JackBAI/bert_pretrain_datasets · Datasets at Hugging Face

text stringlengths 1 461k
`` long before he ever met you , '' i point out .
`` so , what ?
this woman 's going on tv ? ''
my mom nods .
`` one of those investigation shows is doing a piece about sexual harassment in politics , and she 's going to be interviewed . ''
`` what are you going to do ? ''
`` well , we 'll have to batten down the hatches .
we 'll probably have to stay in the house for a few days , though luckily tomorrow 's saturday anyway . ''
`` no , that 's not what i meant .
i mean , if pierce sexually harassed a- '' `` i do n't want to think about it . ''
`` mom , you have to , '' i sigh .
she 's always been like the child in our relationship .
i 'm tired of the dynamic , but i do n't know how to break the pattern without our entire relationship falling apart .
`` if pierce did that , then maybe you have to- '' `` do n't say it .
pierce and i are staying together .
that 's not a question .
and even if he did do it , i 'm sure it was a momentary weakness .
it was just something that happened a long time ago , and he 's changed . ''
i shrug , feeling helpless .
`` i want that to be true , mom , i really do .
not for his sake , but for yours .
i did hear a rumor at work , though , '' i say hesitatingly .
`` what do you mean ?
what kind of rumor ? ''
`` that ... pierce has a certain reputation . ''
`` why did n't you tell me ? ''
i want to tell her that it 's because she 's so fragile , but instead i just reply , `` because it was just a rumor that i heard from one person .
i had no way of knowing if it were true . ''
`` well , until there 's some evidence or something , i 'm going to believe pierce .
he said she was a woman at work who was denied a promotion she wanted , and now she 's starting a jewelry line , and thought she might as well put her bitterness to good use and drum up some publicity . ''
`` i guess that could be it , '' i say without conviction .
my mom nods .
`` i think i just want to be alone for a while .
do you think you could go back to the party , and sort of act like the hostess for me ?
you know , make sure everyone 's having a good time and all that ?
just say i have a headache if anyone asks after me . ''
`` um , alright , '' i reply , not knowing what else to say .
`` thanks , honey , '' my mom says , settling back onto the pillow .
i stand and head for the door .
`` i just ca n't believe it , '' i hear her murmur as i close the bedroom door behind me .
i wish i did n't believe it either , but there 's a telltale knot in the pit of my stomach that 's telling me i do .
i head back down to the party , taking the stairs slowly .
i 'd rather be doing pretty much anything else right now than plastering a smile on my face and pretending everything 's fine .
but i know my mom 's right-it will look odd if both of us disappear during the party .
i reemerge out back and take a deep breath as i cross back over to greg and allison .
`` sorry about that .
my mom has a headache , i just wanted to check on her , '' i relay dutifully .
greg and allison murmur sympathetically .
i finish the rest of my food quickly , and with only one ear on their conversation , before standing up with my drink .
i excuse myself and begin to mingle , trying to circulate and play the part of the hostess like my mom asked .
i watch the fading light impatiently ; willing the sun to set as fast as possible so that this party can finally be over .
the chipper event organizer i met earlier appears quietly at my side as i force a laugh at a partygoer 's joke .
`` have you seen mrs .
thornhill ? ''
it still throws me to hear my mom referred to like that .
`` she 's not feeling well .
can i help you with something ? ''
`` would you like the lanterns to be lit now , or should we wait ? ''
i glance around at the dimming light .
`` now would be fine , thanks . ''
she hurries away and i spot nate across the party , frowning at me .
i avert my gaze quickly .
if his dad has n't told him what 's going on yet , i do n't want the task to fall on me .
i see him making his way over , and excuse myself from my current conversation to disappear into a large group of people around the pool .
just another hour or so and the fireworks will be done , and everyone will leave .
the caterers move throughout the party , lighting candles on the tables and mini chinese lanterns strung in the trees .
i take a moment to admire the scene : the beautiful white lights , the well-heeled crowd , the murmur of easy conversation .
my mom does know how to throw a good party .
i grab another drink as the twilight turns into night and people begin heading down to the lower lawn to get a better view of the fireworks .
with a sudden boom , the display begins .
there are a few exclamations of excitement and some clapping as the crowd gathers to stare downriver at the explosions of color .
i 'm making my way toward the rear of the crowd when i feel a hand on the small of my back .
i know before i even turn around that it 's nate .
`` what 's going on ? ''
he asks quietly , as i turn to face him .
`` it 's nothing .
my mom just is n't feeling well , '' i reply .
`` you 're pulling at your hair , '' he points out , and i drop my hand , feeling caught .
the crowd cheers as an especially colorful firework goes off above us .
`` so ? ''
`` i can read you like a book , brynn , '' he replies , leaning in .
i can feel his breath on my cheek and step back , feeling flustered .
`` i just think it 's something that your dad should tell you , '' i say , and turn back to the fireworks , but i feel his hand on my elbow .
`` would you just tell me ?
you and my dad are both acting strangely , and now your mom disappears ... i just want to know . ''
`` and here i thought i was covering well , '' i say , stalling for time .
`` maybe to other people , but not to me . ''
i stare at him for a moment as his features are illuminated by the light of one of my favorite , willow-shaped fireworks .
`` there 's a woman ... she 's going to go on the news tomorrow and say that your dad sexually harassed her . ''
`` that 's crazy , '' he hisses at me .
`` i 'm just the messenger-you insisted i tell you- '' i stammer , taken aback by his tone .
`` my dad , he 's a great man .
he 's a pillar of the community- '' `` a pillar of the community ? ''
`` what ?
he is ! ''
`` it 's just , sometimes the way you talk about him ... he 's not perfect , nate . ''
`` you do n't know anything about him .
when my mom abandoned us , he took care of me all by himself .
he 's always been there for me . ''
`` ok , i 'm just- '' but nate storms off back to the house .

