (Beatles lover that he is) suggested Penny, as in Penny Lane. I like the name Tamara. Barb is still thinking about it.

  Eliz812: How about just plain Mary? That’s one of my favorite names. (Emma suggested Barbie.)

  TSTARR: Aaaaaaaarg … Barbie … aaaaaaaaaaaaarg. And while Mary is a perfectly fine name, it just doesn’t have enough flair. What is happening at your house? Is a romance heating up between your mom and Mr. Besser? You and Howie? Emma and anyone? And what is happening with Emma’s school ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?

  Eliz812: Hmphhhh. No flair. Thanks a lot.

  Well … Emma’s school. No news so far, except that Mom is still talking with the parents of a bunch of kids here at DEER RUN who are all in the same boat.

  Howie and me – what I told you the other day. I think he is turning into one of my very best friends. It’s just that it’s so strange for a best friend (of mine) to be a boy.

  TSTARR: Don’t be offended. I guess the name Mary has “flair” but Tamara, Lucinda … those names make me think of someone who will lead a dramatic life … not that someone named Mary can’t.

  What about the teachers at the school? Won’t they need jobs ? ? ? Is there a room at DEER RUN that could be turned into a day-care place?

  I am not going to get bent out of shape because Howie is now your best friend. I know that I am still one of your best friends and I don’t want to waste time discussing it again. I know there are different kinds of best friends for different reasons … and I just want to say how glad I am that we are still able to talk to each other about important things.

  Eliz812: Definitely. Me too. But I didn’t say Howie was now my best friend. I said, as I’ve said before, that he’s ONE OF my best friends. Anyway, what I meant about Howie is that our feelings for each other (as far as I can tell) are not boyfriend/girlfriend, but best friend/soulmate … which is so new for me.

  Emma’s day care: There are 4 teachers. 2 have found jobs at other day-care centers (the fancy ones we can’t afford), 1 is moving (was going to move anyway), and I don’t know about the 4th. But one thing Mom is looking into is a day-care center in the home of one of Emma’s friends here whose mom has her child-care license, or whatever it’s called. She MIGHT quit her temp job and start a day care for the four DEER RUN kids.

  TSTARR: That would be wonderful.

  Uh-oh … Barb has just called out that she is making a diaper cover out of the pot holders….

  Eliz812: I bet Emma would wear a vest made of pot holders if we told her Barb made it for her. It’s a little mean, but it would give Barb something to do.

  TSTARR: It will make Barb sooooooooooooooooooo happy…. Are you sure Emma won’t mind? She really is a terrific kid.

  If my baby sister turns out to be like Emma (with more jewelry), I would be soooooo happy, although I do think I will be a bossier big sister than you are.

  Eliz812: Emma is truly great. And you should see her when she plays dress-up. Maybe you had more influence over her than you realized.

  Oh – I never answered your question about Mom and Mr. Besser. You know, I think something is going on there. Not sure how serious it is (Howie and I love it, though!) or how long it will last, but … it’s exciting.

  TSTARR: Do you think that with all the things that are going on, our lives are turning into soap operas or just real everyday lives with easy and hard stuff mixed in ? ? ? ? If they are soap operas, I wonder what the commercials would be like? ? We could advertise pot scrubbers … or pot holders.

  Eliz812: Or my father could do a beer commercial ! ! ! Tara, I hate to say this, but we have been on for way longer than 15 mins. Mom is probably going to bring Emma home from the party soon. I think we better get off. Okay? Give my love to Barb and Luke. And XX to you too.

  TSTARR: Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaarg … I was having such a good time. My fingers are turning into “chatter-boxes.” OK, I know we have to stop now…. Love to you, your mom, and Emma. Looking forward to your next e-mail.

  Eliz812: Bye! I’ll write soon! !

  TSTARR: Bye.

  Date: November 17 5:10:45 PM

  From: Eliz812

  Subj: Just a Note

  To: TSTARR

  Dear Tara★,

  I almost sent you an e-mail the moment we ended our IM chat on Sunday, but I didn’t really have anything to say except … that was so much fun! It was nearly as good as being on the phone.

  Not a whole lot has happened in the last three days. Mom and Emma’s friend’s mom, Mrs. Randall, and the other moms are still talking about having a small day-care center in the Randalls’ apartment.

