Mrs. Wong's Finishing School, Part 4

MRS. WONG'S FINISHING SCHOOL
by uciboy

BEGIN PART IV

"What have you done to Caroline?" Lilly shouted at her mother as she stormed
into the kitchen.

"Excuse me?", May asked with surprise after swallowing a gulp of coffee.

"She hasn't been the same since she came back from that finishing school two
weeks ago.  Something has happened to her and I want to know what."

"Honey," May said as she stubbed out her Virginia Slim in the ashtray and
stood up.  "You're overreacting.  There is nothing wrong with Caroline."

"Don't lie to me!" Lilly shouted almost in tears.  "The Caroline I knew was
going to go to college and be a doctor.  She loved kids and was eager to
volunteer."  Lilly watched her mother reach for her cigarette case.  "The
Caroline I knew didn't smoke!" she shouted with disgust.

May started to feel anxious as she witnessed Lilly's tantrum and wondered
what she could do to calm her down.  She had to make sure that Lilly went to
San Marino tonight.  It could be months before Mrs. Wong would have another
opening.

"Lilly," she began, "Caroline has simply come to accept where she belongs in
society.  You should be proud of her that she was able to come to realize
this after spending time at finishing school."

Lilly looked at her Mom with contempt.  "You want me to be just like her,
don't you?  Well I never will!"  Lilly couldn't hold still and started to
pace back and forth.  "It's all so clear now.  There is something going on at
this finishing school, some sort of mind control that turns girls into the
perfect debutante."  She stopped and looked straight into her Mom's eyes.
"Well I won't go."

"Lilly, you promised...."  May was flustered now.  "You're being silly.  I
would never send you to this school if I knew you were going to be harmed.  I
just want you to see what kind of life you're giving up.  You come from a
good background, and our values...."

"I don't want to have anything to do with your values," Lilly replied coldly.
"I'm ashamed to be a part of this family."  She turned to leave.

"Stop right there, young lady," May responded with fury.  "I have had enough
of your crap!"  She could barely control herself.  It was time this girl
learn to appreciate the 5 generations that came before her.  "Over a century
ago, three men pretending to be brothers came over on a boat from China as
paper sons to a Chinese American merchant in San Francisco.  They had nothing
accept a little money to pay off this man, who took them into his home and
helped them get on their feet.  These men stuck together and worked hard,
eventually making their fortunes and building families that have remained
tight over 5 generations.  They struggled hard to be accepted into the social
circles of old money here on the West Coast, and dammit, I am not going to
allow you to throw that all away!"

May could hardly think straight she was so angry.  She pulled a Virginia Slim
out of her case lying on the table and lit it quickly, drawing in her cheeks
while holding the cigarette at the base of her fingers.  "Now get upstairs
and pack," she said sternly after exhaling a cloud in front of her.

Lilly was stunned.  She had never seen her Mom so angry.  She turned slowly
and walked out of the kitchen up to her room.  As she sat down at her desk,
she wondered if she was indeed overreacting.  She knew her mother would never
want to hurt her.  But she couldn't understand why Caroline seemed so
different now.  Within a few minutes, she heard a knock at the doorway.  It
was May, holding a tray with two glasses of Diet Coke and some fruit.

"Listen, honey," she said softly as she set down the tray on the desk, "I'm
sorry I got so angry.  It's just that I really want what's best for you, and
I'm afraid that if you give up what you have here you'll come to regret it."
May put her hand on the back of Lilly's neck and started to stroke her hair.
"I just don't want to lose you."

"Mom," Lilly said after taking a drink from the glass, "just because I don't
want this life doesn't mean I don't want to be your daughter.  I'll always be
that, and I'll always love you."  Lilly set down the glass after another
drink and said with a heavy sigh, "And if you really want me to go to this
finishing school, then I'll go."  She placed her hand on top of her mother's
and said with a smile, "But it's just a waste of money."

May smiled back.  "Thanks honey.  I'll go get the car ready."

After her mother walked out, Lilly reached into her purse for her cell phone.
She knew that Jenny had come home this afternoon and wanted to talk to her
about Caroline to convince herself that she was just paranoid.

"Hello?"

"Jenny, thank God you're back."

"Hey, Lil' Lilly!"

"I'm so glad I got a hold of you.  Listen, I think there's something really
wrong with Caroline."

"What do you mean?"

"She's been acting totally weird.  She doesn't want to play any sports or do
any volunteer work.  She's decided NOT to go to UCLA this Fall.  She's even
smoking now!"

There was silence on the other end of the phone until Lilly heard a click.
"Well," Jenny said with a pause, "what's wrong with that?  I mean, what do we
need college for anyway?  And as far as smoking," another pause and the sound
of an exhale, "I think she looks pretty cool."

Lilly could feel her throat start to go dry.  "Jen, where are you right now?"

"I'm at Caroline's.  She's helping me decide on a gown for our ball next
month.  You're 'coming out' with us, aren't you?"


Lilly dropped the phone to the floor and began to hyperventilate.  She knew
now that she couldn't let her mother take her to San Marino.  Something was
very wrong at that finishing school.  She picked up her purse and began to
head out the bedroom door when suddenly the entire room started spinning.  As
she tried to hold herself up against the door frame, her vision starting to
blur, she could see her mother standing at the top of the stairs.

"I'm sorry, Lilly," she could faintly hear her say, "but you must go to
finishing school."

Lilly then collapsed onto the hallway floor.

END PART IV

Previous part | Next part