Broken Stones
an excerpt

When the house phone rang a few minutes later we both jumped. Mom answered it quickly without even a glance at caller ID.
“Hello. Yes this is Rhonda Stone.”
Silence
“Yes, Stephanie is my daughter.”
Longer silence.
“She what! I don’t believe it.”
Silence
“Yes, Yes, I understand. Yes, put her on please.”
Silence again.
“Stephanie, have you lost your mind! I’ve been worried sick and this is what you’ve been doing.”
Short silence
“You’re damn right you better have a good explanation. I don’t need this aggravation.”
I could faintly hear Stephanie sobbing hysterically into the phone trying to get her words out. I had figured she got caught smoking at school or at Devon’s house. I hadn’t mentioned a word to Mom or Dad about it after I found the cigarettes.
“I’ll be there as soon as I can. I’m leaving now.” Mom hung up the phone and let out a loud scream aimed at no one in particular. “Megan, reheat the paella in the Microwave and get dinner on the table for you and your brother. I have to call your father and tell him to meet me at Carlisle’s department store. Your sister was caught shoplifting.”
At first her words didn’t sink in. My sister was shoplifting? How could this be? That is not like Stephanie at all. Stephanie was shoplifting, I repeated in my head. This should be interesting. Then a smile came over me as I started the microwave. My sister had not only managed to get our mother to call our father but to meet with him as well. Way to go Steph!