  Howie and Susie and I are working hard on Silhouette. The first edition is almost finished. Remember last spring when Mrs. Jackson said we would put out three editions this year and I wrote to you that I was SURE we could do four? Well – Mrs. Jackson was right! ! There’s no way we can put out four editions. It is SO much work. I think we’ll get the second one out at the beginning of March and the third out when school ends. And that will be cutting it close. Mrs. Jackson was doing a lot more work on Silhouette last year, work my staff and I do now, so everything takes longer. Plus, most of the kids have sports and plays and dances and other after-school activities in addition to homework and Silhouette. Anyway … I’m working on a poem about glistening icicles.

  No word from Dad, which is good, of course. Maybe we’ll get away with a peaceful Thanksgiving. Luckily, Dad doesn’t know about our plans or where the Bessers live.

  How is Barb doing?

  Another possible baby name—Marianna. I thought of that while Susie and I were walking to school today. (Howie got up late so his father drove him.) I like Marianna because it’s pretty fancy, but it still has Mary in it. What do you think?

  Tonight I am going to fix spaghetti for supper. I’m getting pretty good at cooking, Tara. Then Mom and Emma and I will have a nice, cozy, quiet evening. On most weeknight evenings we all play a board game (Emma’s choice – usually Candy Land) after dinner. Then Mom and Emma read together and have bathtime for Emma while I do my homework. After Emma goes to bed, Mom and I talk and have hot chocolate (Emma doesn’t know about the hot chocolate!) and finally Mom and I go to bed too. I just love our evenings. They are so different from the ones we used to have in our old house, especially the ones after Dad lost his job, when Dad would drink and he and Mom would talk and fight and try to figure out what they should do, and I would try to finish my homework and take care of Emma, keep her out of earshot of the fighting. Even going to bed wasn’t very nice. I could still hear the fighting. Now we go to bed and I hear … Emma breathing. Period.

  I just love our new peaceful life.

  Okay … spaghetti water is boiling. Gotta go.

  Love,

  Elizabeth

  Date: November 20 11:08:39 PM

  From: TSTARR

  Subj: The Play’s the Thing

  To: Eliz812

  Dear Elizabeth,

  I loved our IM chat too !!!!! It’s such a shame that our computers are on our family phone lines so we can’t chat endlessly. (I hope someday I can get my own computer and put it on my own phone line…. Someday … rats … someday…. I want it all now, even though I know I shouldn’t. As Barb says, “Tara★, Patience is not your middle name.”)

  Speaking of names, there is still no decision on the baby’s name. Luke says we should wait to see the baby before we decide, but I think we are all a little nervous about whether the baby is going to be OK. (We are in “the safety zone,” though…. The due date for the baby is Dec. 12, and that’s only three weeks away. THREE WEEKS … wow ! ! ! ! !)

  About the play … Tonight I went to it … met Phil there and Hannah and the rest of the gang. I had lots of feelings about it.

  1. I was sooooooooo glad to get out of the house and do things with people. (Although during intermission I did phone home to make sure Barb and the baby were all right. They told me to stop worrying and enjoy myself…. So I did, sort of.)

  2. What I didn’t enjoy was seeing stupid Lisa in MY part…. I just know I would have been a lot better. (She even forgot some lines at one time. I know she did. I know that part by heart.) I especially hated the curtain call when people applauded her and she got bouquets of flowers. (She had a lot of relatives in the audience.) I know I’m being crabby about this but I can’t help it.

  3. Bart was in the audience with his new girlfriend, Marti Bloomfield. She’s really nice. I wish her luck!

  So there you have it … my night at the play. I had a great time with my friends, but this tiny part of me (OK … no so tiny) wanted to be up there being a STAR … Tara★, the Star … and wanted people to applaud me, and wanted to get the flowers, and go to the cast party.

  You know something, Elizabeth … now that I’m home and thinking about it, I wish I could have had it all … the play, the time at home with Barb, everything. But I didn’t … and that’s OK too.

  Anyway, that’s it for now. (I am very tired.) Please e-mail soon. I want to hear all about you … and your family. (Any further developments with your mom’s romance?)

  I hope your father leaves you alone on Thanksgiving. That would make everyone thankful.

  Love,

  Tara★

  Date: November 25 3:42:21 AM

  From: TSTARR

  Subj: IT’S A GIRL

  To: Eliz812

  It’s a girl…. SHE’S A GIRL… !

