Read Online Mandy's He-Man by Donna Gallagher - Free Book Online Page A

should wear and thinking that maybe she should tone down the almost masklike, very black, dramatic eye makeup she usually preferred.
    When her stall table started to shake, Mandy—still slightly distracted by her own thoughts—took a moment before she finally realised something was wrong. She looked up.
    Con was standing in front of her stall.
    As though she was frozen in time, her mind stilled.
    Went grey.
    She watched in a trancelike state, unable to move as Con smashed her pretty little designs. Earrings and other pieces went flying through the air. An earring hit her on the cheek, causing a stinging sensation. But Mandy did not move.
    He was yelling at her. Calling her all sorts of horrible names and blaming her for him being hurt the other night.
    Threatening her…again.
    “Bitch, you are so going to regret making a fool of me. This time you will be the one in a world of hurt, I promise you.” Con started towards her.
    Mandy knew she should run, but she couldn’t seem to move. The happiness of the last few days now shattered like a mirror, jagged and splintered. She stood helplessly, quivering in fear…again.
    The way to protect herself was unfathomable…
    Out of the corner of her eye, Mandy noticed a young man approach. He seemed to be with an older lady—perhaps his mother—she wondered why they had stopped. Couldn’t they see that her goods were all ruined? She had nothing left to sell.
    As these thoughts whirled through Mandy’s head, she saw the familiar-looking young man speaking to Con.
    “Oh, no!” she cried out. The boy, even though he looked fit and healthy, was still slight compared to Con. He was going to get hurt. The horrible thought that the unsuspecting boy could be harmed finally dragged Mandy back into reality. As she stepped forward to warn the boy and his mother, and to confront her ex, Con fell to the ground.
    It was the birthday boy from the other night.
    JT’s friend.
    And he had flattened Con in one quick jab.
    What was his name? Rookie, or something? Mandy tried to remember.
    The woman accompanying Rookie started towards her, arms outstretched, as if about to comfort Mandy.
    “What have I done?” Mandy cried.
    The woman put her arms around Mandy’s shoulders and, in a soothing voice, spoke. “There, there, you haven’t done anything. My name is Laura Harris. That is my son Mitchell, the one who put that oaf on his behind. Are you okay, sweetie? Did he hurt you?”
    Mandy couldn’t help it. Her body was going into shock and she started to shake. She was sobbing uncontrollably by the time the police arrived on the scene.
    Finally, managing to pull herself together a little, Mandy started rambling to the caring stranger. Words tumbled from her mouth fast and confusingly, almost irrationally.
    “I’m so sorry… Your son… Oh, no, look—the police are here, why are they are arresting him? It’s all my fault. He was my ex-boyfriend. JT is going to be so upset.” Mandy sobbed through each garbled statement. “What about tonight’s game? How will Mitchell play if he is in jail? How will you ever forgive me? He shouldn’t have got involved…although I’m thankful he did. I’m so scared of Con. I try not to be, but he’s hurt me so much. I need to talk to them…tell them not to arrest him… Your son, I mean.”
    “Hush now, dear…” Laura Harris spoke to Mandy in a soft, soothing voice, all the while rubbing Mandy’s back in small, circular movements. “It will be okay. You know big Jon Thomson, do you? Hmm, I see. Are you the girl from the other night? You poor thing. How awful! My boy told me all about what that brute did to you. I’m glad Mitch thumped him. He deserved a lot more, manhandling a woman like that. I’m proud of my son standing up for you…so don’t you worry about the police. I’m sure everything will be okay when they hear what that man has been doing to you.”
    Laura continued as she started picking up Mandy’s wares, “Look at these