Chapter 149
Karen’s expression darkened.
+25 BC (This seems out of place. Consider removing it or explaining its relevance.)
Lionel said, “Oh, and by the way, I just used this mop to clean the bathroom. I haven’t had a chance to wash it yet, but it should be fine. Our toilet isn’t very dirty, so it’s probably not an issue. I’m sure you won’t mind, right?”
Karen was clearly disgusted.
“Ugh! Dad, didn’t you forget?” Miranda chimed in. “I poured the leftover food from yesterday into the toilet. Even though I flushed it, it still looked greasy. Mrs. Larden, do you think you might smell grease?”
Miranda and Lionel took turns being as unpleasant as possible. Karen’s triumphant expression quickly turned as dark as the bottom of a pot.
“Why you—” Karen’s nose twitched as if she could actually smell the grease.
“Just you wait!” she snapped, then hurried off to wash away the grease.
At that moment, Miranda dubbed herself the “Empress of Mops.”
Although relieved, Mindy still disapproved of Miranda’s actions. “You’re a girl. You shouldn’t be swinging mops around like that. It’s not very ladylike.”
“Why should I care? She was so annoying,” Miranda said, gazing at the scattered wisteria flowers with a heavy heart.
Lionel had already started cleaning up the mess. “Once the weather clears, I’ll fix the trellises and move them to another part of the yard.”
He thought it was better to avoid more trouble. While it wasn’t a major issue, he didn’t want Mindy to go through this kind of frustration again.
Miranda fell silent, then asked, “Dad, don’t you think people like her will just keep pushing boundaries? If Karen felt she could get away with this today, she would likely do it again. As she herself said, if it’s under five thousand dollars, the police won’t take action.”
Lionel sighed. “What can we do? We’ve known her for decades. I know what kind of person she is. But we live here, and it’s best to keep things peaceful.”
Mindy added, “Forget it. She’s made a scene before. Let’s just stay above it and not let her drag us down.”
“And what if we didn’t live here?” Miranda pondered.
Mindy and Lionel dismissed the idea as childish, knowing that moving away was not a practical option for them. The neighborhood was in the heart of the city, and with property prices soaring, their savings would only stretch to a small apartment in the suburbs. Lionel commuted daily between school and home, so the convenience of their current housing was unmatched.
Chapter 149
Morning arrived on the fourth day of Christmas. After a whole night of snow, the clouds parted, and golden sunlight began to filter through. Miranda woke up early. By the time Lionel and Mindy got up, a warm breakfast of oatmeal and scrambled eggs was already set on the table. (Removed the repetition of "scrambled eggs".)
“It’s delicious!” Lionel said, giving a thumbs-up. “You’re almost as skilled as I am.”
Mindy rolled her eyes. “Miranda’s cooking is way better than yours.”
Lionel replied, “That’s just because she inherited my talent! It runs in the family!” (Corrected "rims" to "runs")
Mindy responded, “Yeah, yeah, you’re always boasting about yourself.”
After breakfast, Miranda suggested that her parents join her for a walk. Lionel, eager to get out, quickly agreed. The winter sun was warm and pleasant. Mindy enjoyed the weather, and since Miranda hadn’t been home in a while, the three of them strolled leisurely along the nearby river. Miranda subtly guided them down a different path. By the time Lionel and Mindy realized where they were headed, they found themselves at the sales office of a popular new development.