Ophelia sat back in her chair and said, “Okay, so green light on the Room Raiders-type show, green light on the advice and reader mail show, and red light on the Jerry Springer-type show. What else?”

Emily replied, “Well, ever since last month, when we did the karaoke show and had some of our alumni appear on it, we’ve been getting a lot of good feedback. Perhaps we could do a show interviewing various Oakdale High alumni, asking them to talk about their best and worst times when they were a student here.”

“You mean, show former high school students talking about how miserable they were when they were here?” AJ asked.

“Yeah, basically,” Emily replied.


“But I don’t need a former student to talk about being miserable here. I mean, come on,” AJ responded, “I hear people our age complaining about being miserable at this stupid school.”

“Well, you know, they won’t just be talking about the bad times,” Emily countered. “They’ll be talking about the good times.”

“Oh, joy,” Ophelia said dryly. “I can just see it-- lots of interviews starting off with ‘It was my first kegger’ or ‘It was the first time I was stoned in class.’ Sorry, Em, but I have to side with AJ on this.”

“Not if we get people who are actually interesting,” Emily said quickly.

“Like who?” Angela asked.

“Glad you finally decided to join the conversation,” Emily remarked dryly. “Well, Charise, for instance. She went here last year. And Cy used to go here too. And S too.”

“That’s true. We should be able to get good interviews from them,” Ophelia replied. She looked over at Charise. “Sounds good to you, Cha--” she began. She groaned and rolled her eyes.


Charise and Dunstan were making out nearby.

“Crikers, Charise,” Ophelia complained. “Can you two please detach your lips from each other for a few more minutes? Charise, you in or out on the interview episode?”

Charise thought a minute. “What day were you thinking of shooting it?”

Emily checked her cell phone, into which she had the show schedules programmed. “The first open day we have is Tuesday,” she reported.


Charise groaned. “This coming Tuesday?”

Emily nodded in response.

“Sorry,” Charise replied. “I have an appointment that day.”

Dunstan’s eyes widened. “Appointment?” he said nervously, eying Charise. “Is it a doctor’s appointment? If it is, I swear I’ll pay for it.”

Charise rolled her eyes. “I assure you, it has nothing to do with the medical profession, except perhaps for the area of psychiatry. Dysfunctional families and all. I have a meeting with my mother.”


She said mother like it was a disease that she did not wish to catch.

Emily jumped slightly. “You mean your mom’s still alive?”

“Unfortunately,” Charise said dryly.

“You never talk about her, so I just thought she was dead,” AJ remarked.

“She’s very much alive, and she’s been the same as she’s always been,” Charise replied. Ophelia sighed and nodded sympathetically.

“Charise, I simply must know, where in heaven’s name is this meeting taking place?” Angela asked.

“Orleanna’s,” Charise responded.

“Goodness, don’t tell me you mean the fancy restaurant downtown?” Angela gasped. “Golly, your mother must be rich!”

“I suppose so,” Charise said. It was clear that she did not want to talk about her mother.

Everyone was silent for several minutes, unsure of what to say.


“What time is it?” Charise asked, looking around for a clock.

Emily pulled her cell phone out of her pocket and peered at the small screen. “Twelve-fifteen,” she announced.

“Oh, crud,” Charise groaned, raking her fingers through the ends of her hair. “I have to get going if I’m going to get to class on time!”

She grabbed Dunstan’s arm and hurried out, occasionally looking back at the puzzled teens, a worried look on her pretty face.