Chapter 3
Excerpts From the Journal of Lesley Lu Spencer: October, 2002
I don't want to keep a journal, but the teacher says I have to.
She says you can only write fluently if you write a lot. I don't
have time for this writing business. I have things to do.
IMPORTANT things.
Mommy says I have to, because the teacher said so.
Papa told me that the Hagakure says that "Death is lighter than a feather, but Duty heavier than a mountain." I think that means he won't argue with Mommy.
Daddy said, "That's a bummer."
My teacher says she won't read all my journal pages. If I fold one over it will be private - for my eyes only. But how will I know that? Maybe I will write something mean and then fold the page over. If she sends me to the principal, I'll know she doesn't tell the truth.
Monday, October 14th
This weekend I went to Daddy's again. It wasn't so bad. The club didn't flood. I wanted to work on our secret project, but Daddy said we have to work on building up our partnership. We went to the zoo and ate some popcorn and threw most of it to the ducks. We ate lots of cotton candy and peanuts. Aunt Alexis said we would all get sick, but we didn't. I suggested we spend some time with the snakes, because that was polite, but it turns out Aunt Alexis likes monkeys. She makes funny monkey faces. She has enthusiasm for monkeys.
Tuesday, October 15th
Mommy brought me the most beautiful diary. It is for private writing, not for school. She said I might like the idea of writing more if I had a private place to write things. It has a picture of a horse running through a meadow on the front, and a little lock on it. With two tiny keys. Mommy and I tried opening the lock for fun. It is probably the easiest lock in the world. We opened it with a bobby pin, a paper clip, an old screw, the edge of a credit card, and even our finger nails. That was fun.
Mommy says that Sergei is too young to snoop and Lucky and Nikolas too old. She says I am the perfect age to keep a diary. Mommy said Aunt Amy read all her secrets and told about half the town. Aunt Amy said that's not true, but when Mommy put the diary down on the table near Aunt Amy, she pulled a pin out of her hair and opened it right up. We laughed and laughed. I will have to hide it when Aunt Amy comes over.
Wednesday, October 16th
Daddy picked me up at school today to work on partnering. So far this has been more fun than when he adjusted me. I want to get started on our project, because the sooner I get un-Spencered the better. One more weekend with Michael Quartermaine will be one toomany. There is something wrong with him. I could try to teach him to pretend again, butI don't think even Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle could cure that boy. Anyway, he and I won't have to see each other much longer. I just have to get Daddy convinced we're partners so we can finish this project and be done with each other.
Friday, October 18th
Tonight I got to stay home with Mommy, Papa and Sergei. Grandma Lesley did not eat dinner with us. It was just the four of us. After dinner we called Niki and also Lucky. That was fun. Mommy gave Sergei his bath and sang him to sleep while Papa read to me. We are reading The Wind in the Willows. I think Toad is not very smart, but I love to sit in Papa's lap and listen to him read. The light from the fire shines on his face, and his voice sounds growly and nice. He has enthusiasm for Toad. Papa says he read this book to Aunt Alexis when they were children. It is hard to believe they were children.
Saturday, October 20th
Daddy called and asked Mommy if I could hang out with him for a while this afternoon. She said yes. Wenders drove me to the club and I had to wait in the car while he ascertained that Daddy had removed any objectionable materials. Orders from Papa. When I went in the club, I saw the objectionable material under the bar. When Daddy wasn't looking, I gave that mean lady's picture a good kick.
Daddy and I ate lunch at Kelly's. Sometimes I hardly remember Aunt Ruby anymore. But today the smell of the chili made me remember being in the kitchen with Aunt Ruby while she cooked. On a stormy day. Outside was the rain, but inside we were cozy. Just the two of us. One time Mommy told me that as long as we keep her in our hearts Aunt Ruby will be alive. Today she was in my heart.
Aunt Bobbie and Lucas came to lunch also. At first I thought that was good. No Michael. But soon Carly came in the door with him, and the crying started up. Daddy tried to get him to sit by him, but ol' Michael cried for me.
Sometimes Mommy is too nice. She says that I should try to think as if I'm Michael. As if I were really in his shoes looking at the world. At first, that seemed crazy, but I promised her I would try harder. Then I watched him today and did try. Maybe he cries so much, because even when his Mommy is there, she sort of isn't. It's as if her mind is somewhere else. Mommy and I keep our minds in the here and now.
Sunday, October 21st
I had some new ideas about our project, but I am going to talk to Grandma Lesley before I go any farther. Last night I dreamed about before, when we didn't live at Wyndemere. In my dream I was on the porch with Foster. We were waiting for Daddy and Lucky to come home. But they didn't.
I think that maybe I can do this project without Daddy. I really should have asked Papa to help me.
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