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Danny the Disrespectful Kid
An Excerpt
By Elizabeth Pantley
"No," his mother responds. "I haven't had time to get to the sports shop."
Danny looks disgusted. "Geesh, Mom, whaddya DO all day around here? Watch soaps? You better go now, 'cus I need those shin guards."
His mother glances at the clock and shakes her head. "It's too late now, but we can go after dinner." He takes another bite of yet another muffin. "I asked you not to eat anything else!" She tries to grab the muffin, but Danny dances away from her, holding his muffin high. They both know that his recent growth spurt put the muffin way out of her reach. "Danny, stop it!" his mother complains.
"Danny, stop it!" he mimics gleefully in a grating singsong voice.
Heaving a resigned sigh, she decides it's not worth a fight and ignores it. Instead, she picks up the so-called conversation where it had left off. "So, did you get the book?"
Danny peels back the muffin paper. "I already said 'yeah.' Whatsa matter – hearing aid need new batteries?"
His mother answers this rude remark the way she answers all of them. "Watch your mouth!" Especially disturbed by his recent desire to find humor about her hearing aid she adds, "You know I don't appreciate you talking to me like that." The only sound in the kitchen then comes from Danny, who is absentmindedly rumpling muffin papers.
Danny looks up at his mom. "Yo! I could use some milk with this ... "
His mother glares at him, the unspoken words hanging in the air. "What do you say" She can't believe that at his age she would still have to remind him to say "please."