Family Pictures: Ringing the Cowbell Summary

Corrine rang the cowbell on the back veranda, and Patrick came running, assuming from family history that something good would come of it. There was once a time in the Mulvaney family that the ringing of the cowbell meant a good surprise, like a trip to the ice cream parlor or movie theatre. However, today it is only a trick to get someone to drive into town and pick up Marianne. It's fifteen miles there and back. Patrick is not happy with the interruption to his day.

Patrick is the intellectual in the family. Patrick fell in love with science when he was young and will go to Cornell in the fall on a full scholarship. Patrick had not gone to the prom the night before, despite being a senior, and despite the fact that...