difhood55

@@@@@"Nothing happened," Scarlett said through her teethShe picked up the small silver bell on the table and shook it furiouslyWhen the stout black maid appeared carrying two small dishes of pudding, Scarlett stalked over to herShe put her hands on the woman's shoulders and turned her around"Now you march, and I mean march, not amble alongYou go down to the kitchen and bring me my dinnerHot and plenty of it and in a hurryI don't care which one of you was planning to eat it, but you'll have to make do with the back and the wingsI want a thigh and a breast and plenty of gravy on my potatoes and a bowl of butter, with the rolls nice and hot Go on!" She sat down with a flounce, ready to do battle with her aunts if they said so much as one wordSilence filled the room until her dinner was served Pauline contained herself until Scarlett's food was half-eaten Then, "What did Pere say to you?" she asked politelyScarlett wiped her mouth with her napkin"He just tried to bully me the way he does you and Aunt 'Laue, so I gave him a piece of my mind The two sisters exchanged shocked looksScarlett smiled and ladled more gravy onto the potatoes left on her plate What geese her aunts wereDidn't they know that you had to stand up to bullies like their father or else they'd trample right over you? It never occurred to Scarlett that she was able to resist being bullied because she was a bully herself, or that her grandfather's laughter was caused by his recognition of her resemblance to himWhen dessert was served, the bowls of tapioca had somehow become largerEulalie smiled gratefully at her niece "Sister and I were just saying how much we enjoyed having you with us in our old home, ScarlettDon't you find Savannah a lovely little city? Did you see the fountain in Chippewa Square? And the theater? It's nearly as old as Charleston'sI remember how Sister and I used to look out of the windows of our schoolroom at the thespians coming and goingDon't you remember, Sister?" Pauline remember