Susan Jennings drove her children to school in a Korean car that would have been beneath her only minutes ago. She didn't even miss the sensation of sitting high in an SUV. Now she could only occasionally wonder what that would feel like. She once had dreams of being a model and living a glamorous life, but now settled for a lot less.
Maybe "settled" wasn't the right word. She was actually quite happy with what she had.
Her husband Jon took good care of her. He was far better than the creep she almost ended up with.
She had two beautiful daughters and one handsome son.
Her younger children Zoe and Mikey had inherited her blonde hair and good looks. Zoe was so pretty in pink sitting next to her. Mikey had the back seat to himself, playing with a bunch of action figures.
Linda took after her father. She had his brown hair and his streak of rebellion. She and her mother weren't getting along anymore, and she had been going to school alone for the last few weeks. Lake Point was a safe town, so Susan didn't think Linda was in any danger. With a few exceptions - like that Japanese family that recently moved here - what was their name? - Mee-shy-dah? - everyone pretty much knew everyone here. That had its pluses and big minuses, as her husband knew.
Maybe we should've left, thought Susan. And put him behind us. But he's a big figure in the tech world, and he'd prevent Jon from getting work anywhere else. Jon and I had talked this over so many times. He's stuck. Poor guy. At least he ... we have friends and family.
He can't control everyone in town. He's not the mayor. I knew him better than almost anybody. I doubt he's changed. That monster isn't all-powerful. If he were, he wouldn't need Jon. He thinks he's so high and mighty, but he's actually the one who's dependent. I keep telling Jon, we should turn the tables on him. But it's not in Jon's nature. He's so soft. He's like Linda. He's missing that edge that makes Zoe the queen of the freshman class ... that keeps Mikey from being bullied. I love Jon and Linda, yet sometimes, I wish they were more like us.
Susan drove into Lake Point High. She saw a girl in black get out of the car in front of hers. So glad Zoe isn't one of those ... what's the word? ... Goths?
"Mom, don't forget I've got a literary club meeting this afternoon," said Zoe, whose love of poetry persisted into her new life.
"I won't, sweetie." Susan braked her car. "Love you!"
Zoe opened the passenger door. "Love you, too, Mom! Bye!"
Susan waved back at her favorite daughter. "Bye!"
Mikey ignored the sound of Zoe shutting the door. He didn't need to look out the window either. He could guess that Zoe was joining some group of cute blonde girls like her. Whatever.
Mikey was much more interested in his Transformers. He pretended to be Megatron attacking pathetic little Autobot Bumblebee ... or "Frumblebee," as Mikey preferred to call him. What a loser, just like Fred.
Mikey couldn't wait to get to school. Fred was probably trembling right now. Mikey and his friends called that walking beach ball "Fed" because he was obviously well-fed ... so why would he need lunch money? Mikey was eager to relieve him of the burden of that extra weight ... a few grams of coins and bills.
All that money added up. Mikey thought he might have had fifty dollars or so by now. The exact amount didn't matter. Mikey enjoyed the taking more than the taken. "Fed" was too chicken to seek adult help. Their teacher Miss Warren was just as clueless as Mrs. Jennings. Mikey was their blond angel.
