Black Tuesday by Susan Colebank Read Free Book Online

then?”
    â€œI really need to study, Dad.” She started blindly reading the page in front of her.
    â€œNo time even for a furry visitor?”
    He walked into the room holding a squirming pug, her black face scrunched up more than usual as she tried to get down. A white cone encircled the dog’s neck, making her face look like the center of one pissed-off flower.
    Jayne dropped the book on the floor and put her hands out. “When’d Britney get back from the vet?”
    Her dad put the pug in her lap, and a warm wet tongue swathed her face. “About two minutes ago. Diane brought her over.”
    Jayne scrubbed the dog’s belly with her good hand while bopping Britney’s nose with the fingers protruding from her cast. The dog was pretty energetic after getting eight stitches thanks to her run-in with Mrs. Allison’s tabby.
    Right then, Jayne felt normal. Like it was five days ago, pre-accident, with the only worry in the world being the French test.
    â€œSo, kid.”
    Crap. Her dad saying “kid” was never a good conversation starter. It usually preceded stuff like, “We don’t think playing four sports this year is going to be good for your emotional welfare.”
    â€œI was thinking we could go see Larry next week.”
    Larry . . . Larry? Oh, God. Larry! She forced a smile and rubbed a small eye-booger out of Britney’s eye. Think fast, Jaynie girl . “I’m good. No reason to waste his time with my sob story.”
    Her dad sat on the edge of her bed and pinched the toes of one foot, shaking it back and forth. “I think seeing him will help, Jaynie. Talking to a family friend with a psychology degree might be easier than talking to your mom and me right now.”
    Exactly. A family friend who’d report back to his friends .
    Her dad shook his head, as if he was reading her thoughts. “The things you tell him will be strictly confidential.” He crossed his heart with a finger. “I swear.”
    Even if she did agree to meet with Larry, she didn’t know how seriously she could take him. He was a long-haired hippie who dressed and acted like Woodstock had just happened a week ago. He smelled like patchouli and liked to decorate with Buddhas. He kind of looked like a Buddha, with his male-pattern baldness and the pregnant-looking tummy those loose-fitting Hawaiian shirts didn’t hide too well.
    Ellie had nicknamed him Larry the Fairy because the only thing he ever talked about was feelings, like a girl.
    Jayne sure didn’t want to share anything, much less her feelings, with Larry. She didn’t even know what she was feeling. And if she didn’t know, how was he going to know?
    â€œCan I see how I feel next week?” She scratched Britney’s belly. She didn’t want to go to counseling. That meant she had to talk about what happened. She didn’t even want to think about what happened, much less talk about it. “I have a lot of class work to catch up on.”
    â€œSure, sure.” If that smile was any broader, her dad would’ve cracked his face in half. “Well, I guess I’ll leave you alone. Ellie and I will go get a movie and takeout. Any requests?”
    Jayne shook her head. “I’m good. Thanks.”
    He kissed Jayne on the forehead and left, keeping the door cracked two inches.
    Jayne dragged herself from the bed and closed the door the rest of the way, then locked it. She went back to bed, pulled the covers up, and pressed her nose into Britney’s fur.
    There was four days’ worth of homework waiting for her, as well as that French test to study for. She willed herself to care.
    She didn’t.
    Â 
    â€œJayne, phone!” Ellie rattled the doorknob. “What’s with the locked door?”
    Jayne pried her eyes open and saw it was 6:12. Her room was brighter and warmer. She might’ve gotten the bigger room, but at least Ellie didn’t have to