Read Online The Summer of Cotton Candy by Debbie Viguié - Free Book Online
Authors: Debbie Viguié
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come?”
Now Candace was really upset. “You know I can’t, I’m working tomorrow.”
“Are you?” Tamara asked, eyes wide with innocence.
“Yes, and you know that. What is wrong with you?”
Tamara looked down at her nails, seemingly studying their perfect, red-painted shapes. “I’m tired of your job,” she said at last.
“What does that mean?”
“Your job is getting in the way of all our summer plans. I don’t want you to be miserable, but I don’t want you to actually
like
it. And I don’t like the fact that Josh gets to hear stuff before I do.”
Candace had no idea how to respond to that. It made her feel sad, and a little bit guilty, but mostly just angry. “Then maybe next summer,” she said, trying to keep her voice even and emotionless, “we can get jobs together.”
“Please,” Tamara said, rolling her eyes. “Why would I want to work?”
7
Why would I want to work?
Tamara’s words still echoed around in Candace’s head. She didn’t have a good answer for Tamara, and she was still trying to come up with one. Of course, part of the problem was Candace still didn’t have a good answer to that question for herself. Realistically, she had to work. Her dad was forcing her. Still, that didn’t necessarily mean that work was evil. Lots of people did it. If work was completely evil, couldn’t the whole world rebel or something?
It was because of work that she had met Josh and Kurt. That was certainly worth a measure of inconvenience and frustration. And today was the first payday, and money meant she could do stuff in her free time. So making friends and making money was certainly better than sitting in her room all day wishing she had money.
She glanced at her watch. She was fifteen minutes overdue for her morning break, and she still hadn’t seen her replacement. Another five minutes passed before she saw Martha trudging toward her across the length of the Thrill Zone.
“What’s up?” Candace asked when Martha came to a stop beside her.
“Megan’s mom called in, and it seems she won’t be working today. I’m trying to make sure everyone gets at least one break and their lunch. I’m sorry, but you’ll probably have to skip your afternoon break.”
“That’s okay. What happened to Megan? Is she sick?”
“Love sick is more like it. She was dating a guy who worked in rides who was all wrong for her. They broke it off last night.”
“Oh, that’s sad.”
“What’s sad is that anyone with a lick of sense could have seen it coming,” Martha said with a sigh. “Never date a guy you ain’t willing to marry. No good can come out of that, just a lot of pain for everybody.”
Wow, that’s harsh
, Candace thought, but she didn’t say anything.
“Now go on, take your fifteen. Time’s a-wasting, and it’s going to be a long day,” Martha said.
She sounded so tired, Candace wished there was something she could say or do to help. Since she couldn’t think of anything, she scurried off to take her break. She reached the cantina at the same time as Sue.
“Aren’t they supposed to post teams for Scavenger Hunt today?” Sue asked.
“I think they already have,” Candace said, pointing to a crowd of people milling near one wall.
The two girls elbowed their way into the throng until they were close enough to see the list. It took a minute but they finally found their names. Sue read aloud. “Candace. Sue. Roger. Who’s Pete?” she asked.
“Oh no!” Candace said. “Crazy Train Guy.”
“You are kidding me!” Sue practically shouted, drawing looks from those around.
Candace had a sinking sensation in her stomach. There was only one way things could get worse. “Who is the fifth?”
“Lisa who works food carts. Do you know her?”
“Unfortunately.”
The two waded back out of the throng and stood for a moment staring at each other. “I’m sorry,” Candace said, finally. “I think I just pulled you into my nightmare.”
Sue shrugged. “Hey,
Now Candace was really upset. “You know I can’t, I’m working tomorrow.”
“Are you?” Tamara asked, eyes wide with innocence.
“Yes, and you know that. What is wrong with you?”
Tamara looked down at her nails, seemingly studying their perfect, red-painted shapes. “I’m tired of your job,” she said at last.
“What does that mean?”
“Your job is getting in the way of all our summer plans. I don’t want you to be miserable, but I don’t want you to actually
like
it. And I don’t like the fact that Josh gets to hear stuff before I do.”
Candace had no idea how to respond to that. It made her feel sad, and a little bit guilty, but mostly just angry. “Then maybe next summer,” she said, trying to keep her voice even and emotionless, “we can get jobs together.”
“Please,” Tamara said, rolling her eyes. “Why would I want to work?”
7
Why would I want to work?
Tamara’s words still echoed around in Candace’s head. She didn’t have a good answer for Tamara, and she was still trying to come up with one. Of course, part of the problem was Candace still didn’t have a good answer to that question for herself. Realistically, she had to work. Her dad was forcing her. Still, that didn’t necessarily mean that work was evil. Lots of people did it. If work was completely evil, couldn’t the whole world rebel or something?
It was because of work that she had met Josh and Kurt. That was certainly worth a measure of inconvenience and frustration. And today was the first payday, and money meant she could do stuff in her free time. So making friends and making money was certainly better than sitting in her room all day wishing she had money.
She glanced at her watch. She was fifteen minutes overdue for her morning break, and she still hadn’t seen her replacement. Another five minutes passed before she saw Martha trudging toward her across the length of the Thrill Zone.
“What’s up?” Candace asked when Martha came to a stop beside her.
“Megan’s mom called in, and it seems she won’t be working today. I’m trying to make sure everyone gets at least one break and their lunch. I’m sorry, but you’ll probably have to skip your afternoon break.”
“That’s okay. What happened to Megan? Is she sick?”
“Love sick is more like it. She was dating a guy who worked in rides who was all wrong for her. They broke it off last night.”
“Oh, that’s sad.”
“What’s sad is that anyone with a lick of sense could have seen it coming,” Martha said with a sigh. “Never date a guy you ain’t willing to marry. No good can come out of that, just a lot of pain for everybody.”
Wow, that’s harsh
, Candace thought, but she didn’t say anything.
“Now go on, take your fifteen. Time’s a-wasting, and it’s going to be a long day,” Martha said.
She sounded so tired, Candace wished there was something she could say or do to help. Since she couldn’t think of anything, she scurried off to take her break. She reached the cantina at the same time as Sue.
“Aren’t they supposed to post teams for Scavenger Hunt today?” Sue asked.
“I think they already have,” Candace said, pointing to a crowd of people milling near one wall.
The two girls elbowed their way into the throng until they were close enough to see the list. It took a minute but they finally found their names. Sue read aloud. “Candace. Sue. Roger. Who’s Pete?” she asked.
“Oh no!” Candace said. “Crazy Train Guy.”
“You are kidding me!” Sue practically shouted, drawing looks from those around.
Candace had a sinking sensation in her stomach. There was only one way things could get worse. “Who is the fifth?”
“Lisa who works food carts. Do you know her?”
“Unfortunately.”
The two waded back out of the throng and stood for a moment staring at each other. “I’m sorry,” Candace said, finally. “I think I just pulled you into my nightmare.”
Sue shrugged. “Hey,
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