Read Online When the Tide Ebbs: An epic 1930's love story (A Grave Encounter) by Kay Chandler - Free Book Online
Authors: Kay Chandler
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with the sweet, alluring fragrance of gardenias created an enticing aroma, which I imagined smelled similar to the forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden.
I straightened and cleared my throat. “Did you work the fractions I gave you to practice on?”
She lowered her head and snickered. “I tried. Honest I did, Kiah. I feel so dumb.”
“Don’t say such, Zann. You’re about the smartest girl I’ve ever met. Someone along the way failed to do their job in teaching you basic math skills. That’s all. As smart as you are, it won’t take long for you to grasp.”
I gave her simple problems to boost her confidence and then proceeded to slide into more complex ones until I found her level. It seemed I could see the light in her head go off as she gained understanding. I enjoyed helping Zann, yet I’m not sure I would’ve enjoyed it nearly as much if she had a homely face and a squatty body.
In my eleven years of schooling, I’d never made anything below an A in math. Mr. Thatcher, my math teacher said I had a brilliant mind. Even if it was an exaggeration to encourage me, it worked. I entered the math competition at the beginning of the school year, competing against math students from all across the tri-state area. Winning the trophy was exciting, but my greatest joy came from knowing I’d pleased Mr. Thatcher. Someone besides Mama was proud of me.
We had a pleasant fall. The weather turned cool, although the thermometer hadn’t dipped lower than 55, even at night. It was my favorite time of year. The woods in the early October evenings took on a soft orange glow as the sun sank earlier with each passing day. Vibrant goldenrod, yellow daisies and bright purple wildflowers added a touch of warmth to the woods with its barren trees and brown, dry leaves blanketing the earth.
Zann and I met every chance we could, for the next two months. Her math grades improved dramatically.
School let out for the Christmas holidays. Mr. Thatcher handed out report cards at the end of the day and congratulated Zann for making an “A” in math. I should’ve been pleased. Instead, regret gnawed at my gut. She no longer needed me.
When the bell rang to go home, I grabbed my coat from the cloak room and trudged out the door with a lump in my throat the size of a wharf rat. I dared not look in her direction. I couldn’t. If she said anything to me—anything at all, she’d see—and know. I’d never been good at hiding my feelings, and in spite of my staunch resolve not to fall in love, I’d failed.
I was half-way across the school yard when she yelled my name. “Wait, Kiah. Wait!” She ran toward me.
I upped the pace, pretending not to hear, though I heard every single sound she made. I heard the leaves beneath her feet as she drew closer to me. I kept walking. I heard every breath she took. I dared not turn around. If I walked any faster, I’d be sprinting. But she kept coming. I even heard her skirt rustling as she caught up with me and grabbed me by the arm. I heard the beating of her heart. Or was it mine?
I stopped and grimaced. “What do you want?”
Her brow furrowed. “Are you angry with me?”
“Angry? Why would I be angry?” I snarled.
“I don’t know, but you didn’t seem thrilled when Mr. Thatcher announced my grade. “We did it, Kiah. We did it. Aren’t you pleased? I could never have done it without you.”
I couldn’t look at her. I gazed out across a field of dried corn stalks. “I’m happy for you, Zann. I am.” The last sentence wasn’t meant to convince Zann as much as it was meant to convince myself. I wanted to be excited for her, and I tried. I did.
She said, “I’ll meet you at the bridge in thirty minutes. I can’t wait to show Mother my report card. This will prove to her and Daddy that we’ve been studying.”
I picked up a pine cone and tossed it as far as I could throw it. “I suspected as much,” I scowled.
Zann lifted her shoulders. “What do you mean?”
I
I straightened and cleared my throat. “Did you work the fractions I gave you to practice on?”
She lowered her head and snickered. “I tried. Honest I did, Kiah. I feel so dumb.”
“Don’t say such, Zann. You’re about the smartest girl I’ve ever met. Someone along the way failed to do their job in teaching you basic math skills. That’s all. As smart as you are, it won’t take long for you to grasp.”
I gave her simple problems to boost her confidence and then proceeded to slide into more complex ones until I found her level. It seemed I could see the light in her head go off as she gained understanding. I enjoyed helping Zann, yet I’m not sure I would’ve enjoyed it nearly as much if she had a homely face and a squatty body.
In my eleven years of schooling, I’d never made anything below an A in math. Mr. Thatcher, my math teacher said I had a brilliant mind. Even if it was an exaggeration to encourage me, it worked. I entered the math competition at the beginning of the school year, competing against math students from all across the tri-state area. Winning the trophy was exciting, but my greatest joy came from knowing I’d pleased Mr. Thatcher. Someone besides Mama was proud of me.
We had a pleasant fall. The weather turned cool, although the thermometer hadn’t dipped lower than 55, even at night. It was my favorite time of year. The woods in the early October evenings took on a soft orange glow as the sun sank earlier with each passing day. Vibrant goldenrod, yellow daisies and bright purple wildflowers added a touch of warmth to the woods with its barren trees and brown, dry leaves blanketing the earth.
Zann and I met every chance we could, for the next two months. Her math grades improved dramatically.
School let out for the Christmas holidays. Mr. Thatcher handed out report cards at the end of the day and congratulated Zann for making an “A” in math. I should’ve been pleased. Instead, regret gnawed at my gut. She no longer needed me.
When the bell rang to go home, I grabbed my coat from the cloak room and trudged out the door with a lump in my throat the size of a wharf rat. I dared not look in her direction. I couldn’t. If she said anything to me—anything at all, she’d see—and know. I’d never been good at hiding my feelings, and in spite of my staunch resolve not to fall in love, I’d failed.
I was half-way across the school yard when she yelled my name. “Wait, Kiah. Wait!” She ran toward me.
I upped the pace, pretending not to hear, though I heard every single sound she made. I heard the leaves beneath her feet as she drew closer to me. I kept walking. I heard every breath she took. I dared not turn around. If I walked any faster, I’d be sprinting. But she kept coming. I even heard her skirt rustling as she caught up with me and grabbed me by the arm. I heard the beating of her heart. Or was it mine?
I stopped and grimaced. “What do you want?”
Her brow furrowed. “Are you angry with me?”
“Angry? Why would I be angry?” I snarled.
“I don’t know, but you didn’t seem thrilled when Mr. Thatcher announced my grade. “We did it, Kiah. We did it. Aren’t you pleased? I could never have done it without you.”
I couldn’t look at her. I gazed out across a field of dried corn stalks. “I’m happy for you, Zann. I am.” The last sentence wasn’t meant to convince Zann as much as it was meant to convince myself. I wanted to be excited for her, and I tried. I did.
She said, “I’ll meet you at the bridge in thirty minutes. I can’t wait to show Mother my report card. This will prove to her and Daddy that we’ve been studying.”
I picked up a pine cone and tossed it as far as I could throw it. “I suspected as much,” I scowled.
Zann lifted her shoulders. “What do you mean?”
I
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