Read Online Ten Ways to Make My Sister Disappear by Norma Fox Mazer - Free Book Online Page A

but we don’t always do things on time in our family, plus my mom says it’s to be happy that we’ve made it safely through last year and this year so far.”
    â€œAmen,” Mr. Julius says, and he turns for a moment to look at the picture on the bulletin board.
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    â€œThe way Russell just gets up in front of everybody and talks and is so, so all together ,” Bliss says later, as she and Sprig walk toward her bus. Sprig is staying overnight with Bliss. “I mean, he doesn’t stumble or anything. I don’t think I could do that. I know I couldn’t.”
    â€œOh, that’s just Russell. You know how he is. He’s a show-off.”
    â€œI do not agree,” Bliss says. “You don’t give him enough credit, Sprig. It’s a talent, what he does. I think he’s great.”
    â€œYou know what, Bliss, you never agree with anything I say.” Sprig means that to be funny, but it doesn’t come out that way.
    Bliss looks at her and shrugs. “It’s my dad’s turn to cook tonight,” she says, after a moment. “Are you prepared for falafel?”
    â€œWhat’s that?”
    â€œIt’s this stuff made from chickpeas that you put on pita. You’ll see. It’s really good. Russell loves it.”
    â€œWhen was that?” Sprig says. “Why didn’t I know?”
    â€œKnow what ?”
    â€œWhen did Russell eat at your house?”
    â€œHe didn’t,” Bliss says.
    â€œYou just said —”
    â€œAll I said was —”
    â€œNever mind! I can see what’s going on.” Those sharp dog teeth are snagged in Sprig’s belly, and the words tumble out before she can stop them. Maybe she doesn’t want to stop them. “You like Russell better than you like me. I see the way you look at him.”
    They’re standing face-to-face, Sprig’s hot face up close to Bliss’s hot face. “How do I look at him?” Bliss says. “I mean, besides with my eyes?”
    â€œ Adoringly, ” Sprig says. “You laugh at everything he says, and you ask him about things you know better than he does. You act stupid on purpose around him, just so he’ll be your friend!”
    Bliss takes a step back. “I act stupid ? Is that what you think? Well, let me tell you something, Sprig Ewing. You were right the other day, when you said you were dumb to tell Mr. Julius about your father and get him all upset. It was really dumb, a really dumb, dumb, dumb thing to do.”
    â€œIf that’s the way you feel,” Sprig gets out, “maybe you don’t want me to come home with you.”
    â€œMaybe I don’t,” Bliss says.
    Sprig turns and, without another word, stomps off toward her bus, kicking lumps of snow aside.
    â€œWhat happened?” Dakota says, when she sees Sprig getting on the bus. She’s already seated with Krystee. “I thought you were going home with —”
    â€œNothing happened,” Sprig says. “I don’t want to talk about it.”

“A RE you sure you don’t want to go shopping with Dakota and me?” Mom says Saturday afternoon, as they’re finishing lunch.
    â€œI’m sure,” Sprig says. She doesn’t feel at all like shopping. She doesn’t feel like doing anything. It’s the fight-with-Bliss thing, plus Dad didn’t call them last night, and now she’s having all kinds of worried thoughts.
    â€œWell, what are you going to do this afternoon?” Mom asks.
    Sprig doesn’t know what she’s going to do, she only knows she doesn’t want to trail after Dakota! If things weren’t all messed up, she and Bliss would be together, talking about Russell’s party tomorrow night. “Maybe I’ll just take a nap,” she says.
    â€œI hope you’re not getting sick.” Mom puts her hand on Sprig’s forehead. “No fever, that’s good.” She