INSTALLMENT  21
 
 

Mitchell House:  



   The alarm clock blares loudly awakening Katie Mitchell out of her deep 
sleep.  She turns to the clock and starts to groan.  She feels frustration at 
being awoken just as she gets to the good part in her dream.  Throwing on
a robe, she makes her way downstairs to get something to eat.  She comes 
across her sister Melinda staring out the window drinking a cup of coffee.   
She approaches her sister afraid to disturb her but knowing that her 
curiosity far outweighs her fear.

   Katie looks at Melinda and notes her bloodshot eyes.  “Melinda? Are you 
ok? What’s wrong?  You look like you’ve just lost your best friend.”

   “I have lost my best friend.  I have no one to blame but myself.”  Melinda
tearfully answers before turning toward the window.

   “What happened last night?  You were in a fairly good mood and now you 
are talking in riddles.  Did something happen last night between you and 
Stephen by chance?”  

   “I realized last night that I made a big mistake and I can’t do anything to 
change it.  Remember how I told you Stephen confessed wanting our 
relationship to evolve?”

   “Yes, I remember that very well.  You also stated that you weren’t 
interested in ruining your friendship with him.  I didn’t understand your 
reasoning but I figured you weren’t interested in him as more then friends.
Are you having second thoughts?”  Katie instantly realizes that her sister 
must have met Stephen’s new girlfriend.

   “Yes, I realized that I turned him down too quickly.  I came to that 
conclusion after meeting his new girlfriend Alicia last night.  I should have 
realized that he wouldn’t be mooning over me for the rest of his life.  A 
part of me is happy that he has found someone.  However, there’s another
part of me that’s having a hard time accepting him with someone else.”  
Melinda confesses.

   “Ah, so you are bothered that he has moved on quickly after you turned 
him down.  Listen, it sounds like you’re jealous and that doesn’t mean you 
have feelings for him.  Perhaps, you want what you can’t have now.  
Totally a normal emotion, believe me I’ve experienced that emotion quite 
a bit.”  

   “Perhaps you’re right.  I could be jealous that he has managed to find 
someone while I can’t seem to let go.  I know you’re going to say that I 
am over responsible but I have to make sure that you and Wally are taken 
care of.”  

   “Listen, why don’t you sit in the living room while I fix us some breakfast?  
I think a good breakfast will help put things into perspective.”  Katie 
suggests while Melinda looks at her sister with a weird look.  “Yes, I do 
know how to cook breakfast.  It’s rare you would see me offer so accept 
it.  My advice is to just go into the living room, relax, and wait for me to 
call you in for breakfast.”

   “I’m going to trust you little sister and pray that you don’t burn down the
kitchen.  You know where the fire extinguisher is, right?”  Melinda is cut off 
by Katie pointing her finger to the living room while she obliges. “Ok, where
is your brother anyway?  I saw that his bed wasn’t slept in.”

   “Again, please go out into the living room and relax.  Both Wally and I are 
college students and capable of taking care of ourselves.  Now go!”  

   Melinda wonders into the living room and sits down on the sofa to relax.
She can’t believe how jealous and hurt she is that her best friend Stephen 
has moved on with someone new.  Chastising herself for feeling this way, 
especially after telling him she didn’t love him, she just couldn’t help it.  
Noticing an envelope on the coffee table, she picks it up and notices it’s 
from her sister’s school.  As she scans the letter, her eyes widen with both
shock.  She looks up when she sees Katie coming into the living room.

   “Hey, I was just wondering where you kept the timer.”  Katie stops when 
she notices her sister’s face.  “Sis, what’s wrong?  You look upset, is it 
something I did?”

   “I just was wondering when you were planning on telling me that at the 
end of the semester you’ll no longer have a scholarship to school?”  Melinda
replies while Katie just stands there in shock.



Richardson house:



   Nina makes her way into the kitchen being greeted by the aroma of 
breakfast.  “That smells good, Dad!  Is there anything you need help with?”

