Read Online Brownie Points by Jennifer Coburn - Free Book Online

embroidered jeans and a wispy camisole, which was covered by a knotted half-sweater. She had ironed straight blonde hair, a light glaze of pink lip-gloss and a subtle coat of mascara, something any one of the other girls could have done and not looked as cute. It wasn’t that Bianca was a classic beauty with perfectly proportional features and cheekbones pointing toward the heavens. But like her mother Val, Bianca carried herself with the presence of someone who knew she was attractive. And because of that she became more so. She, Maya and Ashley seemed always to be in close proximity of each other and moved about as if their connection went beyond the Girl Scout meeting. Barb Fields’ daughter, Epiphany, looked like an angel with vulnerable blue eyes and white-blonde wavy hair that reached to her back. She wore her uncertainty like a hat that was too big. I wanted to shake the child by the shoulders and ask her why she dragged her colt-like legs as if they were a burden instead of a gift. Cara Manning’s daughter, Spencer, was a genetic replica of her mother, with long dirty blonde hair, thick bangs and a smile that showed her oversized teeth and ample gums. Anna’s girl, Bella, had short red hair and a mischievous face filled with freckles, reminding me of a female counterpart to the Lucky Charms leprechaun.
    Moving among them as if he were at home was Logan, transporting the girls’ work from the spraying station to the drying area. I was glad to see that he was feeling better than yesterday morning, and suspected that the four days of class he’d missed were an allergic reaction to school. I called Logan’s homeroom teacher to ask if there were any social issues I should know about, but she assured me that everything was fine. When I reminded her that Logan was beaten up on his first day of school, the teacher said that the boys had been reprimanded and that the principal had scheduled an anti-bullying assembly for October. Everything was copacetic, she said. The flu was going around, and all of the mothers were frantic about their kids’ attendance records. “Not to worry, he’ll have no trouble getting caught up,” she said before dismissing me.
    At Girl Scouts, Logan looked like he was in his element. Michelle, looking adorable in her Girl Scout apron, prattled on about Logan. “He was so helpful with the project. You can tell he has an artist for a mother. The ideas he comes up with are so amazing. Wait till you see his family crest.” Leaning toward me, she whispered, “Between you and me, his is the best. When he finished, he had a jillion ideas about balance, color, composition and all that.”
    Logan and Maya noticed me and waved. I returned the gesture, trying not to look concerned about what Michelle had just told me. “Did the girls feel like he was butting in?” I quietly asked. Both of my children were the antithesis of shy, and loved being the center of attention. In fact, they were often purposeful about placing themselves there. Maya’s gregariousness won her a spot in the popular group. Logan got beat up for his.
    “Are you kidding?” Michelle squealed. “The girls love him. Most boys at this age have no idea how to even talk to a girl. Yours is a real Casanova.”
    Quickly unknitting my brow, I forced a smile. “He’s very comfortable with girls.”
    Could she really not tell?
    “I’ll say,” Michelle exclaimed. “He’ll have no problem getting a date for the Harvest Dance.”
    I think she means a girl date. Could others be missing the cues too?
    Michelle smiled at Logan, then returned her attention to me. “Listen, I hope you don’t mind, but I gave him a patch for today’s project. I know he doesn’t have a vest or anything like that, but it’ll be a fun keepsake of today.”
    Running over to me, I noticed that Logan had glued his pink Girl Scout patch onto a piece of green ribbon and was wearing it around his head like a runner’s sweatband. The words “My family