Avalanche Dance by Ellen Schwartz Read Free Book Online Page A

sure it will. These types of reactions are not uncommon. They usually resolve themselves. But if she doesn’t get over it in a few weeks, bring her in and we’ll do a psychiatric evaluation. We don’t want to let this go on too long.”
    Gwen pressed her lips together. There was no way she was going to let some shrink probe around inside her head.
    Gwen’s mother came back to her beside. Taking a look at Gwen, she said, “You heard?”
    Gwen nodded. “You think I’m making it up too?”
    Her mother hesitated. “I don’t know.”
    “Mom!”
    “Well, I know you wouldn’t lie, but – I don’t know what to think. Maybe it’s the trauma, like he said.”
    “It’s real.”
    “Okay, I believe you. But Gwennie, what’s this about not dancing?”
    “I can’t dance. My leg is too sore.”
    “Sure, maybe for a little while, until it gets better –”
    Gwen shook her head.
    “Gwen, you can’t give up on your dancing!”
    “I can’t dance.”
    “But you love it so –”
    “Forget it, Mom. I know my body. Just leave me alone about it, okay?”
    There was a pause. “Okay. Can you be ready in fifteen minutes?”
    Gwen nodded.
    “All right. I’ll be waiting at the nurses’ station.”
    Gwen threw her few items of clothing into a bag, then limped into the bathroom. She looked at herself in the mirror. She looked like hell – her face was pale, there were deep shadows under her eyes, and her hair hung limply. Automatically she gathered it up and twisted it into a knot, the same knot she’d made for dance class for so many years. Then, realizing what she was doing, she loosened the knot and let her hair hang down again. Tears filled her eyes. She gripped the sink, staring at her reflection.
    Something caught her eye. A roll of adhesive tape and a pairof scissors were on the windowsill. A nurse must have left them there.
    Gwen picked up the scissors. She lifted a hank of hair. Tears rolling down her cheeks, she cut. A clump of hair fell into the sink. She lifted the next piece of hair.

SIX
    I ’m sitting in the Thor Falls police station. It’s not much of a station. It’s more of a storefront, really, with a booking area out front, a couple of offices, a detention room with a table and chairs, and a cell – only it isn’t even a real jail cell with bars and stuff, just a locked room with a cot and toilet.
    I can’t stop shaking. It’s not cold, or fear, though I’m plenty scared. And it’s not burns. I mean, my eyebrows and hair are singed and frizzed, and there’re angry red marks around my nose ring and eyebrow stud and earrings where the metal heated up and burned me. But aside from blisters on my hands, and a weird case of sunburn on my face, and speckled spots on my arms and back where sparks scorched through my clothes, I’m not even burned, which is amazing.
    No, it’s shock. And anger. Because of Gwen. She must have been the one who called the cops. Who else could it have been? Her house is closest. She must have seen us going into the cabin. It’s bad enough that we’re not friends anymore, but for her torat me out? I can’t believe she’d be so rotten.
    I’m in the detention room. The cop who arrested me, Constable Sawchuk, is across the table from me, and my parents are on either side. It wasn’t pretty when they got to the station. My mom ran in, eyes red, and wailed, “Oh, Molly, how could you!” And my dad, grim-faced as ever, grabbed my arm and said through gritted teeth, “Just wait till we get home.”
    I don’t know Constable Sawchuk; he must be new to Thor Falls. Youngish. Blond hair cut to razor sharpness. Crisp collar and shiny shoes. Looks like he was born following the rules.
    He places both palms on the table. “Now, Molly, I’m going to ask you some questions and I want you to tell me the truth.”
    I nod.
    “What were you doing in the Torrances’ cabin?”
    I hesitate. “Drinking.”
    There’s a sharp intake of breath from my father, but he doesn’t say