Read Online Labyrinth Society by Angie Kelly - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Angie Kelly
Ads: Link
know something weird happened to me in there. Why won't you tell me what's going on and what's with those rings you guys wear?"
Devon stared at me for a long minute like she was trying to make up her mind about something before she finally spoke. "Okay," she said, shrugging. "You want to know what's going on. Fine. I'll tell you."
I crossed my arms and waited.
"Look, I don't know what you think you overheard Mrs. T. telling us, but the reason they've been busting their butts to keep you busy doesn't have a thing to do with the stupid labyrinth."
"Whatever."
"Seriously. The reason Tomi, Lily, Mrs. T. and Alex have been spending so much time with you is because we know all about your little problem, Mia."
"Huh?" What was she talking about?
"Mrs. T. told us why you got kicked out of your last foster home. You steal stuff. So, in reality, they haven't been keeping you busy to keep you out of the labyrinth. They've been keeping you busy to keep you from robbing us all blind."
"You liar," I whispered, barely able to get the words out. I couldn't breathe and had to sit down.
"Sorry," Devon said, looking anything but. "It's true. Mrs. T. seems to think you steal because you're bored. So they've all been keeping you busy and trying to give you constructive things to do, like cleaning out the basement with Alex and helping Tomi rearrange her room. Me," she said, putting a hand on her chest. "I could care less about trying to reform a thief. I've got better things to do, and it's not my problem anyway. I just keep my bedroom door locked."
I'd been verbally sucker punched in the stomach. Tears filled my eyes and I didn't try to stop them.
"As for our rings," Devon continued, looking at her own ring fondly and rubbing it on her T-shirt to shine it up. "Mrs. T. gave us these rings as a welcome-to-the-family gift. I got mine the first day I got here. And if you haven't gotten one yet⦠" she said, shrugging again and staring at my ringless finger. "Then I guess you're not quite as welcome here as you thought, huh?" She turned on her heel and left me sitting in the attic.
****
I stayed locked in my bedroom for the rest of the day, not even coming out for lunch or dinner. When one by one they all â with the exception of Devon â came knocking on my door wanting to know if I was okay or hungry, I told them I was sick and to please leave me alone. I wasn't falling for any more of their phony concern. I'd had enough. I was leaving. I had no idea exactly where I was going, but it was time to get away from these people, time to stop letting total strangers run my life. I had a few hundred dollars in a savings account I could use to buy me a bus ticket to someplace far away from Yellow Springs. I didn't know what I would do once I got where I was going. Probably get a job in a fast food restaurant and hide out until I was eighteen and old enough collect the money my grandma left me in her will. It sounded like a plan to me.
Mrs. T. finally unlocked my door from the outside and ventured in with a tray of food around six o'clock. I kept my eyes closed and pretended to be asleep. But, when her cool hand touched my forehead and I flinched, the gig was up.
"Mia, I know you're awake. Won't you please tell me what's wrong?"
"Go away."
"Not until you tell me what's wrong," she insisted.
I sat up abruptly jostling the tray on her lap and almost sending the plate of barbequed chicken, baked beans, and slaw sliding onto the bedspread.
"What's wrong is you people won't give me any room to breathe. I'm suffocating here! You're always in my face! Why can't you just leave me alone?"
"Mia!" Mrs. T. was completely shocked and more than a little hurt. I almost felt bad until I remembered this was the woman who'd shared the details of my private case file with the entire household. They'd all just assumed I was a thief without even asking for my side of the story.
"You all follow me around and watch me constantly like I'm about to
Devon stared at me for a long minute like she was trying to make up her mind about something before she finally spoke. "Okay," she said, shrugging. "You want to know what's going on. Fine. I'll tell you."
I crossed my arms and waited.
"Look, I don't know what you think you overheard Mrs. T. telling us, but the reason they've been busting their butts to keep you busy doesn't have a thing to do with the stupid labyrinth."
"Whatever."
"Seriously. The reason Tomi, Lily, Mrs. T. and Alex have been spending so much time with you is because we know all about your little problem, Mia."
"Huh?" What was she talking about?
"Mrs. T. told us why you got kicked out of your last foster home. You steal stuff. So, in reality, they haven't been keeping you busy to keep you out of the labyrinth. They've been keeping you busy to keep you from robbing us all blind."
"You liar," I whispered, barely able to get the words out. I couldn't breathe and had to sit down.
"Sorry," Devon said, looking anything but. "It's true. Mrs. T. seems to think you steal because you're bored. So they've all been keeping you busy and trying to give you constructive things to do, like cleaning out the basement with Alex and helping Tomi rearrange her room. Me," she said, putting a hand on her chest. "I could care less about trying to reform a thief. I've got better things to do, and it's not my problem anyway. I just keep my bedroom door locked."
I'd been verbally sucker punched in the stomach. Tears filled my eyes and I didn't try to stop them.
"As for our rings," Devon continued, looking at her own ring fondly and rubbing it on her T-shirt to shine it up. "Mrs. T. gave us these rings as a welcome-to-the-family gift. I got mine the first day I got here. And if you haven't gotten one yet⦠" she said, shrugging again and staring at my ringless finger. "Then I guess you're not quite as welcome here as you thought, huh?" She turned on her heel and left me sitting in the attic.
****
I stayed locked in my bedroom for the rest of the day, not even coming out for lunch or dinner. When one by one they all â with the exception of Devon â came knocking on my door wanting to know if I was okay or hungry, I told them I was sick and to please leave me alone. I wasn't falling for any more of their phony concern. I'd had enough. I was leaving. I had no idea exactly where I was going, but it was time to get away from these people, time to stop letting total strangers run my life. I had a few hundred dollars in a savings account I could use to buy me a bus ticket to someplace far away from Yellow Springs. I didn't know what I would do once I got where I was going. Probably get a job in a fast food restaurant and hide out until I was eighteen and old enough collect the money my grandma left me in her will. It sounded like a plan to me.
Mrs. T. finally unlocked my door from the outside and ventured in with a tray of food around six o'clock. I kept my eyes closed and pretended to be asleep. But, when her cool hand touched my forehead and I flinched, the gig was up.
"Mia, I know you're awake. Won't you please tell me what's wrong?"
"Go away."
"Not until you tell me what's wrong," she insisted.
I sat up abruptly jostling the tray on her lap and almost sending the plate of barbequed chicken, baked beans, and slaw sliding onto the bedspread.
"What's wrong is you people won't give me any room to breathe. I'm suffocating here! You're always in my face! Why can't you just leave me alone?"
"Mia!" Mrs. T. was completely shocked and more than a little hurt. I almost felt bad until I remembered this was the woman who'd shared the details of my private case file with the entire household. They'd all just assumed I was a thief without even asking for my side of the story.
"You all follow me around and watch me constantly like I'm about to
Similar Books
