The Chicken Sisters - K.J. Dell'Antonia Page 0,9

once while taping, that getting organized isn’t about cute containers. The Storage Store is about cute containers. That didn’t make them happy.”

Lolly kicked Mae under the table and grinned. “I love cute containers,” she said. “Mae loves cute containers too, don’t you, Mae?”

Was this what Lolly had been talking about? She could handle this. “I love the Storage Store,” she said. Of course she did. She would live in the Storage Store if she could. She just didn’t think buying a bunch of containers was the first thing people should do. “Just edit it out if I say something that sounds like I don’t,” she suggested. Did they think she would mind? “Useful cute containers are great. Flatware dividers. I love those.”

“Shelf separators,” Lolly offered.

“Yes. And things that attach cords to the edges of desks.”

“Tupperware that really stacks.”

“Absolutely.”

“Toothbrush holders.”

“Ew, no. Those get gross. And if your toothbrush is on the counter it’s collecting germs.”

Christine waved a hand in between them. “It’s not funny to the Storage Store,” she said. “And if it’s not funny to the Storage Store, it’s not funny to me. Mae, your attitude toward the products of our sponsors is a real problem. It’s not just containers. If you open a pantry, you’re down on Nabisco. In a closet, it’s H&M and disposable fashion. There’s only so much we can do in postproduction. You never stop.”

As Christine spoke, Mae felt a chill spread from the back of her neck forward. Without meaning to, she lifted her thumb to her mouth and bit the hangnail that was always there. When she caught it, she brought her hand down, quickly, ready to defend herself. Clutter was clutter. Nabisco was junk food. Disposable fashion wasn’t good for anyone, not the people who made it or, in the long run, the overwhelmed people who bought it. But Christine wasn’t done.

“I don’t think you’ve fully understood who we are and what we do, Mae. We’re not making little videos for our neighbors in Kansas. We’re a national television program, funded by advertising and sponsorship, that needs to appeal to the customers of those businesses.”

With the mention of Kansas, Mae’s crossed leg went to the ground, the soles of both boots firmly on the floor. “I can understand that,” she said, making purposeful eye contact. Had Christine mentioned Kansas deliberately? Was it a random insult, or one directed at Mae personally? “I hadn’t thought of it that way. I can help people who have”—she chose her words carefully—“too much of certain things without bringing up the sponsors. I really can. It’s not a problem—well, it is a problem—”

Meghan joined in. “It really is a problem.”

There—someone got it! And not just someone—the boss. Perfect. Glad to have an ally, Mae rushed on. “It’s a terrible problem. We really have way too much stuff, and when clothes and things are so cheap, it’s hard for people to resist . . .”

Lolly kicked her under the table, hard. Looking at Meghan, Mae realized she’d made a mistake. That was not the problem she meant. Mae’s chill came back, more strongly this time. She’d misread the most senior woman there, and there was no way to walk it back.

Meghan’s face was serious. “That may be a problem for some families, Mae, but for us, unhappy sponsors are a much bigger problem. And many viewers feel that you are lecturing them. Your results are good, but you’re very judgmental about the things that make people need us in the first place.”

“I’m sorry. I can change that. I really can.” Mae leaned forward. Couldn’t they see she heard them? That this was something she could fix?

“We appreciate your willingness to try, Mae, we do. But for now we’re going to continue the season without you. We may audition another co-host, or we may go forward with just Lolly. Or we might come back to you. But for now, we’re not convinced you’re right for this role, and we need to move forward without you. We’ll be in touch.” She picked up the folder she’d carried into the meeting and leaned over the table to shake Mae’s hand. “We know you’ll do some great things in the interval, and if this doesn’t work out, that you’ll make a big success without us, Mae. And we really appreciate all your hard work.”

That’s it? Apparently, it was. Everyone was getting up. Meghan was insisting on shaking her hand, as was Christine’s new assistant, who looked like she was taking mental notes for

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