Read Online The Other Side of the Island by Allegra Goodman - Free Book Online Page A

into the water. The colorful fish were swimming upward expectantly, but there was the octopus as well, almost at the surface. Children were not allowed to feed Octavio. Orderlies fed him slugs and snails. Honor wondered if he was hungry. His soft body, usually russet brown, had changed to pink. He waved two tentacles in a kind of greeting as Honor looked into the water. His dark eye opened. He is looking at me again, thought Honor, and then, Wait till I tell Helix this.
    She sprinkled the fish food, and as the particles floated downward, the other fish gobbled up the flakes. The octopus ignored them. He spread out his body. Again, he seemed to be waving, unfolding his whole rubbery being. Honor leaned over the rectangular opening in the tank’s lid and stared. Octavio shifted and she saw that he was staring back at her with his dark, bulbous eye. His tentacles beckoned just under the rippling water. All around Honor, the other students were going about their business, dusting and sweeping, spraying and wiping the desks. Mrs. Whyte was bending over Hedwig in the book corner, showing her something. Honor took a breath and dipped her fingers in the salty water.
    In a flash, the octopus seized hold of her. Honor almost fell off the ladder, his grip was so strong. One tentacle wrapped around Honor’s wrist, then another seized her arm. The animal was heavy, wet, and dexterous as he heaved himself out of the water and clung to Honor. For a moment, she had to squeeze her eyes shut so that she wouldn’t scream. She clutched the side of the aquarium. Then, suddenly, Mrs. Whyte saw her with the octopus wrapped around her.
    “Don’t move,” Mrs. Whyte cried. She snatched the broom from Hagar and hurried over. Mrs. Whyte’s lips were tight; Honor had never seen her teacher look this way before. Not stern or angry, but scared. The other girls were shrieking. Mrs. Whyte brandished the broom in front of her.
    Then Honor knew that Mrs. Whyte was going to kill the octopus. She knew it from the look on her teacher’s face. Mrs. Whyte wasn’t going to put the octopus back in the tank; she was going to pry him off with the broom and smash him to pulp. Octavio was wrapped around Honor’s chest. He was not doing his job. He was going where he did not belong.
    “No,” Honor called. “Don’t.” She was five steps up on the ladder. Her classmates were running to the other side of the room.
    “Hold still.” Mrs. Whyte was trying to control her voice.
    Octavio seemed to hear Mrs. Whyte. His tentacles stopped moving and he clung to Honor’s shoulder.
    Honor felt faint. Her shirt was dripping wet. Her heart beat fast under the weight of the animal wrapped around her. She was afraid, but less frightened of the octopus than of her teacher.
    “Honor,” said Mrs. Whyte. “Do exactly as I say. Hold the broom handle and take one step down. Now take another.”
    Slowly, Honor descended the ladder. The classroom was still. The other girls were staring in silent horror.
    As Honor crept down the ladder, she felt Mrs. Whyte grow bigger and bigger. Her teacher’s blue eyes were fierce.
    “Let go of the broom now,” Mrs. Whyte said, but Honor held on to the broomstick. “I said let go,” Mrs. Whyte told Honor in a low voice. Still, Honor held the broomstick, much as Octavio held on to her. “Now!” With one sharp pull, Mrs. Whyte yanked the broom from Honor’s hands and Honor ran.
    Octavio was heavy. Honor panted as she ran out the door with wet tentacles wrapped around her. She careened around the corner of the school building and ducked into the girls’ bathroom with its white and gray tiles, its white sinks and silver stalls. The tiles were cool against her legs as she sank down in the corner. Water trickled from one of the sinks. For a moment she felt safe. Then the emergency bells began ringing. She heard the running steps of orderlies outside.
    Octavio slipped off Honor’s body and onto the floor. Gracefully, the creature began to