`` long before he ever met you , '' i point out .

`` so , what ?

this woman 's going on tv ? ''

my mom nods .

`` one of those investigation shows is doing a piece about sexual harassment in politics , and she 's going to be interviewed . ''

`` what are you going to do ? ''

`` well , we 'll have to batten down the hatches .

we 'll probably have to stay in the house for a few days , though luckily tomorrow 's saturday anyway . ''

`` no , that 's not what i meant .

i mean , if pierce sexually harassed a- '' `` i do n't want to think about it . ''

`` mom , you have to , '' i sigh .

she 's always been like the child in our relationship .

i 'm tired of the dynamic , but i do n't know how to break the pattern without our entire relationship falling apart .

`` if pierce did that , then maybe you have to- '' `` do n't say it .

pierce and i are staying together .

that 's not a question .

and even if he did do it , i 'm sure it was a momentary weakness .

it was just something that happened a long time ago , and he 's changed . ''

i shrug , feeling helpless .

`` i want that to be true , mom , i really do .

not for his sake , but for yours .

i did hear a rumor at work , though , '' i say hesitatingly .

`` what do you mean ?

what kind of rumor ? ''

`` that ... pierce has a certain reputation . ''

`` why did n't you tell me ? ''

i want to tell her that it 's because she 's so fragile , but instead i just reply , `` because it was just a rumor that i heard from one person .

i had no way of knowing if it were true . ''

`` well , until there 's some evidence or something , i 'm going to believe pierce .

he said she was a woman at work who was denied a promotion she wanted , and now she 's starting a jewelry line , and thought she might as well put her bitterness to good use and drum up some publicity . ''

`` i guess that could be it , '' i say without conviction .

my mom nods .

`` i think i just want to be alone for a while .

do you think you could go back to the party , and sort of act like the hostess for me ?

you know , make sure everyone 's having a good time and all that ?

just say i have a headache if anyone asks after me . ''

`` um , alright , '' i reply , not knowing what else to say .

