Read Online The Fall of Candy Corn by Debbie Viguié - Free Book Online Page A

don’t know,” her mom said.
    Candace stared at her for a minute. “What do you mean?”
    â€œI can’t promise you everything is going to be okay. I don’t know that it will.”
    â€œWhat happened to the standard ‘everything will be okay’?” Candace asked.
    Her mom shrugged. “You’re practically an adult. You’ll be eighteen in a couple of months. I think you’re old enough for the truth.”
    Candace slumped. “I like the platitudes better,” she grumbled.
    â€œDon’t we all,” her mom said, draining the last of her coffee. “Ready to go?”
    â€œNo.”
    A few minutes later her mom dropped her at the corner by her school. As Candace trudged through the parking lot, she noticed Tamara’s car. That was weird. She had assumed Tam would be missing homeroom for whatever it was she had to do.
    â€œWay to go, Candace,” a guy said, walking toward his car. He gave her double thumbs-up, and she smiled.
    â€œThank you,” she said, not sure what he was praising her for.
    A couple of freshmen giggled and waved to her. Candace waved back. “What is happening?” she said under her breath.
    A moment later she spotted the first banner. At first glance it looked like any of the billboards around town advertising Scare. Looking closer, though, she saw what the difference was. There was a picture of her in her Scare costume.
    She stumbled and nearly fell. As she stared in horror, the words underneath the photo came into focus. Come see senior Candace Thompson at her night job. Come tonight with Valley Church youth group and get in free! There was also a contact number to call for details.
    â€œTamara!” Candace hissed.
    As though on cue, her friend appeared. “Surprise!” Tamara said, a huge grin on her face.
    â€œHow could you do this to me?” Candace asked.
    â€œYou pretty much did it to yourself,” Tamara said. “I figured I’d just make sure you have a good opening-night crowd.”
    â€œBut, but I don’t want people I know to be there! First church and now school! I won’t be able to show my face anywhere by the time you’re through!”
    â€œThat’s what friends are for,” Tamara said.
    â€œYou keep saying that, but I don’t think this is what friends are for,” Candace said, gesturing toward the sign. A passing junior mistook the gesture and gave her a high five as he walked by.
    â€œLook at that, you’re famous. Now I’m the one in your shadow,” Tamara laughed, clearly enjoying herself.
    Candace wasn’t going to be able to make Tamara see just how embarrassing the whole thing was. She stared at her friend in bewilderment. She knew that Tamara thought she was doing a good thing.
    Let it go Candace. This can only end in tears, probably your own. She closed her eyes. God, please help me to get through this without completely humiliating myself, she prayed.
    She heard a series of wolf whistles followed by a guy saying, “Way to go, Candace!”
    So much for complete humiliation. She opened her eyes and squared her shoulders. “Let’s get this day over with,” she said.
    By the time Candace made it to drama, she was exhausted. She had kept a fake smile plastered on all day and had answered dozens of questions, many from people she didn’t even know. When the drama class gave her a standing ovation as she entered, she figured it was the crowning moment of the school day and did the only thing she could. She took a bow.
    â€œI didn’t think people got applause until after they performed,” she joked.
    â€œDepends on the circumstances,” Mr. Bailey said.
    Candace took her seat and was grateful that after the initial outburst, the class became less about her and more about improvisation. Better yet, when her turn came, she got to act out the role of an old man, which was as far from a cotton candy vendor