Jill Churchill: A Quiche Before Dying

Jane put her head in her hands. "Such a refined household," she moaned.

“No, that's not the way," Mel said, getting up and coming around the table. He pulled Todd away from Mike to demonstrate a better hold. "See, if you can get his shoulder this way, he can't use his arms—"

“Hold it," Uncle Jim said, coming to his feet. "That's all wrong. You've got it backwards. Here, let me show you." He grabbed Mel to demonstrate.

Thelma was making feeble little cries of alarm and disapproval.

Jane and Shelley looked at Cecily. "Don't they ever grow up?" Jane asked.

Cecily shook her head. "If your grandfather were here, he'd be right in the middle of it, knocking people around with his walker.”

Jane got up. "Outside! All of you!" She started shoving them toward the door.

As they headed through the family room, Mel came back to Jane and whispered, "I've got some great holds I could show you later. How about it?”

And with the gentlest of fanny pats, he was off to join the others in the backyard.

“Why, Jane," Thelma said when Jane came back to the dining room, "your face is red as a beet. You're not coming down with something, are you?”

Jane smiled.