  I wish I could call you right now and talk to you, but it’s the middle of the night. I can’t wait to talk with you tomorrow, though. (I will call you after I go to the hospital to see the baby, and I’ll give you a full report. I don’t care how much of my allowance it costs, I just have to talk with you “in person” and anyway, there will be special rates on THANKSGIVING Day ! ! ! ! ! ! !)

  The baby has a name…. No, it’s not Mary, sorry….

  She was born with red hair. (Luke says it’s sort of his color but really, really red.) So her name is … TADA … A DRUM ROLL HERE … her name is Scarlett. (It figures she would be named after the main character in Barb’s favorite book, Gone with the Wind. After all, I was named after the plantation in that book. If I’d been born with hair that red, I’d probably have been named Scarlett…. Weird to think about that.)

  Luke says she is perfect. She was only a little early, just about on time. And she’s healthy, fine, and he says “absolutely beautiful.” (I will not be jealous…. I will not be jealous…. I will not be jealous.)

  Tomorrow, I will decide for myself. More details to follow then.

  Love,

  Tara★ (Now a big sister too. It’s nice to have something else in common with you when our lives are changing so much.)

  P.S. HAPPY THANKSGIVING

  Date: November 25 8:19:57 AM

  From: Eliz812

  Subj: SCARLETT LANE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  To: TSTARR

  Dear Tara★,

  I don’t usually check my e-mail first thing in the morning, but since today is a holiday … I did. And I am so glad I did!

  I can’t believe she is here! And she is fine! (See? My strong feelings are usually right.) And she is a girl! YESSS !! (We were both right about that.)

  I really like her name. It’s not Mary, but it’s a good name. You and your sister have theme names…. Hmm. If Scarlett grows up to be anything like the Scarlett in the book, you better watch out. She is going to have a mind of her own. (And you better not let her near draperies if she says anything about a new dress.)

  I have to go. Mom needs me to help with the cooking this morning, but I’ll talk to you later today. We’re going over to the Bessers’ around 1:00 and we’ll probably be there all afternoon. Maybe you should call in the evening. If I don’t hear from you by 8:00, I’ll call you, okay?

  I can’t wait to talk to you !!!!

  Tell Barb and Luke CONGRATULATIONS !!!!

  Lots of Love,

  Aunt Elizabeth

  Date: November 25 5:58:07 PM

  From: Eliz812

  Subj: Thanksgiving at the Bessers’

  To: TSTARR

  Dear Tara★,

  We just got back from the Bessers’ and there was no message on the answering machine from you so I checked my e-mail. I see that you’re going to call me in an hour. I barely know what to do with myself for the next hour because I’m so excited about Scarlett and because we had such a nice Thanksgiving, so I thought I’d kill the time by e-ing you about our day. (I figure we’ll only talk about Scarlett this evening.)

  Tara, we had the BEST time. For starters, Dad didn’t call. I was so afraid he would; that somehow he would manage to spoil the day. But he never called. We cooked peacefully, with the Macy’s Thanks-giving Day Parade on TV in the background. Mom and Emma and I were responsible for the turkey (Mr. Besser said he has as much knowledge about turkey cooking as he does about atomic energy) and rolls and dessert. Mr. Besser and Howie took care of salad, vegetables, condiments, and hot spiced cider.

  A little before 1:00, Mom and Emma and I set out for the Bessers’. Because of the turkey we had to drive there, even though their apartment is only a few buildings away. Emma thought this was hysterical.

  Anyway, the afternoon was SO NICE, Tara. It was really relaxed. And it was SO DIFFERENT from the huge Thanksgivings we used to have with Dad’s family. (Remember the awful one last year? When he’d lost his job but hadn’t told anyone yet, and we really couldn’t afford the gala day he’d planned, but he insisted on having the dinner anyway? Horrible.) But not this year’s. First we sat around the Bessers’ living room and talked and drank cider. (Howie has a two-bedroom apartment with a dining room. It seems huge!) Then we moved into the dining room for the meal. Mom sat at one end of the table and Mr. Besser at the other. Howie and I sat next to each other (across from Emma) and we kept nudging each other under the table – whenever we saw Mom and Mr. Besser exchange a look or something. I’m not QUITE sure what’s going on with them, Tara, but they seem awfully familiar with each other.