Read Online The Girl and The Raven by Pauline Gruber - Free Book Online
Authors: Pauline Gruber
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anyone from Poland before and no one I knew could afford a fancy babysitter. Besides…why does Mr. Douglas want a complete stranger to watch his kids? My spider senses start to tingle.
“If you’re serious, you’ll have to come by my house and talk this over with my uncles.” I shuffle to the right, hinting that I need to go.
“I’m sorry. You look old enough to work. I would have thought you were old enough to make your own decisions.” He pulls out another business card and scribbles on the backside. “Here is my home number and my wife’s cell. You can call her and talk this through with her.”
I refuse the card. “I’m sorry. I don’t know you and without my uncles meeting you first, forget it.”
“Very well, then,” he says through clenched teeth.
“Should I call you after I talk to them?”
He runs his fingers through his hair again as he squints at me. “Call me tonight. I’ll be at the office late.”
“Okay.” I wave and then pause mid-step. “Mr. Douglas? Can you point me in the direction of Clark Street?”
He points to the left. “That way.”
As soon as the light changes, I half-run half-limp all the way to Caroline’s car, despite my throbbing tailbone. Sure enough, Ella gives me an earful. I decide to keep quiet about the accident and share the details with Katie later. As a peace offering, I buy everyone a soda from a nearby drug store before we head to the beach.
* * * *
By the time we get there, the beach is crowded. Ella shoots a nasty glare in my direction as we search for a spot. I try to keep up, but I can’t move as fast as the rest of the group.
Cloe slows down to walk with Katie and me. “You’ll get used to her.”
“Who, Ella?” I grimace as I struggle to walk normally. “I doubt that.”
“She’s used to being the center of attention and now you’ve come along, the new girl. She feels threatened.” Cloe smiles. “You’re getting to her and I, for one, love it.”
Threatened? Try having a demon break into your house. Ella has no idea what it feels like to be threatened.
I take a deep breath as the sun warms my skin. I start to relax. The three of us pause to watch a girl’s volleyball game up ahead.
“Wow. They’re amazing,” I say, watching the powerful volleys move back and forth over the net.
“Yeah, I stink at volleyball.” Katie shields her eyes with her hand. “I’m usually the one cowering, praying that no one sends the ball my way.”
“Hey, Caroline and Ella,” I call ahead. “How about here? We can watch the game.”
Ella stops and pivots. Caroline and Suzy stop with her. “Well…since I’m not a lesbo , I’d much rather go further down and watch the guys play.” She turns her back on me and continues down the beach.
“Really? Are you kidding me?” I look from Katie to Cloe. This day is turning out to suck.
Katie touches my arm, her eyes pleading. “Just ignore her. She’s not normally this awful. I swear.”
I trudge forward, biting my tongue. What was it Gram always said? If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say it. Then I think of Momma, who swore constantly. It was embarrassing and I vowed never to be like her. And yet, right now every filthy word I’ve ever heard races through my head, ready to be spewed at Ella. I stare at the back of her head, fury boiling inside of me. I can’t help but replay her words and nasty looks over and over in my head. Ella is exactly like the girls in Lexington. Trailer Park Lucy, they called me.
I had hoped things would be different here.
I narrow my gaze at Ella, her flaming red hair. Flaming. Suddenly, my hands twitch as heat races to my fingertips. Oh God. Not now. The urge is so strong. I use all my strength to force it down, but it bucks up. I close my eyes and focus, trying to reign it in. Suddenly Ella screams. Terrified I set her on fire, I check my hands. No flames. I look at Ella holding her head, a red mark, swelling, on the side of her
“If you’re serious, you’ll have to come by my house and talk this over with my uncles.” I shuffle to the right, hinting that I need to go.
“I’m sorry. You look old enough to work. I would have thought you were old enough to make your own decisions.” He pulls out another business card and scribbles on the backside. “Here is my home number and my wife’s cell. You can call her and talk this through with her.”
I refuse the card. “I’m sorry. I don’t know you and without my uncles meeting you first, forget it.”
“Very well, then,” he says through clenched teeth.
“Should I call you after I talk to them?”
He runs his fingers through his hair again as he squints at me. “Call me tonight. I’ll be at the office late.”
“Okay.” I wave and then pause mid-step. “Mr. Douglas? Can you point me in the direction of Clark Street?”
He points to the left. “That way.”
As soon as the light changes, I half-run half-limp all the way to Caroline’s car, despite my throbbing tailbone. Sure enough, Ella gives me an earful. I decide to keep quiet about the accident and share the details with Katie later. As a peace offering, I buy everyone a soda from a nearby drug store before we head to the beach.
* * * *
By the time we get there, the beach is crowded. Ella shoots a nasty glare in my direction as we search for a spot. I try to keep up, but I can’t move as fast as the rest of the group.
Cloe slows down to walk with Katie and me. “You’ll get used to her.”
“Who, Ella?” I grimace as I struggle to walk normally. “I doubt that.”
“She’s used to being the center of attention and now you’ve come along, the new girl. She feels threatened.” Cloe smiles. “You’re getting to her and I, for one, love it.”
Threatened? Try having a demon break into your house. Ella has no idea what it feels like to be threatened.
I take a deep breath as the sun warms my skin. I start to relax. The three of us pause to watch a girl’s volleyball game up ahead.
“Wow. They’re amazing,” I say, watching the powerful volleys move back and forth over the net.
“Yeah, I stink at volleyball.” Katie shields her eyes with her hand. “I’m usually the one cowering, praying that no one sends the ball my way.”
“Hey, Caroline and Ella,” I call ahead. “How about here? We can watch the game.”
Ella stops and pivots. Caroline and Suzy stop with her. “Well…since I’m not a lesbo , I’d much rather go further down and watch the guys play.” She turns her back on me and continues down the beach.
“Really? Are you kidding me?” I look from Katie to Cloe. This day is turning out to suck.
Katie touches my arm, her eyes pleading. “Just ignore her. She’s not normally this awful. I swear.”
I trudge forward, biting my tongue. What was it Gram always said? If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say it. Then I think of Momma, who swore constantly. It was embarrassing and I vowed never to be like her. And yet, right now every filthy word I’ve ever heard races through my head, ready to be spewed at Ella. I stare at the back of her head, fury boiling inside of me. I can’t help but replay her words and nasty looks over and over in my head. Ella is exactly like the girls in Lexington. Trailer Park Lucy, they called me.
I had hoped things would be different here.
I narrow my gaze at Ella, her flaming red hair. Flaming. Suddenly, my hands twitch as heat races to my fingertips. Oh God. Not now. The urge is so strong. I use all my strength to force it down, but it bucks up. I close my eyes and focus, trying to reign it in. Suddenly Ella screams. Terrified I set her on fire, I check my hands. No flames. I look at Ella holding her head, a red mark, swelling, on the side of her
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