Love Burned, She Rose Unscathed

Roseanne shook the mop vigorously, continuing her assault.

Louisa darted around, clutching her head, and even as she reached the door, she didn't forget to throw back a threat, "I—I'm not done with you guys!"

"Your goddamn wisteria creeping into my yard, I'll burn it all down tomorrow! It's so annoying!"

With that, she took off running, because Roseanne was already chasing after her with the mop raised.

"Get lost! Come back, and I'll hit you again!"

Roseanne dropped the mop, letting out a deep sigh, but then she noticed Norris with a serious look on his face, making her heart skip a beat.

After a moment, she hesitantly spoke, "...I'm sorry, Dad, I..."

"When did you learn to do that?"

"...Huh?"

"You know... that thing with the mop..." Norris mimicked her mop-swinging action.

Roseanne was speechless.

"Cough! It's better for a young lady to remain graceful and elegant, not resort to brawling."

him, "You've got to admit that

Uh!

Norris agreed, "...It did."

her who messed with the wisteria on our

their homes, which Louisa had taken upon herself to fill with soil and plant vegetables, dousing it daily with waste. The Cole family's wisteria had merely climbed over

never brought up the issue of the land, inadvertently letting

for her vegetables, so she pulled them all out." Norris sighed, "Your mother

bit her lip, not realizing her parents had been put through so

"Dad, what they said..."

They don't know anything, just gossiping. I know my daughter better than

Roseanne's eyes grew moist.

BUMS

not tell your mom about this; she tends to overthink."

second day of the Christmas, it was time

out of bed early by Madge, "No more sleeping, get ready, dress nicely,

the third, having

Cole,

his teens to work on construction sites and in his twenties started his own

materials company, living in a mansion, and driving a luxury car, he was considered a big shot in their small

the grandparents lived

year on the second