   “No, just have a seat and I’ll serve you some waffles and scrambled 
eggs.”  Chase replies while tending to the stove.  “You know I’ve been 
unemployed for about two months and amazed at how I’ve mastered the 
kitchen.  Who would have thought it?”

   “Certainly not me Dad, that’s for sure.  Especially when you tried to cook
that pot roast to celebrate mom’s first week of working at the paper.”  
Chase laughs at the memory.

   “Watching the Food Network certainly has helped me out a lot.  So where 
are your brother and sister?  I have several waffles just waiting to be 
consumed.”

   “Dad, you’re kind of freaking me out with this Mr. Mom routine.  I think 
Stephen is upstairs getting dressed.   I didn’t see Gil upstairs so she’s either
at work or being indecisive about Dale again.”  Nina replies indicating her 
willingness to partake in waffles.

   Stephen makes his way into the kitchen. “Did I hear my name mentioned?  
Dad, I can’t get over the fact that you’ve become a male Betty Crocker.”

   “It’s not out of the realm of possibilities that your old man can wear an 
apron and not burn down the house.”  Everyone laughs at that statement, 
the phone starts to ring so Chase answers it.

   “Hello, Richardson residence.”  Chase answers while smiling as the person 
on the other end starts to talk.  “Yes, I remember you Ms. Martin.  I am 
doing quite well today, and yourself?  Yes I would be most interested in that.  
When can I start?”  Chase asks while both Stephen and Nina stop eating to
overhear what their dad is saying.  “Thank you very much; I look forward 
to hearing more. Goodbye.”

   “Dad, who was on the phone?  Was it a job interview?”

   “Better then a job interview!  I was offered a job at Falmont Enterprises 
starting next week!”  Both Nina and Stephen are in shock.

   “Dad, that’s great!  I remember you saying you hadn’t applied there so 
to get a job there is even better!”  Stephen hugs his dad as he says this.  
“What’s the position they are offering you?”

   “It is in their real estate division, which is shaky right now.  I admit being 
a little hesitant because of all the possible cutbacks in the banking world.”

   “Dad, be cautious but happy about the job.  There are a lot of people out 
there looking for work right now.  Someone must have liked how you 
presented yourself.”  Nina states as she hugs her dad.  “I wonder how 
mom is going to take the news.”

   “What do you mean? What news are you guys talking about?”  Lillian 
asks from the kitchen doorway as all three fall silent.



Falmont House:



   “Jonathan Falmont sits down at the dining room table to enjoy a 
breakfast.  “Could you pass the toast?  I’m so starving right now.”

   “Coming right up!”  Henry shouts as he passes the toast down to his 
older brother.  “So what did you and Elizabeth end up doing last night?”

   “We just went to Thomas’s apartment to bring him a housewarming gift.”  
Elizabeth replies in between bites of her toast.

   “Ah, so you two went to see the weird guy.”  Henry muses while getting 
dirty looks from both his siblings.  “Come on, he was a total weirdo when 
he came over for dinner, don’t you remember?”

   “I was in New York when he was over so I can’t comment on that.  He 
seems like a really nice guy.  Plus, Dad is riding him hard at work so I 
thought I could cheer him up.”  Elizabeth replies

   “You shouldn’t judge someone by their first appearance especially if they 
have an attractive outer appearance.”  Jonathan replies as he butters his 
toast.  “He wasn’t weird at dinner, Henry.  He was just nervous because 
Dad invited him over to put on display.”

   “Of course you wouldn’t think he was weird, you guys talked about art.  
I’m just saying that the guy was a little strange at dinner.  I haven’t seen 
him for awhile so you could be right.”

   “Who are you guys talking about?”  Lenore Falmont asked from the 
dining room door as she makes her way to her seat.  She quickly pours 
herself some coffee and orange juice.  She then motions for the toast and 
scrambled eggs to be given to her.

