Read Online Rattled by Lisa Harrington - Free Book Online

thought I had an extra key in here…Oh well…” She looked up. “So you want Lydia to feed Peter just the one night then?”
    Mrs. Swicker opened her mouth to protest but then closed it. I knew she had nothing.
    â€œJust tonight and again tomorrow morning,” Megan answered. “Sam has a chance to have a private session with Wolfgang Snitzel, the world famous violinist,” her voice filled with pride. “We’ll be back later tomorrow.”
    â€œHey…why don’t you just stay here, you could sleep over,” I said.
    Megan turned and looked up at her mother with wide, pleading eyes.
    â€œWe’d love to have her,” Mom added.
    Mrs. Swicker’s face froze in a thin smile. “Thank you, Justine, but I would really like Megan to come. I think she could benefit from the experience. She has a bit of musical talent herself.”
    Megan and I both sighed with disappointment. Mom had won the first round. I guess it was too much to hope for that she’d stick it to Mrs. Swicker two times in a row.
    Mom put her hand on Megan’s shoulder. “Don’t worry, sweetie, we’ll have you for a sleepover another time.”
    Megan smiled up at her.
    Mrs. Swicker began to tap her foot impatiently. “Megan, you should get your things packed.”
    â€œOkay,” Megan said. “I’ll write everything down, Lydia, and bring it over to you. It’ll be real easy.”
    Megan arrived on my doorstep a few minutes later with her key and all the instructions for Peter. I told her not to worry, to have a good time and I’d see her when she got back. Putting her note and key in my night-table drawer, I stood in my room trying to remember what I was doing before all this happened. Oh yeah. Jilly’s big date, nail polish.
    I heard the telephone and glanced at my princess phone, watching it light up with each ring. I wasn’t in the mood to answer it. The ringing stopped. I listened. Not for me.
    A minute later there was a swish of blonde hair as Jilly leaned sideways across my doorway.
    â€œWhat do you want?” I grumbled.
    â€œWell…since you seemed so interested in my date, thought you’d like to know that it’s off.”
    My heart skipped a beat. “What do you mean?”
    â€œFor God’s sake, Lid, would you quit asking me that question? You’re such a pinhead. What do you think I mean?”
    â€œI just wanted to know why it’s off.” I tried to make my voice sound sincere, like I was concerned about how she felt. It was totally draining.
    She sighed. “His mom won’t let him go.”
    â€œReally?” You don’t say.
    â€œYeah. Apparently he has some kind of violin thing. Can you believe that?”
    â€œA violin thing, huh?”
    â€œTotally lame. Falls into the same category as ‘I have to wash my hair.’” Her eyes widened. “You don’t think he just made it up, do you?”
    The little devil on my shoulder encouraged me to nurture Jilly’s paranoia, but I couldn’t do it. “No. He really does have a violin thing. But I think it’s probably more that his mom won’t let him,” I added.
    â€œIt was only a movie.”
    â€œThe mom’s a major head case. She doesn’t let them do anything . I wanted Megan to go to the mall the other day and her mom wouldn’t let her. I don’t think she even bothers to give them a reason.”
    â€œSeriously? Ouch. I’d literally die if I couldn’t go to the mall.”
    And so ended our almost intelligent conversation. “Ummm, maybe you should think about looking for some kind of support group for that.”
    â€œOh. You’re soooo funny, Lid.”
    â€œStop calling me that, you know I hate it,” I hissed.
    â€œWell it’s better than Jarhead. Get it? Lid, Jarhead, a lid’s a top for a jar. I just thought that up! I kill me.”
    â€œYeah,