Read In Times of Trouble for Free Online Page B

a wide grin on his face and Lisa didn’t know how to politely cancel without offending him.
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    It was a little after nine when Lisa got home. She walked in to find her mother and daughter at the kitchen table playing cards. “Hey guys. . .”
    â€œHey, how was the meeting?”
    â€œIt was great. Chanelle, are you going to speak?”
    â€œI said hi when you walked in.”
    â€œI’m sorry, I didn’t hear you.”
    â€œUNO!” Chanelle shouted.
    â€œNuh-uh. . .” Hattie smirked, throwing a Draw Four card on the table.
    â€œHow was school today?” Lisa asked.
    â€œFine. . .”
    â€œI tried calling to let you know I’d be late.”
    â€œI know. . .”
    â€œWhy didn’t you answer the phone?”
    â€œBecause I’m on punishment. . .I’m not supposed to talk on the phone, remember? You took away my cell phone for that very purpose,” Chanelle said with such a snide attitude that Lisa could’ve smacked her.
    â€œGo to your room!” she ordered.
    â€œWhy?”
    â€œC’mon, Lisa, we’re in the middle of a game,” her mother jumped in.
    â€œI don’t care, Mama. She’s not going to get smart with me.”
    â€œI can’t say or do anything around here!” Chanelle ranted, smashing her cards down on the table and storming out of the kitchen.
    â€œSay something else and see if I don’t come upstairs and hold your butt accountable for your smart mouth!” Lisa yelled after her.
    â€œWhy are you always threatening that girl?”
    â€œMama, don’t start with me. I’m not in the mood.” Lisa slumped into Chanelle’s chair and began rubbing her aching feet.
    â€œDon’t you think you were a little harsh?”
    â€œNo, I don’t.”
    â€œShe’s almost grown. When are you going to start cutting her some slack?”
    â€œYou don’t seem to think Chanelle should get in trouble for anything. You’re always taking up for her and making excuses when she’s wrong.”
    â€œ I am not, ” Hattie said defiantly, gathering all the UNO cards. “I see things from a different perspective and I’m trying to get you to understand that every offense doesn’t necessarily deserve punishment.”
    â€œLiving in this house it does; especially when lying is involved.”
    â€œFine, Lisa. I’ve said all I have to say. No one can tell you anything. I raised two children already, but apparently you know more than I do, so I’ll just leave you be. But, if it were my child—”
    â€œChanelle’s not your child; that’s the whole point! The sooner you realize that I’m her mother and you’re her grandmother, the better off we’ll all be.”
    â€œWhat’s that supposed to mean?”
    â€œI’m just saying, Mama. You need to let me raise her, even if you don’t agree with the decisions I make. Whether I’m right or wrong, Chanelle needs to obey me. It’ll be much easier for her to do so without you always undermining my authority.”
    â€œSo are you saying that I somehow contributed to her going out and getting drunk Saturday night?”
    â€œNo. Chanelle is no angel, but things have never been this bad.Things seemed to have gotten worse since you moved up here.”
    Her mother stood up with her hand on her hip, cocked her head to the side and looked at her like she was crazy. “Let’s remember that you are the one who begged me to move up here. I had a home and was just fine with my living arrangements.”
    Lisa stood as well. “For the record, I asked, not begged you to move here with me. Excuse me for caring about you getting beat up all the time.”
    She watched as her mother’s cheeks burned with fire. Lisa didn’t really want to go there, but how dare her mother be so ungrateful!
    â€œMake no