   “We were just talking about that weird guy who came to our house for 
dinner, remember mom?”  Henry asks.
 
   “Yes, I am aware of this particular young man that you guys were talking
about.  My question is what made you guys start talking about him?  You 
aren’t dating him are you?”  Lenore sharply asks turning to Elizabeth when addressing the question.

   “Good morning to you too mother!  Gees, why would you assume I’m 
going out with him?”  Elizabeth quickly asks.

   “I’ve seen you hanging out with him at work.”  Lenore replies while 
Elizabeth looks surprised.  “Honey, I have friends who work at the company. 
They let me know how my oldest daughter is doing since you never do.”

   “Your concern touches me mother.  However, your so-called friends are 
wrong to say that I am dating him.  We are just friends.”  Elizabeth answers 
while gritting her teeth.  Both Henry and Jonathan stare at each other.  
They give each other the look signaling that one of them needs to change 
the subject.

   “So mother how was your evening last night?  As you know Elizabeth 
and I went over to Thomas’s apartment to welcome him as friends.  What 
did you do last night?”  Jonathan quickly asks which gets Lenore to turn her
focus from Elizabeth to him.

   “Your father and I went out to Luigi’s for dinner.  Then we went our 
separate ways after getting home so a normal evening for us.”  Lenore 
replies with bitterness.

   “Where is dad anyway?”  Henry asks looking around knowing that once 
their father came down, that both Elizabeth and Jonathan would have to 
change the subject for him.

   “He’s at the office meeting with some new photographer that your sister 
hired.  By the way, speaking of daughters, has anyone heard from Christina?”

   “Yes, I was text messaging her last night.  She is having a ball at Oxford 
and plans to stay in London for the summer.”  Elizabeth replies.

   “Gracious, why would she want to stay in London when she can come 
home to her loving family.”  Lenore exclaims while all three siblings just roll
their eyes at that reply.  “Ok, so we aren’t the Walton’s but we’re still an 
awesome family.”

   All three siblings just nod and agree with their mother.  They figure that 
it’s better to just agree rather then to argue with their mother’s logic.



Richardson House:



   “Good morning mother, did you sleep well?”  Stephen asks as he gets up
to pour himself a cup of coffee.  “You want any?”  

   “Son, for your entire life, when have you ever known me to turn down a 
cup of coffee?  Lillian asks as Stephen nods in agreement pouring her a cup
of coffee.  “So what news are you guys hiding from me?”

   “I think this is something you and dad need to talk about alone, don’t you 
agree Stephen?”  Nina asks motioning her brother to agree with her.

   “You are absolutely right sis.  We will just take our coffee into the living 
room and wait.  Call us in when it’s safe.”  Stephen replies as both he and 
Nina hurry out of the kitchen.

   “What is it you have to tell me?  It must be bad if our grown children are 
running for cover?”  

   “I received a phone call just a little bit ago from Falmont Enterprises.”  
Chase replies trying to gauge his wife’s expression. Seeing none, he 
continues to speak. “They offered me a job and want me to start next 
week.  Isn’t that good news?

   “I’m going to assume you already accepted the job without talking to me, 
right?  Despite knowing my feelings on the situation, you still accepted the 
job?”

   “Lillian, I still don’t understand this strong feeling you have against me 
working at Falmont Enterprises.  If I were getting other job offers then I 
would reconsider accepting.  Ass you are aware, we’re starting to fall 
behind on our bills.”  Chase answers while Lillian relents.

   “Trust me when I state that working for the Falmont’s will be a huge 
mistake.  You have to trust me.”  

   “Interesting how you want me to trust you but aren’t extending that 
same courtesy to me.  I can’t believe after all of these years, you don’t 
trust me enough to tell me the real reason.  If I don’t have all the 
information, how can I proceed?”

