The Day I Kissed An Older Man

Vince nodded in agreement.

Rita and Sadie soon took their places at opposite ends of the table. As soon as Sadie sat down, she lowered her head in dejection.

Vince asked casually, “What’s wrong? Did you have a bad night’s sleep?”

Tears welled in Sadie’s eyes as she lifted her head.

Rita could only marvel at Sadie and Karen’s increasingly dramatic performances. She felt that they ought to dabble in an acting career, as Sadie

would be able to make a name for herself and have an outlet to put those acting skills to good use.

their charades was exhausting. There were times when Rita had to put up an act too if she

she thought of all that while reaching for her favorite dish. “It’s nothing, Dad. Rita doesn’t come back often, so let’s not dwell on it any longer. Let’s eat. You said you were hungry, didn’t you, Mom? Go ahead and have

no longer feign ignorance after seeing Sadie’s attempts at reconciliation. He set down his cutlery

a meal together? Why do you always have

“What did I do this time? I was

She didn’t do anything at all.

for you because you’re not my biological daughter, but I’ve vowed to treat you as my own from the day your

swallowed the food in her mouth and attempted to mediate

normal for the girls to argue from time to time. They’ll move on soon enough. This is

complain to me because you spoil Rita so much and shield Rita

Sadie asked. “If a stranger saw us like this in public,