Page 9 of 7+Us Makes Nine

“She’s gotten herself into a spot of trouble at school,” she said.

“And you're calling me because…?”

“I was hoping you could talk with her.”

“What did Hannah do?”

“She was caught drinking at a party.”

“Well, Hannah did just turn twenty-one,” I said. “That type of thing is bound to happen.”

“Not in our family. We keep a straight line. She’s in succession to take over the business. We can’t have the police calling us saying she’s stumbling home from a party at two in the morning.”

“Oh, that’s what happened. Okay,” I said. “You made it sound like she was just drinking.”

“No, she wasn’t ‘just drinking’. Though she shouldn't be doing it at all. It will ruin her figure.”

“Uh huh. So you want your wine-guzzling daughter to talk with her about not drinking,” I said.

“I swear, I don’t know where the two of you get your nasty habits.”

“Dad,” I said plainly.

“No, it was from that major of yours. Too much stress and not enough pay. But you never drank in college. Not like Hannah does.”

“You’ll find any way to blame my bleak circumstances in my life on my education. I’m sorry I didn’t take over the family business. I’m sorry I don’t like technology. Now can we get back to talking about my sister? You know, the reason why you called me after years of not talking?” I asked.

“If you picked up the phone, we would talk more often.”

“It works both ways, Mom!”

“Don’t you dare raise your voice at me. Your father and I did the best we could with you, and you were the one that chose this pa

th for your life. You were the one who switched your major without consulting us first.”

“Because it’s my life,” I said. “How did we even get on this topic? I graduated from college six years ago. Get over it.”

“How dare you speak to me like that.”

“Well, if you didn’t call, I wouldn’t have to speak with you like that.”

“Where in the world did you get such an attitude?” she asked.

“You,” I said plainly. “And since we’re on the topic, you guys are the ones that treat me like the black sheep of the family. Verbally backing me into corners during the holidays and embarrassing me in front of your friends. That’s why I stopped calling. That’s why I stopped coming home. That’s why I moved to San Francisco. Because holidays were another excuse for you to criticize every life choice I’ve made up until this point before trying to convince me to go back to school and learn Dad’s trade.”

“You could’ve been the first female succession ever to a technological conglomerate like your father has. Aren’t you into that sort of thing?” she asked.

“Into that sort of-? Do you hear yourself?” I asked.

“Can we get back to talking about your sister now?” my mother asked.

“Sure. Let’s do that,” I said.

“Hannah has entered a rehabilitation facility.”

I felt my world come careening to a stop.

“I thought you said she was found walking home drunk on campus, Mom.”

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