Read Online Reading the Bones by Gina McMurchy-Barber - Free Book Online Page A

of bed.”
    My aunt’s stern voice startled me awake. “Things need to change around here, and I’d like to start with this bedroom. Before breakfast it must be cleaned and your dirty laundry has to be taken downstairs.”
    â€œYeah, okay.” I looked around my room and admitted to myself that it had gotten a little out of control.
    â€œAnd another thing. You have far too much free time on your hands. You need some structure, so I called up the Crescent Beach Sailing Club. They just started a new class a few days ago, but the instructor said it’s not too late if you start today.”
    â€œBut that will interfere with the excavation,” I argued.
    â€œYou’re a twelve-year-old girl. You don’t know what’s best. Besides, what child wouldn’t want to learn to sail?”
    â€œMe!” As soon as I replied, I thought about what Mrs. Hobbs had said about sailing — about being so far away that her mother couldn’t tell her what to do.
    â€œWell, anyway, it’s a chance for you to make some friends.”
    So that was it! “I have friends,” I said, trying to sound normal. I hadn’t forgotten what Mom had said last night.
    â€œYes, well, I think you’re spending far too muchtime with senior citizens. You need to meet someone your own age.”
    Silently, I apologized to my mom before I opened my mouth. “How would you know? I bet you can’t even remember what it was like being a kid. Mrs. Hobbs and Eddy might be old, but they know a lot more about kids than you do.”
    My aunt’s eyes nearly jumped out of their sockets. Then she turned and went out the door. I’d won! Or so I thought.
    â€œGet ready to go,” she said as she stomped downstairs. “They’re expecting you in half an hour.”
    How could she decide something like that without even asking me? Who did she think she was? “Well, what if I don’t go?” I yelled back.
    â€œThen you can say goodbye to spending time excavating with Eddy or visiting Mrs. Hobbs.”
    A half-hour later I stormed out of the house and headed up Sullivan and then right on McBride. I hadn’t bothered to brush my hair, and I knew my aunt had seen me leave wearing my ripped skater T-shirt, the one she said I could only wear around the house. I thought about skipping the sailing lessons and going to Mrs. Hobbs for the day, but Aunt Margaret was probably planning to check up on me.
    I was so angry that I broke into a run and sped down the road. When I arrived at the sailing club, I was out of breath and gasping. Then I noticed a tall guy standing in the doorway of the clubhouse. His skin was so tanned and shiny that he reminded me of an oiled hot dog.
    â€œHey, there, you must be Patty. I’m the sailing instructor — Vic Torrino. But the kids just call meTornado. Get it? Torrino, Tornado!”
    I tried to tell him that my name wasn’t Patty, but he only started to babble some more.
    â€œGood to see you’re an early bird. That’s a good sign. It’s like that saying ... something about the early worm.”
    â€œIt’s the early bird that catches the worm,” I said, doing my best not to let my voice betray the venom I was still feeling.
    â€œYeah, that’s what I meant.” He flashed a smile so brilliant that he looked like one of those models in a poster for a toothpaste commercial. “Hey, here comes Melissa and Jennifer. Good morning, girls.”
    â€œSame, Tornado,” chimed the two teens, who looked as if they had lurched out of a plastic doll commercial as they pranced up the sidewalk.
    â€œThis here’s Patty,” Tornado said. “She’s joining the class today.”
    The girls glanced at me for a microsecond. “Cool,” the tall one said as if I were a dead fly.
    Were these the kind of kids Aunt Margaret had in mind when she’d said I needed to make friends my own