Read Online Saving Cicadas by Nicole Seitz - Free Book Online

cup in her hands.
    â€œI thought caffeine was bad for—” I cut myself off when I looked into the trash can and saw the green wrapper. “Lookit, it’s decaf,” I said, like, duh, Mama knows what she’s doing.
    â€œJust drink and be happy,” Poppy said. “That’s my motto. Drink and be happy.”
    â€œLovely, that’s what we’ll stick on your tombstone, Grayson.” Grandma Mona stared out a slit in the curtains. It was a wonder to me how those two were ever married.
    Rainey was sitting on the edge of the bed, and she wrapped her arms around my mother. I’m guessing she’d read Corduroy at least ten more times now. “I love you, Mama.”
    â€œI love you, too, honey. Why don’t you go use the potty, okay?”
    Rainey stretched her arms straight up and out and made grunting noises, then she stepped out of bed and shuffled to the bathroom. I heard her singing, but couldn’t quite place the tune. It was more of a medley of cartoon theme songs, lullabies, and the ABC s all together. I put on fresh clothes and observed my mother sipping her cup of decaf Folgers, feet curled under her, watching the Weather Channel. A guy with stiff hair was saying how a band of showers would be sweeping through the East Coast by lunchtime.
    â€œSoooo . . .” she said.
    â€œSo what?” asked Grandma Mona. “Can we drive back home today?”
    â€œAnother town, another grocery store.” Mama stared blankly at a commercial for new cars.
    â€œThat’s what I mean,” said Grandma Mona. “You really want to spend your whole vacation sitting in Piggly Wigglys and Bi-Los?”
    â€œFor goodness’ sake, Mona. She might be okay.”
    â€œOh, come on, Grayson, you know she won’t. And then what about tonight? Janie won’t be able to sleep again!”
    â€œCan’t you see she’s not ready yet, Mona? We’ll get Janie some earplugs. Or I’ll wear some of those nose-strip thingies. We’ll make it work.”
    â€œOr you can sleep out in the hall,” Grandma Mona huffed, folding her arms across her chest. “I’m going to wait outside. It’s cold in here.”
    I sat on the edge of my sofa, watching Mama drink her coffee. I couldn’t help but think she looked mad at the world. I couldn’t really blame her. I bet she was wondering why she ever allowed my grandparents to come along. She should have listened to me. “This coffee sucks,” she said.
    â€œSo don’t drink it,” I said. She didn’t answer me, and I felt I’d pushed my limits with my sassy mouth, so I opened the door to go hide away and was overcome with the most horrible smell.
    â€œOh, good gosh! Rainey!”
    â€œHi, Janie,” she said from her porcelain perch, smiling. “See what I do?”
    She was trying to balance the roll of toilet paper on her top lip. Super. I leaned out the bathroom door for clean, fresh air and took a deep breath, filling my lungs and cheeks. Then I rushed back in and grabbed a comb before nearly gagging and running to the dresser.
    â€œMama, you do not want to go in there. I promise you.”
    So to spite me, or to prove me wrong, or maybe just to tell me she was not going to do anything I told her to, my mother walked directly into the bathroom to take a shower. It was like watching a woman go to the firing squad.
    â€œMama, this is fun,” said Rainey. I could hear her loud voice even over the water running. Then I heard the toilet flush. My mother, no doubt, had flushed it because for some reason, even though she was seventeen years old, my sister could not bring herself to flush the commode. Do not ask me why. It was just one of those frustrating things I didn’t question anymore. Let’s just say, sharing a bathroom with her had always been interesting.
    When my mother emerged, freshly showered, I did not say a word. I was all packed and had a