The Surly Bonds

Chapter 6

July 19, 1985. Annie reclines on the couch, legs dangling over the side. She rests close to the remote, only inches from her head. Richard barges through the door, balancing two brown paper grocery bags in his hands. A rogue stalk of celery sticking out of the bag smacks him in the face as he jostles with the bags. He uses his foot to close the door without the use of his hands. "Are you still sitting in front of the TV?" Richard asks, peeking his head over the grocery bags.

"Maybe," Annie replies.

"Why don't you go outside and get some fresh air?"

"There's nothing to do outside."

"Then why don't you help me with the bags?"

Annie sighs as she rises, struggling to achieve balance. Slight disorientation occurs as she stands on two feet. Annie grabs a bag from Richard's arm, relieving the burden of his unsuccessful balancing act. The weight of the bag shifts Annie's balance, and she struggles to secure it safely in her arms. She quickly rushes to the kitchen and places it on the table at a slight angle. As Annie walks away, the bag falls, and a loaf of bread falls out. A carton of eggs lands on the soft white bread, cushioning its fall.

Richard returns with two more bags of groceries and sets them on the counter next to a collection of mail. The pile of precariously stacked envelopes addressed to Mary tumbles to the ground. Richard rushes to pick them up, placing the pile neatly atop the counter, above one of Annie's forgotten books, DISNEY YEARBOOK 1984. Richard opens the book and glosses over its contents. "You never did thank Grandma and Grandpa for their present."

"They got me a kiddie book. I'm too old for that stuff now," Annie remarks, as she shoves the eggs and bread back into the bag neatly.

"You're right, being eleven and all, it is full of kid stuff. There's a story about computers, the Olympics from last year, photography, Space Camp..."

Annie turns her head and runs to Richard, grabbing for the book. "Let me see that."

"All kid stuff." Richard hands Annie the book as she tears through the pages in a frenzy. She runs out of the kitchen, holding the book in front of her, and lands on the couch. She scours the page for information on the subject. Richard yells from the kitchen, "Thanks for helping me with the groceries!"

Annie's eyes lock on the book for hours. She reads and rereads about space camp, solar sails, computers and TRON, and a section about a new futuristic theme park, EPCOT Center. Annie does not look up from her book as members of her family pass by. Mary proclaims, "I'm home!" Annie looks up and smiles, then returns to her book. Mary sets her purse on the planter box and approaches Annie. "What 'cha reading?"

"This book Grandma and Grandpa gave me," Annie replies with glee.

"You're finally reading it. Anything interesting in there?"

"There's a place in Alabama where you can train to be an astronaut! Can I go, please?"

Annie suggestively smiles. Mary grins. "Maybe next year."

"Really?"

"If your grades improve."

Annie slumps into the couch and rolls her eyes. "Ugh."

"I can't reward you for nothing. And Space Camp is expensive."

"So, if I get my grades up, then I can go?"

"Only if I see straight A's. And you start mowing lawns and selling some lemonade."

Mary leaves the living room, and Annie picks up the remote to turn on the TV. She flips through the channels rapidly but stops when she sees a graphic of a space shuttle flash on screen. She reverses her channel flipping momentum and returns to the news program. Mary enters the living room, running a brush through her hair. The news announces, "Next, on Headline News. Sharon McAuliffe has been chosen to fly on space shuttle Challenger next January. Ten teachers were in the running to have a high-flying winter vacation, and Mrs. McAuliffe says she hopes her space travels will have a positive effect here on Earth."