Melody knew that Susan did not like being at the Dawsons’ house; she did not find it nearly as comfortable as she found her own. Also, without the pool or stereo to distract her, she was required to devote all of her attention to Melody’s mundane tales of Andy, which bored her tirelessly. “So, you didn’t tell Andy,” prompted Susan. “Not even close?” “Well, I was close,” Melody explained, “but then Cadie said she was ready to go, so we went.” She took a handful of popcorn from the big bowl that sat between them on the bed. Popcorn was the only snack that Susan would eat, and only if it was unsalted and unbuttered. “Where were you when the timer went off?” “Walking to the car. Cadie was with us,” she added, as if this would somehow relieve her of her failure. Susan sighed and leaned back against Melody’s mountain of quilted white and pink pillows. “So, what’s the new plan, then?”
