Linda Ross

Mary immediately thought of the Chinese vase, beckoning her to a far-away land and mysterious people with gilded pagodas and exotic flowers. Must take that vase. But Mary held her tongue until she and John could be alone. Elder Mrs. Wood sat rigid, glaring at her husband but dared say nothing. Mary murmured an appropriate and gracious thank-you to her father-in-law. Inside her mind, non-dancing Mary was ready to jump up and strut a cakewalk to the ragtime music firmly frowned upon by her in-laws. Instead, she sent a sweet and painfully demure smile to her fuming mother-in-law. She was thrilled with permission to acquire the Chinese vase; She felt finally superior to her mother-in-law’s meddling and interminable disapproval.