   “I can’t stop you from working there.  You are right about us needing the
money.  I just wish another job was available.”  Lillian laments out loud.

   “Everything happens for a reason, you just have to trust me.”  Chase 
responds as he hugs his wife.  He wonders to himself why she is so 
dead-set against him working at Falmont Enterprises.

   “I guess you are right dear.”  Lillian replies as she kisses him on the lips.  
“To change the subject, breakfast smells wonderful!  Who knew you could 
cook.  I guess we should let our kids know it’s safe to come in.”  Lillian 
jokingly says she reaches for the coffee pot.

   As Chase goes out into the living room, Lillian drinks her coffee.  She 
starts telling herself that things would never be the same again.



Mitchell House:


   Katie eyes quickly zero in on the letter in Melinda’s hand.  “Where did you
find that?

   “It was lying here on the coffee table.  If you were hoping to hide this 
from me, you sadly did not succeed.” Melinda sternly says. “Anyone should
know leaving this in plain view is asking for someone to find it.”

   “I wasn’t hiding it; I was just working my way up to telling you about it.”
Katie pleads then receives a look stating nice try. “I’ve already started 
looking for a summer job.”

   “I’m happy to hear that, though I can’t get past the fact that you didn’t 
tell me about this.  Do you realize how much school costs?  Do you even 
appreciate being given the chance to go to school?”  

   “Yes, I know how much school is going to cost.  That’s why I have 
submitted my application to a lot of places.

   “I was so proud you earned that scholarship after all the efforts you put 
into your school work.  Now you’ve just thrown it away and for what?  
Because some guy showed interest in you, you decided that school wasn’t 
as important?  If I were given the opportunity, I would have never wasted 
my time in college.”

   “Is that what this is all about? You’re angry that you didn’t go to college 
when you were eighteen?  No one stopped you from going to school!”

   “When you have one parent die and the other parent taking off for Florida, 
one has to sacrifice.  I wasn’t going to have two pre-teen kids shipped off 
god knows where.”  

   “No one asked you to put your life on hold.  We would have been alright 
living with relatives.  I know you volunteered to post-pone college to take 
care of us and we’re grateful for that.  However, we turned eighteen over 
two years ago.  Instead of starting to live your own life, you continue to 
treat Wally and me like we are still twelve.”  Katie retorts.  

   “I have had trouble letting go but you’re changing the subject.  College is
something you need to go far in life and you don’t get it.”  Melinda states 
just as Wally enters through the front door.  Both Melinda and Katie turn to
stare at their brother.

   “Did I come home at a bad time?  Man, my timing totally sucks; I 
thought you guys would still be asleep.”  Wally closes the door and heads 
for the stairs.

   “Just a minute young man!  Where have you been all night?”  Melinda 
quickly asks him as he stops at the foot of the stairs.

   “I was over at a friend’s house and fell asleep.  I know I should have 
called but I figured it was late and didn’t want to wake you.”  

   “Next time just call us and let us know where you are, ok?”  Melinda 
request while he nods before heading upstairs.  This brief scene infuriates 
Katie and she appears ready to explode.

   “What the hell did I just witness?  You let him off the hook and he was 
out all night.  Talk about a double standard.”  

   “He was out last night studying at a friend’s house and fell asleep.  You, 
on the other hand, have lost your scholarship.  This indicates to me you’re 
not capable of making grownup decisions.”  

   “God, I wish Dad had never left because you use to be so much cooler 
before he left.”  

   “I strongly suggest that we take a little time and cool off.  I know you 
didn’t mean to say that because Dad never given us another thought after 
walking out on us.”  Melinda heads back into the kitchen.  “I suggest you 
start looking through the want ads because you are going to need a job.”  

   Melinda makes her way into the kitchen to start preparing breakfast.  
Katie just stands there full of fury vowing to prove to her siblings that she 
wasn’t some flake.  As she looks over the want ads, she vows to find the 
perfect job.