Laura Ray (Ray Series) Read Free Page A

school.
    Three women sat at the table in the front of the room. The woman on the far right called the meeting to order. Her tightly curled, dyed black hair shined out in contrast to her pale skin and bright red lips. She stood to start the meeting, “My name is Lydia Jackson, president of the PTO. I’m sure most of you remember me from last year.” She introduced the other two women as vice president, Sherry Nelson, and Jennifer Trout as secretary.
    When Lydia stood Laura noticed that her red cardigan sweater and her red wool skirt matched perfectly and she could almost smell expensive clear to the back of the room. Lydia went on, “As you may know, my son Bobby is in seventh grade this year. He has moved on to Junior High, so I must give up my seat as president to one of you lucky ladies. Does anyone have a nomination?”
    Laur a sat there thinking, Lydia Jackson, the person who is filing a petition to divorce her husband or declare bankruptcy, one or the other or both. Sherry Nelson’s husband owns the Ford dealership and is making money hand over fist. As for Jennifer Trout, Laura happily concluded that she didn’t have a clue.
    The door opened and Mary Roberts, Aaron’s mom stepped in. She looked all around, then walked back and sat down by Laura. She looked very smart dressed in her black and green plaid dress. She had twisted her hair in a neat figure eight and pinned it to the back of her head. She smiled at Laura and mouthed, “Hi.”
    The nominations went on. The President was replaced by the vice president, a new vice president was chosen and the secretary continued in her position. Relieved that she wasn’t included, Laura sighed, sometimes anonymity can be a blessing.
    Mrs. Jack son stepped down and Sherry Nelson continued as if she knew all along and had been prepped, “All of you know that our Halloween Carnival is our biggest fund raiser. This year is no different. We will need every parent who is available to man a booth. If you can help, please write your name on the paper which we will circulate to let us know which booth and which time you will be available. Also if you have more than one child, please sign up to volunteer at least an hour for each child you have.”
    The meeting went on and Laura and Mary signed up for an hour in Danny’s class’s booth.
    Thankful that the meeting closed Laura and Mary stepped outside in the bright sun squinting their eyes. Mary walked Laura to her car before she sa id, “Did you know that Lydia Jackson is Bobby’s mom? The same boy who has tormented our boys for a year.”
    “No, but I suspected that she might be when she told her name,” Laura responded.
    “Yep, the sam e,” Mary stated bobbing her head. “So far, he hasn’t bothered them this year. I hope he has so many friends in Junior High that he will be too busy to think about our boys.”
    “I hope so. At times when Danny has a problem like this, is when I miss John the most,” Laura confided.
    “It seems to be a thing boys have to deal with, sort of like a rite of passage or something,” Mary smiled making light of it. “I’m sure they will come through with flying colors.”
    Laura got in John’s old pickup to go home. She hoped that Mary was right. She wished she had her confidence.
    Laura called Samantha, Jeremy’s mother a few weeks later, “Have you heard from Jeremy lately?”
    Samantha answered, “No, not lately. You know how these boys are. They don’t call their mothers like a girl would. Have you heard anything from Nora?”
    “No, I was hoping maybe Jeremy had called you. I’m still worried about their little outing they took before school started,” Laura confided.
    “I know what you mean.” Samantha said, “I’ve tried to keep my fingers crossed ever since. Having a baby in their second year of college scares me. It could wreck their careers with the extra expense and responsibility.”
    Laura responded with, “They are good kids with good heads on their