Brothers and SistersThe fake wood paneling was dark and depressing. Brian wondered how anyone could have thought it attractive. He had to remember his promise, though, that he’d be relaxed and open-minded. So to divert his attention from the God-awful décor, he stared out the window. An industrial park loomed in the background. He sighed.
“Now why don’t you go first, Sheila,” Dr. Lopez said.
Brian’s sister, Sheila, looked first at Dr. Lopez, then at Brian and finally at Beth. Their aunt—who insisted on being called just “Beth”—folded her arms and gave a single nod. Sheila stared down at the floor.
His sister spent so much time sitting there with her eyes glued to the rug that Brian had to look down, too, to see if he was missing something. Ugly carpeting, too, Brian thought. Beth really
