Episode Report Card Niki: A | Grade It Now! YOU GRADE IT If You Love Something, Let It Run Free
By Niki | Season 2 | Episode 18 | Aired on 04.03.2001
Cut to Booklovers. Judy's just flipping the sign in the window to "closed." She turns and starts throwing off some ideas to Grace about the book fair. Judy is apparently ordering all the books for them, and she's offering to suck up whatever's left over to sell at the store. Grace says she was thinking they should have a "psychology or self-help" section. Judy thinks it's a great idea. Grace elaborates: "You know, like teenage issues..." Judy supplies, "Divorce, peer pressure..." Grace says, "Actually, I was thinking more like...eating disorders." Judy's taken aback. After a second she says, gently, "Honey, you're not...are you having a problem?" Grace looks at her like she's crazy and denies it. She adds, "Someone I know." Which, of course, Judy interprets as anyone would. Grace knows how Judy's interpreting it, and insists that it's really not her who has the problem. "I mean, please," Grace says. "We're talking about anorexia. Do I look anorexic to you?" Judy examines her for a moment and then says, "You look perfect to me." Aww, go Judy! Grace acts embarrassed. Judy asks if she knows Grace's friend. Grace purses her lips and looks away before whispering, "Jessie. Rick's daughter." Grace says it's been going on for a while, and adds that Jessie passed out after practice that afternoon. Judy's immediately extremely concerned because...well, Judy rocks. She asks if Jessie is okay, and Grace says she guesses so, but now Grace feels like she has this "information" and she doesn't know what she should do with it. Judy suggests that Grace tell Lily, but Grace immediately quashes it. She says Jessie would know that she had blabbed, and then Jessie would hate her. Which actually says a lot about how Grace's attitude toward Jessie has changed. Go Grace! Is it wrong that I'm just loving everybody right now? Whatever, just enjoy it while it lasts. Judy assures her that they'll figure it out and tells her not to worry, and then she gives Grace a big hug. Grace sighs and smiles with relief, while Judy looks extremely pensive.
Cut to Karen's kitchen, where Jessie's doing her homework at the table. Karen pulls out the stuff to set the table, and goes about arranging everything around Jessie without saying a word. Jessie watches her and finally blurts, "Mom, what? Why are you staring at me?" Karen moms something about how long Jessie's hair is getting and asks if Jessie wants her to make an appointment. Jessie hunches over and suddenly looks miserable. I was the same way when I was Jessie's age, but you know, I'd love to have someone taking care of all that crap for me now. Maybe then I wouldn't end up with inch-long roots and have to skulk into my stylist's chair and remind him who the hell I am. Karen suggests an appointment for the following weekend, and Jessie immediately negates it: "Ski trip." Karen returns to the table with plates and breaks the news that she and Rick haven't exactly decided whether Jessie can go. Jessie immediately sets her features to Pout. Karen quickly says that it doesn't mean "no," but Jessie's not buying. Karen tries to explain, but inadvertently ends up speaking Naggingcontrolfreak. Jessie knows very well how to translate, and interprets Karen's "five days away from home" to mean "five days where I can't control everything you do." Karen insists that she doesn't need to watch Jessie, but Jessie's not listening. She's suddenly engrossed in the textbook in front of her.