`` thanks , honey , '' my mom says , settling back onto the pillow .

i stand and head for the door .

`` i just ca n't believe it , '' i hear her murmur as i close the bedroom door behind me .

i wish i did n't believe it either , but there 's a telltale knot in the pit of my stomach that 's telling me i do .

i head back down to the party , taking the stairs slowly .

i 'd rather be doing pretty much anything else right now than plastering a smile on my face and pretending everything 's fine .

but i know my mom 's right-it will look odd if both of us disappear during the party .

i reemerge out back and take a deep breath as i cross back over to greg and allison .

`` sorry about that .

my mom has a headache , i just wanted to check on her , '' i relay dutifully .

greg and allison murmur sympathetically .

i finish the rest of my food quickly , and with only one ear on their conversation , before standing up with my drink .

i excuse myself and begin to mingle , trying to circulate and play the part of the hostess like my mom asked .

i watch the fading light impatiently ; willing the sun to set as fast as possible so that this party can finally be over .

the chipper event organizer i met earlier appears quietly at my side as i force a laugh at a partygoer 's joke .

`` have you seen mrs .

thornhill ? ''

it still throws me to hear my mom referred to like that .

`` she 's not feeling well .

can i help you with something ? ''

`` would you like the lanterns to be lit now , or should we wait ? ''

i glance around at the dimming light .

`` now would be fine , thanks . ''

she hurries away and i spot nate across the party , frowning at me .

i avert my gaze quickly .

if his dad has n't told him what 's going on yet , i do n't want the task to fall on me .

i see him making his way over , and excuse myself from my current conversation to disappear into a large group of people around the pool .

just another hour or so and the fireworks will be done , and everyone will leave .

the caterers move throughout the party , lighting candles on the tables and mini chinese lanterns strung in the trees .

i take a moment to admire the scene : the beautiful white lights , the well-heeled crowd , the murmur of easy conversation .

my mom does know how to throw a good party .

i grab another drink as the twilight turns into night and people begin heading down to the lower lawn to get a better view of the fireworks .

with a sudden boom , the display begins .

there are a few exclamations of excitement and some clapping as the crowd gathers to stare downriver at the explosions of color .

i 'm making my way toward the rear of the crowd when i feel a hand on the small of my back .

i know before i even turn around that it 's nate .

`` what 's going on ? ''

he asks quietly , as i turn to face him .

`` it 's nothing .

my mom just is n't feeling well , '' i reply .

`` you 're pulling at your hair , '' he points out , and i drop my hand , feeling caught .

the crowd cheers as an especially colorful firework goes off above us .

`` so ? ''

`` i can read you like a book , brynn , '' he replies , leaning in .

i can feel his breath on my cheek and step back , feeling flustered .

`` i just think it 's something that your dad should tell you , '' i say , and turn back to the fireworks , but i feel his hand on my elbow .

`` would you just tell me ?

you and my dad are both acting strangely , and now your mom disappears ... i just want to know . ''

`` and here i thought i was covering well , '' i say , stalling for time .

`` maybe to other people , but not to me . ''

i stare at him for a moment as his features are illuminated by the light of one of my favorite , willow-shaped fireworks .

`` there 's a woman ... she 's going to go on the news tomorrow and say that your dad sexually harassed her . ''

`` that 's crazy , '' he hisses at me .

`` i 'm just the messenger-you insisted i tell you- '' i stammer , taken aback by his tone .

`` my dad , he 's a great man .

he 's a pillar of the community- '' `` a pillar of the community ? ''

`` what ?

he is ! ''

`` it 's just , sometimes the way you talk about him ... he 's not perfect , nate . ''

`` you do n't know anything about him .

when my mom abandoned us , he took care of me all by himself .

he 's always been there for me . ''

`` ok , i 'm just- '' but nate storms off back to the house .