The Boy Who Could Draw Tomorrow by Quinn Sinclair

realize that there was something—well, something bizarre —in the way Sam had just waltzed in practically on the same day the term began. She knew people were talking about it, knew that a lot of people were trying to figure out whom the Coopers knew, whom they'd managed to pay off, to get Sam in. Well, the hell with all that. She had far worse things to worry about than a bunch of nasty gossip. What she had to do was something to regain the feeling that she was in control of her life and that she lived within a comforting and sustaining domestic circle.
    Almost as if he'd read her mind, Hal said in a voice that was little more than a croak, "You want to talk?"
    "All right," she said, and turned onto her back.
    "I don't like what's happening to us," he said.
    "Me neither," Peggy said. "It's not good for Sam."
    "I know," he said. "Let's fix it," he said, and she could feel his hand jerk up from the mattress, the palm flattening gently on her belly.
    She nearly jumped at his touch, almost perceptibly recoiling.
    "You said you wanted to talk," she said.
    "Yes," he whispered, his lips touching her ear now, his hand traveling to the hem of her nightgown, pausing there as if awaiting permission.
    She lifted herself and snapped on her night light. She got out of bed and went to the rocker.
    "Is that how you want to talk?" he said, hoisting himself up onto his elbows and regarding her in the dim light.
    "This is fine," Peggy said. She raised her knees to her chest and locked her arms around her legs, a motion that started the rocker listing to and fro. "Let's begin with Sam," she said. "I think we should take him out of that school."
    "No," he said, instantly hostile and defensive. "That's out of the question."
    "But he's upset. Can't you see how much he dislikes it?"
    "He'll get over it. Besides, they don't refund tuition. It's right in the contract we signed—no refunds, and no exceptions."
    "You'd sacrifice your son for money?"
    He sat up higher and snapped on his light.
    "That's a pretty lowdown crack."
    "I'm sorry, Hal," she said, not sounding as if she meant it at all, "but I don't think you really have any idea what kind of a repressive environment that kid's being subjected to. You've never even been inside St. Martin's. I think you're acting like an uptight, social-climbing arriviste, willing to tolerate any indignity just for the sake of some hollow status symbol. There are other private schools you know—schools that would be much more appropriate for a creative kid like Sam. At least let me apply him to a few for next year."
    "Peggy, I forbid it." He was icy cold now, talking to her in a tone of voice she'd never heard from him in all their years together. "I think you're making a very hasty and ill-considered snap judgement. If you think Sam's not being treated properly, for God's sake set up a conference with his teacher, talk to the headmaster, try to work things out. Don't just go off half-cocked and yank him out before you've even given the place a chance. Miss Putnam told me—"
    Suddenly he broke off, a look of panic washing over him. He swung his legs over the side of the bed, and began searching nervously for his cigarettes.
    "Miss Putnam told you," Peggy repeated, her bewilderment swamping the rage that had begun to flood her only a few moments before. "When did you talk to Miss Putnam? When I tried to get in to see her I was treated to the bum's rush by a goddamned secretary!"
    "Oh, well, I didn't see her, Pegs. I just chatted with her briefly on the phone. Just this morning. I felt bad about not being home for Sam's first day of school, and I thought I'd check in with his teacher to see how things were going. I didn't find her at all unapproachable," he concluded smugly, his earlier discomfiture all but vanished.
    He was lying. She felt it with the force of a blow. But some sixth sense told her that now was not the time to call him on it. Let him think he was fooling her—when the right time came to get