Read Online Bite Me by Donaya Haymond - Free Book Online Page B

“Thanks. I will tell you sometime, Dianne. Can you wait?” “No problem. I came in here for some moping myself. But what you
said makes sense. I—I–I guess I can hold on a little longer.” I looked into
the mirror again and saw that I was back to normal.
As Taylor washed her face another girl came in, a gangly dirty blonde
with glasses, face drawn with concern. “Taylor? Are you okay?” Looking from one to the other, I decided it was best if I left them to
their hug and weep fest. “See you on the bus tomorrow,” I said, and
returned to Civics.
Every day of late crawled on as though time had decided there was
really no point in passing. I had track and field after school that day but I
didn’t have the heart. Both Taylor and Matt had something after school,
so to go early I had to go alone. I decided to go find Mom and see if I
could ride home with her.
When I tapped the door of her office there was no answer.
Frightened, I knocked harder, and even banged it loud enough to make
the janitor give me a look. When I finally burst in, my mom appeared to
have collapsed onto the desk.
“Mom? Mom!” I shook her shoulders and wondered if I should call
for help.
In what felt like hours later, she moved and sat up. Her makeup had
smeared. “I said I’m a counselor, not a psychiatrist. . . hm? Dianne? What
time is it?”
“Mom, y-you fainted. Please tell me that it was staying up too late or
giving Dad a snack. Do you need a glass of water?”
She looked confused, then sat back in her chair. “Don’t worry, Di
dear. I was just tired. Very tired. I didn’t sleep much last night. Is it
three-thirty already?”
“Yes. Are you sure you’re okay?”
The woman before my eyes didn’t seem like my mother. Her gray
eyes were large and hollow, her frame had shrunk, and her expression
was unnaturally bright. “No worries. I’ll drive you home.”
She was like that the entire journey back, chattering on about how
proud of me she was for my performance in the most recent track meet,
asking me how my day was, reminding me about Dad’s newly
completed manuscript and oh this time she thought he might have a real
success, and other small talk. “. . . So the ninth grader kept insisting that
she was a reincarnation of a laurel tree in the state park, and I said I’m a
counselor, not a psychiatrist. I recommended her to one I know;
hopefully it’ll be sorted out. I always thought high school was full of
weirdos, and I used to wonder what it would be like on the other side.”
We were in our neighborhood by the time she said this, and I was
growing agitated. She wouldn’t let me get a word in. It was as though
she was afraid I would ask something.
By the time we pulled into the front of our house, I couldn’t stand it
any more. I stood on the doorstep with my arms folded, blocking her
way. “Mom, you’re scaring me. Please tell me what’s going on.” “What are you talking about?”
“Did Nat call?”
She snapped out of it, the bubbly facade melting away. In a much
steadier tone she said, “Yes. I’ll tell you when we’re inside.” I dropped my backpack onto the floor and myself onto the sofa,
feeling as though I might throw up if I had to wait any longer. Mom took
off her high heels and then joined me, hugging one of the lumpy pillows. “There’s good news.”
“Really?” I didn’t dare believe it.
“Yes. You’re completely clean.”
My eyes widened. “Really?” I said again, incoherent with relief. But
then—”What about you?”
Mom pursed her lips and looked at the carpet, rubbing her hands like
she was cold in our heated living room. “I’m not going to get any
worse…”
“Oh! That’s the best! I was so incredibly worried for days and days
and I couldn’t sleep but now it’s worth it because it’s all going to be
okay—”
“I—I’m not finished. For at least four or five months.”
My joy, my mind, and my world came to a screeching halt. “What?” “It’s still just coming out of the