I pulled out my math book and sat down with a sigh.

I'm not crazy about math the way Maria is, but I do well in school and that's important to me. So I concentrated pretty intensely that

afternoon. When I finally stood up to take a break over an hour had passed.

I looked out the window. Tiffany was still in the garden. She wasn't digging now. In fact, she wasn't doing much of anything. She looked as if she were just sitting there. And Astrid was still sitting next to her.

She didn't look as if she'd gone on a walk with Astrid and Mom. I decided that I had time to take Astrid for a good long walk before our father got home for dinner. Besides, I reasoned, if I did any more math, it was going to spoil my appetite.

Slamming the math book shut, I headed down to get Astrid's leash.

"Shannon?" My mother's disembodied voice came from the kitchen this time.

I felt a twinge of exasperation. Who else did my mom think it would be? "Yes?" I said, unhooking Astrid's leash from the back of the hall closet door.

"Where are you going?"

"Out to take Astrid for a walk," I said.

"Now?" said my mother. She came to the door, holding a stirring spoon in her hand.

"There's plenty of time before dinner," I said.

"It's your turn to set the table, you know," my mother reminded me.

"I know. I'll get it done."

"You don't want to keep me company while I finish up dinner?"

"Let me give Astrid that walk first," I said.

I closed the closet door and turned to see that my mother was frowning. "What is it, Mom?"

"You should wear a jacket," she said. "It's still kind of chilly out."

"This is a heavy sweater. It'll be plenty warm," I answered.

"You really should wear a jacket," my mother insisted.